Nouveau

Chapter 57: Family Matters

-Horoscope-

A day is just a day, until it becomes your life. You're thinking and talking too much right now. An excess of observation and a surplus of scrutiny into the minutiae.  You're avoiding one question:

What matters?

You'll find trouble in your most significant relationships. Protecting yourself against pain is like wearing armor over your heart. Nothing gets in. Nothing gets out.

Your egotistical tendencies will burden you more than usual. You must first love yourself before you love anyone else, but you're pushing it right now, and that will push them away.

Laive

Camera's and media were everywhere with fans lined in packs by the entrance, separated by metal barricades. Their screams could be heard through the van's tinted windows. It was the morning of the radio festival, and people were already full of energy and excited. Laive sent everyone in her inbox a text message:

Someone won the MegaMillions, but the Powerball's still up for grabs. Buy your tickets!

If ticket was not purchased before the retrieval of this message, there is a 5% consulting fee that will be applied to all winnings and lump sums.

Thank you 😇

AJ opened the door and peaked inside, "No pictures Laive. I mean it. It's too crazy out there and it's only two of us to get you inside."

"Ok." Laive stepped one foot on the concrete, and calmly got out.

"I'm for real. Just smile and keep moving."

Laive laughed at AJ's seriousness. A couple of pictures wouldn't hurt. Some screams turned into shrieks while Laive waved to the crowds and walked towards the entrance. AJ tried blocking the view but L noticed a sparkly drawing of her face.

"Wait."

AJ calmly moved towards the door, "Laive."

"Hold on."

Slowly squatting, L smiled at the nervous child that wore her face blown up in glitter on a T-shirt, "I'm really in love with your shirt."

"Oh my God." Laive assumed the woman trying to keep calm was the girl's mom.

"I'm Laive. What's your name?"

The sweet girl shied away from L's comment while clutching a small purple envelope close to her body.

The woman whispered in excitement, "Say something Shay. She's talking to you."

AJ sternly broke the silence, "Laive."

"Is that for me?"

The child quietly nodded yes, and Laive carefully reached for the envelope.

"I'm sure whatever you want to say is in here, hm?"

The small child's hands clasped behind her back, with the left foot crossed behind the right, "Yes."

"Yes ma'am." The mother corrected.

"Yes ma'am."

Laive couldn't wipe the grin off her face, "Awwww! Are you going to be too shy to give me a hug?"

"No ma'am."

Laive scooped her tiny form in both arms and tickled at her sides. "Let's see if I can get you to tell me how old you are."

Placing her face in between tiny palms, the small girl shook her head no.

"Shay," Laive let out a slight giggle while she pulled Shay's hands down. "You have to tell me before we take the picture." Grabbing the phone from the young girl's mom, L handed it to AJ. "You can't take our picture until she tells me how old she is."