Y/n Giselle Knowles - 25
Sofia Carson- 28
(long cause ian wanna drag it out too much lol
Lemme know if y'all like long or short chapters)
Y/n POV
"You think they'll mind that we're like five minutes behind?" She asked as I shrugged, rubbing my hands in suspense.
"You can't be late when you're the main attraction," I paused as she eyed me making me sigh as I continued, "We'll make it known we had no idea LA had so much traffic. I understand that time is not to be taken for granted." I said as she gave me a quick smile as we pulled up to the house and I took a look squinting my eyes in resentment.
"Rich people," I scuffed "Then you're a nepo baby." She said making me turn to her with a what the fuck? Face as she laughed lightly.
"I'm joking babe, loosen up. I have your back and front, a hundred percent. Promise," she said reassuring me as I nodded feeling a little better, getting out the car before helping her out.
"Please, come in, take a look around. I'll notify the host that you're here, the guest are scattered on the main floor so feel free to mingle." The doorman said as we nodded stepping foot into the house, our arms interlocked. I need Sofia as close as possible tonight and she understood given the circumstances. I didn't plan on letting her out my sight,
"Champagne?" A server asked as we objected, "No, thank you." We both responded simultaneously as she took a step back her smile still bright.
"Babe?" Sof said catching my attention as we looked at the enormous painting as the centerpiece of the side wall in the foyer. I stared at in disbelief being brought out of my thoughts by a calling of my name,
"Oh my," she said with tears in her eyes. "Can I hug you?" She asked as I looked at my fiancé who gave me a push of confidence as I nodded.
"Uh, yeah, yes ma'am."I said nervously as she embraced me.
"My grand baby! I'm so happy to see you, you've gotten so big." She said holding me tightly as if we'd done this so often."Hey, grandma."I said with a skeptical smile as we pulled away. All of my nerves went away soon as she engulfed me in a big hug.
"My fiancé, Sofia."I introduced as she smiled immediately hugging her as well. "It's so nice to meet you. You're a beautiful young lady. I've heard only good things about you."She said as they started a light conversation, my eyes drifting back to the piece.
"You know she owns 4 of 5 out of that collection? She wanted the fifth so bad but nobody has claimed it for her to be able to buy it. Shawn's been trying to find it as the perfect birthday gift for a while." She informed as I looked at the ground placing my hands in my pocket before looking back at her speaking.
"My father had it. When he died, I, uh, re-claimed it."I said as she nodded in understanding deciding not to push the conversation.
"Your one of her favorite, if not top favorite, artist. She only just found out it was you." She said as I cleared my throat feeling my chest tighten in mixed emotion.
"I'm so sorry, I might be rude to interrupt this beautiful conversation, but grandma could you please point me to the nearest restroom?" I asked as she pointed.
"Down that hall first door on the left." She instructed as I went to leave Sofia grabbed my hand looking at me worriedly, her tone soft, "You need me to go with you?" She asked as I shook my head.
"I'll be just a moment, gotta pee." I lied as she nodded still skeptical. I kissed her cheek, seeing her take my grandmothers hand as they walked and talked about God knows what.
___
5 minutes later...
"Baby?" I heard a knock on the door as I opened it at the voice. "Are you gonna hide in the bathroom the rest of the night?" She asked
"Doesn't sound too bad." I joked as she grabbed my hand pulling me into the living room as the room fell silent all attention our way.
I spotted every familiar , or self explanatory face but my mother's. Sofia nudge my shoulder so I began to speak, "Hey everyone," I decided on a polite wave. I'm guessing, my grandmom felt my awkwardness as she took the floor.
"Um, y/n I'm sure you don't remember everyone and you see some new faces. This is Solange, your aunt."She said introducing her as Solange looked as if she wanted to hug me but decided not too. Really everyone looked at me as if i was an alien.
I felt out of place but I understand the fact that they might've missed the presence of the old me, but also glad that they respected me enough not to bombard my space.
"Her son, your cousin, Julez," She said while he mugged me before Solange nudged him he gave me a head nod.
He looked grown, so to be grown and act like that is crazy work. Especially when youn know me.
" Michelle, Kelly and her husband, Tim," she said as I waved at them, and Tim put his hand out so I shook it.
"Nice to meet you," he said as I nodded. " You too, brother." I responded after dapping him up.
"And of course, Jay, and your sister's Blue, and Rumi." She said as Jay just looked me and down I ignored his ass looking at my little sisters who smile at me, the youngest one toothlessly. I smiled back, I wasn't gone be mad at them, they weren't thought off when everything went down.
But I did have some sort of feelings behind the fact that she threw me away like trash but went on to have not one but three more children and treat them like royalty. But I guess I didn't have a right to feel that way...
"Rumi? Like the poet?" I asked intrigued as Solange spoke up first. Almost everyone looked mellow and relaxed as the tone began to shift in the room.
"Yes, he's one on bey's favorite poets." She said knowingly with a smirk.
"Happens to be one of y/n's too."Sofia said before one of the little girls came up to me. Everyone went silent again looking surprised. Wondering how I would react. "Blue-
"She's fine."I said interrupting Jay as his jaw clenched, he stepped back into his original place. "You're y/n, right?" She asked as I nodded, "Yes, I am."I responded as she hesitated before continuing, "So are you and Sofia going to come around more now that I know you're my sister?" She asked before I could answer someone cleared their throat.
There she was, holding I'm guessing my little brother. "Blue,what did I say?" She said her voice soft but authoritative while blue huffed stepping back crossing her arms. She put the boy down, noticing me and Sofia. I pulled Sofia closer towards me for comfort as she walked closer.
Social media hadn't done her justice because she looked ten times better in person. Everything about her seemed perfect, and I hated it. She smelt like heaven, like fresh air, her aura was pure. The room fell dead silent as she walked deeper in the room. Sofia noticed my unease and grabbed my hand.
I'm guessing Beyoncé noticed too because she stopped only a distance away from me. "Wow," she said in almost amazement. "I-I can't believe you're really here. You have no idea how much I've thought about you."she said softly, I stayed quiet feelings as though I might not say the right things. She took note of my silence moving on to my baby.
"You must be Sofia?" She asked as my baby nodded offering that warning smile I love so much. "Yes, ma'am. Thank you for the hospitality, your home is beautiful." She said as my mother glanced at me before looking back at Sofia.
"As are you. And of course, I'm happy you're both here. Congratulations on the engagement." She said as sof went to respond but her husband cleared his throat.
"Since everyone's here why don't we all start dinner?" He said as everyone agreed. We followed them to the dining room taking our seats. The servers were ready soon as we sat, Beyoncé and Jay at the head of the table.
Throughout the first course everyone had their own side conversations, I just picked with my food with my other hand rubbing Sofia's thigh as she engaged in conversation with the table. I could feel my mother's gaze on me but I didn't dare look her way.
"So how long have you two been together?" Michelle asked Sofia. "About seven years now."She responded.
"Hmm. How'd y'all meet?" Solange asked intrigued, "UCLA, I was her tour guide and she charmed me from the beginning. So it went on from there." Sofia said looking at me to continue.
"We were friends at first, and it gradually became something more. We've been together for five years romantically." I said
"That is amazing, true love, seems like you two took time to learn each-other and not rush it." Kelly said with a smile.
"So like where you been? I mean nobody really talked about you , we ain't know about you till a week ago. Where you come from?" Julez said snarky as jay smirked sipping his wine. I could've rolled my eyes in annoyance, he obviously was a little ass boy. Solange and grandma Tina, went to scold him but I responded anyways.
"I was in Germany for a while. I now reside in Florence, Italy." I said as he mugged me.
"You live out the country?" Blue asked shocked as I looked at her and smiled. "We do."I said
"You don't miss family?" She asked unknowingly.
"Family didn't miss me," I said under my breath taking a sip of the wine myself. Sofia looked at me with alarmed eyes. I squeezed her thigh letting her know I was fine.
"That's not true." Beyoncé spoke up all you could hear was the clanking of the forks against the plate. As I finally looked at her catching myself before I said something that might hurt feelings.
"Y/n-
"So why you here? I mean like I get it but I don't." Jay said interrupting Beyoncé.
"To make my soon to be wife happy. Something some people ain't capable of doing."I responded, I could've rolled my tell Sofia was disappointed at me for that line but was waiting to talk to me in private. She was always with me in public though, another thing I loved about her.
"I can make my wife happy. If I couldn't, you damn sure wouldn't be sitting at my table." He said as I smirked in amusement.
"Shawn," my mother said her eyes darted at him as she made someone come remove the children from the table. "What? We been walking on eggshells the whole night trying not to say nothing . But truth is I don't like you." He said as I chuckled.
"Feelings mutual. But you Also don't know me, and I'm not a child anymore, I'll whoop your ass. In fact I owe you one from twenty years ago."I pointed out as she looked at me.
"Y/n-
"What?" I said cutting her off as her face saddened. "What, Beyoncé? What I do now?" I asked my blood boiling.
"Babe," Sofia whispered as I ignored her. "No, baby, I agree with Jay. Let's stop being fake. Let's put it all on the table. The truth is non of y'all give a fuck about me-not that I care- but a spade is a spade." I paused,
"Y/n, baby, it's so much that you don't know." Michelle said sadly.
"Then tell me. We all grown, right? Tell me, what justifies Beyoncé throwing me away like trash and leaving me for a his punk ass?" I said pointing at Jay.
"She ain't talking to me."He shrugged. "Who am I talking to? You the only punk I pointed at coulda sworn I'm saying it in your face."I said
"You know better."He said scuffed.
"The hell I do."I responded sitting up as Sofia made sure to grab me. I wasn't going to hit him.
"So what your mommy left you. It builds character get over it."Julez said chuckling as I looked at him.
"You know when your momma was pregnant with you, I always pointed at her stomach and said "girl"? I always knew you was gone be a bitch."I said as the smug expression dropped from his face.
"Ma?" He said looking at Solange. "Don't look at me you grown, stop starting shit."She responded shaking her head.
"Enough!" Grandma Tina said prompting me to sit back. I was so ready to go right 'bout now. To my surprise Beyoncé finally spoke up.
"Y/n, I know you are angry at me, and it's not much that I can say but for what it's worth I am so sorry baby...Can we please, please just step away and talk?"She said tears were already in the wells of her eyes.
"No, fuck your sorry." I paused feeling Sofia squeeze my hand. You know I thought about what I was going to say to you, and I realized it ain't enough words known for what I wanna say to you. Almost Everybody in this room was here when you made your decision years ago, why you wanna talk in private now. Y'all a family right? Family don't keep secrets right? I mean I wouldn't know," I said bitterly.
"Y/n I didn't leave you! Your father he..."She trailed off after hitting the table as tears ran down his cheek. Everyone else silent, almost as if they were waiting on her confession.
"He what?" I asked curiously yet clearly upset.
"He gave me an ultimatum." She hesitated before continuing, "He was mad about Shawn, he said Shawn had manipulated him out of his whole catalog and stolen his money and then blackballed him from the industry. When he found out me and Shawn were pursing each-other romantic it drove him crazy. We argued about it constantly, he threatened to expose me, expose Shawn, expose my girls. Until he finally said he would stop as long as I signed something. I was young, I was stressed, of course I signed it, I didn't even think to read it...." She paused again tears flowing non-stop.
"I signed my rights over to him, and I didn't even know. On top of that he had put me on child-support for an outrageous amount. I didn't even find out until I finally caught a break with work, I couldn't wait to see you... I called him asking for you, I remember it like it was yesterday, I was like 'can you bring me my baby? I miss her so much, I wanna spend as much time with her until I have to get back to work.' He laughed lightly through the phone and said 'What do you mean your baby?' My heart had skipped a beat, I was confused but I thought maybe he's playing, but. I didn't find it funny. I said 'Lyndall stop playing, for real, where's y/n' and I swear I could her the smirk through the phone, after a slight pause he said 'Beyoncé MY daughter is with me. Where she's going to stay. You signed your rights over remember?' Then he hung up, he hung up, And my heart dropped," she cried
"I-I felt it break into a million pieces. I didn't understand I couldn't wrap my mind around it. I called my mom, I was on the road freaking out.I called my father. I called lawyers. Everyone confirmed it was true, I no longer was allowed in your life. He pushed me out. My father and Shawn said it was best that I just keep working and they'd handle it, part of me knew it was a lie. They said it was better if I just leave it alone and I listened. So much time passed, I wrote letters. He moved,'then changed his number. I never stopped calling , never stopped looking. He took you away from me y/n, he used you to get back at me and Shawn. He knew it was the only way to hurt me, to really break me. It was never about you, I loved you. I love still you." She broke down, as I looked around the table.
Everyone had hurt expressions on their face. I stayed quiet. "Y/n, baby, please say something, please..."She cried as I finally looked back up at her.
"You're lying, my father died, and you're lying on his name to what? Make yourself feel better? Tell the truth,"I said as hot tears began to run down my face.
"That is the truth y/n. I wouldn't lie about that, why would I lie about this? What do I get? I just want this to be over..."She said shaking her head as her lip quivered.
"It is over. Ion stay nowhere I'm not wanted. Ian need you then and ion need you now. Baby let's go."I said getting up excusing myself, her hand still in mind as she got up as well.
"But I need you. I needed you then and I still need you now. I want you here, with me, please."Beyoncé pleaded crying as I ignored her.
"Sofia."I urged as she quickened her pace getting up as well as we went to leave. I guided her out the house while Beyoncé was hot on our tail , everyone else not too far behind, I opened Sofia's door first allowing her to get in before angrily slamming it shut.
"Y/n please, just stay please, baby, I love you..." Beyoncé said making my pause in my tracks feeling my hear skip a beat. I internally slapped myself back to reality before getting in the car without another word pulling off.
_______
"You're judging me..."I said parking the car pulling into the air bnb audio loft driveway/alley.
"I'm not..." she paused grabbing my chin making me look at her. " I love you, and I understand which is why I also don't blame you. Could you have said less derogatory terms? Yes, but in most instances you were provoked and a clap-back was necessary. Seeing where this went, I'm more disappointed in myself that I didn't let you approach this on your own time, I don't won't you to feel like it was forced."She halted kissing me.
"So no, I could never judge you, I love you," she said making me crack a small smile. "I love you more baby, and no, this needed to happen sooner than later. I'm just happy you were there with me, because it might've went way different. Honestly? I'm just over it," I admitted feeling defeated and butt hurt.
She rubbed her thumb back and forth across my jaw line and I grabbed her hand staring at her lovingly.
"I may be able to cheer you up..."She said softly as I raised an eyebrow curiously. "Hmm?"
"Come on," she said leading me out the car, and up to the loft.
"You had this planned out?" I asked in shock, seeing the unrolled canvas spread on the floor. The furniture was moved out of the way to make room, and I'm guessing so we wouldn't make a mess. My emotions were all over the place right now, and this was perfect. I'd make sure she felt every single emotion...
I was an artist after all,