Forever My Lady: The Ballad of Iman and Adonis

Chapter One: I Get So Lonely

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. - September 2011 

IMAN POV

Hi! My name is Iman Olumi Khashim-DeGrate. I'm 21 years old and I hail from Las Vegas, Nevada. I never lived there, though...only born there. My father is the one, the only, DeVante Swing! You guys know that he's the musical genius behind the bad boy group Jodeci. I don't know who my mother is, and neither does he. He says that she was a beautiful woman though. She was a groupie he met backstage in 1989. Yeah, they did what they did and she became pregnant. I was born on May 25, 1990. I was the third and youngest child that my daddy had. I have two older siblings: Justin, who's 24, and Dyana, who is 23. I don't really know my mom...she held me when I was 5 hours old and dropped me off on his doorstep. The fact that a mother skipped out on a child is heartbreaking, devastating, and it damages children for the rest of their lives indefinitely. 

My father and I are very close considering that I was the only child he truly raised. Jodeci spent their heyday on the road a lot, and since we have different mothers, I got all of his attention. Considering the fact that he raised me on his own, I turned out very well: I'm a straight-A student, I earned a full scholarship to Temple University as a film major, and I have a bright future. My dad still has me living with him, but I really want to live with my best friend Kitana. She grew up in foster care, spent time in and out of juvie hall, but turned her life around and wants to become a physical therapist. I was packing up an overnight bag to kick it with none other than my bestie Kitana. 

DeVante: Hey sweetheart.

Me: Hi daddy.

DeVante: Let me guess, Kitana's?

Me: You got it!

DeVante: Alright. Baby girl?

Me: Yeah?

DeVante: Please, please, please....

I sighed and knew what my father was about to say.

Me, DeVante: Be safe!

I hugged him tightly and kissed his tattooed cheek. 

DeVante: Why don't you ever want to stay with me? Dad ain't cool enough for you?

Me: You are a mess! Call up one of your "honeys" from back in the day.  You know I love you, Pop! Struggle pony and all. See you in the morning, I love you!

He shyly put on his Fedora, covering his samurai bun. I snorted and kissed his cheek again, dashing off into my 1995 Honda Accord. In about 30 minutes, I parked into the guest lot of Kitana's apartment complex. I walked in the building with my bag, pushed my curly hair out of my eyes and made my way up the stairs, knocking rapidly on K's door. She loves to twerk with her headphones in. 

Knock. No answer.

Knock knock. No answer. 

Knock knock knock knock. Still no answer!

BOOM BOOM BOOM! I used my foot to knock on the door and rather than have her door open, a tall, muscular black man opened his door, I whirled around facing him. He had a cold-blooded scowl on his face and I clutched my chest in fear. Sweat dripping down his chest....I was scared out of my mind but still turned on at the same damn time.

Adonis: YO! What the fuck are you---

Me: I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-......I'm sorry! My best friend lives here and I just needed her to open the door and...and...and...I....

Kitana came up the stairs, shopping bags in her hands and a cigarette in her mouth. 

Kitana: Donnie, lay off her okay? You better save that fighter shit for ya opponents, bruh bruh. 

Adonis: Whatever, Tana. Knock on my door when you ready, okay?

Kitana: Alright then, fuck boy. 

Adonis: Ya Mama!

Kitana: That ain't no insult, I don't know her ass! 

I was sweating hard as fuck and struggling to catch my breath.

Kitana: Damn girl, let's go in the house before you die of a heart attack. 

She unlocked the door and playfully shoved me inside the apartment.

Kitana: I see you met my neighbor, Donnie!

Me: Neighbor? That nigga looks like the illegitimate son of Deebo and Kim Fields! 

Kitana: Shut up, girl. You all sweaty and nervous and scared of him and shit. Donnie's harmless and wait for this....single!

Me: Whatever, I don't want him! I just want to get ready for this party that you keep saying is gonna be so turnt up! 

We burst out laughing and began preparing for the party. 

As I got cleaned up in the shower, I began to think about this Donnie guy. Muscular, athletic, attractive, and unbelievably SEXY!!! I'm glad I ain't wearing panties at this moment because...

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

Kitana: Hurry up bih, I need to take me a shower too! 

I playfully rolled my eyes, turned off the water and dried off with a towel. Too bad this is the only chance I'll get to see him. I get so lonely, wondering about who'll love me and what not.