'96 Bonnie & Clyde

1990

It was a beautiful blazing hot summer day in Los Angeles California and I had just wrapped up my Tommy Hilfiger photo shoot for Teen Magazine. I was more than ecstatic with how the pictures turned out and I couldn't WAIT to see them published and ready for sale to my loyal and devoted fans. I took a sip of water from my straw as I casually flipped through the photos grinning from ear to ear. My publicist did an amazing job booking me this opportunity and things were really starting to pick up for me career wise. I could definitely see all of my dreams unfolding before my eyes at a slow steady pace and I was more than ok with that. By the way my name is Aaliyah Dana Haughton and I am an 18 year old RNB singer born in New York City and raised in Detroit, MI. I am 5'3 with brown skin, petite frame, long flowing black hair and a dimpled smile that could light up a room or at least that's what they say! LOL. I have been singing and dancing my ENTIRE life and ever since I could remember I have had an overwhelmingly burning desire to be famous singer AND dancer. Yes I know it sounds kind of corny but when you grow up around musical geniuses you would be musically inspired as well! My mother was a singer back in her prime and sung around town with her older sister Gladys for money but my mother never did get too far with her musical dream due to marriage and giving birth to my brother and I. My aunt Gladys however did go on to become a famous legendary American singer by the name of Gladys Knight and it is from the inspiration of my mother and my loving dear aunt that my love for music and dance will forever be instilled. I also have an Uncle by the name of Berry Gordy JR that just so happens to be the CEO and owner of my record label "MOTOWN Records" so you can say that I have a strong family support system around me and that I am extremely blessed and gracious. Now all I have to do is make them proud and I plan to do just that!

I quickly hopped in the black SUV waiting for me at the entrance of the hotel lobby where I was doing my photo shoot and greeted my driver an older black male in his 50's with graying hair and a pop belly by the name of Dean. I loved Dean he was always waiting around for me and taking me anywhere I needed to go and always on time. He was a pretty quiet guy for the most part but occasionally he would crack a joke or two to put a smile on my face and that was for sure much appreciated. "Hi Dean how are you?" I greeted happily. " I am great Miss Haughton how did the photo shoot go for you?" He asked curiously. "It went very well thank you for asking as soon as I get the photos back I will be happy to show you them!" I grinned. We pulled away from the curbside of the hotel and quickly found ourselves in the midst of the grimey Los Angeles traffic. I hadn't been living in the of Los Angeles area too long probably about 3 months or so and I was nowhere near getting used to being stuck in traffic for hours at a time, actually I don't think it is something I could ever get used to. I decided to take advantage of the free time and call one of my best friends in the whole wide world my brother Rashad. Rashad answered on the first ring which caught me slightly by surprise because he never answers the phone that fast. "Shadddd its your babyyy sisssss" I sang into the phone jokingly. "Baby sisssss how did the photo shoot go?" he joked back and I could clearly hear a smile in his voice. "It went quite well I cannot wait for you to see them!" I exclaimed. "Well I better be the first one to see them." He warned. "Of course you know that I value your opinion more than anyone else's so no photos will be published without big bro's approval and that's a promise." I assured him. "How is mom and dad? I miss you guys so much I feel so alone out here in Los Angeles without you guys!" I whined. "Everyone is okay, Mom and dad are working and I am trying to stay focused on school you know how that goes." Shad replied. My brother Shad was currently attending college and studying to be a film writer. I was so proud of him and I knew he would do great he is a very intelligent guy. My mind drifted off for a moment to my younger summer days in Detroit as a skinny little girl with pigtails running around the block with my friends and sucking on popsicles being carefree. I truly missed those simpler days from time to time especially being around my family every single day. Time to grow up and be a big girl now. "Aaliyah are you still there?" Shad asked. "Yes my bad bro I was thinking about the good ol summer days in the D... gosh I miss them." I said smiling. "Well I don't miss you following me around all over the place that's for sure". He said laughing. "Ohh shut up dork you KNOW you miss me following you around and wearing your baggy clothes trying to look hip." I said. We both shared a deep hearty laugh before I got a beep saying that someone was trying to hit my pager. I looked and saw that it was my ex husband Robert also known as the famous RNB singer R. Kelly and I rolled my eyes 360. "Robert's weak ass is paging me I am going to see what he wants." I said annoyed. "You know you don't owe that nigga nothing Aaliyah don't feel obligated to call him back whenever he decides to hit you out of the blue." Shad said. "Yes I know bro he hasn't hit me up in a while so I'll see what this negro wants real quick while I have a bit of free time. It is no biggie! I love you loser." I said. "Back at ya baby girl! Be safe out there!" He replied before disconnecting the line. I dialed Robert's number and he answered on the first ring as well. "Well well well if it isn't--" "Cut the bullshit what the hell do you want Rob?" I interrupted before he could finish his statement. "Damn its like that?" He asked dramatically. "You called so what's up?" I asked ignoring his question. "You should try being a little nicer to your husband." He said in a hushed tone as if he didn't want anyone around him to hear. "EXXXXX husband!! Now what is it?" I asked impatiently. "I heard you were in living in LA now I'll be there in a few weeks for my concert I was hoping maybe to take you out to dinner, You know... somewhere fancy." He said suavely. "Thanks for the offer but I'll be busy that night." I replied almost immediately. "I didn't even tell you what day yet..." He started before I quickly hung the phone up on him. I sighed an exasperated sigh and stared out the windows at the palm trees whizzing by and took a moment to enjoy the beautiful scenery out in California. My new home for the next...well who knows?