The BBQ

The Talk (Flashback)

Omniscient
7 years ago.

Beyoncé walks into school still a little uneasy but determined to talk to Megan.

Even if she does feel queasy.

The talk with her big sisters gave her enough of a boost to at least apologize to Megan for being distant the last few days.

She goes to Megan's locker.

Megan isn't there but since the school assigned lockers by last name, Normani is there grabbing her books and chatting with her friends.

"Normani?" Beyoncé says lightly tapping her shoulder.

"Sup, Bey?" Normani asks turning around.

"I-is Megan around?" She asks nervously.

She hates being so shy.

"I think she went to the bathroom." Normani shrugs.

"Thanks." Bey mumbles going to the bathroom closest to Megan's locker.

Sure enough, Megan is in the mirror applying lipgloss.

"Hi." Bey says quietly.

Megan glances over at her keeping her face neutral.

"Hey." She responds.

She doesn't want to be happy to see Bey if Bey isn't happy to see her.

They stand there awkwardly for a while.

"I'm sorry." Beyoncé finally says.

"Okay." Megan says fully ready to move on but Bey starts ranting.

"I like you. I don't want to— not because of you— because my biological dad said it's wrong and gay people are bad and I don't want to be a bad person but I keep having dreams about kissing you and I really want to and that makes me feel sick— again, not because of you— I'm just really anxious but my sisters say it's okay and I'm normal and-"

"Beyoncé!" Megan says cutting her off. "Take a breath."

Bey inhales deeply and lets it out slowly, calming down a little.

"Sorry. I like you. I just need time to work through my feelings. Please don't stop being my friend." Bey says looking up at Megan with watery eyes.

"I'll never stop being your friend, Bey..." Megan tells her.

--After School--

Megan and Normani hop off the bus in front of their house, greeted by their mother.

"Mama, we're twelve. You don't have to meet us at the bus stop every day." Normani says rolling her eyes.

"I didn't come out to see you. I'm here to greet the child that actually appreciates having me around." She says as Megan tucks herself into her mother's side.

"Thank you, mommy." Megan smiles happily.

While Normani is in her 'I'm almost a teenager and I want to be grown' stage, Megan is perfectly fine being a baby a little while longer.

That's one of the many differences between the twins.

Most people don't even realize they're sisters.

"Today went okay?" Holly asks as they enter the house.

Megan nods giving her mom the short answer, waiting for her sister to take over the conversation.

As expected, Mani spends the next 10 minutes talking about the drama with Camilla and how she's probably racist.

"...and that's why she's not in the friend group anymore." Normani sighs heavily.

"I'm sorry to hear that, Mani." Holly says. "I'm proud of you for not tolerating racism."

"Thank you." She says giving another heavy sigh.

6th grade is beating her ass.

"Meg?" Holly calls.

"Sorry you lost a white girl, Mani." Megan says distractedly texting.

"Megan, I'm asking about your day." Holly says taking her phone and putting it on the table.

"It was good. Beyoncé said she likes me." Megan says showing all of her teeth.

"Really? Congratulations." Holly smiles back.

"She still has to get comfortable with herself, though, so we're taking it slow." Megan says.

Holly wonders what taking it fast would look like for a pair of 12 year olds.

"I'm proud of you for giving her the space to do that." Holly says kissing Megan's cheek.

She gets up and ruffles Normani's hair before heading to the kitchen to start dinner.

--Same Time--

Beyoncé hops into the backseat of Bia's car plopping down next to Solange who snuggles into her big sister happily.

"So?" Kelly asks peering back at Bey from her position in the passenger seat.

"So?" Bey asks.

"Did you talk to Megan?" She questions.

"Yeah." Bey says.

"And?" Kelly asks.

"You are so invested in this pre-teen love saga." Bianca laughs.

"And?" Kelly chuckles.

"I told her I like her." Beyoncé blushes.

The girls cheer.

Even Solange who doesn't really know what's going on.

She's really just happy to be here.

"Was that so hard?" Kelly asks.

"Yes. It was the hardest thing I've ever done." Beyoncé says seriously.

"But did you die?" Kelly asks.

"Nearly." Beyoncé says.

When they get home, Tina pulls Beyoncé aside.

She noticed her daughter has been off lately. Especially this morning but she didn't want to press her before school.

"Cé, are you okay?" She asks.

"Y-yes ma'am." Bey answers unconvincingly.

"Giselle. Talk to me." Tina says.

She's come out twice today and she's exhausted.

Is this what being gay is?

Just coming out over and over again forever?

She sighs.

"I like girls. And I feel really bad about it." She says honestly.

"That's what's been bothering you?" Tina questions. Bey nods.

"She's stressing because Matthew doesn't like gays." Kelly says.

She's always in it.

"Kelly, let me talk to my child alone." Tina says rolling her eyes at her older daughter. "Beyoncé, we all know you like girls. Megan specifically. It's fine. Matthew isn't God. He can't condemn you." Tina tells her.

"You're not mad?" Beyoncé asks her mother.

"You were born like this, Cé. That would be like me being mad you were born with 10 fingers and toes." She chuckles.

Beyoncé grabs her in a tight hug.

"I love you, mom."

"I love you, too, Beyoncé. Now go do your homework." She chuckles.

How are y'all feeling about this chapter?

Bey's confession?

Predictions/Hopes?

Mama Tina/Mama Holly?

Beyoncé?

Megan?

The sisters?