𝐀 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐔𝐬

𝐗𝐕𝐈 - 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 = 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠

***

No more drama in yo' life

Work real hard to make a dime

***

March 16, '01
Yana

"You're not coming?," I whined on the phone, not in the least ashamed of my infantile tone. "You said you'd be here."

"I know, I'm sorry, but I'm workin' on a lot of stuff today," Michael drew out, sighing. I heard the blinker of his car going, wondering what "workin' on a lot of stuff" meant.

"What are you working on? What stuff?," I interrogated him.

"Music stuff," he answered.

"Why are you being weird?"

"I'm not, you bein' weird."

"No, I just want to know what's more important than my birthday. That you promised to spend with me."

He gave a little chuckle before answering me. "Yo, you a big baby. Look, I got too much shit to take care of today, but I promise you gon' enjoy today without me."

"You can't just buy things and think that's gonna make me happy," I told him, although highly interested in what he might've gotten me this time. "And shouldn't you be saving money?"

"Don't worry 'bout it. Like I said, I been rich, Yana. It's just old money," he replied smoothly, feelin' his damn self as usual.

That's my baby, though.

I looked over my shoulder to the open door of my room, hearing my mother inviting a man inside our home. She called my name, urging me out of my room to meet her Prince Charming, James Green, for the first time. He's all she's been talking about lately. Honestly, if he made her this happy and kept her off my back, I could only be happy for the two of them.

"Ok, Mr. Hood Rich, I gotta go," I told Michael.

He answered, "Aight... aye, call me tonight, though."

"No, you call me."

"For real, Yana. You didn't call me last time and you said you would. You promised, Miss Jackson," he fake-whined, imitating my tone earlier and calling me by his new name for me.

Supposedly, it was his way of speaking things into existence.

"Good-bye," I scoffed, hanging up on him before making my way to the living room.

"Oh, there she is," Mama called out at the sight of me to the tall and handsome man beside her. He didn't look like our dad. For some reason, I'd expected that to be the reason why she liked him so much.

Stepping between him and I, she introduced us merrily. "Aiyana, I want you to meet Bishop James Green. Bishop, this is my eldest daughter, Aiyana and it's also her 20th birthday today, amen."

James chuckled and shook my hands, saying, "Now, I'm no bishop yet, Shanice, but it's nice to meet you, Aiyana. And happy birthday, dear."

I thanked him and nodded. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Green. We've been hearing a lot about lately."

My mother slapped my arm, playing cute and shy, while James laughed. "Good things only, I hope. And please, do call me James."

"Well, I decided to recreate a brunch," my mother announced, leading us to the table, that had been set and decorated with food. "Remember that brunch we had, James? I did it just like them."