Diva (Urban)

Mistakes

Diva's POV

There was a call. My phone was ringing off the hook and I worried it might've been Donte's behind. I was over him. So over him.

I looked at the screen, not recognizing the caller ID. Heaven and Alia were munching on the cupcakes in the kitchen and Xavier was taking a shower.

It was three o'clock in the afternoon; who would want to be talking to me at this hour?

"Hello?"

"Diva."

Ma.

"What in the world? Why are you calling me?"

"Hey, listen. I'm having another dinner with my man and I want you to come."

"What?" I was weirded out. I actually thought that ma and I would go our desperate ways but no. And maybe I was feeling slightly bad for her. She was trying to make things right.

But inviting me to some dinner that'll probably include Popeye's chicken does not repair years of damage. I was seventeen about to be eighteen next month in November.

I was maturing.

Sure ma didn't care that I was technically still a minor and she could've had the cops drag me home any day. That wasn't her.

So instead, she decided to do this.

I softened up a bit. I had to. This was still my ma.

"Now before you say no-"

"I'll go. I'll come over." I stated, praying that regret won't creep up on me. I heard a gasp through the speaker.

"You will? Oh, Diva, you'll be glad you did. My man been waitin' to see you, girl."

"But I want to bring my man." The words escaped my mouth before I could even think about what I was saying. My eyes bulged a bit.

"Oh really? That's fine too. Anything, baby. The dinner is two days from now at seven." Ma was acting mushy. It didn't fit her.

Meanwhile, I was thinking about how I was going to pull this "my man" thing off. Xavier and I weren't an item.

I sighed and hung up, placing my hand on my forehead.

Damn, I needed more friends.

That night, Xavier cooked for the girls. They were pleasant kids with eyes that sparkled with excitement.

I was worn by the time that I got into bed. Heaven and Alia had me playing Barbies with them after dinner and Xavier just watched and laughed while I played Ken and talked like a man.

Thoughts of ma going off on me over the years haunted me. She had company last time and she still went off. Was her new "man" going to lead her into a hole like drugs did?

I couldn't sleep. My room was next to Xavier's. I could hear his light snoring, I could picture his mouth slightly ajar and....

Then I pictured Donte. Donte was my first love. True love. I remembered him approaching me at the local club, wearing Ray Bans and a plain white shirt.

His cologne had washed over me and he was so beautiful and had game. I couldn't help but be mesmerized. Then I moved in with him a month later. He was so steady to marry me but I wasn't.

I was all settled then the first round of how's came. He slept with them and I found out. Gave him another chance. Chance after chance after chance.

I couldn't take it anymore.

Getting up, I slipped on my house shoes and padded my way to Xavier's huge room.

His lumpy form was sprawled across the bed, snoring.

I slowly walked over to him and tapped his shoulder. Nothing. I tapped it again, harder.

He stirred and opened his eyes, blinking multiple times. "Diva, w-what's up?" He said in a just-woke-up voice. It was really deep and really seductive for some reason.

"I can't sleep." Xavier didn't say anything. He just pulled me down so I was sitting next to him and wrapped his arms around my waist.

"It's okay, Elizabeth."

I jumped. What in the world? Who was....?

I was a tad bit angry. He was leading me on, kissing me and all and had the audacity to call me "Elizabeth"?

Xavier's eyes shot open. He shook his head and leaned up. "I didn't mean that-I-I-"

"It's fine," I squeaked. "I don't care." I lied. I hurried out of his room and into my own, closing the door behind me. "Diva, listen to me. I was thinking about someone else."

That's your problem, I thought. Can't you see I like you, idiot?

Finally, the knocking stopped. I could tell that he didn't want to wake up the kids.

I leaned against the door, steadying myself.

Breathe...people make mistakes. Like how Lee tried to kill herself. Mistake.

Like how Brandy died. Mistake.

Like how Donte cheated on me more than I can count. Mistake.

Like how ma abused and neglected me. Mistake.

My whole world was full of mistakes. When would it get better?