Chapter 19
1 year later...
Aaliyah
"It's a wrap!" The director yelled, and I slapped a high five in the air with my co star DMX.
I couldn't believe this was happening to me, I just wrapped up the set of my second movie this year. My career has taken a major leap since I finally decided to get an agent. Working on my own was okay, but my skills are much more beneficial now that I have someone who believes in me enough to go that extra mile to make my dreams come true.
I walked off set after I finished mingling with everyone. When I got to my car I smiled, as I unlocked it and got in. I was proud of myself for building up my credit, and saving up my earnings from doing commercials, and SNL skits as well as movies to get this beautiful Lexus.
As much as I wanted to go home, and celebrate on my own I couldn't. I was invited o a birthday party once again. And I was skeptical about going at first since it's been a whole year since I last saw her, but it would be nice to see an old friend.
I drove home to my apartment, and got dressed in my finest. A black fitted dress, that had a slit up both legs, and heels with diamonds around the straps. My hair was curled up, and my makeup was neutral. I looked good, and I just knew going to this party would just bring up a ton of memories I tried so hard to forget. I was hurt for a long time after Janet, and I broke up. I really couldn't control my emotions every time I saw her on TV, or if I saw the billboards advertising her new film. I missed her, and every night when my mind couldn't think of anything else, in bed I would think of her. Wondering what she was doing, how she was doing, and who she was doing what with.
When I was finished getting ready I went to the address on the Card Invitation and it wasn't to far from where I stayed. It was at a plaza venue, and it had valet, with a velvet rope outside with people in line between them.
Janet was doing it big for her birthday. I smiled as I gave my keys to the valet, and was escorted up to the entrance.
After giving my name to the hostess I walk passed the red curtains and into a beautiful setting.
White, and red was all over the place. Red roses, white table cloths, red carpets, and white chandeliers.
I was highly impressed, even though I know Janet didn't do it all by herself. It looked gorgeous.
A lady holding a tray with glasses of campaign, walked up to me.
"Would you like a glass of wine?"
I take a glass off of the tray, and I smile.
"Thank you."
"Your welcome, enjoy your evening." She walks away, carefully getting through the crowd.
I sip on my campaign as I slowly stroll on the sidelines watching the people dance. I was scoping out the faces as I spotted Toni, and Hazel. I walked towards them, and when Toni spotted me she sat her drink down.
"Heeyy!" She opens her arms and we share a hug. We slowly rock side to side.
"How are you Toni, its been a long time."
She moves her hair behind her ear, and she nods. "I'm good, I'm good."
I wave at hazel. "Hey girl."
"Hey you, you looking good." Hazel says pinching my arm.
"Thanks. And Toni that's good, glad to see you two still together."
Toni nods, then she looks away while licking her lips.
Awkward....
"So who else is here?" I ask breaking the silence.
"Uhhh.... Marcus and Jeffrey are here. Your friend Ashley is here, and I think that's it out of all the people you know."
I nod. "Okaaay." I look around. "Where are they?"
She points upstairs. "Up in VIP."
I look up the stairs, and I nod. "Okay thanks."
"We will be up there in a minute, were just waiting for someone."
I nod. "Okay." I walk towards the direction of the stairs, and I was being eyed down hard by the guy who was at the top of the stairs. I'm guessing he was the security, because he had a clipboard in his hand.
"Name?" He asks.
"Aaliyah Haughton."
After scanning the list he lifts up the velvet rope, and let's me by.
"Thanks."
I slowly walk in, and all eyes were on me. It seemed as like as soon as everybody saw me, all conversations stopped, and an announcement was wanted from me.
Marcus, and Jeffrey stand up. Other people were up here that I didn't know, so I just kept my eyes in them two. But Janet was nowhere in sight, as well as Ashley.
"Hey you two."
"Hey Aaliyah." They both say in unison.
"You look good." Jeffrey says as he takes off his shades."
"You don't look to bad yourself." He leans down to hug me, and I rub his back.
"I've been seeing you on TV, you've been doing your thing."
I pull back, and I smile. "Yeah, my career has been going great. I'm blessed."
"That's good. I'm happy for you, I truly am."
"Thank you, how have you been doing?" I sip from glass of wine again as the music changes to soft jazz.
"I'm fighting, and I'm actually doing really well."
I smile. "That's good. Your a strong man, you will get through it."
"I will, it was nice seeing you again."
"It was nice seeing you too." Marcus, and Jeffrey walked away and I turn around to watch them and that's when Janet appeared from around the corner with her face in her phone.
She looked gorgeous. She no longer had those scars, and her makeup was flawless. She looked amazing in her white gown. Her hair was straight, and it reached down to her back.
"Janet."
She looked up, and when she saw me her facial expression was shocked mixed with surprised.
"H...hey." She smiles faintly."
"You look...amazing." I looked over her once again.
"Thanks. Are you enjoying the party?" She places her phone in her clutch.
"The party is nice, and everything but to be honest....I can't really enjoy myself."
Janet looks down at the ground while she bites down on her bottom lip. "I could imagine."
I go into my purse, and I pull out Janet's birthday gift. I hand it to her. "Happy Birthday."
She takes it, and when she grabs the box our fingers touch. She cleared her throat, as she rubbed up her arm.
"Thanks."
I nod as I walk past her, and head back down the stairs. That was the most awkward encounter of all since I've been here. Yeah it was awkward, but it was nice to hear her soft voice again, and to see her bedroom eyes.
I was about to leave but I heard the MC announce that a performance from Janet would be in ten minutes.
Janet...performing?
Damn how much did I miss, last time I checked she was writing scripts for movies, and plays. Now she's about to be on stage, I can't miss this..this is something I must see.
After the ten minute wait the lights dimmed, and the music cranked up from jazz to a rough hip hop tune. I shimmied through the crowd so I can get to the front, and get a better view.
When the lights came back on, Janet was wearing leather pants with a corset top. Her heels were not to high, so she could dance in them. Her hair was the same. She had two women dancing behind her.
When she started singing, and dancing I started nodding my head. She sounded good.
"When you hold me close, words just ain't enough to show...what can I say?" She sang into her microphone.
"I need....you baby...don't leave me...please stay...with me." She was singing her heart out, and after she sang that part we locked eyes. And she looked at me a little longer until the next dance move required her to spin around.
I couldn't help but feel some type of way about those lyrics. I didn't end things between us, and neither did she. We both decided to just go our desperate ways. Things weren't the same between us after that incident with Dimitri, and Tyson.
And I honestly think that's the reason why things changed, and ever since I've been single. I'm just not ready to move on, I still love her. But I must leave, I just hope she likes the gift I got her.
Janet's P.O.V
After my birthday performance I walked off stage to be cheered on by all my party guests. I was happy they enjoyed it but I was looking for Aaliyah. I looked through the crowd but I couldn't find her. It wasn't crowded either so she must have left.
I spotted Hazel walking with drinks in her hands so I jogged towards her.
"Hazel...did you see Aaliyah?" I ask, and she shakes almost spilling the drinks.
"She laughs."Oops...umm...yeah I just saw her walk out." She nods her head towards the entrance.
"Thanks." I walk towards the entrance, and when I get outside I see her waiting by the valet booth.
I walk over to her. "Aaliyah...why did you leave?"
She looks at me, and her eyes are wet. She fans her eyes so she wouldn't mess up her makeup. "I had too."
I purse my lips as I glance at the next car coming up to be taken to valet. I didn't know what to say to her because I know this is just as emotional for me as it is for her.
"You were amazing up there...is that what you plan on doing now...performing?" She asks.
I shake my head. "Not at all... it's just something I did for my birthday."
She nods. "Did you like your gift?" She asks staring out at the sky.
"I didn't open it yet."
"Well I hope you like it. Goodnight."
I furrow my brows.
"This is my car." She clarified noticing my facial expression.
"Okay. Goodnight."
I give her a small wave as she drove off. I honestly thought that all my feelings for Aaliyah were gone. But seeing her again, just made me feel some type of way. But I guess she didn't feel the same way because she left before we even got a chance to talk.
End of Janet's P.O.V
Hazel
"Toni...I'm not in the mood tonight!!" I yell as I walked up the stairs. I looked in my bedroom to see if she was in there but she wasn't. She always wanted to play.
"Need to grow up." I whisper to myself, and suddenly I feel hands wrapping around me from behind.
"What was that?" Toni whispers in my ear.
"You heard me...you need to grow up."
She laughs. I was dead serious, she's plays entirely to much.
"I was just having a little fun. Lighten up." She kisses my cheek.
I hold onto her arms. "Are you cooking tonight?" I ask as we both walk into my bedroom.
"Sure...what do you want to eat?"
I turn around in her arms, and I turn the hat on her head around. "Hmmm...how about meat loaf?"
"I can make that happen."
I smile. "Good...now call your therapist." I lean down, and I grab my house phone.
"Here." I hand it to Toni.
"Uhh... why do I have to call her?"
"Invite her over for dinner. And then tell her you no longer need to see her. Even Janet said that she feels you don't need to see her anymore."
Toni looks down at the floor.
"What's wrong?"
She looks up at me."I feel like if I stop going to her, I'll slip back into my old ways."
I rest the phone down by my side, and I exhale. "Toni the point of therapy is to help you see your wrong doings, and accept them. Now that you know all the pain you've caused, and the things you did that were wrong. You would know now that, you don't want to do those things again because the ending was always ugly. You will be fine, especially if you keep me around."
"If I keep you around?...you mean if you stay around."
"You know what I mean." She hands me the phone. "Call her."
Toni looks at the phone, and she grabs it. "Okay."
She walks away as she calls her therapist. I threw on my Adida pants, and shirt with the sneakers, then I grabbed my phone, and keys.
I needed to go to the grocery store to pick up a few things for tonight. Because I hardly have anything in that kitchen.
"Where are you going?" Toni asks putting her hand over the phone.
"Grocery store."
"Okay talk to you later." She says to her therapist. She hangs up.
"I'm coming too." She slides her feet in her boots, and throws on her jacket.
"Okay...so what did she say?" I ask as I walk down the stairs.
Toni exhales. "Today's her anniversary, so unfortunately she can't make it. But she said she will see me at our next session."
"Okay." I open the door. "Oh yeah...did Janet like her birthday gift?" I ask as I step outside.
Toni closes the door. "I wouldn't know...last night while we were on the phone...she was going on, and on about Aaliyah."
"Oh yeahh...I was shocked to see her after so long. I bet their emotions were all over the place."I unlock the car door, and I got in.
"Psshhh... tell me about it. Janet was talking my ear off about it." Toni gets in, and pulls out her phone.
"Look." She shows me the call from last night, her and Janet were on the phone for three hours.
"Well damn."
"See what I mean." Toni says as she straps her seat belt.
I crank up the car, and I drive off. "They might as well get back together. They were made to be together, so it's only right."
"I don't know...they need to talk things out. But get back together...I don't know. After what happened...I just don't know if I trust Aaliyah like that anymore."
"I'm not even going to ask why. But I have a feeling they will be back together. Sooner than later."
Aaliyah
While laying in bed I was so caught up in this book by Nikki Turner, that I didn't realize I had a text message coming through on my cell phone. I only noticed because the home screen light lit up, and of caught my attention. I grabbed it, and I glanced at the screen. It was a message from a number I didn't have saved in my phone. I opened it, and I read the message.
Ty for the ring, it's beautiful.
I smiled. I was glad Janet still had my number, and I'm glad I didn't change mines.
Your welcome. A beautiful ring for a beautiful woman. Hope you enjoyed ya bday.
I replied. Then I saved her new number in my phone.
I sat my phone down, and I bookmarked my page in the book. I rose up from the bed, and I went into the bathroom. I looked at my reflection in the mirror, and I exhaled. I pulled my hair products out from under the sink, and I decided to wrap my hair for once. I hardly do it as much as I used too. But old habits die hard.
I used my hair wrapping lotion, and my brush to wrap my hair. It took a little minute, but once I was done I tied my scarf tightly around my hair.
Once I was done I laid back in bed, and I glanced at my phone again. I had another text message from Janet. As soon as I clicked on it, I almost flipped out at the message.
Can I come over?
I was literally sitting there thinking of a million other ways I could yes without sounding thirsty. Just keep it simple, she wouldn't sense it.
Sure
As soon as I pressed send I hopped up out of bed, and I went into my drawer and pulled out a dress. It was black, mid thigh length, and sexy. Nothing to major but I knew it would have her eyes roaming.
Wait Aaliyah...what are you doing?
How do you know she's coming over here for that?
"What else would she be coming over here for at this time of night?" I ask myself.
I took my pj's off, and I slipped the dress on. Then I slipped my feet into a pair of cute sandals.
Ding Dong
I walk out of my bedroom, and I walk towards the door slowly. That can't be her, she just asked me like five minutes ago if she could come over. I twist the door knob, and I opened the door.
And it was Janet.
"Hey." She spoke softly with her hands shoved in her pockets. She was wearing distressed shorts, a tank top, and a pair of boots. Her hair was down just like it was at her birthday party.
"Hi...you got here pretty fast." I said as I stepped aside to let her walk by.
"I was already in the area, I stopped to get gas at the gas station down the street."
I nod. "Oh... so the security just let you in?" I close the door, and lock it.
"There wasn't anyone in the booth, so I just drove right in."
I rubbed my hands down my sides as I sat down next to her on the couch.
I rubbed my hands together. "So what's up?"
"I know it's late and everything..but I just had to talk to you."
"Okay."
"There are a lot of things that were left unsaid that night we decided to end things between us." She rubs her hand up, and down her thighs as if she was searching for what to say next. "And...when I invited you to my party, I honestly didn't expect you to show up. But I'm glad you did, because I wanted to tell you how proud I am of you, and how much...how much I've missed you."
I gave her a small smile. "I've missed you too." I leaned in, and we hugged.
"It feels good to hear you say that." Janet says as she grabs the back of my head. That's when I noticed I still had my scarf on. I forgot to take it off.
"Shit." I mumbled under my breath.
Janet pulled away from the hug.
"Did you say something?"
I shake my head. "Oh..no..I just forgot I had this scarf on..that's all."
"I've seen you wearing a scarf before."
"I know but..."
She presses her finger against my lips. "Shhhh."
"Don't say it Aaliyah."
I grab Janet's hand, and I hold it.
"Janet...I'm not gonna lie." I close my eyes. "When you asked to come over, I thought of you being here...wanting me in the worst way." I felt Janet's hand on my shoulder making it's way up my neck.
"So I put this dress on, hoping it would get you excited. And make you want me...because I damn sure want you."
I open my eyes to see Janet biting down on her bottom lip.
She looked as if she was enjoying what I was saying, and that was a good thing.
But now that we were sitting here together, I was dying to know.
"Have you been with anybody else?"
Janet shakes her head. "No...what about you?"
I shake my head, then I lean forward to kiss her. I grab her face, and I lean over on top of her. I wanted this, and I wanted it bad.
I straddled Janet, as she deeply pressed her fingers in my back. She slowly pulled my dress up, and off above my head. She threw it to the floor as she skimmed her teeth up my neck.
She stopped kissing me, then she wiped her mouth. "Wait."
"What's wrong?"
"Why are we doing this?" Janet asks looking up at me.
"Because." I wrap my arms around her neck. "We're horny, and we miss each other. And this is why you came over...right?"
She furrows her brows. "No...I came over to talk." She grabs me by my waist, and she moved me from off of her.
I exhaled. "What's wrong Janet..why can't we do this?"
"Because...I don't want to get back together."
That made my heart fall. I couldn't believe what I just heard.
I fold my arms across my chest. "So why are you here?" I ask gritting my teeth. I didn't even look in her direction, I looked straight ahead because I was beyond livid.
"I came over to talk to you just like I said a few minutes ago. I want us to be friends, I don't want to loose your friendship because we're not together. But I will admit I was a little turned on by what just happened."
"I don't wanna be friends Janet."
"Why not?"
I look over at her with a glare. "I'm attracted to you, I think your sexy, the way you walk turns me on, and even your voice turns me on...how could I be friends with someone I would think about fvcking every second of the time?"
She was speechless, she held her head down as she shook her head. "If Toni did it, so can you."
"Toni has never seen your pu-
She cuts me off. "Okay..okay...whatever. If you don't want to at least be friends, then I'm not going to waist my time trying to persuade you." She stands up, and steps closer to me.
"Goodnight."
She walks towards the door.
"Okay Janet."
She stops, and turns around on her heel.
"I'll talk to you tomorrow.....friend." I grab my dress, and I stomp down the hall towards my bedroom.
***
Comment & Vote !!
Should Aaliyah & Janet get back together or Nah??
Do you think Toni doesn't want Aaliyah, and Janet back together because of her own reasons, or because of what happened?
What do you think? Let me know.