All The Stars-Jack Harlow-FINISHED

Intoxicating

FIVE MONTHS LATER

"Not, 'Waiting to Exhale', fuck is going on with you?" Tiana asked stepping into Ettinnette's old room as Ettinnette wiped at her eyes. "Whitney killed this song" She muttered to herself taking a bite of her cookie dough ice cream as 'Why does it hurt so bad' played on her speaker while Kaviana looked around the room appalled at the mess. "Etti, what the hell?" She whispered making Ettinnette turn around with tired eyes. "What?" She groaned as Tiana and Kaviana looked around her room in shock. "What the fuck is going on? First you asking to crash with us,which is totally fine, and now the mope session in the room. Who do we gotta kill?" Tiana asked sitting down laying Ettinnette's head on her lap as the Trinidad girl wiped at her eyes. "Jack" she whispered as Tiana and Kaviana shot each other a look.

"Did that white man put his hands on you?" Kaviana said very seriously as Ettinnette shook her head immediately. "No, I just don't think he loves me anymore" she said her voice cracking as more tears replaced the old ones. "Pardon?" Tiana asked shook getting Ettinnette up to stare into her glassy eyes. "I don't know what's going on with him. We don't talk anymore, he comes back hella late and when he does he immediately goes out again as if I'm a plague he has to avoid." She admits as Kaviana sits down next to the pair of girls. "Maybe he's stressed. Hasn't he been working on that Apple TV show and his album?" She asked as Ettinnette nodded still distraught. "Yeah, I thought that too but then I see him posted up in clubs with Andrew and Urban. Plus we haven't had sex in like 3 months!" She cried as Tiana snorted in laughter quickly recovering as Kaviana shot her a look.

Tiana shook her head, her expression turning serious again. "Okay, so he's out partying, not spending time with you, and no intimacy for three months. That's not stress, that's neglect," she said firmly. "He's treating you like an afterthought, and that's not okay."

Ettinnette sniffled, her shoulders slumping. "I just don't understand what changed. We used to be so close, so in sync. Now, it's like I don't even know him anymore."

Tiana sighed, brushing a strand of hair away from Ettinnette's face. "People change, Etti. Sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. But you can't lose yourself trying to hold onto someone who's already halfway out the door. Have you tried talking to him about how you feel?"

Ettinnette shook her head. "Every time I bring it up, he brushes me off or says he's too tired to talk. It's like I'm invisible."

Kaviana frowned. "That's not right. You need to confront him, make him listen. If he cares about you at all, he'll understand and make an effort to fix things. And if he doesn't... well, you deserve someone who does."

Ettinnette looked down at her hands, her fingers playing with the hem of her shirt. "I can't lose him Kaviana," she admitted quietly.Kaviana placed a comforting hand on Ettinnette's shoulder. "I know it's scary, Etti, but sometimes holding on hurts more than letting go. You can't keep sacrificing your happiness for someone who isn't giving you the same in return."

Tiana nodded in agreement. "Look, we're not saying you have to break up with him right this second. But you need to have an honest conversation with him. Lay everything out on the table. If he's worth it, he'll step up. If not, then you need to find the strength to walk away." making Ettinnette turn to her.

What if she just wasn't that strong?

Ettinnette walked into her house feeling the sound of the TV ramble. She furrowed her brows walking in reaching in her purse for her pocket knife until she recognized the curly head of hair sitting down making her sigh in relief. She backtracked walking into her room not even wanting to speak to him when she heard 'Where were you?' escape his lips as she turned back. "Out." she replied shortly answering as she heard him get up. "That ain't a fucking answer Ettinnette. Don't piss me off." He asked making her scoff right in his face. "Nigga fuck you. I should be the one asking that because I left two days ago and before I hadn't seen you in over a week. So where were you?" She asked turning the question on him making him roll his eyes. "Nah, I asked you first" he responded as she rolled her eyes walking off.