Shawn

"Baby are you sure about this?" I asked while carefully trying to button the expensive jacket she'd gotten me for the fashion awards. Janet smacked my hand away and buttoned it for me.

"Yes, you look great! This is super important because Missy will be there tonight. I told you that she's looking for a choreographer for her next project and you're perfect for it Shawn." She said. "This will open so many doors for you baby."

"I'm nervous J and besides, I like working under you." I said grabbing her by the waist and pulling her close to me. Janet laughed and turned me to face the mirror. She hugged me from behind and rested her head on my shoulder. I was in awe at her beautiful reflection staring back at me.

"You feel safe working under me, but you have so much to offer than this baby." She turned my head bringing my eyes to hers and kissed me slowly. "Don't hide your gifts from them. You're too talented for that."

I turned around and hugged her tight. She was easily the best thing that had ever come into my life. I was emotional and wrapped up in my feelings, until I was pulled out of it by slap on the ass. I glanced at her and smacked my lips.

She laughed. "Now stop worrying and finish getting ready. T is waiting downstairs in the limo with Preston. I can't wait to tell her how we're always late because you take longer to get ready." She mocked.

"You always have help, thank you very much."

"I didn't have help tonight... thank you very much." She said and stuck her tongue out at me as she left the bedroom.

During the car ride, I was in my head mostly. Going to these things always made me nervous, especially now that Janet and I are together. We act the same I feel but our relationship has changed. So I found myself trying to be mindful of how I am with her in public and with cameras around. It makes me a nervous wreck sometimes. I can touch her how want at home and that habit was becoming harder to break when we are out in the open.

(VH1 Fashion Awards)

The red carpet was pandemonium and my vision started to get spotty from all the flashing lights. My baby was serving them face from every single angle. She held our hands tight as Joey stood close my making sure things didn't get out of hand.

They photographers kept yelling to get some pictures of Janet alone, so Tina and I stepped out of the way and let them have her.

As more celebrities filled the small space Tina and I managed to get separated from Janet and Joey. So we just headed inside and mingled for a while until Tina spotted Missy.

"There she is." She said tapping me on the shoulder. "Jan made me promise to introduce you." She grabbed my hand and pulled but I didn't move.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

"Nothing just give me a sec please." I said. My feet felt heavy against the floor.

"Now is not the time to get cold feet. Trust me, you don't want to pass this up." Tina said.

"So why aren't you going for it?" I asked. In my opinion T was one of the best in the game. She looked at me, smiled and shook her head.

"I've heard the song Shawn. It has your name written all over it." She said. "Now Let's go." Tina took me by the hand, quickly dragging me through the crowd of people and right up to Missy. She turned to face us and smiled.

"Tina, it's so good to see you? I see y'all with tha coordinating outfits and shit, I'm feeling it." Missy said and smiled.

Tina laughed and hugged her. "You're looking pretty good yourself." She said. " Janet and I brought someone we wanted you to meet tonight."

Missy smiled. "Shawnette Heard." She said and held out her hand. " I've been hearing some amazing things about you girl. I'm just wondering what I gotta do to get you to come work for me?"

I was surprised at how straight forward and to the point she was. "Shouldn't you see me dance first?" I asked. My question was serious but Missy and Tina seemed to think it was funny.

Missy shook her head. " I'm looking for a choreographer, not a dancer. Besides I'll be watching when you guys perform tonight." She got close to me and put her arm around my shoulder. "Janet has been talking about you nonstop. That's my girl and I trust her word. She tells me, you're exactly what I'm looking for, so if you want the job, it's yours."

Tina looked at me, smiled and nodded her head. How could I say no?

"I'm gonna kill this shit for you Missy." I said. She smiled and shook my hand.

"That's what I like to hear. I will hit Janet up for your info." Missy glanced around. "Where is she anyway? I really need to talk to her." She said. Now that I had time to think about it, I hadn't seen her since we had gotten inside. "Oh well damn never mind," Missy said, " Ms. Jackson looks a little busy at the moment so I'll talk to her later." And she excused herself.

Over in the corner of the room, there she was.
Sitting with a guy I'd never seen before. They sat close. His arm was around her, his other hand rested on Janet's thigh as he leaned in, talking in her ear. She didn't seem to mind. I looked at Tina. She shook her head as I turned and started walking towards them.

"No Shawn!" She said, but I manage to lose her in the crowd. Just as I got close to them, Joey intersected me and grabbed me by the arm. I glared at him. He let me go, put an inch of space between us and held his hands up.

"Look, you're a smart girl Shawn, so I don't have to explain to you why what you're about to do is completely stupid." He said. "Walk away." I was furious as I looked passed him. Janet was now looking in my direction. " I'm gonna tell you one more time, walk the other away kid." He said and pointed. I looked at him with tears in my eyes, glanced back at Janet, and quickly walked in the opposite direction.

Soon I found myself sitting in the front seat of the limo with Preston. He was listening to Marvin Gaye and eating a bag of chips. The crunching was driving me crazy and I glanced at him with my nose turned up.

"Do you have to eat those right now?"

He shrugged. "I'm hungry." He said finishing the last few. " And why are you sitting here in the car with me anyway, instead of in there with her, supporting her."

"She is doing just fine in there without me." I said just as there was a light knock on the glass. I turned to see Janet looking at us through the window.

"Can we talk?" She asked.

I nodded and we got into the back of the limo. We couldn't look at each other. I was pretty embarrassed at how I'd behaved because I knew better than to risk causing any kind of scene. Janet finally looked at me.

"What was that back there?" She asked finally.

"You tell me J, because from where I was standing, it looked like you were all hugged up with some dude." I said.

"Hugged up?" She asked.

"Okay maybe not hugged up but he was all up in your personal space. Like he was trying to get with you." Janet started to laugh. "This is funny to you?" I said and folded my arms. "Some dude just pushes up on my girl and I'm suppose to be okay with it."

"He was just being flirty, it was harmless. You have to remember baby they think I'm single."

"As long as you remember that your not." I glanced at her and said.

Janet shook her head smiled. "You're acting so jealous right now." She said.

"I'm not jealous." I scoffed.

She turned in the seat to face me. "You have been to these parties numerous times with me. You know know how they go. Even when I was married, men and women in this industry will always try make their move."

"And the women and men in this industry will get knocked the fuck out messing with what's mine."

Janet smirked and blushed. "You're claiming me like that huh." She said licking her lips and straddled me in the back of the limo. Preston looked back, shook his head and rolled up the partition, giving us privacy.

"J what are you doing?" I said and laughed. "We can't do this is here with Preston right in the front seat. Besides we need to get back inside."

"I'm not going without you." She said and kissed me. "Please come back inside with me." She asked sweetly and kissed me again.

Of course I got out and joined her. This time it was just us, walking the red carpet, hand and hand.

Janet didn't leave my side for the rest of the night and once we hit stage, all eyes were on us. The performance was absolutely powerful and the crowd loved it.

After our performance, I got the pleasure of sitting front row and watching the woman I love receive her award. Words cant express how proud I was to see her up on that stage. I found myself becoming overwhelmed and stood with the crowd, screaming her name like the rest of the fans in the room.

Tina's boyfriend met her at the party and they left shortly after the ceremony. There were plenty of after parties to attend but Janet had had enough excitement for the night. I felt like she was passing up the chance to have fun because of the way of I had acted.

"If you want to go baby, we can go, or I can just go home, so I won't be cramping your style." I said, only halfway serious. I said washing my hands after using the restroom. Janet waited until we were alone in the ladies room and walked up to me.

"No," She said. "I don't want to go without you. Can we just go home?" She asked and yawned. "I'm kind of sleepy anyway."

I laughed. "Come one sleepy head." I said taking her hand as Joey guided through the crowd and out to the limo safely.

I looked down at Janet's head resting in my lap. Her eyes fluttered in her sleep and I wondered if she was dreaming of me. Letting many head fall back to the seat, I rested my eyes for a moment and ended falling asleep myself.

Janet kissed my cheek, waking me once we arrived at my place. Preston walked us to the door and said goodbye once we were safely inside the building. I turned around, looked over my shoulder and smiled at Janet. She got a running start and jumped onto my back and heading to my floor. As we got off the elevator, she pointed. "Shawn look." She said.

My door was slightly open.

"The fuck?" I said as Janet got down. "Stay right here babe." I said as I slowly approached the door. As I got closer I could see a dim light and just as I was about to touch the door, Janet spoke from behind me.

"See anything?" She whispered.

"Jesus!" I whispered way too loud. "Baby I told you to stay back.

"No, If somebody's in there they're gonna have to fight us both tonight." She said. I smirked a little surprised.

"Okay Damita." I said and she slapped my shoulder. I turned to face the door, reached for the handle but the door opened. Janet and I stood stunned for a moment.

"Amelia what are you doing here?" I said.