◍ ⊱ 90's Imagines. [ ON HOLD. ]

❝0014. ─ Other Side of The Game.

I couldn't help but stare at him as he worked his paint brush against the once blank canvas. He had insisted on capturing my flawed face forever. He claimed he never wanted to lose me, but if only he knew the hold he had on my every being he would understand that there wasn't a chance in hell I was letting him go anywhere. The smell of incense burning filled my pallet as I crossed my legs underneath one another, 'I'd Rather Be With You' by Bootsy Collins filled his small apartment.

"You been rollin' that blunt for three years now." He joked as his Atlanta accent dragged from his lips, I giggled softly.

"I'm sorry, baby." I brought the tightly rolled spliff up to my lips and dragged my tongue along the sticky paper to seal the marijuana in. Examining my work, I placed it between my duo and grabbing the metal lighter on the floor, pushing the top back and igniting the flame to secure it before handing both of them over to him.

If somebody told me a few years back, I would be in love with an inspiring artist who found pleasure in smoking weed, reading complex literature, talking about his feelings and listening to Parliament's greatest hits, I would've been the first one to laugh in your face.

But the day I met Andre Benjamin on the campus of Clark Atlanta University, he changed my life. My way of thinking, living, and existing had been changed forever. Hell, I let him turn me into a vegetarian. He introduced me to the idea of astral planes and existentialism all while familiarizing me with the chronic and all the old school music I had missed out on. All my friends called him weird, but they just didn't understand him like I did.

The only thing he had in common with the niggas I had been with before was his occupation. Just like most young niggas that grew up in Bankhead, he had to hustle. Especially while he chased his dream of being an artist.

I absolutely hated the fact that he turned to the streets for money. He was worth way more than what he knew.

It wasn't that he wasn't educated, shit, I sat front row at his graduation but his passion was stronger than his pride. He knew what he wanted and he was determined to do just that. I draped my arms around my man's neck, I smile widely as he held onto my wrist and started to plant soft kisses along my arm.

"Dre...I have to tell you something." I spoke, looking up at the half-finished painting, almost stunned at how much it resembled me.

"If it's about what I think it is, Erykah. I don't wanna hear it." He replied quickly, I rolled my green eyes as my arms collapsed in defeat against his chest.

"No, it's not about that. But since you brought it up, I think you should tell Antwan's short ass that you're not working with him anymore. You know what? What's his number, I'll tell him." He exhaled sharply as he pulled my arms from around his neck and stood up on his feet, turning to face me.

"Didn't I say I didn't wanna hear it? I'm paying these bills." He walked over to the glass doors that allowed access to our apartment and he opened the curtains, letting the sun in. I watched as his smooth brown skin glowed in the sunlight.

He was perfect. He was my sun and I was his moon. I couldn't live without him and knowing that his lifestyle would either leave him dead or in jail if she didn't get out soon scared the hell out of me.

"Baby, I promise I'm not trying to control your life. I just, I want the best for you. I don't know what I'll do if anybody comes for you. If all you worried about is payin' bills, we can find another way to live." My words were coming off in an almost begging manner as he slipped a loose fitting shirt over his head.

He pretended not to hear anything I was saying but I knew he was soaking in every word like a sponge. I could tell by the way his jaw would clench and how he was throwing things around the room with haste. "I said drop it, E. Gah'damn."

I heard the sound of police sirens right outside the kitchen window, instantly my heart began to race as I looked down at the two squad cars sitting right outside of our building, I turned to face Andre and he nonchalantly walked over to the door despite the police announcing themselves, as he placed his hand on the knob to open the doors I called out for him. "Dre! I'm pregnant."

His head turned in my direction as his eyes grew as big as saucers, a fluttering sensation in my stomach caused me to grab it, it was the first time I had ever felt our baby move. He wasn't only hurting himself, but now me and our child.

"Baby, please don't open that door. We need you." He finally closed his mouth as he turned around, more determined to open the door than ever. Nervously, I placed my hand on my face, my index finger laying against the seal of my lips as I watched the casual interaction between the two cops and my soulmate.

My head tilted to the side as he closed the door on them and he sauntered back over to me, placing his hand on my stomach. His brown orbs stared with intensity into mine, I could feel the love radiating off of his milk chocolate skin as he held onto me tightly.

"You mean, you gon' birth me my own universe?" He asked in a soft tone before he got down on his knees, wrapping his arms around my still flat waist and pressing his ear to my belly button as if he could manually hear a heartbeat. I slid my hand down into his hair and ran my digits through it, visions of our family being complete with a child was all I ever dreamt of.

"For your moon and your universe, can you think about being on the other side of the game?"

"For my moon and my universe, I'll do anything." He replied, pressing his soft lips to the exposed part of my stomach. I closed my eyes, reveling in the union of souls all three of us were having.

It was as the entire world had come to a sudden stop and nothing was in it be me and the two loves of my life, until the sound of a beeping pager ruined the peaceful moment. He stood up and looked at me with an apologetic stare, I nodded toward the bedroom. "Go, but make sure you come back. For us."

➳ ➳  ➳ ➳➳ ➳➳ ➳

I'm so in love with Andre 3000 and Erykah Badu's relationship. So I had to do this one.