Is It You?

Chapter 12

Ashley

"Face each other!" Mrs. Jenkins yelled out as she's trying to get the pictures she consider perfect. "Hug, y'all acting like y'all strangers. Just two seconds ago y'all were best friends." My mother shouted trying to get the same pictures Mrs. Jenkins was trying to get. We hugged each other and smiled, my hands rested around her waist as hers rested around my neck. Our cheeks pressed against one another's and my heart pounded as I hoped she'd keep this same energy for the rest of the day...week...month...forever.

"Fuck it," She said as our parents and cousins and family shouted at us to take better pictures. She pressed her lips against my cheek and my heart sped up even more as I rested my hands on her hips now. After a few pictures I turned my head and faced her staring directly into her eyes shocked that she even kissed me in front of her family and mine. Then she kissed my lips and everyone started awing and I kissed her back and I saw the flash through my closed eyelids.

We pecked each other lips a couple of times as we heard camera clicks from the real cameras and flashes, and I know my family are also taking pictures on their phones. "Yay! My mommies!" Anaria shouted hugging both of our legs and we broke our kiss by us both laughing. Our eyes met for a split second as we opened them and then our attention averted down to Anaria.

Then we followed by both holding Anaria together and taking a few more pictures. When we finished we were both smiling. "See it didn't kill you to take a few more pictures Ashley," my Aunt said and I rolled my eyes playfully. "Only because it was with Ar'iah," Tierra said teasing me and Ar'iah and I both smiled. "Ok y'all can all get out of my face," I said as Ar'iah and I went our separate ways.

She went with her family, and I went with mine. I got frustrated with myself again because again I forgot and realized Domo is here when it's too late. "It was just a small kiss, it didn't mean anything." I whispered to him and he nodded agreeing with me although I knew he was annoyed and didn't believe me. "I'm serious," I said and he looked at me.

"Try to convince yourself that, but that didn't look like nothing." He said clearly more than annoyed. I opened my mouth to convince him again but ultimately deciding against it knowing nothing I say right now will make him think otherwise. We all got into separate cars and made our way to the restaurant we booked a while ago for today.

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We arrived at the restaurant and I laughed with my cousins, Tierra, Trey, and Corey. Domo relaxed and decided to forget about the whole incident with Ar'iah as long as I promised to not let it happen again. "Hello we made a reservation a while ago for today under the name of Rose." My mother said to the receptionist.

"Oh yes Rose and Jenkins, your other guests have already arrived. I'll escort you to the table now," she said and we were confused. "Jenkins?" My mother asked and then it hit me. "Mom we made the reservations when Ar'iah and I were still together, we made them together." I said lowly but enough for people standing close to me to hear.

Domo didn't seem too pleased, and my mother looked shocked as she remembers. "So let's go to another restaurant." Domo said and my grandmother shook her head. "No, I'm starving." She said and everyone else agreed. "Then let's sit at a different table," he said and my mother shook her head. "No because then we'll seem like we don't want to sit with them." She said and Domo looked upset. "We don't," He said and Tierra chuckled.

"No correction, you don't, no one else minds." Tierra said and we all went to the table as I mouthed my apologies to Domo. We arrived at the table and there is a big booth meant for two people and my name was in front of the seat next to Ar'iah. I couldn't even be mad because I was a little....very excited.  We all sat at our assigned seats that Ar'iah and I had organized a while ago. But then there was no seat for Domo, so he was pretty pissed because I was sitting next to Ar'iah and he was sitting at the end of the table far away from me, and they had to set up a seat for him.

Throughout lunch Ar'iah would ask me to try a variety of things from her plate and of course I did and she served it from her fork. She would cut it and feed it to me, and I didn't want to upset her because she's harder to get forgiveness from than Domo. I tried to ignore the stares I was getting from a Domo and focus on the good time I'm having with everyone. "So is this the girl you brought to my birthday party?" My grandmother asked and Ar'iah and I chuckled and I nodded.

"Oh well it's nice to see you again," my grandmother said and I kept my head down. "Grandma she's been to every event that you've thrown for the past two years and part of this year." I said and my grandmother raised her eyebrows. "Oh, well my granddaughter must love you, she didn't like bringing anyone around us yet along to every event." She said and we all laughed.

"Oh here let me get that," Ar'iah said grabbing her napkin and wiping my mouth. Everyone awed us or simply got quiet. "Can you keep your hands off of my girlfriend?" Domo asked seriously but not with too much anger; but he still killed the mood. I wanted to say something to stop him from acting the way he's acting, but I have absolutely no idea what to say. "It didn't seem like she was taken," Ar'iah said raising and dropping her eyebrows with a shrug.

"Ok," I said telling them both to stop. "It's funny how you have to assume whether or not she's in a relationship when you chose for her. Now you want to pop up and try to win her back, but where were you when she wouldn't leave the bed or stop crying?" Domo asked and I felt myself getting upset not only because they're arguing but because he's putting my business out there and my family and Ar'iah's family are present.

"Be quiet," I said trying to stay calm. "No because where was she? I was right by your side, the entire time." Domo said and Ar'iah scoffed. "Like the perfect lapdog," Ar'iah said getting annoyed now. "Ar'iah don't entertain this," I said looking into her eyes. "No because what he needs to know is that we always bounce back, even he isn't strong enough to come between us. There is no you without me and there is no me without you. And if he knew that, then maybe he wouldn't be talking so reckless now," Ar'iah said and I took a deep breath seeing as though neither of them are willing to be the bigger person.

"Fuck you bitch, and get your stupid ass outta here. You're not allowed to be near my child." Domo said and I stood up as everyone else did too. Everyone was defending Ar'iah and as much as I want to be on his side, he has taken it too far. "SHUT THE FUCK UP!!" I shouted making everyone shut up. "Both of you are childish as fuck for doing this here and now. Ar'iah I asked you not to entertain this but hey you had to get your point across no matter what." I said to Ar'iah and she looked at me shocked.

"Domo,......Don't you EVER disrespect her like that again. Or so help me God, I will run my pregnant ass down this table and kick your ass myself." I said breathing heavily as I felt myself being enraged. "I don't care how angry you are at her, don't you EVER speak to her like that again. I'm leaving," I said before walking around the table on the opposite side of Domo and leaving out. I left the restaurant and just started walking not knowing where I'm going, but knowing I'm not staying here.