Summer's mine
I swear I said about a hundred times, I'm gonna need it back
I wish that you would come and find me
Just to tell me that I haven't changed, girl I needed that from you
I'm getting money just taking care of me, girl
I'm spending time just taking care of me right now
I'm getting money just taking care of me, girl
Cause you'd be tired of taking care of me by now
But the good ones go
The good ones go, if you wait too long
But the good ones go
The good ones go, if you wait too long
So you should go
You should go, before you stay too long
Don't you go getting married, don't you go get engaged
I know you're getting older, don't have no time to waste
I shouldn't be much longer but you shouldn't have to wait
Can't lose you, can't help it, I'm so sorry, I'm so selfish
Uh, uh, I've been chilling in the city where the money's thrown high and the girls get down
In case you're starting to wonder why my new shit's sounding so H-town
But when it's all done, baby, I'm yours if you're still around
She knows, she knows, she knows
- Drake, Good Ones Go
I opened my front door holding Ming in my arms. I pulled her small suitcase behind me walking into the living room. Sam had set up a ‘Welcome Back’ poster that stretched from one side of my mums’ living room to the other. When Ming laid eyes of Sam she slid down me and ran into his arms. Sam bent down picking her up. To my surprise she immediately started crying, complaining about how much she missed him and how much she loved him. I watched my little sister in disbelief.
Jim and mum trailed behind me with their much larger suitcases depositing them in the corner. Jim grinned at the poster whilst my mum also went to hug Sam.
“We missed you!” She said as they embraced. Sam shared a short embrace with Jim.
“I know. It’s been so hectic without you.” My mum smiled obviously happy that she had been missed.
“Aaliyah was telling us all about it on the drive from the airport.” Jim noted removing his jacket.
“Yeah. Who knew planning a wedding would be this hard?”
“It’s worth it, Sam. Trust me.” Jim said. I cooed at how much my mother and Jim were still in love with each other. They had been on the ‘honeymoon phase’ for the past 5 years.
“Sammy,” Ming said getting Sam’s attention. “I got you a present.”
“Did you?” Sam asked surprised. He put Ming down on the floor as she opened her small suitcase. She removed a tiny gift wrapped box, one that could probably hold a ring. Sam opened his mouth wide as she opened the box revealing the pendant. It was gold with an infinity sign. It was way too small for Sam’s neck.
“For me?” He asked smiling. Ming nodded proud of the reaction she had gotten.
“It’s for you, to give to me.” Sam watched Ming carefully still smiling. He looked at up at me with a forced grin, I knew he couldn’t’t believe the cheekiness of her either. “It’s the sign you have on you tootoo,” That was how Ming attempted to say ‘tattoo’, “So we can be like twins” She announced proudly. Sam nodded agreeing with her. She turned around ready for her own gift to be given to her. Sam moved her hair that was in a low ponytail to the side and placed the pendant around her neck. “See!” She shouted when he was done.
From the way that Sam interacted with Ming I knew he would be an amazing Dad. Sam was definitely her favourite, he always whispered things that made her laugh, always knew what sweet she wanted before she asked for it and always ready to take her to the zoo or aquarium. As Sam was crouching next to her, she was able to pull down his crew-neck jumper exposing his tattoo. The tattoo he had gotten last year when he proposed to Katy. It was a medium sized infinity sign that spelt ‘Katy’ over his heart.
With one hand, Ming held the tattoo under her palm and her necklace with her other hand. “It means forever?” She nodded answering her own question.
“Forever and ever Ming.” He answered as he kissed her on the cheek.
***
It was the second to last wedding rehearsal before the wedding. This time, more of the people who took an active part in the wedding were able to come, therefore it was running a lot longer. Ming, who was the flower girl, fiddled on my lap trying to get comfortable. She was beginning to frustrate me as she had been 'trying to comfortable' for the past hour.
The weather was a lot better today, the sun had showed its face the whole day without a cloud in site. I fanned my face ready to have Ming off my lap. It was too hot to feel someone else's body heat in you lap, but Ming insisted on it. As it was a hotter day, we were able to have the rehearsal in the castle gardens, where the ceremony was actually going to be held.
Ming and I sat at the last row waiting for Evelyn to announce that it was her turn.
Ming and I sat at the very last row in the castle gardens.
“Ming!” Ming jumped up from my lap and I let out a sigh of relief. This summer dress was not short or light enough to keep me cool.
I watched Ming as she took a deep breath in. Jim had said that she hadn’t stopped practicing whilst they were in China. She picked up the basket of rose petals that was on the empty chair next to us. She stood at the end of walk-way. She started to walk down the aisle and threw the flowers at a steady pace. The ‘flowers’ were only paper cut outs as it was only rehearsals. Ming reached the end and took a seat at the front. She waved at Sam who was already standing at the altar.
“Bridesmaids and Groomsmen!” Evelyn barked like an Army General.
I stood up from my seat. Melvin and Louise walked in. They walked down the aisle, followed by Hannah and Tony, and Jim and Courtney. I stood up as Omari walked in. I met him at the beginning of the isle. I gave him a short smile sliding my arm into his. We walked down the aisle then separated to opposite ends of the altar. Katy followed behind with her Dad.
Evelyn did a quick run through of the ceremony before ushering us where the reception would be. The reception was taking place in the ballroom hall inside the Castle. The room was not set up yet as there were still two weeks but Evelyn talked us through the dance area, the open bar and the seating area.
We were dismissed finally. Louise and I spoke as we walked out of the castle. Still, no one had come up with any good ideas for the Bachelorette party and time was quickly going. We had barely two weeks to book or reserve anything. She told me that she’d look into something as she had an idea.
“Mum,” I shouted at her from across the car park. She was my ride back home but she wanted to be talking to everyone. I had a shift starting in an hour. She turned around. I pointed at my watch reminding her of the time.
“Come here” She called. I rolled my eyes making a noise. I dragged my feet back to the entrance of the car park where she was talking to Katy and Sam. Jim had made an early escape, leaving with Ming over an hour ago.
“Mums just told us where we are going for our honeymoon” I gave Sam an indifferent look. Jim and Mum had promised to deal with their honeymoon as a wedding present to them both. I had known for the past year exactly where they were going. This conversation wasn’t worth me being late for.
“Likuliku Lagoon” Katy grinned excited. I tried to pull a smile to show my non-existent happiness.
“Fiji is always so beautiful this time of year.”
“Ok jetsetter.” I muttered. Sam snickered but tried to hide it when my mum gave me a dirty look.
“I’ll email you all the details.” She said giving both Katy and Sam a kiss on the cheek.
“Thank you again Mary,” Katy hugged my mum.
“I’m coming over for dinner.” Sam said to mum as they hugged. “And I’ll pick you up after work tomorrow yeah?” He said to me. I nodded hugging them both.
I strapped up when we were finally in the car.
She turned the engine in and began to slowly reverse. “Why are you in such a rush?”
“I have a shift soon.”
“Mm,” she gave me a look, she didn't believe me.
“What do you ‘mm’?”
“I mean, mm” She repeated. “I saw Omarion.”
“Ok.”
“Mm”
“What do you mean by ‘mm’ mum?”
“I mean mm.” She shrugged pulling out of the castle. “When was the last time you spoke?”
“Last week.”
“That’s good. You guys never stayed in contact when you left did you?” I shook my head confirming. “That’s such a shame. You two where stuck by the hip. Every time the door went it was guaranteed to be him.”
“Ok.” I said. I was feeling so uncomfortable by this conversation.
“Why did you two ever break up? His mother and I could never figure it out. Neither of you spoke about it or each other again.” I shrugged.
“People just drift apart.”
“Not best friends. Not first loves. I still talk to my first love.”
“Well considering that you have a child from him, it’s not really a choice.”
“Even if we never had you, your Dad and me went through things. I wouldn’t change him or our time together.” I inwardly sighed. It would nearly be an hours drive back into London. If my mum continued to try to pry about what happened, I knew I would be tempted to throw myself out into the motorway. She remained silent as we drove to through the village, throwing me looks every so often. It was when we hit traffic in the motor way I gave in.
I sighed. “We ended on a really bad note so we never stayed in contact. But we spoke last week and patched it up.”
“Is that why you were so eager to leave just now?” I shrugged.
“It’s weird. We didn’t sort out the problem, we just agreed to forget about it.”
“So then what’s the problem?”
“I don’t know. It’s been a long time. I don’t know what to say to him anymore.”
“Say whatever’s on your mind. He’s your friend right.”
“But what I want to say I can’t say.”
“Why not.”
“He’ll think I’m jealous or lying.” My mum looked confused so I explained. “His girlfriend came into A&E with another boy who claimed to be her girlfriend.”
"And you don't want to see like the crazy ex ruining his relationship?"
"Exactly" I sighed again. "This is the part you give me some sort of amazing advice mum"
"Nope."
"What do you no?"
"You're a big girl now Aaliyah. You need to be able to sort out problems by yourself. You know what you should do."
***
I walked out of the hospital taking a sip from my water bottle. I scanned the large car park trying to spot Sam’s car. I was tired as I had been on my feet since 5 this morning. I moved back onto the pavement as his white BMW pulled up in front of me. I opened the passenger seat sliding in and clipping in my seat belt.
“You alright?” Sam asked pulling out of the hospital. I nodded as he turned right towards Central.
“Busy day?” I nodded slinking back into my seat. I closed my eyes. I just wanted my bed.
“There was a car accident and my tutor let me do the displaced fracture operation.”
“Which is?”
“A snapped bone. Sam I thought I was going to throw up.” I shuddered thinking about the 14 years old snapped fibula.
I heard Sam snort. “What kinda doctor do you wanna be?”
“A good one. But you don’t see a snapped bone every day.”
“Did the operation go ok?”
I nodded. “My tutor said it was ok. I made a small mistake but no one died.” I shrugged. I heard Sam chuckle.
I opened my eyes running my hands through my face. “What do you need from Central?”
“Um, something to wear for my Bachelor party and just get a late lunch with you. The weddings been crazy. I don’t see you that often anymore.” I nodded agreeing.
Sam finally drove into Selfridges parking. I internally smiled.
“I don’t have anything to wear for Katy’s.” I hinted.
“Ok.” He dismissed me. I still tried to get Sam to buy me things even though I was working. I think Sam secretly liked being my big brother although he complained.
We got out of the car. Sam checked he had everything before locking the car. “Katy wants me to pick up something for her mum aswell.”
“Cool.” We got into the lift going up the main floor.
“Is your mum coming to the wedding?”
“You know she is”
“No Sam. I mean you mum, mum.”
“I told her not to bother if she’s bringing him.” I decided not to press the issue any further. Sam still didn’t get along with his step-father. His mother didn’t side with him all those years ago, which was why he moved in with us all those years ago.
"Superstar!” Sam touched hands with Omari. I internally made a noise. I had seen him more this past week than I had for the past 5 years. “Sunglasses during the day time?” Sam asked. Omari laughed pushing them up.
“I’m just popping in here. I don’t want to disturbed.”
“Of course. The struggles for being famous.” Sam jokingly replied.
“Not even.” Omari chuckled. I smiled too. It was the cutest thing watching him try to be humble when I knew he was far from it. “I just need a tie for a charity event tonight.” Sam nodded. Omari finally turned his attention to me.
“Hi.”
“Hey.”
“We’ll leave you to be rich and famous then.” Omari laughed touching hands with Sam.
“Bye.” I waved back at him.
“Sam you don’t have to do that.”
“Do what?”
“Not talk to him because I’m here. I know you two are close.”
“We aren’t that close.”
“He’s your groomsman.”
“Ok. We are close,” He admitted smiling. “But you’re my sister. I won’t put you in an awkward situation.”
“It’s not even that awkward anymore. We’ve buried the hatchet.”
“That’s why you can barely look at him for more than a few seconds?”
“Whatever Sherlock. Just get your things.” He raised his eyebrows but didn’t’t argue with me. I trailed behind him as he picked a few things out.
He went into the changing room leaving me to sit outside. I played with my nails, how long did it take for him to try on a shirt? I was sleepy as it was.
“Aaliyah?”
“Charlie?” I hugged her. I used to work her when I was still in college and she was my manager.
“I didn’t know you were back?”
“Yeah, I just haven’t been around her.” We caught up and exchanged numbers. It was like seeing a ghost from my past.
“Do you know which changing room my cousin went into?”
“Um, try the third one.” I thanked her walking down the changing room corridors.
"Sorry!" I closed the changing room door as quickly as I had opened it. I don't know how I had made such a stupid mistake.
"Nah it's ok" I could hear the smile in his voice. "Come back in, I need your opinion on something." I opened the door again slowly still unsure.
I struggled to find somewhere to look with him still… topless. Why didn't he have shame? Why didn't he put a top on before he invited me back in?
Omari seemed unfazed, which made me even more uncomfortable. He picked up two ties and held them up in front of his torso.
Still..topless.
I decdied to rest my eyes on the shirts that were hanging on the wall. He was obisouly in the middle of changing.
"What do you think?" I looked at the one on the right. It was very precise, very chiseled with black writing on it. I moved onto the left, also very neat and toned, less writing. Omari raised his eyebrows waiting for an answer. I realised that he was talking about the tie not his torn and toned torso.
"Um, the left looks good." I pointed at the geometric print in different shades of blue. "What color is your suit?"
"Dark Navy."
I nodded. "Definitely left then."
"Thanks." I nodded again.
I cleared my throat. "We'll, um, I'm gonna get going. I'm going to get lunch with Sam."
"Alright.” I nodded. “This is like old times though.”
“Old times?”
“Remember when I walked in on your changing when you were shopping with Sam?”
“Oh.” I said remembering. I cleared my throat. Why was I still in here.
“"You look good Lee." I thanked him, subconsciously running my hands through my sleek side parting low ponytail.
"Thank you." I replied coyly, looking at him through my eye lashes. He contained to stare at me, so I looked at him back. We kept eye contact causing my butterflies to fly around furiously in my stomach.
"Do you wanna grab something to eat, catch a movie or something?"
"I can't. I’m having dinner at Sams" he nodded.
"We can go another day?" I offered. He nodded agreeing.
“Tomorrow?”
“Night shift. The day after?”
“Yeah, sounds good.” I smiled.
"Lee, you ready?" I heard Sam shout.
“I have to go.” I smiled at Omari before opening the changing room and following Sam’s voice.
"Dinner and a movie?" He questioned.
"Dinner and a movie" I repeated innocently.
"When I say to Katy dinner and movie, I mean 'I want to be knee deep in you tonight'."
"That's disgusting Sam." I said shoving him away.
"Dinner and movie," he repeated. "I'm serious Lee. You better be careful."
***
I watched Sam shuffle through music on his laptop. His eyebrows were furrowed as he poured all of his concentration into this. At times, he would play a song for a few seconds, before tutting and stopping. He would start this procedure again every few minutes. We both sat in silence on the sofas in his living room. He shared the flat with Katy, but she had left early in the morning to meet with Evelyn to discuss and buy flowers. The silence in the room could be cut with a knife. With the amount of concentration showing clearly on his face you wouldn’t’t be mistaken in thinking that he was diffusing a bomb.
In reality, all he was doing was picking the song for the first dance.
He sighed in defeat pushing the laptop back. “Melvin is probably right.”
“What do you mean?”
“He told me to stop stressing and just play an old school Birdman song.” Sam chuckled running his hands down his hair. The hair that was long overdue a cut.
I smiled at Melvin’s comment but Sam had to be serious. This was their love defying song. It had to be perfect. It had to tell their story in a way that both he and Katy could relate to. I didn’t say any of this though. Sam knew how important this was, and he was so stressed over it.
“This is the only thing that I’ve been left in charge with and I’m struggling.”
“You’re not doing anything else?”
“I was meant to be doing the flowers, but when I asked Katy the difference between South African roses and Indian roses she lost the plot.” I smirked. “There isn’t a difference by the way. Her and Evelyn are as crazy as each other. I remember they told me to leave when I couldn’t’t tell Cream Coconut and Cream Eggshell apart.” He shook his head rolling his eyes. “Crazy. There’s not difference.”
I laughed but tried to get Sam back on track. We had been at this since 10 am this morning. It was now nearly 3 in the afternoon. “Have you tried Whitney Houston?” I suggested. He shook off the idea.
“Too cliché.”
“Marvin Gaye?”
“Katy doesn’t like him.”
“Beyoncé?”
Sam made a face, clearly not liking the idea. “At my wedding?” He scoffed.
“Frank Sinatra?”
"Na."
"Nina Simone?"
"She's the second song playing"
"Adele?"
"Heartbreak"
"Taylor Swift?" I asked getting desperate. Sam ignored me.
"Bon Jovi?" He shook his head.
"Patrick Swayze?"
“Aaliyah, I don’t want any of these old people. That’s not me and Katy.”
“Well what exactly are you and Katy then?”
He shrugged. “In love. Happy. Have the best sex.” I closed my eyes but quickly opened them trying not to visualise my cousin like that. “I don’t know how to explain it, Aaliyah. Every time I look at her, hold her, fxck her, I’m falling for her all over again. It’s gone past the point of me wanting her. I need her. I don’t see me waking up without her.”
“Try ‘Simply falling’, Iyeoka.” Sam typed something into his laptop. In seconds Iyeoka’s soothing voice filled his speakers and the room. I watched his reaction as he closed his eyes. When the song went onto the chorus a small smile crept on Sam’s face. He started to nod his head slowly to the beat. Just as the song finished, Sam pressed replay. Again, Iyeoka’s noticeable voice filled the living room. On the third play Sam opened his eyes.
“It’s perfect.” I nodded in agreement. ‘Simply Falling’ was the perfect mix of what Sam wanted. The pace was slow enough for a first dance at a wedding, yet it still had the soul and kick that Sam and Katy’s relationship had. The lyrics were exactly what Sam had just described to me, though more poetic.
Sam smiled showing all his teeth. He nodded approvingly towards me as he once again replayed the song. “It’s really perfect Lee.”
“I know.” I grinned cockily.
“I knew there was a reason I kept you around.” I ignored his comment, instead, I pulled my legs closer to me and listened to the song.
Later in the evening Katy returned home with shopping bags. I had seen their room, she really had no space for all these bags. By the look on Sam’s face, he was thinking the same thing as me. He pointed at them with his mouth slight ajar.
“What’s that?”
“Hi to you too,” She said putting the bags on the floor. She walked over to me hugging me. “You ok lil sis?” I nodded. She sat next to Sam giving him a peck.
“I’m good. What did you buy?”
“Some little things.” She sat down next to Sam. He still looked unimpressed. “It’s for the honey moon.” She said removing her heeled boots. Sam’s scowl started to turn into a coy smile. Katy chuckled shoving Sam away.
“You hungry?” Sam grunted. Katy stood up ushering me into the kitchen. I took a seat on the island whilst she removed her coat and rested it on a chair. She opened the fridge and started to take out vegetables. She turned on the stove and took out a pot.
“I’m gonna be back in an hour babe.” Sam said walking past the kitchen. He now had shoes on with his keys in his hand.
“Alright.” She shouted. As soon as he closed the door Katy and I turned to each other with massive grins. Over the years Katy and I had gotten close, even more since Sam proposed.
“I have so much gossip!” She grinned.
“So do I!” I said. Katy slid a cutting board and the carrots and lettuce towards me.
“Ok, you go first.” She said boiling the kettle. She took out a knife, a grater, put them in a bowl and placed it next to me.
I washed my hands before I started. I sat back down and gave her the rundown with what had happened with Omari today.
"Katy I didn't know where to look." I said feeling flustered even thinking about it.
"What do you mean?"
"He was there, all topless and you know..." I struggled to find the appropriate word.
"Hot?"
"So fxcking hot." I repeated sighing closing my eyes. I covered my face so ashamed at the thoughts that had ran though my kind when I saw him.
"Omari is very attractive." She admitted. I shook my head still very ashamed. I was most ashamed at the fact that he was so calm. But then why shouldn't he be. We had seen each other naked before so what was the big deal now. I hated the fact that I was acting like a giddy teenager again.
"I know." I agreed sinking into my pit of shame. "He has more tattoos now."
"I know. Sam went with him and Chris to get his sleeve finished a few months ago."
"Is Chris coming to the wedding?" Katy nodded checking her phone.
"Is that ok?" She asked once she had seen my facial reaction.
"Yeah, off course." Oh God. If there was anyone I was dreading to see it was him. "I just haven't seen him since I left, that's all."
"Mm, well him and his girl are coming. I'm sure it'll be fine. You know all that's in the past."
"Good."
"Sam was debating whether to invite Luke as well. You know they started talking again after Luke's mum passed"
“Oh.” I never knew they started talking, or that Luke’s mum had passes away. "Sam never mentioned it."
"You know what he's like. He just wants to protect you. "
"From what exactly?"
"Everything and nothing. If it was up to him you'd be living in a dungeon some far far away place."
“I know.” I said sighing. I remained silent as I thought about how I’d react when I saw Chris and Luke. Should I react? Should I pretend that everything ever happened? Should I even say hi to them?
"Honestly, if Sam wasn't putting a ring around my finger I know I would allow Omari to put a little something on me" She giggled returning the conversation back to Omari. "Honestly Aaliyah, don't be so uptight. It's ok to think other people are attractive."
"It's really not. Especially you're ex." She shrugged.
"You're telling me if Sam was oodling over," I tried to remember one of Sam’s ex-girlfriends. "Julie, let's say, you would be ok with that?"
"Yeah I would. As long as it stops at him appreciating her beauty. I can't expect or ask for his eyes to stop working only because we're together." I breathed out again loudly running my hands down my face.
"I won't even see him that much after the wedding anyway.”
" ...and he will remain a distant memory for those lonely nights with the dildo."
I shrieked. "Katy!"
"Fine. Lonely nights with your hands. If that's your things" I laughed covering my mouth.
"You're actually ridiculous"
"And you're being too serious. You're with Greg and you love Greg. Omari’s with Stacey, you'll never be in a position to make any mistakes ok. Just chill"
"I do love Greg." I agreed.
"Sam loves Greg too. He's always talking about him since he took him to work that day." Greg was a graphic designer for a games company and Sam was a big boy. He loved games and loved hanging out with Greg at work.
"Do you like Greg?" I questioned.
"Honesty?"
I nodded. Katy was a big sister to me, her opinion mattered.
"He's a good ute Lee." She said in a deep voice imitating Sam. "Nah honestly he's a good guy. Everyone sees how he looks at you like your gold, and you're so happy and confident when you're around him." I started to grin. "But," which quickly disappeared. "You guys are still so young. You're only 24 and he's 25. Something or nothing could be happen."
I nodded understand her point. "It seems like forever today, but it may not tomorrow."
“Does it seem like forever with Sam?”
“It does. I never thought I could imagine myself with one person for the rest of my life when I was younger. Even when we started dating I knew we would last, but I wasn't sure if it would be forever.”
“What makes you so sure now?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. You just know, you know. Sam supports me, makes me feel sexy, and makes me feel smart. I’m just so excited to come home to my best-friend for the rest of my life.” She smiled a she spoke. Sam really did make her happy. She made him happy too. When they both spoke of each other they seemed so proud, as if they were about to burst of happiness.
I wasn’t sure if Greg and I were at this point yet. I saw myself with him for a long time and we had been together for a long time, but I don’t think marriage was on the cards for us just yet. I didn’t want to get married myself for a few years anyway.
“So who else is coming to the wedding that Sam hasn’t told me about?”
"Um, the twins are coming."
"Both of them?" She nodded. I passed her the grated carrots and lettuce in the bowl. She took some of it out and put it in a bowl. Sam was the pickiest person I knew. When he had salad that was all he had. She passed me the cucumber and the rest of the vegetables to make the rest of the salad.
I had kept in contact with Kayne so I knew he was coming. But with Kwali, much like everyone else when I left I cut him out. I hadn't seen him once.
"Have you seen them recently?" I shook my head.
"Kayne was like a year ago at Generals birthday party, I thought I'd see Kwali too."
"Last year April." Katy questioned. I nodded. "Oh, he was in jail then."
"Jail?" I dropped the knife.
"Yeah, Sam went to visit him, I remember"
I was so shocked. Kwali, the one always laughing. "Jail for what?"
"Minor arson? I think. Something to do with fire."
"What? Kwali?"
"Yeah. He tried to set someone's house on fire." Kwali always had a temper on him, but I never thought he would be stupid enough to get arrested. Whose house did he even try to put on fire?
"Is he out now?"
"Yeah. He's changed since he's been to jail."
"For the better?"
"Depends. He get angrier a lot easier, but he doesn't get angry often. He's usually calm. Every time he's come around he's been a perfect gentleman but Sam says all it's gonna take is the wrong crowd and he's gonna spend most of his life in and out of jail."
"Oh"
"I know. I remember he used to be a sweet little boy. Now he's all tatted. He's a lot quieter too."
"Oh." Why hadn’t Kayne or Cecilia said anything? Why hadn’t anyone said anything?
"You'll catch up with him anyway at the wedding"
I agreed. "Yeah. I have a lot of catching up to." This wedding was looking to be eventful.
***
"Where's Gregory?"
"Volunteering" I expalined opening the door open for Ceccilia, Steven and Paul.
"T'aww" Steven cooed sarcastically.
"Shut up, Steven"
"What? I'm being nice”
"You know what you're doing."
He put his hands up in defeat.
I lead them into the kitchen where I had already set out dinner. C praised the food, taking a seat and digging already. I laughed taking a seat next to her, whilst Paul sat on his daddy’s lap. I enjoyed having them around for dinner. It gave me an excuse to use the nice plates.
“I heard you and Omari are going out for dinner.” Steven stated. Cecilia’s eyes bulged out.
“Really?” She questioned. I nodded.
“It’s not a big deal.” I replied casually. “It’s just dinner and a movie.”
"Oh, sex?" Steven questioned. Why did everyone think that a food and a movie meant sex?
"No, literally food and a movie. I just don't know if it’s that appropriate"
"Well.." Steven trailed off. Cecilia threw him a dirty look.
"I don't plan to kiss him or anything, but I don't know how Greg would feel about me going"
"He shouldn't feel any type of way. You're adults who can control yourself. Greg knows how close you and Omari were even if you did go out"
"He doesn't" I almost whispered.
"He doesn't?" Steven and Cecilia said at the same time.
"Well he knows I had a long term boyfriend before uni, but he doesn't know the name or the face"
"So when he met Omari he didn't know that that was your Omari" C questioned.
"Yeah" Cecilia sighed
"As long as you know you're not gonna do anything. He's your friend now right? Go see your friend."
We finished dinner discussing Stevens’ upcoming dissertation. I really couldn’t believe that Steven would have more degrees than me. I made us tea as we moved into the living room. Cecilia and I were indulged in our conversation about the upcoming wedding and what everyone was going to wear. Steven and Paul kept trying to get out attention but I hadn’t had a proper sit down with her in ages.
"Come on my little g. Let's leave mummy and Aunty to have a bitch."
"What's a bitch?" Paul asked innocently.
Cecilia looked at me to confirm that Steven had sworn in front of thief son. I nodded apologetically. She stood up clearly angry. "I'm actually going to kill him." Steven saw her charging, he let go of Generals hand and jogged towards the door. Cecilia started running after him. I couldn't stop laughing as I heard the door bang and little General’s feet running after his parents. I got up jogging towards them, catching up to General in seconds.
I picked him up walking down my hall towards where I could here Steven screaming for help.
"Mummy and Daddy are so crazy." I said opening the fire escape door. I closed it as soon as I opened it, not wanting or needing to see Stevens tongue that deep down Cecilia’s throat. That was the thing with those two, Steven would do something that would piss Cecilia off. They would start arguing and strangely, according to Cecilia it turned them both on. Well, that's how General even got here in the first place. She assured me that the arguments never turned violent and they never seriously fought in front of General. General just thought it was a game of 'it', hence why he was chasing after them.
***
I answered my phone on the second ring. It was a with-held number.
“Hello?”
“Hey, you alright?”
“Hi Omari.”
“You good Lee?”
“Yeah. I’m on my break at work.”
"Alright, I won’t keep you. I was just looking at the movie listing for tonight, nothing looks good."
I was slightly disappointed "Oh"
"Yeah," the line remained quiet. "Is Bridget Jones still your favorite movie?"
"Yeah of course"
"I have the DVD's, if you wanna come over. We can get a take away instead."
"Um,"
"Unless Gregory won't be ok with that." I rolled my eyes.
"Just send me your address.”
I hung with questions running through my mind, and a smile playing on my face.
***
I knocked on the front door of his penthouse. I felt so out of place in this part of London. This was the part of London I came to do Christmas shopping then go home to my humble flat in London Fields. He opened the door. I smiled as he moved to the side allowing me to walk into. He closed the door behind me.
“Hey,” I greeted him suddenly shy.
“You alright?” I nodded. He put his hands in his grey tracksuit bottoms. Lord knows how I was a sucker for a grey tracksuit. He led me into his living room. I looked up at the ceiling surprised as just how high it was.
“You’re flat is lovely.” I commented praising open plan white living room. The wall was pure glass overlooking the Thames.
“Thank you.” He nodded. “You can put your coat down." I took my coat off revealing my low v neck white blouse that I had paired with casual ripped jeans. "Let me give you a tour." I nodded allowing him to lead me around the flat. It was two floor with exposed stairs that cut through a corner of the living room.
If felt airy, with most walls being pure glass.
Between the free standing bath, glass-less walk in shower and a balcony that over looked the Thames, I couldn't decide which part of the house I was more jealous off. The penthouse fell short of being a bachelor pad as he had pictures of his family, especially Kara scattered all over the house. I wondered how safe this place was for Kara until I saw all the child locks around the house, with two on the door that led to the balcony. He showed me her room, all pink with a princess framed bed in true Kara fashion.
We circled back to the living room. I tried to stop looking like such an amazed child.
"Take a seat, I'll get us some drinks." I thanked him taking a seat on his white leather sofas. This living room was open plan linking into the kitchen. The colour pattern was white, silver. He must have had an interior designer, I couldn’t imagine Omari picking out the Art Work that hung on one of the walls.
The "TV" came down from a ceiling. I turned around a spotted the projected on the other side of the wall. I crossed my legs as Omari returned with two glasses and a wine bottle in his hand.
"Are you allowed to drink?" I questioned remembering that he was in season.
"I'm a footballer not a Muslim." He joked. He opened the bottle with the cork and poured me half a glass.
"Where's Kara?"
"Mums. She stays with Chloe when I'm in season. It's a lot easier." I nodded.
"It must be hard being away from her."
"It is. But it's worth it." I looked around his pent house again. It was definitely worth it.
"Chloe keeps complaining that she coming out like me when I was younger" I nodded. Chloe had known Omari since nursery. "Well, the bad traits." I chuckled taking a sip from my glass.
"Does she misbehave at school?"
"Yeah. We got her enrolled in a prep school and she's causing them hell"
"A taste of your own medicine"
"Seriously. If I had known that I caused my mum this much stress I would have calmed down"
"Well what has she done? It can't be that bad"
"She threw her lunch at the dinner lady"
I tried to hide my smile. She really had picked up Omari’s bad traits. I remember when Omari was angry his favourite thing to do was to throw things. Expensive things sometimes. "Why?"
"She doesn't like meat and they served her steak"
"How much is this school she's going to?" I asked laughing but I was shocked. All I remember from primary school experience was Turkey Twizzlers, and no one could even be certain that it was Turkey.
"Way too much for her to be acting like that" He chuckled making me smile. He still had a beautiful smile. He still had those dimples that gave me palpitations.
"Have you spoke to her?"
"She acts like am angel around me. I don't know where she's picked this behaviour from." I laughed. This was exactly how Omari’s mum felt with him.
"You have worse days to come. You were a lot worse than throwing some food around”
Omari held his chest pretending to look shocked. "Steven was a bad influence. I was just an enabler"
"Steven?" I questioned.
"Yes!"
"Steven, the one who is currently working for this second degree"
"Listen," he said laughing, "I don't have a criminal record ok. So I obviously wasn't that badly behaved. Steven was a devil"
"You were as bad as each other!"
“Na. Steven was the spawn of Satan. I remember when Steven threw a girls glasses in her face.”
“What?” I asked already laughing. I could just imagine him.
“Yeah. He removed her glasses from her face only to throw them back in her face.” I held my stomach. I had to take a moment to calm down.
"You threw fireworks at people for banter!"
"Steven fought a bus driver"
"You nearly fought a teacher"
"Steven switched when the teacher told him to shut up!"
"You got kicked out of three colleges!"
"Steven robbed Gregs" I laughed even harder at Omari laughing. I remember when the women in Gregs told him that the Sugar Ring doughnut were finished, so he went around the counter and took any other doughnut that looked good. Till this day, why they both didn’t have criminal records baffled me.
"Despite your ridiculous violence, you were just mean to everyone. Remember you used to call me a 'neek'?" Omari nearly spat out his drink.
"I haven't heard that word in ages"
"You bullied me with that word." I remembered, “‘Neeks got attitude, Neeks getting angry" I said in a deep voice imitating him. “’Neek thinks she’s buff’”
"I was flirting." He tried to defend himself.
"By doing an annoying commentary on my life?"
“We'll it obviously worked. Remember when I took your virginity.”
“Um” I stopped laughing immediately. I struggled to even hold Omari’s gaze. “Um, yeah. Fun times.” I said awkwardly.
“I remember you started speaking Chinese.”
“I did not.”
“Yeah you did.” He said ginning. The mood lightened up again. “Are you still a sucker for hugs from the back?” He asked pouring our third glass now of wine.
“Are you still a sucker for neck kisses” I think this was… friendly flirting? If there ever was a thing like that?
“Only yours.” I held my poker face not wanting him to know that I had instantly melted inside. I played with the hem of my skirt unsure where to take this conversation.
“Aaliyah,” I looked up at him through my eyelashes. “You’re still the most beautiful girl I’ve met.”
“Omari-“
“It’s just an innocent observation.” We remained silent for a while.
“Remember when you turned up at my house when the police were looking for you?” He grinned and started laughing. “You caused me so much stress Omari” I said pushing him but laughing too.
“You stressed me too. You loved to tease me.” I laughed remembering all the time I pretended that I wanted to have sex only to turn around and say I was joking.
“You had crutches. Why were you trying to do styles when you could barely walk?”
“I’m talented Lee. I can do anything.”
“Whatever. I only teased you when I was a virgin anyway.”
“Oh, so when you lost it you became a freak yeah?”
I scoffed. “I pleased you.” I said confidently. His tinge rested in the edge of his mouth. He smirked and nodded.
“I can’t dispute that.”
“And I was not a freak, thank you very much.”
“So what you did that day after we went Cinema was normal.”
“Shh.” I said blushing.
“Don’t be embarrassed. I tried to get Stacey to do that.”
“And?”
“She doesn’t like getting dirty.” He shrugged. “I bet Greg is enjoying.”
“We are not discussing my sex life Omarion.”
“Why not.”
“Because it’s personal.”
“I just told you about Stacey.”
“I never asked you to.”
“Fine.” He shrugged.
“Are you going to sulk like you used to?” He nodded. I smirked watching her cross his arms like a child.
“Ok.” I gave in. I adjusted myself getting comfortable. “What do you want to know?”
“Does he do it like me?”
“That’s a deep question Omari.” He shrugged. “It’s been years. Even if I wanted I can’t compare.”
Omari gave me another mischievous smirk. With his deep voice he almost whispered, “Do you want a refresher?”
I laughed unsure if he was joking. “You need to chill.” I warned jokingly.
“I’m joking. Don’t answer that.” I nodded. “He makes you happy?”
I nodded.
“I’m glad. You deserve a good guy.”
“He is a good guy.”
“How did you meet?”
“Um Uni. Through mutual friends. We just clicked straight away.”
“Love at first sight?” I thought about it before nodding. It was love at first sight with my Greg.
“Do you believe in that?”
“What love?”
“Nah, love at first sight.” I nodded.
I rubbed my lips together when he didn’t say anything. The silence and the gaze were becoming a little too intense for me.
“So, Bridget Jones?” I asked. He cleared his throat before nodding.
“I had planned to just get you drunk.” I snickered as he pressed play.
Omari paused Bridget Jones Two when the front door opened. We both turned around to Stacey. She turned the light on not yet realizing I was here. She put her bags down and looed up, when she finally noticed us. I smiled at her, which she returned with a scowl.
“You alright babe,” Omari greeted her casually.
“Why is she here?” Ok then. I stopped smiling and looked down at my nails. This had gotten real awkward real fast.
“I invited her.”
“Why?”
Omari scoffed not answering her question. Well, it was his house..
“Can I talk to you in our room please.” She didn’t need to put such an emphasis on ‘our’, I knew he was hers.
Omari stood up pushing the Pizza box to the right. He walked into a room with Stacey’s loud heels following behind.
Before she got in the room she started, “Are you taking the piss? I spent all day trying to find something nice to wear for you.”
“Yeah, using my money.” Omari replied as a side note. He wasn’t even trying to keep his voice down.
“That’s not the point. I come here and I see you drinking wine laughing with you fxcking ex.” There was silence. I could imagine Omari giving her a, ‘what’s your point’ look.
“You don’t see the problem do you?”
“Not really”
"Do you think this is a fxcking family reunion? Sitting there drinking the wine that my man bought" Omari remained silent. I wish I could tell her that shouting at Omari never worked. The silent treatment was a lot better. "Why is she wearing a top like that anyway? With ripped jeans. Why is she trying to entice you?" Again he remained silent. She really should try the silent treatment, always worked with me.
“Fine. Sit there with your ex. Do not call me.” I jumped up realising that she was about to storm out. It was my place to leave so I started to put my coat and shoes back on.
As I predicted, the door swung open with Stacey storming out. Omari trailed behind her with his hands in his pockets.
“You don’t have to go Lee.”
“Yes you fxcking do.” I made a face but decided to bite my tongue. I understood why she was angry.
“You pay rent now?” He asked her. I was not going to be standing here whilst they argued.
“Fxck you Omari.” She shouted picking up her coat. Stacey wasn’t going anywhere.
“I’ll see you later Omari.” He sighed. He walked me to the door.
“I’m surprised you remained calm.” I noted.
“Years of anger management.” He smiled. “Stacey’s on her period or something. Sorry.”
“It’s fine.”
“No it’s not. I’ll make it up to you.”
“Omari it’s fine.”
“I want to.”
I agreed just wanting to get out of this domestic.
***
“It’s beautiful”
“I know.” I smiled agreeing with Greg. He had come with me to the wedding rehearsal. We were walking around the castle hand in hand.
“Like you.” I giggled as he hugged me from the back. I was such a sucker for that.
“Ok love-birds. We’re starting.” Sam called. “We can talk about that ‘thing’ after the rehearsal yeah?” Sam winked at Greg. I looked at them both but they just had a weird smile on their faces.
“What thing?”
Greg just smiled. He held my hand as we walked downstairs into the ballroom.
“This is where the reception is.” I informed Greg.
“Is that Omari?” He asked more interested. I nodded.
Greg smiled over at him. Omari was sitting on a table with the other groomsmen. “No one at work believed I met him. I can ask for a picture right?”
“Maybe, Greg I don’t know. But look at the ceiling.” I pointed up to the painted ceiling. If I were to ever get married I wanted it to be in one of these castles. It looked like a page out of a fairy tale.
We sat on one of the tables waiting for Evelyn to finish with Katy and Sam. Greg looked down at his watch.
“I have to get back to work. Are you ok to get home?”
“Yeah. I’ll get a ride from Sam.” I kissed Greg before he left. As soon as he walked out I missed his already. I loved having him close to me, I felt warmer in some way.
I moved to sit with the other bridesmaid as Evelyn started talking. I would not miss her annoying high-pitched voice when this wedding was over.
“This is when we will have the first dance.” Evelyn said taking notes. “Sam and Katy on the dance floor.” She pointed without raising her head. “And on the second chorus, everyone will slowly join in.”
Omari opened his hand out in front of me. I giggled as he had bent down like a gentleman. I put my hand in his palm and stood up. He placed his hands around my waist, his fingers resting on my behind. I rested. I hands around his neck. My neck found a place on his chest.
Nina Simone's 'To love somebody' began to play. It made me feel nostalgic. Omari's mum used to always play this song around their house. He hated it at first but soon enough he began to hum and sing along to it. "You used to love this song"
I felt so comfortable as we slow danced to this song. I hadn't heard it in such a long time.
"I know. I think I still do."
***
"You slow danced with him?" Cecilia shouted, startling General. His head sprung up from his Batman figurine like a Meercat. He watched his mother, who sat with me on the kitchen table with teas in our hands, analyzing the situation. When he decided that it was ok he returned to his toys.
"You slow danced with Omarion Lee?" She repeated slightly calmer. I nodded innocently.
"It was just a dance." I replied sipping my green tea.
"It's not just a dance Aaliyah." Cecilia put her cup down getting serious. "It can never be just a dance with you two. And you know that"
"We danced, we shook hands and left."
"Shook hands?" I nodded. "And you went to his and reminisced about the good times last week?"
"Yes. What's the big deal?"
"The big deal?" C scoffed. "You'll be fxcking by the end of the week" she dismissed.
“Did you tingle when you danced? How did you feel” I snickered.
“Nothing,” I took another sip of my tea. “It felt so comfortable Cecilia. Like no feelings nothing.”
“You keep sipping that tea.”
***
Despite Cecilia’s warning, we were not 'fxcking', as she so bluntly put it, by the end of the week. Instead our relationship went in the exact opposite direction.
Friendship.
We had swapped numbers again and had been texting each other constantly. We would send each other pictures from back in the day or remember a really funny story. It was like I had found my buried treasure that I had lost all those years ago.
I locked my phone placing in back in my pocket after replying to his message. I unlocked the computer at the desk and continued to look for Mrs. Hamptons files. My tutor had called in sick today and all the patients that he was meant to see were passed down on to me. I printed out her files before logging back out.
I scanned through her medical history walking back to my temporary office.
“Aaliyah!” I turned around to the last person I’d expect to visit me. Stacey.
“Hi,” I greeted her. She met me in the hallway.
“The receptionist said I’d find you in your office.” I remained silent watching her. “In here right?” She smiled opening the door uninvited. I bit my tongue remembering that she was Omari’s girlfriend and that I was at work. I followed behind her into my OWN office. Well, it was temporary mine. I took a seat on the desk placing Mrs. Hampton’s files on the desk.
Although I highly doubted it, I asked “Is this a medical visit?”
“No. Social.”
“Social?”
She plastered a fake smile. “Social.” She put her large Tote bag probably worth two months of my rent on the floor. She flicked her long bone straight hair to the side as she seized me up. “You have a nice set up here.” Her acrylic nails pointed around the room.
“Thank you.”
“Omari has a nice set up, wouldn’t you say?”
“Yeah, I would say that.”
“Mm.” She nodded her head. Her legs that were in a pair of painted leather pants crossed. “We have a nice set up.”
“That’s lovely.” I looked down at my watch expressing my lack of time. She didn’t get the message though. “Unless there’s something medically wrong with you, I have patients to see.”
“It’s cute to see that you have your little job.”
“Saving lives on a daily basis is a little job isn’t it?” I asked smiling. “A lot easier than looking pretty for a camera.”
She chuckled again flicking her hair over her shoulder. “I don’t have much time so let me make myself clear. Stay away from Omari.”
“Or?”
She scoffed. She was surprised that I had questioned her. We aren’t in Secondary School, the ‘pretty girl’ didn’t rule the ‘geeks’.
“Or else.”
“Are you really in a position to be making threats?” I asked her. Did she forget that I knew she was cheating?
“Oh, I think you’ll find I am. Remember I came in here a while ago. With all those bruises.” I raised my eyebrows waiting for her to expand the relevance of that. “Well, what if I said that Omari did that.”
“He wouldn’t do that.”
“We both know that, but I’m sure a few newspapers would pay me thousands to know otherwise.”
“We have on record you fell down the stairs.”
“Don’t women say that all the time?” I remained silent. “Don’t think you hold any of the cards Darling. I’m not losing Omari or my life to someone like you. So, you carry on looking at old women’s bowl problems, and me and my boyfriend will enjoy our lives. Ok?”
She picked up her bag as she stood up.
“Oh, before I forget Ashley, if you tell him about our agreement, I might add in a few more injuries. Ok?” When she smiled you wouldn’t have thought that we had just had the conversation we just had. “See you at the wedding.” She closed the door and I breathed out.
Finishing Power is taking a lot longer than I expected. I keep saying 2 more chapters, then I write 3 more. There should be about 3 chapters left. I mean it this time!
Looking like this is gonna be a tense wedding *devil horns*
#10,000Words #PrayForMyFingers