Aaliyah POV:
"I can't believe you're sixteen Li. I can still remember when I first met you. You called me mom and you only knew me for like ten minutes." Mama laughed as she curled my hair with her curling wand.
"I know Mama." I laughed along with her. I could tell she was trying not to cry by the look on her face, "I was right though, you are my mom." I said smiling at her through the mirror.
"Yeah." She said giving me a half smile before a tear slipped out of her left eye and down her cheek.
"Awwww." I cooed with a smirk on my face. She laughed before hitting my arm. "Don't cry Mama. I'll always be your little princess." I said making her laugh.
"You just grew up so fast and I'm proud of the young lady you've become. Your dad and I are really proud of you. I know you've been through a lot in your life but you're so strong and I really admire you for that." She told me.
"Mama, stop before you make me cry." I whined as I fanned my eyes frantically she had already done my makeup and my face was beat to the Gawds. I didn't have time to have tears messing up my lashes and my contour.
"I should've known y'all ass's was up here crying." Daddy said coming into the room unannounced and without knocking. He knows Mama does not play that, I don't even know why he tries it with her.
"Bye Daddy." I laughed.
"That's fine. Say bye to your little funky ass sweet sixteen too." He said smacking his lips.
"Don't listen to him baby, I wouldn't let him do that." Mama said rubbing my back and playfully rolling her eyes at Daddy as she wanded the last section of my hair. I watched her as she pulled apart my curls a little before fluffing my hair and spraying it.
"Nigga, you're not the boss of me. Try again." Daddy scoffed. I shared a look with Mama through the mirror and we both busted out laughing.
"But yet you do everything she says. Okay Daddy." I laughed before smirking at him. He smacked his lips before he hit me upside her head, making my head fly to the side. I couldn't even do anything but laugh, the way my head moved, it looked like my neck broke.
"Stop, before you mess up her hair Khalil." Mama said popping his hand and pushing him away from me. She was worried about him messing up my hair and my damn neck was broken. I watched as she laid my edges down and then gave my hair one last spray before unplugging her iron.
"Thank you Mama, I love it." I sang as I got out my phone. I took a few pictures before making a snapchat video while playing in my hair. "Special shoutout to my stylist and makeup artist for today. The baddest woman in all of Cali, my mother, Armoni Jones." I said putting the camera on her. She smiled before taking a bow and then blowing a kiss as she put away all of her hair and makeup products.
"Armoni Jackson." Daddy yelled in the background, correcting me. "Her name is Armoni Jackson."
"Nigga, bye." Mama scoffed, making me laugh.
"That's all for now folks. Happy Birthday to me." I sang into the phone before sticking my tongue out and ending the video.
"Have a good day at school baby, I love you." Mama said kissing me, careful not to mess up my makeup.
I left the sitting room of her closet, where she does her hair and makeup and headed downstairs to my room. I still had to get myself dressed for school, I was only in my bathrobe and undergarments.
I quickly changed my clothes so I wouldn't be late to school this morning. I had on an all black Alexander McQueen skater dress that stopped right above my knees, a denim Levi jacket, and my black Givenchy sandals. I walked into my closet, looking for a purse to carry today. I had so many to pick from, my head started hurting.
I finally picked my coral Givenchy bag and then I filled it with all of my necessities.
I put on my gold link chain necklace, a pair of gold studs, and my gold Rolex. I put my backpack over my shoulder and put my purse in the crease of my right arm.
"Aw, you look so pretty baby." Poppa said giving me a hug once I finally came down the stairs. Him, Daddy, Aunt Imani, Ashlyn, and Uncle Mike were in the kitchen sitting at the table.
"Thank you Poppa." I smiled before leaning up to kiss his cheek.
"Oh hell nah." Daddy said shaking his head once I came around the table to hug him and Uncle Mike.
"What?" I asked frowning.
"That dress is too damn short." He said trying to pull it down, making my boobs pop out a little.
"Leave her alone Khalil, she looks fine." Mama said coming down the stairs with Chris behind her. She had London on her hip and Chris was holding CJ.
"My LiLi is growing up y'all. Damn." Mike mumbled, as he shook his head. I smiled before going and sitting on his lap. "Girl I remember when you was born." He said as he wrapped my arm around his neck.
"Cutest baby you've ever seen huh?" I asked with a smirk.
"Actually no, you were an ugly little baby." Aireka said making me smack my lips. "But you're beautiful now." She laughed."
"Yeah, you was lowkey ugly. Now that I think about it." Daddy laughed.
"She was a little bald headed ass baby too." Poppa laughed making me mug him. It was my birthday and these fools were really over here going in on me.
"That's fine." I said rolling my eyes before I grabbed my purse off the table and stood up from Uncle Mike's lap.
"Don't listen to them Aaliyah. You're the most beautiful sixteen year old I've ever seen." Ashlyn said. Normally I would've been flattered but ever since my Daddy told me she was gay, I've been trying to stay away from her ass. Especially since he told me she had a crush on Mama.
I don't have a problem with gay people, my best friend is gay and I love everybody. I just don't like when people come at me with that gay shit. That's so disrespectful.
"Um, thank you." I mumbled to her, making Daddy bust out laughing. I looked at him before laughing as well,
Daddy and I have a weird ass relationship. He's more of a friend than a parent. Our bond isn't as strong as it used to be but that doesn't mean we love each other any less. He spoils me with material things and he gives me everything I want, but at times I just want him to be a parent to me, I want him to always be there. I don't want to have to wonder if he's going to be there for me. Sometimes I feel like something is going to happen and he'll leave again. That's literally one of my biggest fears.
"Your ride is here baby." Mama said as she smirked. I raised my eyebrow and she gestured for me to follow her out to the front yard. I followed her to the front door and almost passed out when I saw the matte pink G wagon.
"Is this mine?" I yelled.
"Happy Birthday baby." Mama grinned. I scrunched my face up as I tried not to cry. I rushed her in a hug and wrapped both of my arms tightly around her waist. "Don't cry baby, you're gonna mess up your makeup Li." She warned.
"Thank you Mama." I cried.
"You need to be thanking your Daddy too." She said as I pulled away from her. She used the pads of her thumbs to blot away my tears without ruining my makeup.
