42

Janet

The front door opened and little footsteps ran my way as I pulled a pot out the oven. Eissa came running towards me as I sat the pot on the stove and took the mittens off. Smiling at him, I picked him up. "Hi Prince."

"Hi momma." He mused back.

"How was school? Have a good day?"

He nodded excitedly. "I got a good color today. Oh and my music teacher is teaching me how to play Beethoven."

"Really? That's good Prince. Where's Butterfly?"

My son pointed up. "She went to sleep. Mommy was sad today momma, why?"

"I don't know Prince. Got some homework?"

"Yes ma'am." I placed him back down on the ground as he continued. "I have division."

"Okay, well go start that and I'm going up to check on Butterfly. Ok?"

"Ok." With a nod he went back towards the front and I heard him grab his backpack. Walking up the stairs, I walked into our bedroom and saw my girlfriend facing away from me in the bed.

Crawling in behind her, I placed my arms around her as my fingers ran through her curls. "What's wrong baby?"

When I peeked over I saw that her eyes were closed as she replied. "Nothing. Just tired mama. That's all."

"You sure that's all?" I asked as I kissed her forehead.

"My moms charges jumped to first degree murder." She mumbled. "My heads killing me. I've barely been able to sleep and Ember wants to abort the baby."

All of that had made my head hurt as well. I didn't blame her for taking a mid day nap. I'd need one too.

"Wait. What?"

"Yeah and then Carmen isn't helping shit. I've been working on getting Joy a classroom... it's just a lot."

"Joy?" I questioned with a heavy tone from just hearing her name.

My girlfriend opened her eyes and looked back at me. "Calm down. It's just the quicker I get her a classroom the quicker she isn't my assistant. I promised her a teaching position before all of this shit hit the fan, and I'll stick to it. Now it'll just be for personal reasons though."

"Oh okay." I let up some.

Kyrin smiled at me. "Woman you have absolutely nothing to worry about. Don't even flinch when you hear that girls name because she has nothing on you. Absolutely positively nothing. I love Janet Jackson. No one else. Well, of course Eissa and my sisters and—."

"I get it baby. I get it." I cut her off and she chuckled as she shrugged.

"Just saying."

"I'm not worrying, I just don't like that girl. I warned her the first time and if she knows like she better know, then she won't make me have to repeat myself."

My girlfriend smirked on me. "Ou, every time you take that daddy tone I be feeling like I'm your wife or something."

"You technically are. All you're missing is the ring."

"You are too. I'm already building a ring for you in my head."

"Don't tell me. I wanna be surprised." I replied.

Kyrin chuckled. "I got you."

"Would you rather a circled diamond or a squared? Oh or a diamond?" I asked her.

"How come you get to be surprised but I have to build my ring?" She asked me as she side eyed me. "But, I love traditional. So a circle diamond is cool for me. Have you ever thought about colors?"

"I like silver. What about you?"

She thought it over before shooting a confused glance. "You know I've never thought about color. That doesn't really matter to me."

"Hm." I hummed back as silence hugged the empty space where the conversation once was.

"Thank you." Kyrin muttered after a long bit of silence.

"For what love?"

"For everything. When my days are long you hold me through them. When they seem short, you fill them with laughter to make them last longer. I literally just told you I was stressed out and exhausted and you made me forget all about it. So thank you baby, seriously."

"You don't have to thank me baby, because it seems you always forget that you talk me through those same situations. You do just the same amount of giving as I do. Trust me, it's no need to thank me."

She smiled at me. "Jesus, what would I do without you?"

"I don't know. Probably be sad all day." I teased for her to push me slightly. "Hey, lets go out to eat tonight."

"Baby, I don't know. I'm tired." She pouted.

"Please? We haven't did any dates here lately and plus it'll be somewhere where no one will do too much talking. My moms been pushing me about seeing Eissa. So she can watch him til we get back. We can go somewhere nice." She still didn't seem sold and I continued. "Could invite your sisters."

Kyrin groaned before saying. "That just makes my head hurt worse baby but fine. We can go."

"So is the sisters a no go or?"

"No, invite them whores."

I chuckled as I got up. "Alright. I'll text them."

She held her hand out and I pulled her up after me. Her hand immediately found her head as she rubbed her temples before sighing. "Alright. I know us so we call them now, give each other thirty minutes then meet downstairs. Break."

Agreeing, I grabbed my phone and sent out the text messages. I also texted Joey to come and get us with Ember and Juliette. Quickly walking into my closet, I grabbed my outfit and some heels. Putting them on, I let my hair fall down my shoulders.

Brushing my teeth, I finished and sprayed perfume on my body as I put lotion on my legs and arms. I went downstairs and back to Eissa. He wasn't doing his homework anymore but instead playing with his toys in the living room. When he saw me he took a double take. "You look pretty mommy."

"Thanks Prince. Butterfly and I are going out tonight. Grandmas coming to watch you. Is that okay?"

He nodded excitedly. "Yes! Grandma cook pie."

"Grandma isn't cooking any—." The door to my house opened and my mother walked in with a pie in her hands. "Okay, I stand corrected. Hello mother."

"Hello my daughter. Where's my daughter in law?" She smiled as she looked around.

"Bae!" My girlfriend yelled out just in time.

"Yeah?" I yelled back.

"Black or gray?"

"Go for black!" I yelled out. She didn't reply but I heard a loud thud and asked. "You alright in there?!"

"I hit my fucking head! I don't wanna talk about it!"

I couldn't help but giggle at her as my mother shook her head and yelled up the steps. "Watch your mouth daughter in law!"

Footsteps came quickly to the steps and Kyrin peered over the railing. "Sorry Momma. Hey!"

"Hey daughter. I baked you and Eissa a pie."

Looking at her, I eyed her skeptically. "What about me?"

"Didn't I say Kyrin and Eissa?" My mother asked me as she stuck out her tongue and headed to the kitchen. Looking up at my girlfriend coming down the steps, my mouth dropped open.

"Damn." I commented.

She smirked at me as her eyes raked up and down my body. "I can say the same thing Miss Jackson. Ready?"

My mother walked back into the foyer and smiled. "Oh my babies! You all have fun but not too much fun. You hear me?"

"Yes ma'am." We both answered.

Ky pointed towards the door. "That's Joey?"

I walked over to the front door and I saw that Joey was outside. "Come on. Joeys outside."

We walked outside just as Joey honked the horn causing Kyrin to yell. "Jesus Joey!"

He put the window down. "Sorry. Didn't think you all knew I was out here."

We got into the truck and saw that Phoebe was in the back with Ember. Kyrin turned as if she was about to ask a question but quickly stopped herself as the truck took off.

It stayed like that for 20 minutes. Silence.

We all sat in my truck silent. Kyrin's head was against the window because she was tired and barely wanted to go out at all. Juliette was in the front seat holding Joeys hand. Phoebe was in the last row with Ember because Tiffany was running behind and said she would meet us at the restaurant.

I tapped my girlfriend and she looked at me, I poked her cheek and she smiled as she rolled her eyes playfully. "Cheer up baby, it's just dinner."

"I know. I know. I'm just a little tired. I been doing too much for my body to take here lately." She mumbled back.

"Like having sex with Janet? Okay." Phoebe commented causing everyone to look back at her.

"Believe it or not, Janet and I's schedules haven't allowed us to do much of anything here lately." Kyrin told her.

"This is our first night together in what? A week?" I asked.

She nodded and Phoebe yawned. "You whores are boring."

Kyrin corrected her. "Nah, not boring. We just working."

"Then, these folks in the front just cuddled up, front seat style." I brought it up.

Juliette looked back at me and chuckled. "We rarely get breaks ourselves."

Noticing Embers abrupt quietness, I turned and looked at her. "You okay?" She settled with sending me a head nod that only convinced me something was wrong.

I looked at Phoebe who only rolled her eyes in response. Shaking my head, I turned back and settled on getting on my phone since the thick silence had filled the vehicle once again. We pulled up to the restaurant some time later and everyone got out the car.

Walking in, they immediately sat us for I had told Joey to call the owner and let him know I was on my way. We were on the second floor of the building and could see the first floor which was filled with people who didn't pay us any mind.

The table was set up to where we were in a circle. Starting with me, Kyrin, Joey, Ember, Juliette then Phoebe. The waiter came and took our drink orders and soon came back with them all.

It was silent at the table before I broke out. "Alright, what's up with everyone? Why is this so awkward?"

Nobody answered at first and then Kyrin sighed. "What is the problem? Everyone's been silent since the truck ride."

Phoebe frowned. "Well, I'm bummed because Tiffany isn't coming. We've barely seen each other. I just miss her."

"Nah, you just don't think she can be faithful so you wanna keep an eye on her and you haven't been able to do that. That's what it is." Ember muttered.

"Run that back. What did you just say?" Phoebe asked her with a raised eyebrow.

Ember didn't back down. "You heard me. I didn't whisper. You don't trust her, so now you stressing. Just say that."

"What's yo problem?" P asked. "Cause you been making little side comments for a minute now and I been letting you ass slide but I'm getting tired of your ass."

"If you're tired then take a nap. Didn't you have your damn comments about my relationship?" Ember asked in an inquiring tone.

Kyrin placed her head in her hands as she mumbled. "Don't do this in public guys."

Footsteps walked up the steps and we turned to see it was Gil. I smiled as I stood and hugged him. "You made it!"

"Hey babymomma. Hey everyone." He greeted as he sat in the end where Tiffany was supposed to be. Only Joey and Juliette replied and he looked at me. "Did I miss something?"

Phoebe scoffed. "Oh yeah, you missed my sisters bad ass attitude and her unwanted and unasked for comments about Tiff. That's about it."

"Shut the fuck up Phoebe. It's not anyone's fault that she isn't shit but hers. Stop protecting that bitch." Ember commented.

Aw. Now she didn't have to call my friend out of her name like that.

Juliette placed her hand on top of Em's. "Calm down."

"She ain't no bitch. If she's a bitch then Juliette here is." Phoebe commented and everyone's mouth dropped.

Ember got louder. "If Juliette's a bitch then now I see why Tiffany won't stay faithful. I mean, who wants to be loyal to someone who is so damn quick to snap?"

"Stop it. Now." Kyrin commanded both of them just to be ignored.

"Bitch, worry about that marriage that you don't wanna walk into. Have you told your triangle that shit?" Phoebe asked as she pointed at Joey and Juliette causing them to look at Ember.

Marriage? Oh shit. They had proposed to Ember?

"Bitch! You—." Ember was cut off and not by me or Gil.

Kyrin stood up as she slammed her hands on the table causing the silverware and glasses to shake. "Shut the fuck up! Shit! I'm sick of hearing it. You two are fucking sisters and act like you aren't! Give me a damn break! I deal with children all damn day just to leave work and deal with some more."

My girlfriend hasn't snapped like this before and I quite honestly didn't know what to do. Sure she's been upset, but never to this extent. Her eyes had darkened but it wasn't the type of dark I was used too. She was finally breaking and letting everything out but this wasn't the setting to do that in.

I reached out and touched her thigh. "Baby, it's alright. Calm down."

She shook my hand off as she continued snapping. "No J!" She looked back at them. "Grow the fuck up! I'm stressed to the fucking max and you two do your fucking share of adding on to that. Mommas charges have went up and I couldn't even tell you two, I had to take that shit to my girlfriend! My fucking girlfriend is stuck listening to shit that she shouldn't have too because my sisters are too damn childish to handle it! I'm sick of you too and—."

Gil pulled me up as she continued yelling. "We gotta go."

I shook my head. "No I'm not leaving her."

He pointed to the first floor and people were looking and some were recording. "Bad look J. Let's go. Now."

Gil grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the restaurant quickly. When we got outside I pulled away. "Gil, that's my—."

"I don't care! Think that shit through. Let's go! If someone sees you and ties you to that girl, it'll look bad on you. You all had drinks on the table so that means the waiter can easily squeal on you. Get your ass in my car and I'm taking you to Momma Kats."

Shaking my head as I followed him, I objected. "Take me home Gil."

"For them to bring all that drama in your house tonight? No. You have practice tomorrow and you have to stay focused." He unlocked his car as he pointed to the passenger door. "Get your ass in Janet."

Sighing, I took another look at the building before opening the door and sitting in the seat. This wasn't the night I expected it to be.... at all.