Growing Pains [Finished]

Part 6

***
Part 6

Graduation

"Messiah, get up!" Beyoncé yelled walking into his room.

The day of his graduation had finally come. Beyoncé walked over to his closet to get his clothes to iron.

"Messiah!"

"I'm up." He mumbled into his pillow.

"Get up and get in the shower."

Beyoncé left out to go iron his clothes in the room she was staying in. She ironed his and her clothes. She walked back in his room when she was done and he was still laying there sleep. She shook her head and hung up his clothes.

"Messiah, you got five seconds."

"I'm sleepy."

"I don't care boy, get up."

He deeply sighed before he got up.

"Go take a shower and then get dressed. Got it?"

"Yeah." He said nodding.

Beyoncé went back to her room to get dressed. She had already showered.  Once she finished getting dressed she did her hair and a lil make up. Messiah came in while she did that dressed.

"Great, you look good." She said.

"Thank you."

"You know that hat." She said pointing out. "You gonna have to leave in the car."

"Yeah."

"Okay, grandma got breakfast downstairs."

He nodded and left out and Beyoncé finished her make up. Last but not least she picked up some heels that went with her outfit. Beyoncé's outfit was chill/casual like her sons. After all it is a sixth grade graduation. Beyoncé grabbed her purse and met everyone downstairs.

"Morning." Beyoncé said and everyone said it back.

It was just Ms. Tina, Nicki and Messiah. Soon the doorbell rang and Beyoncé knew exactly who it was. She opened it and Shawn was standing there.

"You sweating already. It's only eight am." Beyoncé said laughing.

"You think Texas care? Glad this thing in the gym." He said. "You look nice."

"Thank you, so do you." She replied.

They walked into the kitchen.

"Hey Shawn." Messiah said.

"Hey." He said.

Ms. Tina offered breakfast so he sat down and ate. Ms. Tina was gonna meet them over at the school after she finished getting ready. Everyone else got in the car. Once they arrived at the school they were getting out.

"Messiah, leave the hat."

"I don't want to."

"I told you earlier you couldn't wear the hat. Leave it."

"I still want it."

"Put the damn hat in the car!"

He got mad and took it off and threw in the backseat. He mumbled something and slammed the door.

"What? What you say?"

"Nothing." He said and walked towards the school.

Beyoncé couldn't figure out why he was so upset over a hat.

"Nicki, pass me that hat." Beyoncé said and Nicki did.

Beyoncé looked at the hat and turned it over. Under the brim it read "Malik"

"Shit." Beyoncé said closing the door. "Messiah!"

Beyoncé looked and saw him still walking.

"Messiah!" She yelled again.

She refused to run in heels. Messiah looked back and Beyoncé waved him over. He eventually walked over to her and stood in front of her. She placed the hat on his head.

"Their gonna say take the hat off but just hold it okay."

He nodded.

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize which hat it was."

He nodded and she grabbed his face.

"He is so proud of you right now and so am I okay."

"Yeah."

"Baby, don't cry." She said wiping his face.

"I want my dad." He said wiping his face.

Beyoncé could've broke hearing that.

"I know baby." She said hugging him. "But know he's looking down on you smiling and very proud of you."

Beyoncé wiped his tears and he nodded.Beyoncé kissed him and let him go. She watched him walk into the school. She wiped her eyes a bit and sniffed.

"What was so special about the hat?" Nicki asked walking up behind her.

"It was his fathers." She said. "Even if he can't wear it he just wants to hold it."

Nicki nodded.

"Y'all ready to go in?" Shawn asked.

"Yeah." They said.

They started walking towards the school.

***

"Where is the damn air?" Michelle asked.

They had been sitting through the graduation and in the middle the air blew out. Everyone was using their programs as fans.

"I don't know but for this to be a private school and what I pay they should have a generator." Beyoncé said.

They heard some commotion on their row and they looked down and Beyoncé's sister, Solange, and her son Jeulz had finally arrived. Solange had text Beyoncé that their flight was delayed and they'd be late.

Shawn had left to go somewhere and hadn't came back yet. They were about to call names and Beyoncé was still looking out for Shawn.

"There he go Bey." Kelly said.

Beyoncé saw Shawn walking in with balloons and she was confused but let it go. The principal started calling names and they waited for Messiah.

"Messiah Jerell Knowles-Jordan."

Beyoncé and her family cheered as Messiah received his certificate. Beyoncé had made her way to the front to get a picture on her phone. She made her way back to her seat for the remainder of the ceremony.

After it was over they met Messiah outside and Beyoncé hugged him first and then everyone else.

"Papa, you made it." Messiah said hugging his grandfather.

"You know I couldn't miss this." He said. "Hey Bey."

"Hey daddy." Beyoncé said hugging him.

While in therapy Beyoncé came to the realization she treated her son the same way her father treated her and her sister. He never missed graduations or birthdays but he was really never there. He didn't know how to be a father and when he started to try both girls were already grown.

"Shawn, you got them?" Messiah said looking at Shawn.

"Told you I would." Shawn said passing him the blue balloons.

Messiah stepped away from his family. He put his hat on and said a little prayer before he released them in the air. He watched them go all the way into the sky. Beyoncé finally realized what the balloons were for. They were for his father. Beyoncé looked at Shawn.

"He text me to go get them. It was a store up the street." He said.

"Thank you for doing that."

"No problem, I saw how he was earlier and I couldn't say no. I know how he feels."

"Alright Messiah, I gotta go." Matthew said and handed him a card.

"Okay, thanks for coming."

"No problem." He said. "I'll make sure I come back so we can do something this summer okay?"

Messiah nodded and Matthew said his goodbyes. Messiah walked over to his mom.

"Can we go get something to eat now?" He asked.

"Yeah, let's go." She said grabbing his hand.

***

"So uhm, who's the guy on the grill?" Solange asked as they sat outside.

They decided to have a little cook out for Messiah.

"That's Shawn." Beyoncé said.

"Shawn? Who's Shawn?" Solange asked.

"Future boyfriend." Michelle said.

"Future baby daddy." Nicki said and they laughed.

"Ha ha ha." Beyoncé said. "We're just friends."

Solange nodded.

"How's that Nola life?" Beyoncé asked.

"Fucking amazing." She said.

Beyoncé smiled. It's been years since she's been able to talk to her sister and friends. Of course it was her own fault but she's trying to become a better mom, daughter, sister and friend.

"Mama!" Messiah yelled running up to Beyoncé.

He gave her a nerf gun.

"Where you get this from?"

"Shawn." He said. "Come on."

"Boy I'm in heels."

"Take'em off." He said. "Please?"

Beyoncé finally got up and Messiah smiled. Beyoncé ran around and played with Messiah and Jeulz while Shawn and Tim finished up on the grill.

"So you and Bey?" Tim said at the grill.

"Nah, we cool." Shawn said. "I told her I move when she do."

"Oh okay, but you want to though?"

"Yeah, of course but she just wanna be a mom and reconnect with her family and son and I'd be a complete dick to fight her on that." Shawn said.

Tim nodded.

"She know about your past?"

"Yeah and I know about hers." He said. "You know we basically building that foundation."

"I feel you. Foundation is everything." Tim said.

Shawn nodded as he looked over and watched Bey play with Messiah and Jeulz. He loved seeing that smile on her face and would do anything to keep it that way.

***
"You didn't make this." Shawn said looking at the poundcake Beyoncé had slide to him.

"Yes, I did. I'm actually a very good cook."

"Cook, yes. Baker, not too sure." He said laughing. "Messiah, come here!"

Messiah walked over while Beyoncé shook her head.

"Taste this cake." Shawn said.

"Can I have it?"

"Depends."

Messiah grabbed a fork and took a piece. He smiled.

"Aight, give it back and get your own."

"No, you can eat it Messiah." Beyoncé said.

"Thanks ma." He said and walked away with the plate.

"Why you give him my cake?"

"Cause you doubted me." She said.

She picked up her cake and started eating. Shawn smacked his teeth.

"Why you acting like a baby?" Beyoncé said laughing.

Shawn turned the other way and Beyoncé busted out laughing.

"I know you not mad." She said.

He didn't say anything and she continued to laugh.

"Damn, here." Beyoncé said after five minutes.

Shawn turned around and looked at her. She had some of the cake on a fork. Shawn took a bite.

"Good, I know." Beyoncé said.

Shawn nodded.

"Let me get some more." He said.

"Get your own."

"It's all the way in the kitchen." He said. "Just another bite."

Beyoncé rolled her eyes and fed him another bite.

"Thank you." He said.

"You're welcome."

"Aye!" Solange yelled and they looked at the other table. "Friends don't feed each other."

The girls laughed.

"Mind y'all business." Beyoncé said and then turned back to Shawn.

"So when you moving down here?"

"Anxious aren't we." Beyoncé said.

"Ha ha."

"Nah but I want to find something and be moved in by the time Messiah start school back up." She said.

Shawn nodded.

"You gonna help me?"

"You asking?" He asked.

"Yes, Shawn are you gonna help me find a house?"

"Yes."

"Yay!" Beyoncé said putting her hand up and Shawn high five'd her.

Messiah came over and sat down by then with a bowl of Ice Cream.

"Why you eating that?" Beyoncé asked.

"Cause I want it." He said with a full mouth.

"You lactose and tolerant. Stop eating it."

"But I want it."

"Go throw it out or give it to jeulz."

"Not happening." He said licking the spoon.

"Okay, when you get sick make sure you go crying to your grandma okay cause I'm not helping you."

He shrugged and kept eating as Shawn laughed.

"Grandma busy anyway. She talking to somebody in the kitchen."

"Somebody who?"

"Some man."

"Man? They in there now?" Beyoncé asked.

"I know I just said that."

Beyoncé hit the back of his head.

"Don't get smart." Beyoncé said and then looked at the girls. "Aye! Y'all know mama in the kitchen talking to some man?"

"What man?" Solange asked.

Beyoncé shrugged.

"Man, y'all leave Ms. Tina alone." Shawn said laughing.

They all got up and went by the back door. Shawn watched them stand there and push each other to see who was going first. They looked like little kids so he and Tim couldn't do nothing but laugh.

"Aight, aight." Beyoncé said and pushed Kelly. "Kelly, you first."

"Why I always gotta be first." She said and then they walked in.

They crept toward the kitchen and heard Ms. Tina laughing and a male voice. They all silently agreed to all peek around the corner on three. Solange counted down and on three the all looked and then stood back up straight. Michelle and Kelly's eyes went wide and Solange and Beyoncé looked at them.

"What?" They mouthed.

Beyoncé was trying to understand what Michelle was saying but she couldn't and shrugged in confusion. Kelly was frustrated and just pointed outside so they could talk. They all went back outside.

"I said Deacon Lawson." Kelly said.

"Who that?" Solange and Beyoncé said.

"I would think a deacon at a church." Messiah said.

Beyoncé looked at him.

"You finished your ice cream?"

He nodded and she looked at her watch.

"Ten minutes you gonna wish you stopped eating like I told you." She said and turned back around towards Kelly.

"I've never seen him before."

"He a deacon at another church." Michelle said.

"Damn, so mama been dating?" Solange said.

"I never noticed anything."

Nicki came outside.

"Y'all know y'all mama in the kitchen talking to some man." She said sitting down.

"Yeah, we just saw." Beyoncé said.

Soon Ms. Tina came walking out with her friend and everyone looked in their direction.

"Hey, everybody. This is my friend Richard."

"Hey." Everyone said.

"Where's the graduation boy?" Richard asked.

"Here." Messiah said sluggish then got up walking slow.

"What's wrong with you?" Ms. Tina asked.

"Nothing."

"Liar," Beyoncé said. "He ate ice cream."

Ms. Tina sighed.

"Thanks for the card." He said to Richard.

"You're welcome. I hope you feel better."

Messiah nodded and was walking back to his seat.

"Nope, go on in the house." Beyoncé said. "I don't need you bolting in the house and fall or something."

Messiah held his stomach and went in the house.

"So, Mr. Richard. How long you been knowing my mama?" Solange asked.

"Solange." Ms. Tina said.

"What? Just asking."

"Two months or so."

Solange continued to grill Richard. Jeulz came out of the house.

"Bey Bey, Messiah want you."

Beyoncé sighed and got up and went in the house. She passed her child moaning and calling her name as she went to the kitchen. She grabbed a bottle of water and one of his lactose pills.

She came back to the couch.

"Sit up."

He did and she passed him the water and the pill.

"This might not work cause you should've taken this before or didn't eat ice cream period."

He took the pill and just looked at his mother.

"What?"

"Can you stay in here with me?"

Beyoncé sat down and he laid on her lap.

"I bet next time you'll listen to me." She said.

She turned on the TV to find something to watch.

"Can you rub my stomach?"

Beyoncé looked down towards him and started rubbing his stomach while she watched TV.

After awhile Shawn noticed Beyoncé never came back outside. He went in the house and saw them on the couch. He went to sit on the opposite couch and Beyoncé looked at him.

"The ice cream caught up to him?"

"Like I knew it would." Beyoncé said. "Glad he sleep though, he should be good by the time he wakes up. Maybe."

Shawn nodded.

"So, your girls agreed. I get to hear yall sing,"

"Aren't you excited. What time Saturday?"

"Ten." He said smiling.

"Why you looking like that?"

"Don't worry about it."

Later That Night

After Beyoncé and Solange helped Ms. Tina clean up they told everyone good night and then Beyoncé drove Nicki to the airport to catch her flight. When Beyoncé got back she and Solange sat down in Ms. Tina's room.

"So," Solange started. "Shawn."

Beyoncé rolled her eyes.

"Friends."

"Mama, they just friends?" Solange asked.

"Actually yes but I see something maybe in the future." She said. "Especially with these lunches-"

"Lunches? Lunch where?"

"His house, out." Beyoncé said.

"His house? You sleep with him?"

"What? My son was with us." Beyoncé said.

"So you would if Messiah wasn't there." Solange said.

"Solange, leave the girl alone." Ms. Tina said.

"But you like him though?"

Beyoncé pursed her lips together.

"Awe, you blushing." Solange said pinching her cheeks.

"Stop." Beyoncé said smacking her hand down. "But mama, Mr. Richard."

"He's my friend."

"He's your friend? Or he's the friend?" Solange asked and Beyoncé laughed.

"He's my friend and I have a nice time with him." Ms. Tina said. "He's my boyfriend."

Beyoncé smiled.

"Are you happy?"

"Very." Ms. Tina said. "And I'm very happy to have the both of you here."

Beyoncé and Solange smiled.

"Mama." They heard and looked towards the door.

Messiah was standing there.

"What's wrong?" Beyoncé asked.

"My stomach hurt."

"Theres nothing I can do. You're lactose and tolerant and I told you not to eat the ice cream but you did it anyway. You just gonna have to wait it out." She said. "Go back to sleep."

"I'm not sleepy." He whined.

Beyoncé rolled her eyes and got up. Messiah walked in front of her.

"Is Jeulz sleep?" She asked.

"Yes."

Beyoncé turned Messiah towards her room.

"Get in the bed." She said and he did.

She went to grab her Mac. She went towards the TV and took out the HDMI cord and plugged it into her Mac with her adaptor.

"Messiah, what movie do you wanna watch?" Beyoncé asked.

He sat up.

"Can I watch the new X-Man movie?"

"Is that on Netflix?"

"HBO."

Beyoncé searched the web and found it and pressed play and got up.

"You leaving me?" Messiah asked.

"I'll be back."

Beyoncé left and went downstairs to the kitchen. She found some ginger ale and a sprite for herself. She went back upstairs and gave him the soda.

"Thank you." He said.

"No problem." She said laying in the bed beside him.

"I'm sorry I didn't listen to you earlier."

"I know you are. The bathroom does too." She said laughing.

"Not funny ma."

"Too soon."

"Yes."

Beyoncé laid back as they watched the movie. Messiah scooted closer to his mom.

Solange peeked her head in the room and Beyoncé looked.

"Just saying goodnight. He doing okay?"

"Yeah, he's fine." Beyoncé said looking down at him. "He'll be good in the morning."

Solange nodded and left out. Beyoncé just continued to rub his stomach and watch the movie.

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