Living with the drama

Confronting the problem

At home
☎︎James calls Toni☎︎
"Hello baby, how was school" Toni asks
"It was ok..." he replies
"What's wrong love? Want me to come over?" She asks
"No...I actually need to tell you something"
"What's wrong?"
"Tamika texted me last night...I told her off but I wanted to let you know"
The line goes silent
"Toni?"
"I'm outside your house"
"What?"
He looks outside and sees her
He grabs his jacket and goes outside
He gets in her car
"What did she say?" Toni asks
"Here" he hands her his phone
She goes to the messages
She tosses the phone
"Is this the only time she did this" She asks
"Yeah."
"Ok."
"So we good?"
"For now...but when I see her, I'm going to beat her ahh"
He gets out and goes back inside
Next morning
Toni and Goldie sit inside to Gigi's cafe
"So what she say in the texts girl?" Goldie asks
"She had the audacity to tell him she miss him. After lying to Me and Kareem's face about how she respects his relationship. The only respect she has is to being a —" Toni gets cut off
"Girl don't sweat her. She just desperate." Goldie tells her
"Yeah but Jay always feeding into it. You don't think he still loves her, right?" Toni asks
"No! James would be dumb to ever pick her over you. You're the one with the ring and you're the one he going to come home to so I wouldn't sweat it" Goldie tells her
As they start eating Tamika and Bianca comes in
They sit at a table and order
"So why am I here?" Tamika asks
"You here cause ever since your party you been down and I want to know why" Bianca responds
"Well I texted James the other day and..."
"And what? He tell you he love you or sumthang" she asks
"One it's Some..thing.. two he just blew me off."
"Oh so he don't want to be your sneaky link no mo."
"Yeah and that we can be friends." Tamika tells her
"Well what you going to do?" Bianca asks
"Well His stepmom asked me to come for Sunday dinner so we will see how that goes."
"Ouuuu tell me what happens. I love a good chaos" they both laugh
That afternoon at the Honey Leaze Bowling Lanes
James bowling with Travis, Trenton and Kareem
"So how did she react?" Trenton asks
"She angry but she's silently angry." James replies
"Yeah you better hope she don't see Tamika or you not going to a wedding but a funeral for yourself. I've known Toni for a long time so I know what's going on in her head" Trenton tells him
"I can attest to that. My sister is nothing to play with" Kareem adds on
"How can I make it better?" James asks
"Well I would say dinner and a whole lot of apologies. For good measures block Tamika. Tamika my best friend and all but I'm always on my sister side" Kareem says
"Will do"
Sunday dinner
Toni arrives with Goldie
Charles and Sara give them a hug
Dani arrives
They all sit down and start eating
"So how is the wedding planning going?" Charles asks
"Good so far." James answers
"Dani...how is work for you?" Sara says sarcastically
"Better. How's being a housewife?" Dani replies
"Better than ever. Toni have you decided what dress you want to wear. You know I have a few designers in mind if you need inspiration." Sara tells Toni
"Umm actually I was going to asks Ms.Dani if I can use her dress. If she doesn't mind?" Toni asks
"No. Of course not. You're already like a daughter to me." Dani smiles
"Well if you change your mind or want something more classy than you just tell me doll"
Dani gives Sara a death stare
"So Val and Kate how's school?" James tries changing the subject
"Good. Val taught me how to budget my money And I showed her the best student tutor." Kate replies
"More like I showed myself. She just introduced us" Val laughs
"Well you know my rule Valeri, no sex til you graduate." Charles reminded her
"College or high school cause I don't remember you finishing either before you had me and James." Valeri snaps
"Val! This isn't the place for it ok" Dani tells her
Someone knocks on the door
"I'll get it" Valeri says
She opens the door to Tamika
"Hey everyone. I hope I'm not late" she greets everyone and sits between Kate and Sara
"Hey Jay" She waves to James
"What are you doing here Tamika?" Valeri asks
"Oh. Sara invited me"
"Why would you invite her?" James asks
"Well I know how much she means to you" Sara replied
"What does she mean by that James" Toni asks
"Nothing" James replies
"Oh come on. You know what she meant just like Goldie meant alot to you and you meant a lot to her once upon a time. Isn't that right Goldie?" Tamika asks
"No. I don't know what you are implying but no" Goldie Denys
"Oh really, well what's this"
Tamika shows text messages of. Goldie admitting that James and her had been sleeping around
"Are these true?" Toni asks
"Yes they are but it happened way before y'all got engaged" Goldie responds
"Let's not forget this." Tamika shows a pregnancy test
"She's pregnant and it's his. Along with them still messing around"
"You so FING petty!" Valeri exclaimed
"No I'm just making sure all secrets are out. I want y'all to be free" Tamika laughs
Tamika takes a sip of her drink
"It's funny the one doing all the freeing is the one who sinned the most, right Tamika?" Tamika stops taking a sip
"Just like we have secrets so do you. Let's not forget that you slept with Terrell. Bianca wouldn't like her best friend messing around with her man right? Or you trying to sleep with Trenton, Toni's best friend . Yeah let's not forget that."
"Yeah you right...I have secrets but let's not forget yours Ms.Valeriii. Like you dating Travis. You not being a virgin. Oh and here's the kicker everyone...SHE IS PREGNANT" Tamika laughs
"What is she talking about?" Dani asks
"Nothing momma..."
"You are going too far Tam!" Kate yells
"Oh Ms.Kate don't make me get on your skeletons. When you going to tell your dad you are Pansexual. Also that you are dating a girl. Oh and Mindy is your girlfriend" Tamika takes a sip
"Mindy, your best friend???" Charles asks
"I think it's time you leave" Sara says
"You right I should"
"Nah we going to solve this." Toni stands up
"The only reason you bringing this all up is because you are a miserably ahh b*tch!" Toni yelled
"You're mad because you not the one with the ring. You're not the one not going to have his kids. You still bitter that he chose me and not a woman who is for the streets. I've tolerated you for too long and now you going to catch these hands" Toni comes across the table
Everyone tries getting Toni off Tamika
"Now she can leave" Toni straightens up her clothes
"Thanks for dinner. Oh and James?"
James looks up
She takes off the engagement ring
"The wedding is off" Toni announces and leaves
At Toni's House
Toni is packing everything that belongs to James while playing 10 seconds by Jasmine Sullivan
♬Gave you my all and look what you did to us♬
She drives to his house and knocks on the door
Valeri answers
"Here's everything." Toni stands with a box
"You sure you don't want to hang on to these. I think y'all should talk it out..." Valeri suggests
"Nothing to say V. He not only lied about only sleeping with Tam but that he never got anyone pregnant. You know she texted him the other day and he answered her back?" Toni asks
"What? No I didn't know." Valeri is shocked
"That's why I'm not going to give him another chance. 5 years we been together. I forgave him too many times. Every time he messed up I gave him a chance. I blamed the first times as him being childish but he's a whole grown man now. What's the excuse this time?" Toni sighs
"What about Goldie? Where does y'all friendship stand?" Valeri asks
"Far as I know, I don't have a friend named Goldie." Toni sets down the box and leaves
Next year at Gigi's cafe
"So you telling me you just laid they business out?" Bianca asks
"Yep. And you should have seen Toni's face. Man I want that as my wallpaper. I wish I could do it again" Tamika laughs
"Was it worth that butt kick you got from
Her?" Bianca laughs
"Worth it all! So worth it that Toni called off the engagement."
"Wow. You really did it this time."
Terrell comes in with James and Travis
They sit at a table
James plays with Toni's engagement ring
"Man Tamika was on a whole different level last year. She let it all out. From me and Goldie to My sis Kate and her girlfriend. It was crazy." James tells them
"Dang. I'm sorry bro. What you going to do now?" Travis asks
"I don't know. Probably just let Toni calm down and talk to her" James shrugged
"What else Tamika let out?" Terrell asked
"That Travis was dating my sis and that she was pregnant by him."
"What? How she know" Travis looks at Terrell
"You told Bianca didn't you?" Travis asks
"My bad bro. We was laying there and it just happened" Terrell apologizes
"How's Val doing?" Travis asks
"You need to ask her yourself" James reply
Meanwhile at Drive-in
"Thanks for coming" Goldie thanks Toni
"Mhm"
"I wanted to talk to you" Goldie says
"About what G? About you and James?" Toni asks
"I want to explain the situation"
"Say it then"
"Yes we were messing around but I never got pregnant. It happened once and then we ended it. I promise that's the truth" Goldie explains
"When did it happen?" Toni asks
"2 years ago. I'm sorry we did it and I wish it never happened but all I can do is promise it never happened again and it won't ever happen again." Goldie tells Toni
"I believe you..." Toni hugs her
"Still should have told me though"
"I know"