This November✔️

Epilogue

Seven years later

Wow!" was the first word out of her mouth for her acceptance speech after winning a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor.

It took no time for Nova to make a splash in Hollywood. The same skills she learned in high school and at NYU she put them to the test. Malik hired her an acting coach but with Fabian as her manager as well she booked a few auditions before she even started her classes.

And booked them.

All commercials but they were national. Then came small parts on television. Then came roles on cable and streaming services movies.

Malik stayed booked and busy as well. After his movie wrapped he was off to Canada to film two more movies. They did a lot of travel back and forth in those months. The distance made their love grow. Malik carried the ring with him every time they would meet up, waiting for the right time to pop the question.

She was making a name for herself by the time Malik's movie premiered. When they were photographed together at the premiere she became the new it girl. They were Hollywood gold to adoring fans. Casting directors were all in on her. She received offers for movies with no auditions. Unheard of.

Malik would get his son as often as possible. When Malik had the chance he would fly back to St. Louis. If not, Anthony became a pro at flying by himself. When he was thirteen Anthony wanted to go into acting as well. Fabian was right on it booking him auditions.

Then Nova and Malik were offered a role in a movie together. A romantic comedy. She never thought she would see herself in a sexy leading role. Everyone talked about the chemistry between them because it was real. At the premiere of the movie, Malik finally proposed four years later, and she said yes.

"How am I even here? Little dark-skinned girl with an afro from St. Louis?" Nova looked around at all the other celebrities there. Some may not think she deserved to be there. Some questioned her beauty. Some questioned her skills. Some felt she only received parts because of Malik. That's why she worked super hard to prove them all wrong.

"Just...amazing," she continued, looking down at the award statue in her hand. "I thank God, he's had a hand in this of course. My mother looking down smiling at me. My family and friends. My students that I love and miss, hey Roosevelt High. The best manager out there, Fabian. My son Anthony. My best friend, my husband, my everything, Malik, you believed in me even when I didn't believe in myself. I love you forever."

She still felt like a newlywed. They had been married now a little over a year. They had a long engagement as they both were so busy. The small ceremony was held back home in St. Louis. Everyone wanted to be there but couldn't. Her ex, Carter, tried to attend, saying all of that was in the past. He resigned as Principal the following year after she left and took on a Superintendent position at a different school district. There was no way Nova or Malik wanted him at their wedding.

Starchima constantly stalked Malik's social media pages. Every time they blocked her, she would just make new pages. Then she would stalk Malik anytime he came to St. Louis to visit Anthony. Starchima harassed Anthony's mother even when he was not there she had to get a restraining order on her. They also filed a case against her. Starchima came to the church where the wedding was held but the police were there waiting for her.

All of Nova and Malik's family were there. Her stepfather, brothers, sister, Malik's mother, father and Davina. And even though Noelle and Davina had broken up, they were still on good terms. They vacationed for two weeks in Jamaica. As soon as they got back home, it was back to work.

Now here she was, winning a very prestigious award.

"You know someone once said to me, those that can't, teach. Those that can, do." She held up the award.  "Am I doing it right? And teachers are the greatest treasure. I'm still a teacher...I'm still a student. Everyone should become someone's teacher, right? Each one, teach one. To all my drama students and thespians everywhere, you are more than an award. Do it for the love. For the passion. And never give up on that dream. Thank you!"

She almost made herself cry so she was glad to get rushed off the stage. Standing there for a moment to calm herself and take a breath. She had won a major award. There were more award nominations out there, so hopefully this was not her only win.

Then she made it back to her seat, next to Malik and a now seventeen-year-old Anthony.

"Baby, I'm so proud of you," Malik said to her. He had been doing it longer and had no nominations, but she knew his time would come. "Always showing out, since way back in high school huh?"

"You just need to catch up with me," she playfully said to him.

"I can't believe I get to call you mom. I mean, Mom two point O," Anthony joked at her.

Anthony and her developed a deep bond over the years. Since he was interested in acting, she became his acting coach. He had yet to land any big role, but a few small ones on television shows. They were not pressuring him to do more than what he wanted. There was still time, and Hollywood was already weird with him because Malik was his father but he appeared Caucasian. They both got tired of explaining she was not his biological mother, but he was still her son. Or Malik explaining why he only started having a relationship with him at ten.

The scrutiny they gave Hollywood children was too much to handle for some, but they kept him grounded. He happily told everyone who his father was and that he was a quarter Black. But still, they never knew how to cast him. For now, the sidekick friend to other major characters.

The night was a blur, with everyone wanting to talk with her, take a picture with her, or tell her how great she was. But the best thing happened when a young guy approached her at one of the after-parties. She recognized him immediately.

"Tremayne!" It was one of her old students. "What are you doing here?"

He grabbed her in a hug and then released her. "That speech you gave was amazing. I'm so proud to say you were my former acting teacher."

"What? I mean, you're here? Are you working?"

"Yes, nothing big like you. In fact, very, very small parts so far. But like you always said, even back home in St. Louis, never, ever give up. I still remember you saying that back then. It's nice you lived the dream, and haven't changed."

She grabbed him in a hug again and cried. It was like the validation she needed, not the award. That she made a difference in her students' lives.

"Ms. Washington come on, we're so St Louis," Tremayne said with a chuckle. "And I'm not the only one. I'm rooming with two other Rough Rider Alums who were in class with me. If it wasn't for you...and Malik when he came to our class that day, we wouldn't be here."

This night could not get any better for her. She took Tremayne's contact info and promised if there was any way she could use her pull to get him or her other students more seen in Hollywood, she would. That's how Hollywood worked, it was who you knew. Then the talent got you far.

When they finally made it to their home in Burbank, she wanted nothing more than to get out of the fancy clothes and makeup and lie underneath her husband and simply relax. Malik had the same idea. After they showered and were naked in bed, they simply held each other and stared into each other's eyes.

"My wife is a Golden Globe-winning actress...soon to be Oscar-winning as well."

"Your wife. I still like the sound of that."

"Sometimes I feel like I don't deserve you." He rubbed a hand over her fluffy afro. "The time is flying so fast and I feel like I just got you back. Each day I fear I'll slip back to the old Malik and lose you."

"You're not him anymore."

"November you make me this man. I am great because of you. Forever my best friend."

What was more romantic than falling in love with her best friend? As on top of the world she was, nothing was hotter than the man she lay curled up with.

"What's next?" he asked her.

"We work on getting Anthony a little brother... or sister."

Malik smiled. They talked about having kids a lot but always pushed it back as they focused on their careers. It was never the right time. But she wanted a child with Malik. She could balance her career with motherhood like many other women.

"We can start on that right now!" Malik rolled over on top of her, kissing her neck as he spread her legs apart.

"I love you."

The End