HAZEL 2 ➝ D.SWING x AALIYAH.

Chapter 40 { brother }

DeVante Swing
July 23rd,1997
Los Angelos, California

"With all my heart I love you baby" The Anita lyric came through the radio. I looked over at Nyla as she was putting the finishing touches on the wedding.

"This song is good to dance to?" Nyla asks me and I shrug.

"It's cool" I respond and she glares at me.

"Can you actually give me input? You haven't helped with anything." She says putting the pencil down, sighing.

"It's a good song okay. All of Anita Baker's music is good" I say slouching in my seat, looking at my pager as it beeps.

"You know what, I'm not doing this right now" Nyla says while getting up from the kitchen table, walking off into the living room. I look at her in pure confusion.

"What's the problem?" I ask following her.

"Why is your pager always beeping?" She asks me and I tilt my head.

"Because people are calling me?" I say furrowing my eyebrows.

The hell.

"Okay Donald" She says, sitting down on the couch.

"What's wrong?" I ask her, while sitting down next to her.

"Sorry, I've been stressed lately." She says

"Why?" I ask

"I don't know, I've been occupied with concerts, interviews, studio time, and now I got to plan this wedding. I feel like no one is helping me and all I ask is for my Fiancé to help me out and... you're just here" She expresses.

"Always and Forever by Heatwave" I say

"What?"

"That's a good song to add to the playlist. We should dance to that" I say smiling at her as I notice a sense of relief plastered on her face.

"Thank you." She says looking down at her lap.

"You're scared aren't you." I ask her. I watch her look up at me and nod.

"Yeah. A little" She says and I lay my hand on her thigh.

"It's gonna be alright. We've been up and down for 9 years. Everything is worth it. I love you" I say smiling at her.

"I love you too" She says smiling.

"You need any help?" I ask

"Yes"

"Help with what?" I ask

"Um.. everything. Do you even have your suit? Do you know who's your best man?" She asks me

"Yes Nyla. I do" I say while chuckling.

"Are you going to invite your parents and Derek?" Nyla asks and I froze.

I haven't spoke to my parents in years.

"I told Derek but I don't think we want that type of negativity at our wedding." I say and I notice her shake her head.

"Are you implying that your parents are negative" She asks

"Yes. Yes I am" I respond

"Regardless of what issues you have with your family, they are still family. My brother isn't able to be at the wedding. Be grateful De" She says and I notice her eyes start to gloss.

"You're right... you're right" I say.

"I- i just wish Dajon was here. He missed everything. My high school graduation, my college graduation, my birthdays, and now my wedding"

"Really miss him huh?" I say and she nods.

"That's ironic because you know who kept on paging me?"

"Who?"

"You know he was recently released from prison right and he's been wanting to see you. But I wanted to surprise you at the wedding but you seem to really miss him. I pulled some strings and he's out of jail." I say and lord knows I have never seen her so happy.

"You are lying" She says as I notice her eyes light up.

"Do I have to call him?"

"Why didn't anyone tell me! How long has he been out? What the fuck!"

"He's been out since last week. It was supposed to be a surpri-"

"FUCK A SURPRISE MY BROTHER IS OUT OF JAIL! TELL HIM TO COME OVER!" Nyla screams and I jump a little.

"If you say so." I say, reaching for the house phone and dialing his number.

After a long wait her answered.

"Yo DeVante I've been calling yo ass since forever" Dajon says into the phone

"Nigga i was around Nyla" I say and before I could finish Nyla snatched the phone from me.

"So Dajon Andre Jones I wanna understand why I wasn't the first to know that you were released from jail!" Nyla screams into the phone.

"Why don't you invite him over." I mouth to her

"Come over I haven't seen you in almost 10 years!" She says while smiling.

I have never seen her this happy in a very long time.

Look at the big smile plastered on her face. After she hung up the phone, I saw that her happiness started to fade away.

"I need to clean up! This house is a mess!" She screams

"You don't need to do anything but be sexy, I'll call Linda" I say stopping her from picking up the broom.

"Who the hell is Linda?" She asks me, furrowing her eyebrows.

"The housekeeper I just recently hired." I respond

"When did we agree to have a house keeper?" She asks

"When you decided to be occupied."

"Ouch." She replies

"Ouch Indeed."

"Well.. Call Linda then."

"Already on it." I say putting the house phone up to my ears.

Happiness hasn't been here in a long time.