it's my birthdayyy 🥳 (also i just published a new book go read it)
onika
Today was Imanis birthday and the day of her birthday party. To say I was stressed would be an understatement.
I woke up extra early to set the backyard up. That's where they're going to be, I don't want a bunch of little kids running around my house.
I set everything up mostly by myself. Amir did everything I couldn't reach but that was it.
I don't know what Bey did but it's like he's a complete different person. It's scary.
Someone rang the doorbell and I knew it was Bey. It was over an hour before the party was actually supposed to start.
I opened the door and she was standing there with a party hat on. I laughed because she's a literal child.
"Hi Bey." I got on my tippy toes to kiss her and she put her arms around my waist.
"Hey beautiful."
"Beautiful?"
"What? I can't call you beautiful?"
"Nevermind. Where's Kelly?" I pulled her inside the house and closed the door.
"Getting the cake."
"Like I asked you to do?"
"It's getting done Onika. It doesn't matter by who."
"Okay." I pulled her into the kitchen. She was just letting me drag her wherever.
"Where's Imani?"
"Sleeping thank God. I can get everything done."
"Do you need help with anything else?"
"No, everything's good now I'm just waiting on the cake."
She smirked, "So what do you want to do until people start to get here."
I matched her smirk, "You could massage my feet. Maybe even my back."
She sighed, "Let's go upstairs."
We went upstairs and she massaged my feet until Kelly got here with the cake. While Bey and Kelly were downstairs, I went to wake Imani up.
She had her outfit next to her on her bed again. She was so excited, I was letting her dress like a Disney princess today.
She got her hair straightened so she's been feeling herself. I'm glad the scarf stayed on while she was taking a nap.
I softly shook her and that was enough to wake her up. I feel bad, she's not even a deep sleeper like how she used to be.
"Wake up birthday girl."
She started to smile, "It's my birthday."
"Your friends are about to start coming over, we need to get you dressed like a princess."
"I can put it on myself, I'm a big girl mommy."
"Well excuse me, how could I forget? Come brush your teeth first."
Imani wanted to do everything by herself because she's a "big girl" so I just watched over her to make sure she was doing everything right.
The doorbell rang and Imani ran down the stairs. I followed behind her to open the door.
Two of her favorite friends came together so they all ran out side to the back together. I talked to the mom that dropped them off for a couple minutes and she left. I hope none of them decide to stay.
Bey and Kelly were acting like fools in my kitchen but I ignored them. I stood in the doorway of the screen shoot that leads to the backyard to keep an eye on both of them.
The next person who rang the doorbell was the face painter. Imani wanted to look like a Disney princess so she was going to get the full experience.
The face painter started setting up and they were going crazy with the candy. I thought it was just an Imani thing, I didn't know other kids were this bad.
I was going to let them do their own thing. Unless they were hurting themselves or something bad, I was going to just mind my business. Imani deserves to have fun.
My problem is, Imani knows when she's doing something bad. She'll make eye contact with me while she's doing something and not care.
Like she knows she's not supposed to be digging holes and pulling grass out of my backyard. She'll see me looking at her and look at me right in the eyes while she's doing it.
One by one, more kids started coming and it started to get louder. There were candy wrappers all over the ground and the pizza wasn't even here yet.
I had everything set up to I wouldn't have to do much. I like Imani but I can't say I love other peoples kids.
They were playing games, it was basically like recess.
Some of these kids are different. I had to stop this little girl from dancing on this little boy. I was crying laughing.
The worst part was when the fake princess Tiana came and the kids basically started terrorizing her. I had to use my mom voice to calm them down.
Since there were two adults out there with them, I snuck away to Bey and Kelly for a second.
I walked into the kitchen and raised an eyebrow.
"Bey told us she could have some of your wine, blame her." Kelly pointed at Bey and Bey slapped her finger.
"Shut up. How are you gonna snitch on me and I'm your best friend?"
"I really don't care about the wine." Like I said, Bey can get whatever she wants from me. Wine is nothing.
I walked closer to Bey and wrapped my arms around her. I needed some loving right now.
Bey grabbed my ass. Yeah, she doesn't need to be drinking around anyone but me.
I raised her hand up to my back but they just went straight back to my ass.
"Bey stop trying to show out in front of Kelly."
Bey didn't say anything but Kelly laughed and that led them to start arguing.
Bey is so nice to everyone but Kelly and Solange, it's kinda cute.
In the middle of their argument I started reaching for Beys wine glass. When she noticed, she picked the glass up.
"What are you doing Ms.Onika?"
"I want some." I sounded just like Imani saying that.
"There's wine glasses right over there." She pointed to where the whole glasses are like this isn't my house.
"Why can't I have some of yours?"
"You know I don't like stuff like that. It's not personal."
"So you can eat my ass but I can't drink from the same glass as you?"
"Kelly's right there."
"I already know about all your ass adventures, don't use me as an excuse."
"What's wrong with you? Like really."
That led to more arguing so I tuned them out. I put all my body weight on Bey and she started subconsciously rubbing my back. She always does.
I stood up straight when I heard the doorbell. It was probably the pizza. I went to the door and opened it.
It wasn't the pizza. It was August.
I can't have one good day?
I tried to close the door in his face but he put his foot in the doorway so I couldn't.
He slowly backed up to make room for me to come out. I did and closed the door behind me, I didn't want Imani to think someone else was here and come outside.
"Leave." I wasn't even going to entertain a conversation with him, I just wanted him gone.
"I-"
"Shut the fuck up, I don't care. Leave."
"Let me talk."
"Why? So you can tell me some bullshit excuse for why you haven't seen your daughter in months? I know you heard that voicemail, you made your decision already."
"You don't have full custody over her, if I want to see-"
"I don't give a fuck who has custody, you're not coming in. You're not tired of hurting her? You don't give a fuck at all?"
"If course I do-"
"If you gave a fuck about her you would leave. Don't come back either."
"You-"
"Leave."
"Let me-"
"No. Bye." We had nothing else to talk about.
"You're about to make me mad, let me talk. Let me see my daughter-"
"The only person you need to be seeing is that dead ass mom of yours, die-" He grabbed me by my neck.
I knew I was getting too ahead of myself. I was just mad.
"Why don't you ever listen? If I knew this was the only way to get you to shut up and listen, I wouldn't started doing it years ago like everyone else."
I was too busy trying to get his hand from around my neck, I didn't care about what he was talking about. He was actually choking me, I couldn't even talk.
I scratching at his hands and trying to pry his hands off me but it wasn't working.
"Like I said, it's my daughter's birthday. You can't stop me from seeing her. On the other hand, I could stop you from seeing her very easily. You need to remember that everything you have is because I allow it. This house, your car, your kids, even your relationship. I'm in complete control of your life, everything moves when I say so."
I was starting to panic but then I remembered something. The cameras.
Despite being chocked out, I smiled a little. I could get him before he gets me.
Before he continued talking, he let me go. I stumbled back but didn't fall and started coughing.
I put my hand on the doorframe so I wouldn't lose balance and fall.
"I'm going to go in there, say happy birthday to my daughter and give her one of her many presents. You're not going to-"
Bey opened the door. "Is the pizza- are you okay?"
She didn't pay any attention to August. She came all the way outside and looked at my neck. I guess he left a bruise.
She didn't even acknowledge him until he tried to walk past her into the house. She put her hand in between him and the entrance.
"Where are you going?"
"To say happy birthday to my daughter. Move."
"No the fuck you're not."
"Who's gonna stop me?"
She slapped him. It wasn't even a hard slap it was more of a 'do something' slap. She was bitching him.
"Go inside Onika."
"But-"
"Go inside Onika."
I went inside. I didn't want her to do anything but she deserved it.
She's going to get tired of having to keep defending me like this. First August, then Amir, and now August again.
I went upstairs to change into something that covered my neck. I didn't want Imani or anyone else seeing that on my neck.
I went back downstairs with a turtleneck on and checked on the kids. I wasn't gone for long, they were playing more games.
I just wanted to be in my bed alone, someone trying to choke you out does that to you.
Bey eventually came back inside with the pizza. She looked mad as hell.
"Thank you."
She walked right past me and took the pizza outside. The kids saw the pizza and lined up with plates.
Bey and I handed our pizza and helped them pour drinks because it was too heavy for them but she didn't look at me once. Not even a glance.
After all the kids were sitting done with their food, she started quickly walking back into the house.
I put the soda bottle I was holding, down and started chasing after her. I'm too old to be chasing after her like this.
"Bey what's wrong?" I grabbed her hand to stop her from getting too far. We were already back inside.
"Get off me." She pulled her hand out of mine and kept walking towards the door.
I grabbed her hand again. "What did I do? Why are you mad at me?"
She finally stopped walking. "Why did you say yes to going out with me?"
"Huh?"
"The second time when I asked you out, when you said yes. Was it because you liked me or because you wanted to make him mad?"
Oh. Damn.
"Kinda both-"
"Both?"
"Bey why does it matter, that was months ago. I'm your girlfriend now."
"It doesn't matter? That was the foundation for our whole relationship and it was based off you trying to make your ex mad."
I get it but I really don't see why it's that important.
"That wasn't the only reason Bey. I like you."
"You like me now but you didn't before."
"Yes I did, how are you gonna tell me?"
"Kelly's already outside in the car but I'll call you tonight."
"Bey-"
"I got punched in the face a couple times, I really don't feel like talking right now. I'll call you tonight, I promise."
"Okay."
She said bye and left. I already know she's about to do that thing where she pretends she's not mad but she actually is mad.
——
i know it's technically been two months since they're been together but they're been together for longer than two months.
Bey?
Onika?
August showing up to Imanis birthday party? Him choking Onika?
Bey getting mad at Onika? Is she overreacting?
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