she, the underground artist - sapphic

chapter one

the campbell's were a small family of three living in the bronx. nalani, a sixteen year old junior attending unity high school. alyssa, a seven year old trouble maker, and alana rae, the mother and hard worker of her two daughters.

alana rae was a bartender during the night at the nearest club near their apartment, working minimum wage. money was tight in the family. in the morning, she did some daytime comedy gigs, also minimum wage. not to mention the history with nalani and alyssa's father... let's not talk about it.

nalani knew how much her mom worked to provide meals on the table for her and her sister. she pitched in, snagging a job at the local dunkin and giving most to the well-being of the household. it still wasn't enough.

it was a thursday night, and nalani's mom was working the night shift. nalani was watching over her sister alyssa, while also on a facetime call with her friend isaiah jones.

"so how exactly do you plan on trying out for the talent show?" isaiah asked. nalani rolled her eyes as she propped her phone on the side of a bottle and started to prepare dinner for her and her sister.

"simple, i don't try out." nalani answered, opening the canned beans left in a cupboard and watching it sit into the black pot. isaiah groaned loudly.

"lani, you know you have an amazing singing voice. don't let it go to waste, ma." isaiah tried, watching nalani's face shift into an uncomfortable expression.

"i'm aware isaiah. i just don't sing for people." nalani replied, stirring the beans. she grabbed some leftover rice and started to warm them up in the microwave.

"you don't think you should share your musical talent with the world?" isaiah asked, trying to invoke the answer he wanted to get from her.

"no. no i don't." nalani smirked as she placed the rice and beans on two plates for her sister. "aly, come out of your room!"

isaiah wasn't happy with nalani's response. at all. "oh lani, you drive me crazy."

"good. you can learn to tolerate me." nalani responded blandly, placing both plates on the small wooden table in the kitchen of their apartment. "ALY! food, now!"

alyssa walked out of their with her pink teddy bear, mr. fluffykins. "mr. fluffykins says he wants to play!" alyssa whined. nalani rolled her eyes.

"mr. fluffykins doesn't want you to starve. come eat aly." nalani said, waving a fork and spoon in the air. alyssa sat down with mr. fluffykins in the grasp of one arm, and a spoon in the other.

"i'll see you tomorrow, isaiah." nalani said. isaiah said his goodbye, and nalani ended the facetime call.

"i don't wanna eat this, nana." alyssa whined, clutching mr. fluffykins. nalani stopped eating her rice to attend to her sister.

"aly, if you eat your dinner, i'll pack you a special unicorn lunch for school tomorrow!" nalani bargained, watching her sister's eyes light up.

"unicorn..lunch..?!?!" alyssa exclaimed, looking at her sister in wonder.

"there would be so many surprises!! cmon now, eat up, aly." nalani urged, watching her eat her food quickly.

once alyssa was done eating, nalani washed their dishes. she then helped alyssa brush her teeth, hair, and put her off to bed. when nalani was assured that alyssa was asleep, she went to check her funds. she had about 30.00 in cash, so she could definitely go to the corner store before alyssa woke up to pick up some snacks for her lunch.

nalani checked for any homework on her school provided computer before allowing herself to knock out on her bed. sleep enveloped her, wishing her a good night.