Credentials of Fame (Tyga/Roc Royal Story) *Sequel*

Chapter 26: Away And Gone.

Chresanto’s POV:

One Week Later.

Today is the day of Junior’s funeral, the day that Janelle has decided to go back to her parents. Since she’s going, it’s time for me to go back to my mom too. I didn’t bring an actual suit with me to Sapphire’s house, so I put on a black button-down shirt and dark jeans. Janelle had a pretty dress on and her hair was up.

“You ready?” She said as she shifted the sleek black dress. I nodded, feeling guilty for noticing that this was the second time she changed in front of me. I shook my head. This was the day of her twin’s funeral; I couldn’t be thinking like that.

“I’m as ready as I can be on a day like this.” She murmured. I could see she was at least trying not to seem depressed. I sighed and opened my arms for a hug. Janelle walked slowly into my embrace and stayed there for a few seconds, until she backed away and slipped on some heels.

“Let’s head out.” Janelle said. I tightened my laces and walked downstairs with Janelle, taking in the scent of her light perfume. We both hugged Sapphire on the way out, and entered the all-black Lincoln Town car.

The drive to the funeral home was eerie. The driver, knowing the event we were about to attend, did not make small talk. I could’ve sworn those huge, scary-looking trees bending over the streets weren’t there before.

I tried to ignore it though, because I felt if I had thoughts like that, Janelle would somehow have the same thoughts. I tried to think happy, serene thoughts. I kept doing that until we got out of the car and signed in at the funeral home, then made our way to the backyard.

Janelle decided to show up purposely late, to miss the whole emotional aspect. We came just in time for the burial, but before everyone were told to stand up. The first person I saw in the big flood of people sitting in the chairs in the backyard was my mother.

I haven’t seen her in so long that it felt like I was looking at a stranger. She had a tiny bible in her hand, following along with the hired pastor reading scriptures. Janelle and I timidly walked further into the field, met by a wave of faces turning around to look at us.

Bianca’s mother and both of Janelle’s parents were sitting right beside my mother. On the other side was Prince and his mom. It seemed like everyone was here.

Then I thought of Ray and Prod. What’s up with them?

“Don’t bother to take a seat, the burial is about to begin.” The pastor called to us. Everyone stood up and followed him to further away in the vast field where the coffin was located. I would have held Janelle’s hand, but our parents were patiently waiting for us to walk over to them.

Janelle’s POV:

I’ve never experienced this before…I’ve never experienced a coffin being slowly resumed 6 feet into an underground hole. It’s a painful thing to watch. We prayed, and Mama said a few words, but my family didn’t speak to me. Daddy was the only one that made any contact with me—he held my hand the whole time.

When the coffin was finally all the way down, I let out the tears just like Daddy did. A few men picked up shovels and one-by-one threw dirt onto the coffin; threw dirt onto my brother.  I knew I shouldn’t think of it that way, but what other way was there?

“Come here,” Daddy said to me as we both watched the burial in tears. I could tell his heart was just as broken as mine was. I thought he was going to lean in to my ear and whisper some kind of reassuring secret.

Instead, he led me forcefully back into the empty funeral home. I could hear my mother crying outside. She wasn’t bawling, but her cries were pretty loud. Daddy closed the door behind us and we sat down on the couch together.

Piling in after us were Chyna and Chresanto’s mother. Mama obviously wouldn’t be ready to join us anytime soon.

“I’m sorry, Daddy. I’m sorry I left. But I needed time to organize my head, and it worked. Now I’m okay.” I apologized to him. I threw myself at him and into a hug.

“It’s fine, Janelle.” Daddy said, stroking my back.

“No, it’s not fine,” I wiped my tears, “because I left you guys not knowing where I was.”

“Janelle, did you really think we didn’t know where you were? The entire time you and that boy left, the police found you at some girl’s house and were going to force you out. Your mother and I told them that we would wait for you to come home, and you did. We took care of everything while you were gone.”  My father explained.

Chyna nodded in approval, and Chresanto’s mother just kept praying. That’s when Mama came in; she seemed to ask Daddy a question with her eyes, and he nodded.

“Took care of what? And Daddy, Prince told me my room is empty. Why?” I asked them. Mama motioned for Chyna to give her space on the couch, and she moved over for her to sit.

“Janelle, even though we knew where you were while you were gone doesn’t make it okay. No child of mine is going to disrespect me like that. I was worried sick while we didn’t know where you were!” Mama said.

“Mama, I said sorry!” I replied.

“It’s too late for that. Your room is empty because you won’t be staying there anymore. You won’t be staying with us anymore. We’re sending you to Wesley.” She continued.

“What’s that?”

“It’s a boarding school, Janelle. You’ll stay there for a few months.” Chyna explained. None of this was making sense to me.

“I’m sending Chresanto there. He ran away too. He’s not off the hook.” Ms. August spoke up. 

“Wait, what? Where is all this new information coming from?” I asked, overwhelmed with all that they were saying. Chresanto came in just then. He was missing out on so much.

“Don’t play dumb, girl. You’re going because you did what you did. It’s final.” Mama snapped at me.

“Well why isn’t Bianca going? She ran away too.” I asked, getting defensive.

“Going where?” Chres asked.

“Bianca came back already, Janelle. She left to go look for her biological father. I can feel her pain for doing that, so I won’t send her. But your mother is sending you because what you did hurt her.” Chyna explained to me.

“Can someone tell me what’s’ going on?” Chresanto asked.

“Hush up, boy.” His mother told him.

“Mama, this is not fair. You can’t send me away to a boarding school. Bianca and I have to record; and besides that, I don’t want to go! Why are you sending me away from you after I’ve been away for so long?” I said, crying more than I was before.

“Oh, so I can’t?” Mama asked me, standing up. “Little girl, try me.”

                                                          * * *

Since my parents had the courtesy to pack my bags for me before I got home, I didn’t have to spend that next afternoon packing. I just sat there with my bags, crying, waiting for Chresanto to call and say he’s outside. I had to wait for him to pack his own bags, and then…that’s the end. We’re off to Wesley Prestigious Boarding School.

I’m not sure why Bianca didn’t attend the funeral; maybe that was her punishment. But she’s in the house moping around. She really did come back before the funeral.

Now that Bianca is okay, Prince is leaving. He left earlier. The house feels lonely and uncomfortable.

I want to cry.

“He called,” Mama said. That was my cue. I didn’t hug either of my parents. I picked up two of my bags and Daddy took the other two, and met Chresanto in the car.

The car that was going to take us away to boarding school.