Bey's POV
I was packing my suitcase. I would be in L.A for the week to do some recording with Kelly and Michelle. This week Shawn will have the kids. Chanel has been sitting on the bed since I started packing and she came from school.
"Why you looking so sad?" I asked.
"Your leaving me." She said pouting.
"It's just a week." I said.
"But what about my auditions?" She asked.
"This is the dancing part." I said. "You'll do fine I'm sure."
"I guess." She said.
"Why you act like I've never left for work before?" I asked.
"I don't know." She said shrugging.
"Trust me, you'll do fine." I said.
"Ma!" I heard. "Where you going?"
I looked towards the door and Damien was standing there.
"I told you I had to go to LA last week." I said.
"You did?" He asked.
"Yes, I did." I said.
"How long you gonna be gone?" He asked walking over to the bed.
"A week." I said.
"Business days or a whole week?" He asked.
"A whole week." I said laughing.
"What? Why? You gonna leave us with dad that long? What if we die?" He said.
"Why you all dramatic? You act like y'all haven't been with your dad." I said.
"Not a whole seven days." Chanel said.
"Y'all will be fine." I said. "Now get out so I can pack."
"We're not bothering you." Chanel said.
"Wait, my game." Damien said. "What about my game?"
"It's not the last one." I said. "I promise this will be the only missed one okay."
He nodded.
"Good, now get out so I can finish." I said.
"I don't wanna go." Chanel said.
"Okay, then help." I said.
"Well, gotta go." Chanel said as she got off the bed.
"That's what I thought." I said.
It took me another hour to pack and then I was done. I sat my suitcase by my door.
"Bey!" I heard.
"What!" I yelled.
"Come on!" I heard.
I walked in the living room and there was Michelle and Kelly with Chanel and Damien.
"Mommy, we wanna go." Chanel said.
"You have school so you can't." I said.
I heard the door open and in walked Blue with Solange and Jeulz.
"Mommy." Blue said running up to me.
I picked her up.
"Blue, mommy is leaving us." Chanel said.
"Why you gotta be all dramatic?" I said turning to her.
"I wanna go." She whined.
"Did you and Blue switch ages?" I asked.
"Where you going?" I heard Blue ask.
"With Kay and Chelle." I said.
She sighed.
"Where?" She asked.
"Oh, L.A." I said. "You know the other house."
"In Texas." She said.
"No, the one with the pool." I said.
"Ma, both houses have pools." Damien said.
I just shook my head.
"I'll be back in seven days." I said.
She looked at her fingers and started counting.
"So you leaving Shawn with the three kids?" Solange asked.
"Well yeah." I said. "Their his too."
"That's gonna be funny." Michelle said.
"Ma! Will y'all please tell Jeulz that I play the piano way better then him." Chanel said.
"No, she don't." Jeulz said. "My skills are way better."
"Boy, lies you tell." She said.
I tuned them out.
"Kelly, you talk to Rachel?" I asked.
"Yeah, she should be getting out and going to rehab by the end of the week." She said.
"How does she sound though?" Solange asked.
"She's in good spirits but the doctor found out that the bullet caused a bit of nerve damage and the fact that she has to learn to walk again is sort of getting to her." Kelly said.
I feel bad for Rachel, I couldn't imagine being shot and then having to learn how to walk again. I know it's frustrating. She a solider though, she'll be good.
I heard the door open and Shawn walked in and what do you think Blue did? Dropped from my arms and over to him.
"Papa." She said and he picked her up.
Well damn, at least I have Chanel.
"Daddy, make mommy take us." She said.
"You don't wanna go to the game tonight?" Shawn asked walking towards us.
"Game?" She said. "Oh, bye ma."
"Yeah, send us a postcard." Damien said.
Well damn.
"Bey, stop pouting and let's go." Michelle said.
I sighed and Shawn got my bags.
"Don't worry I got the kids." Shawn said kissing me. "Blue tell mommy you gonna miss her."
"Imma miss you mommy." Blue said grabbing my cheeks and kissing me.
"Bye baby, you gonna be good for daddy?" I asked.
"Yes." She said nodding.
I kissed her again.
"Chanel, Damien, come here." I said.
They stood in front of me and I looked at them.
"We'll be good." They said.
"Oh, I know." I said. "I'm going out of town for work and if I get a call and it's not y'all saying goodnight or good morning you deal with me."
"We got it ma." Damien said.
"Yeah, go to work and we'll just get in trouble when you get back." Chanel said.
I eyed her.
"I'm joking ma." She said.
"Alright, come here." I said.
I hugged and kissed them and was on my way.
Shawn's POV
"Jeulz, you staying the weekend?" I asked.
"I guess." He said.
Solange left out with Bey and them so I guess Jeulz is staying here tonight.
"Daddy, who the Nets play tonight?" Chanel asked.
"The Bulls." I said as I sat down.
"Oh, daddy can I meet Derrick Rose?" Chanel asked.
"I don't know. He don't play for me." I said laughing.
"But you know him." She said.
"We'll see. But first things first." I said then pointed towards Damien. "You need your hair cut."
"So we going to the barbershop then dinner and then the game and then we gotta get up and go to D's game." Jeulz said.
"Sounds like a plan." I said. "Blue, you wanna go to the game?"
She was too busy watching TV. I shook my head.
"Y'all ready?" I asked.
They nodded and I got up.
"Blue, you gonna get dirty today?" I asked.
"No." She said shaking her head.
"Chanel can you pack her bag please." I said.
She nodded and went to do it.
"Damien, put on your shoes." I said.
He was on the couch doing something on his phone.
"D!" I yelled as I threw a pillow at him.
"Huh?" He asked.
"Put your shoes on so we can go." I said.
He finally got up and Jeulz turned off the TV. I walked to the closet.
"Blue, come on." I said as I held her jacket.
She came over and I put her jacket on. Everybody was ready to go so now we're going to the barbershop.
***************
"What up Jazzy." I heard.
I walked up to Greg and dapped him up.
"What up man." I said.
"I would've came by you didn't have to come up here." He said.
"Nah, we on our way to dinner and D need a shape up real quick." I said.
"Aight, I'm free." He said.
"Damien!" I said.
He was busy with his phone.
"Damien!" I yelled.
"Huh?" He said and looked up.
"Come on." I said and walked over to get in the seat.
I shook my head. I sat down in one of the open chairs with Blue in my lap. Only people that were in here were workers and my security was standing outside.
"Jay, you know your team losing tonight." One of the other barbers Tony said.
"Get outta here Tony." I said.
"I'm just saying." He said. "Chanel agree with me."
"Don't bring me into this." She said.
"Exactly." I said.
"Even if it's true." She said.
"What? Have fun walking." I said.
"Daddy, you can't be mad at me for being honest." She said laughing.
"Watch me." I said.
"Jay don't get mad at her." Danielle, the only female barber said.
"Thank you Dani." Chanel said.
"Whatever." I said.
"D, you ready to go to Michigan?" Greg asked.
"Oh yeah, I'm ready." Damien said. "I gotta game tomorrow at eleven. You should come out."
"Oh word, Bey been kicked outta anymore games?" Greg asked laughing.
We all laughed.
"No, but she not here for the week." I said.
"She left you with all the kids?" Dani said laughing.
"Why is everyone shocked?" I asked.
"Well uncle Shawn, good thing I get to go home but you never kept all of them by yourself before." Jeulz said.
"Keep talking your going home now." I said.
"We just saying Jay, it's funny but I'm sure you got this." Tony said.
"I know I got this." I said standing.
Blue was sleep so I had to shift her body a bit. I handed Greg the money and we were out and went to dinner.
Rachel's POV
I woke and heard someone laughing. I looked around and my moms at work so I must have a roommate. I sat up as best as I could. I winced a bit and pulled back the curtain. It was another girl.
"Oh my bad. Was I laughing too loud?" She asked.
"Nah, you good." I said.
"Oh I'm Ky by the way." She said.
"Ky, I'm Rachel." I said.
"What you in for?" She asked.
"Oh I uh, got shot." I said. "Went through my back and surprisingly out the front."
"Oh I had knee surgery." She said. "Landed on my knee wrong and something popped."
"Damn, that sucks." I said.
"Yeah, how long you been in here?" She asked.
"Like three weeks I gotta get transferred to rehab at the end of the week." I said.
"Oh, I don't know how long they gonna keep me." She said. "I'm just blown I can't play basketball no more."
"What position you play?" I asked.
"Any position." She said.
"How old are you?" I asked.
"Fourteen." She said. "I gotta get my leg right so I can play on the high school team."
"What school?" I asked.
"Wise." She said.
I nodded.
We watched TV and talked about a couple other things. She was a real cool girl. Sad thing is she's in a group home. I couldn't imagine living in those with the stories I heard. She seemed real optimistic though. I hope it rubs off on me.
Chanel's POV
Daddy decided to take us to Junior's before the game so I can get some wings.
"So daddy about my birthday-"
"Your party is still on hold until your mother says other wise." He said.
"But my birthday is in like two weeks." I said.
"Not my rules." He said.
"But it's not fair." I said.
"No one told you to get suspended and touch that girl." He said.
"I had reason." I said as I sipped my drink.
"Well until your mother says other wise, no party planning." He said.
They are no fair. At the rate I'm going Blue's fourth birthday, which was basically a family dinner, is better than mine already. I'm turning eighteen, why they doing this to me?
We finally finished dinner and went to the game. The fact that my dad stopped planning my party made me not even care for the game anymore. What do I need to do for my mom to let me have my party again, like for real. You only turn eighteen once.
Damien's POV
*Next Day*
I was blasting my beats getting pumped up outside the gym before I had to go in. I do get hype with my team but I need at least ten minutes by myself. My phone started to go off. I smiled when I saw who it was.
"You ready?" I heard.
"Yes I am." I said.
"You focused." She asked.
"Yes." I said.
"Don't let nobody get in your head." She said. "I wish I could've came."
"It's okay mommy, you'll be at my next one." I said.
"Okay, call and tell me how the game went. Good or bad." She said.
"I will." I said.
"Okay, love you." She said.
"Love you too mommy." I said.
"Bye." She said and hung up.
The conversation put a smile on my face. My mother has a way of doing that to me.
"I see your a mama's boy." I heard.
I turned around and rolled my eyes. I don't have time for it today.
"Tammy, please go away." I said.
"I just wanted to see how your doing." She said.
"Really? Well I see how you doing." I said.
She still looking as bummy as ever.
"I'm, I wanted-"
"Look, I don't have no money on me. Sorry." I said.
"You lying." She said.
"Duh, get the hell out of here Tammy." I said.
"But I'm your mother-"
"Don't you dare fix your mouth to say that." I said. "You don't have the right."
"So perfect Ms. Beyoncé-"
"Don't talk about my mother. She has done more for me then you ever have." I said. "I said I don't have no money, so keep walking."
"Fine, then fuck you." She said walking away.
"Bye, now." I said waving.
I looked at her walk away and just looked at her. Like what kind of human would do the things she has. I went back into the gym to get myself back focus but it didn't turn out that way.
Shawn's POV
"Uncle Shawn, what's up with Damien?" Jeulz asked.
"I don't know." I said as I watched the game.
Damien was playing reckless right now. He was basically playing street ball and being a damn ball hog. He was fine when we left the house. I don't who is playing right now. I told Chanel to watch Blue. I got off the bleachers and got the coach.
"Take him out." I said.
"What?" He said.
"If you don't, he's gonna get hurt, injury another player or get himself put out." I said.
The coach eyed me but I know my son. He nodded. This isn't about basketball right now. I don't know what's wrong with him. The coach blew his whistle.
"Damien, your out your playing too reckless." I heard.
"What coach? that's some bullshit." Damien said.
"You want out the next game too." He said. "Sit your ass down."
Angrily Damien sat down. The game started back up and went over to where he was seated which was on the end. I tapped his shoulder and he jerked away.
"Who the fuck you jerking away from? Get your ass up." I said.
He must have lost his god damn mind.
He got up and we walked over to the side door and we went outside. Nobody was out there.
"What the hell you doing?" I asked.
"I'm playing ball." He said.
"Where? At P.S 127?" I asked. "You playing like you ain't go no discipline."
He shook his head.
"Why you acting like a ball hog?" I asked.
"I'm not." He said.
"What is wrong with you?" I asked.
"Nothing." He said.
"Nothing?" I said. "Okay, get your stuff."
"What?" He said.
"We leaving. You ain't playing anyway." I said.
"But what about my team?" He asked.
"Oh now you worried about the team?" I asked.
He sighed.
"Tammy came by when I got off the phone with mommy." He said.
"Why didn't you say something?" I asked.
"I thought I was fine." He said shrugging.
"What did she say to you?" I asked.
He shrugged.
"She wanted money but I didn't give it to her." He said.
"Look, go sit down and watch the rest of the game." I said. "We'll talk later."
He nodded and we went back in.
*Later That Night*
"Bab-"
"No, I want to find this chick." She said. "She's not gonna keep asking MY son for money."
I'm starting to think telling Bey what happened today was a bad decision.
"Babe." I said.
"What?" She asked.
"How's recording?" I asked.
"Don't change the subject but I'm fine." She said. "I don't know when but I need to have talk with this women because she needs to see where I'm coming from."
"Bey." I said.
"Drug addict or not she needs to stay away from Damien until she gets her shit together." She said. "Damien loses focus when she comes around. I don't like that."
"I don't like it either." I said.
She sighed.
"What are you doing tomorrow?" She asked.
"I don't know." I said.
"Take my children to church." She said.
"I don't think them missing one Sunday is gonna be bad." I said.
"Jeulz still there?" She asked.
"Yeah, he wanted to stay." I said.
"Well, I guess your doing okay with them." She said.
"I told you I got this." I said.
"Alright, well I gotta go." She said.
"Alright, love you." I said. "And don't get stressed. He's fine now."
"Okay, love you too." She said and hung up.
I laid on the bed and looked at the ceiling. Six more days till she comes back. I can't wait till they go back to school on Monday.
