Girls Love Beyoncé

84

THIRD POINT OF VIEW

Beyoncé sat on the cold bathroom floor, surrounded by torn Clearblue boxes and crumpled instructions.

Tears clung to her lashes as she stared at the tests collecting in front of her, their lines blurring through her watery vision. Her throat tightened, but she bit it back—if she started crying now, she wasn't sure she'd be able to stop.

One more test.

There was still one left, sitting untouched in its box. Her hands shook as she ripped it open, the cardboard tearing louder than it should've in the silence. She couldn't even tell how long she'd been sitting there, knees pressed to her chest, heart pounding so hard it echoed in her ears.

Her palm pressed against her stomach, trembling.

"You can't be real. I'm not ready yet. She's not ready yet... we aren't ready yet." The whisper cracked as it left her lips, sounding smaller than she meant it to.

She was reckless with her body, reckless with her love for Onika, and now here she was—staring at the consequence. And yet... hadn't there always been a part of her that knew? That wanted this, even if just a little?

She swore Onika was the one. Maybe she still was. But it felt too soon—too early. They needed more time. More space. More growing.

A baby.

A child.

Her child.

Their child.

The words looped in her head like a chant, impossible to shut off. She buried her face in her knees, the weight of it pressing down, heavier than she'd ever imagined.

Beyoncé couldn't believe it.

"BROO, I'm scared and I'm not even pregnant. Is this what being a girl feels like?" Jack rambled outside the bathroom while Kelly waved him off.

Everyone was leaned against the door, straining to listen. It had been fifteen minutes already and Beyoncé hadn't said a word. Just the sound of boxes ripping open, one after another.

"Beyoncé, are you okay?" Normani asked, trying to peek under the door.

"Clearly she isn't. She's about to have a baby by a hybrid bastard—I wouldn't be okay either, shit." Jack shivered dramatically.

"Are we sure she didn't just eat some bad sushi?" Solana mumbled, leaned against the wall with the snacks Kelly brought.

Kelly turned, squinting. "Girl—give me that back." She snatched the bag right out of Solana's hands.

"If she doesn't come out soon, we might have to break in. Her mom could come back any minute." Normani whispered, worried.

"But we can't rush her. Don't rush me, Katie—I'm not ready," Jack quoted, sending everyone into giggles.

Kelly sighed. "Okay, okay. Five more minutes."

She leaned toward the door. "Beyoncé, we're out here if you need us, baby. I got you no matter what."

The group fell silent—until the bathroom lock clicked. The door cracked open.

And there she was.

"But she's supposed to be the one that has my back..." Beyoncé choked out, tears streaming as everyone gasped and rushed forward.

"She won't stay still for anyone. Not even me. I shouldn't have to hold a child over her as leverage. I don't wanna do that to her—or the baby." Her sobs broke into hiccups as her friends gathered her up, holding her tight.