𝑺𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔

𝒳𝐼𝐼𝐼

Omniscient

Beyoncé entered the dimly lit café just off Melrose, her heart racing as she spotted Nicki sitting at a corner table. The warmth of the setting didn't quite ease her nerves. Instead, it intensified the mixture of trepidation and excitement swirling within her. She had been waiting for this moment, the chance to reconnect after weeks of silence, but now that she was here, doubt threatened to overtake her resolve.

Nicki looked up as Beyoncé approached, her expression one of cautious anticipation. There was a nervous energy between them, laden with unspoken words and unresolved feelings. She had missed this—this connection—more than she could articulate.

"Hey," Beyoncé said softly, sliding into the seat opposite Nicki, the lingering tension diffusing slowly but surely.

"Hey," Nicki replied, her voice carrying a blend of vulnerability and guardedness. "I'm glad we're finally talking."

"Me too," Beyoncé admitted, sinking back slightly in her chair as she drew a deep breath. The ambiance around them felt intimate, yet the underlying weight of their histories pressed heavily on her shoulders. "I wanted to reach out sooner, but everything felt chaotic. I didn't want to mess things up even more."

"I get it," Nicki said, her words a gentle balm for Bey's anxiety. "Life has been a wild ride for both of us. But I've missed you, you know?"

Beyoncé smiled, a flicker of warmth igniting in her heart. "I've missed you too. More than I can express," she admitted, feeling the barriers between them beginning to crack. "We had something beautiful, and I feel like we let the world dictate our relationship too much."

"Exactly," Nicki nodded, her gaze sincere. "But, Bey... I've also felt this pressure to compete rather than collaborate. It got in the way of us being ourselves. I never wanted that."

Beyoncé sighed, finally lowering her guard. "Me neither, Nicki. I want us to be able to support each other regardless of the noise outside. We're stronger together, right?"

"Always," Nicki replied with determination, but as they exchanged soft smiles, a sudden vibration from Beyoncé's phone interrupted them. She glanced down, her stomach twisting as she saw the name.

It was Jay.

Without thinking, she silenced the vibrations and set her phone aside, not ready to invite that distraction into their moment. A palpable sense of camaraderie flooded the space between them as memories resurfaced. The warmth of their friendship poured in, healing old wounds.

But then, just as the conversation started flowing again, the door swung open, and a group of paparazzi burst in, cameras flashing. The sudden invasion sent both women into a freeze. Instinctively, they both looked at each other, mouths opening in shock.

"Great," Nicki muttered under her breath, eyes narrowing at the intruding chaos. "This is exactly what we don't need right now."

"We can handle it," Beyoncé said, the corner of her mouth lifting confidently. "Let's just stay calm."

But before the moment could settle into something comfortable again, one familiar face stepped forward—the unwelcome addition being Sierra, who had somehow slipped in unnoticed, phone poised as she snapped photos of the two women. Her smile was bright, but there was a hidden edge in her eyes.

"Beyoncé! Nicki! Look at this!" she exclaimed with an exaggerated enthusiasm, waving her phone to the cameras as if she were a tour guide showing them a notable attraction. "Just try to look happy for the cameras, right?"

Beyoncé's stomach dropped as Nicki leaned forward, her expression flaring into pure disbelief. "Sierra, what are you doing?" she yelled, incredulous.

"I'm helping, obviously! You two look great together!" Sierra said, trying to play it cool, her voice just a touch too bright.