A Whole New World (Minnelli Family Series book 2)

I Can't Do This

Golden Oak University campus

"I haven't had much time to talk to you but Missy is fucking Antonio these days." Victoria told her sister, Lynn. Everybody knew how Lynn felt about Antonio and only bitches that had hands even attempted to step to him. Never mind that she had no claim to him anymore. He was still hers in her mind.

"Fuck? And the bitch has been smiling in my face this whole time?" Lynn jumped up in a rage. The twins got their stuff and searched the campus to find Missy.

Meanwhile, Missy was coming from the biology lab with music in her ears. She was having a very productive day and the sun was going down. Completely satisfied with her productivity, she felt a hard punch in the back of her head. Someone was yanking her hair and someone was punching her in the face.

"Leave my nigga alone." she recognized the voice. Fearing for her safety, Missy rose up as high as she could and grabbed the two girls by their heads and smashed their skulls together. She smashed their faces to the ground by their necks.

Across campus, Hope was coming from a meeting with her advisor for the next semester.

"Missy is in a fight on the other side of campus..." one of Hope's classmates ran up to her. "By the biology lab."

Hope ran as fast as she could to her car. She pulled up to Missy actually handling her own. She had Victoria on the ground on one hand and choking out Lynn with other. Hope hopped out quickly.

"Let them go Missy. They're not worth it...please." Just then the police pulled up and arrested everybody on the spot. Missy didn't start to cry until she was in the back of the squad car.

Antonio Minnelli

"Missy is down at the campus police station." Amiri sauntered in the downtown apartment. I looked up in surprise. "Victoria and Lynn jumped her."

"This bitch..." I mumbled grabbing his keys. I got back on campus quickly. The chief was interrogating the girls.

"Mr. Minnelli what brings you down here?" the woman flirted with me.

"I need my girl and her friend released..." I spoke bluntly. The woman looked on in surprise.

"I have nothing to do with that...you're gonna have to speak to the chief about that." she explained. I felt myself getting red.

"Get his ass out here then. I don't have all night. Or do I need to get my dad on the phone?" I threatened even though I could handle it myself.

"Antonio, what is the problem?" the police chief walked out in surprise.

"I need my girlfriend and her friend released now..." I repeated myself. "I would hate to bother my dad if my wishes aren't made."

"That's not up to me right now..."

"Who do I need to see then?"

"The president." he looked like he won. I smirked to myself. Amiri shook his head in amusement.

"Bet." I pulled out my cell phone and put my dad and the president on three way. I listened to them argue about letting them go. The president eventually relented when my dad said was going to have a talk with the head sponsors about putting their money elsewhere. Two hours later, Hope and Missy were released.

"Thank you..." they spoke. Missy was in shock. She barely looked like she had been in a fight. Her hair was all over head but she other than that she looked normal. I took them back to their dorm. Missy didn't get out immediately...I was preparing for her to go off.

"I am so grateful for you coming through for me. But I can't keep doing this with you Antonio. Do you know why they jumped me?" she looked over at me. I knew exactly why.

"I know why. But I'm not dealing with Lynn anymore." I defended myself. Her voice sounded like she was near tears.

"That's not the point at all Antonio. This girl still feels like she owns you and she's willing to eliminate any competition, real or imagined, to keep you as 'hers'. This bitch almost made me lose my scholarship. I worked my ass off to get accepted into bio pre med! I almost lost it all! And for what? A man? Some dick? How the whole fuck was I going to explain that to my family? My mom especially?!"

"But now you don't. I saved all that for you. I pulled the strings I needed for you."

"That is not the point. You were not just poison for my personal life but also my academic health. I think we need to go our separate ways."

"You don't mean that..." I folded my arms in defiance. I refused to believe what she was saying.

"Please...I need space at this point." She looked at me with watery eyes.

"I can't do that but I respect the decision." I was pissed all the way off. She could tell the energy had shifted dramatically. Missy unlocked her door and left. I got home and Amiri was in the kitchen warming up leftovers.

"Now, you know that fight is not going to help you get her any faster."

"She straight up just told me she don't want to see me!" I slammed my fist down on the counter.

"And who's fault is that?"

"You are a fucking asshole bruh! I know I fucked up...you don't have to make it so obvious!"

"Give her space."

"It's not like I have a choice at this point." I slammed my fist on the island in frustration.

Melissaire "Missy" Devereaux

"So he really never told you that he and Lynn were an item?" Hope waited for me to get settled.

"No...and she never said anything. Nobody ever said anything! I'm not a kiss and tell kind of person. That was private to me..."

"I'm sorry Missy. I can't believe this yo. He's lit as fuck for coming to your side like that though. Not many real niggas like that."

"I am so grateful but today made me realize just how dangerous this man is. I almost lost it all over someone that's not even mine." I spoke.

"Are you done with him now?"

"Yes. Deion seems to be the safer choice right now. Until he has bitches coming out the woodwork to beat my ass, I might have to really consider him." I tried to laugh. Hope just watched me with wary eyes. "I can't keep doing this Hope."

"Y'all talked for a long time."

"Argued. We argued for a long time. He would not budge about me not seeing him anymore. I don't think it's healthy at this point. I think I need to step back from the dysfunction that surrounds him for a little while."

"Do you think he's your One?"

"Why the hell would I even entertain those thoughts? It was just sex...at least I think so. Sometimes I think it's more but then something crazy like today happens and I need to reevaluate my whole life and what I want."

"Don't feel disrespected but I don't think you really know what you want. It's either passion and drama or security. And you need to make the choice."

"Thanks Hope...I'll think on it." I turned the light out.