Falling From It Again

Nine

CHERYL's POINT OF VIEW
SHEMAR's HOUSE
2ND DAY WORKING ON THE WEDDING

"What about these, Mom?" Lorah asked as she showed Shemar's Mom some pretty pink flowers.

I just sat there. She's already calling her Mom?

"Ouuu, I like those." Shemar's Mom said.

(Idk Shemar's Mom's name soooo....I'mma call her Grace. 😂🤷🏾‍♀️)

"Grace, how do you feel about me calling you Mom?" Lorah asked as she took a sip of her water. Lorah, Grace and I were all in the dining room looking through different floral arrangement packets together.

"I have absolutely no problem with it, sweetheart. Also, Cheryl- you're mighty silent must I say. Are you okay?" Grace asked me.

"Oh. Yes ma'am. I'm just here for support and if any advice is needed." I told her. Lorah looked over at me and then looked away. She hasn't said not one word to me ever since I came here. She was wasting my time- I'm only here because Shemar wanted me to be here anyways.

"I understand. Where is Shemar at?" Grace asked as she looked around the table.

"Oh, Mom- you know him. Probably in that pool again. Ever since we got this house he's been swimming every single day." Lorah said as she smiled and flipped the page in one of the books.

"Hm." Grace said as she picked up another book.

"Maybe...I should go and see about him. I haven't seen my best friend all day." I said as I stood up.

"No, thank you. I'm pretty sure that...my man...is fine." Lorah said as she looked up at me and raised her eyebrow.

"I'm pretty sure that he is but like I said....I haven't seen my best friend all day." I said as I forced a smile. Lorah gave me a fake smile. I left.

Once I was out of that room, I no longer felt the negativity swarming around in the air. Lorah was full of fake-bitch-itis. I'll be damned if she comes at me wrong and think that I won't defend myself. Yeah, she might be from a small place in pretty California but in New York? We beat ass on the spot.

I took a deep breath and shook off the shade that had just been thrown at me. Bitch.

I went into the backyard and that's when I saw Shemar getting out of the pool, grabbing a towel and he then wiped his face.

"Hey, best friend." I said as I walked over towards him and smiled.

He quickly removed the towel from his face and smiled at me.

"There She is. Hey, beautiful." He said as he walked up towards me and kissed my forehead.

"This pool is beautiful. You enjoying it while all the ladies are inside planning? This is your wedding too, you know?" I said as I softly punched him in his abs.

He laughed a little. "Oh, no. I want no part of the planning. I'll let me lady handle that. Along with my Momma and you. So, how you been doing? You looking all summery and shit. Where in the hell you getting them dresses from?" He asked me as he looked me up and down.

"What? I can't wear a dress?" I asked him as I held back a smile. He always made me smile.

"Hell no. I'm sure Tony wouldn't approve. If I were him, I wouldn't let you leave out the house with that on. Especially with all that ass you've got..." He said as he then looked away.

"I can wear whatever it is that I choose." I said as I sat down in a chair that was outside. I just ignored what he said about my ass- keeping it appropriate. Unlike, Shemar.

"Anyways, how is your day going? You don't wanna help them anymore?" He asked me as he sat down next to me.

"I do but...wel-....I don't know." I finally let out. I looked at the crystal clear water.

"What is it?" He asked as he leaned forward to look me in my face.

"Shemar...I thought that I liked her but...she hates me. She really does. She's been throwing shade and I don't wanna deal with that. She hates that I'm your best friend." I told him. I then looked him in his eyes.

"Huh?" He said as he started to look confused.

"I feel like I shouldn't help out with the wedding anymore. She doesn't want my help and she hasn't said a word to me until just a few minutes ago. Maybe...maybe I should just give you two your space because I already know that she doesn't like me being around you. So, I'll stay away." I added.

"Listen to me Cheryl. No woman and I mean no woman can run my best friend away. Why? Because I'm always gonna choose you. Either she likes you or she doesn't- you're always gonna be around. If she doesn't like you- she can leave. Yeah, I love her but you mean a lot to me. Either she can take me and my best friend or nothing at all. Don't let her run you away because you're apart of me. If she doesn't like you? It means that she doesn't like me because I've known you for so long. So, so long. The Pep's that I know wouldn't let her make you feel this way." He explained to me.

"She's about to be your wife....I can't mess that up." I added.

"You won't." He said as he grabbed my hand.

"Is that really how you feel, Shemar?" Lorah said. He removed his hand from mines and we both looked back at Lorah. She had tears in her eyes and she looked at how close we were to each other. "You care about her more than you care about me? She would have to stay and I would have to go if I didn't like her? That's what this is?" Lorah asked as the tears started to come down.

"Look, baby- let's just talk about it." Shemar said as he stood up.

"Hell no. Talk about it with her. Since you love her enough to tell her that kind of bull." Lorah added as she wiped her face.

"Lorah, it's not like that." I said as I stood up.

"Don't....talk to me." Lorah said as he put her hand up. She then walked back into the house.

"I-...I think that I should leave." I said as I started to walk away.

TONY AND CHERYL's HOUSE

"And then she started crying and...it was just crazy. I don't like that girl, Tony." I told him as I climbed in bed.

"You've gotta accept her though. He's gonna marry her."

"Why her though? Why does-...look at her. She's just pretty and that's the only reason." I said as I looked up at the ceiling.

"How do you know that for sure?" He asked me.

I stayed silent and then looked over at Tony.

"I've seen Shemar in love before...that's why. I know how he acts when he's in love. I know how he talks, smiles and even how he looks at a person when he's in love. I don't see it when he's with her. He just looks like he's settling." I said as I took a deep breath.

"I know that you know. How about this? Let a few days go by and give them some space. That's his fiancé and all I want you to do is worry about you right now. You and your family. Ever since he's come back- you've been worried about that girl. So what if she doesn't like you. Shemar just said that to you so that you wouldn't stop doing what it is that you agreed to do. That's all. I'm pretty sure that he really didn't mean that he would put his best friend before her. He was just talking." Tony said.

"You're right. I'll just give them a few days." I said as I then closed my eyes.

I missed my Best friend a lot but Lorah was getting out of hand. She doesn't like it when I'm around him and so- I'm just gonna stay where I am. She makes him happy.....I guess.

STAR/VOTE