Chanel's POV
"So are these real or what?" My grandma asked.
"No, it's like getting a weave." I said laughing.
"And your mother was okay with this?" She asked.
I started laughing and she poked me.
"Chanel." She said.
"You see she kind of don't know I got it done." I said.
This weekend was basically a grandma and me weekend. Well more like a Friday night thing since I had rehearsal this morning. I knew practice was just basically running lines so we were done by eleven this morning and I had planned to get some extensions in my head, dread extensions to be exact and I was done by four so of course I came back to her house and now I'm waiting for my mom.
"Why would you do that? You know she's gonna have a fit." She said.
I rolled my eyes on the inside.
"I just thought since I was eighteen-"
"That you wouldn't have to ask for permission to change your hair?"
"Well yeah, they will be out before I do the play so I thought why not." I said.
"Well we'll see what she says soon." She said.
I looked at her confused until I heard the door open. Oh good. I sat my head back on the couch and my grandma laughed. I heard Blue's little feet. She came in front of me and gasped. I matched her expression and picked her up.
"You miss me?" I asked kissing her.
"Yes." She said nodding.
I heard my moms heels walking across the hardwood. I figured if I held Blue she wouldn't do anything to me. She walked in front of me and I laughed. She looked at my grandma.
"Don't look at me. She came back like this." My grandma said.
My mom sat down on the opposite couch. She had her purse on the side of her and her legs were crossed. She was just staring at me.
"You like it?" I asked.
"Yeah but that's not the point." She said. "Who did it?"
"I got connections." I said.
She eyed me.
"A friend but don't worry. Play starts the first of May. They'll be gone by then." I said.
She nodded.
"Blue likes my hair don't you?" I said looking at her.
"Like grandma G."
"Yep, it is." I said.
"I got a call from Ciera's mom today." My mom said.
Y'all remember Ciera right? Lil girl that inspired me and Rachel to start RayNel C? Okay, good.
"Why? What happened?" I asked.
"Her mom just wants you to talk to her. I think her grades are dropping." She said.
"Why? What happened? She not getting bullied again is she?" I asked concerned.
"I don't know." She said.
I looked down at my watch. It around five, her dance class get out at six. Why not a pop up. She hasn't called me in awhile so I'm pretty sure she'll be surprised.
"Ma you wanna drop by her dance class real quick?" I asked.
"Sure, Julius is downstairs." She said.
I nodded and got up. I hugged my grandma.
"See you next week unless something comes up." I said as I kissed her cheek. "Oh, can we go see aunt solo?"
"Why are you trying to get to New Orleans so bad?" My mom asked.
"Because it's my fourth home and I miss it." I said pouting. "Plus the food."
"We'll see." My grandma said.
"Really think about it grandma, meaning pack a bag." I said as we left her apartment.
We went down to the car and went to the dance studio. I called Ciera's mom and told her I'd bring her home. It wasn't a private dance place but I knew the dancer coming to teach this class for kids up to fourteen. We walked in and sat down and watched. I really felt an itching to get up and dance but I didn't have the right clothes.
When the class was over I went up to Ciera and hugged her from behind as she talked to Sean, the choreographer. She was surprised to see me and hugged me. I hugged Sean.
"What's up girl." He said.
"Nothing, just checking on my mini me." I said laughing.
"When you gonna be dancing again?" He asked.
"I never stopped." I said. "But I'm busy with some stuff right now."
"Oh aight." He said.
"My mom over there if you wanna say hi. She was watching." I said.
"Cool, cool." He said and left.
I looked down at Ciera.
"Okay, what did I do? You here and your mom."
"Wait? Did you do something?" I asked.
"Not to my knowledge." She said as she went to get her bag.
"Alright, well go clean up in the bathroom. I told your mom I was taking you home." I said.
"Oh boy." She said walking away.
I went over to my mom and sat down and waited. She was talking to Sean and she took some pictures with some dancers. They was all kids and it was only like fifteen of them.
I saw Ciera coming so I stood up as she walked over.
"You ready?" I asked.
She nodded. I picked up Blue so we could go. Ciera hugged my mom as we walked out and got in the car. We decided to go to dinner before we took her home.
We were sitting in the back of the restaurant. We had already placed our orders.
"So what's up Ciera?" I asked.
"I'm good." She said.
"You sure everything good? You good in school? Nothing is going on?" I asked.
"I'm good." She said looking everywhere but me.
I looked at my mom then back at Ciera.
"Ciera, I'm serious. What's going on? You don't call me like you used to. I text you. What's up?" I asked.
I saw Ciera sniff then she just busted out crying. I wasn't expecting that to happen, I don't know what to do. I looked at my mom.
"Ciera baby come here." My mom said.
Ciera went over to my mom and my mom held her and rocked her. I looked at Blue and sure enough she was in her own world with that crayon and kids menu. I looked back at my mom.
"Ciera, you would tell us if you were in danger right?" My mom asked.
Ciera wiped her eyes and looked at me and my mom. She didn't say anything but I think I figured it out and my blood started to boil.
"Is he at your house?" I asked.
My mom was confused.
Ciera nodded and sniffed. I sighed. I got my phone and called her mom to ask if Ciera could sleep over at my house for the weekend since it's Presidents' Day on Monday. Her mom was fine with it and I hung up. I think it started clicking in my moms head and I could tell by the way she held Ciera.
"Ma, I think we should leave." I said.
"Okay, we'll get this food to go." She said.
I don't know what to do with this situation.
Beyoncé's POV
We were sitting in the living room about to talk when Shawn and Damien came through the door.
"Hey mommy." Damien said.
"Hey." I said.
"Hey babe." Shawn said leaning down and kissing me. "Aye Ciera."
She got up and they started playing fighting with sound effects. I never understood this but if they liked it I loved it. He hugged her.
"You good?" He asked her.
She nodded and he looked at me. I gave him that look and he nodded. Ciera sat back down.
"So I get no greeting? Typical." Chanel said.
"You don't get a greeting because I don't know who this is. I didn't send you away Friday with dreads." He said.
"Oh well, you love me." She said.
"Yeah." He said and mushed her head.
"Okay, we'll get out your way." Shawn said as he and Damien left.
I sat back in the chair and I told Ciera to sit by me. Chanel sat on the opposite couch.
"Ciera, your gonna have to tell us what's going on." I said.
"I can't." She said looking down.
"Why?" I asked.
"He said I couldn't tell or he would hurt me." She said.
"Does your mom know? Have you tried to tell someone?" Chanel asked.
"I tried to tell my mom but."
"But what?" Chanel asked.
"She didn't believe me." She said looking down.
"Oh hell no." Chanel said jumping up.
"Chanel, sit down and watch your mouth." I said then turned to Ciera. "Are you afraid to go home?"
"He lives there." She said.
I sighed.
"Why don't you get ready for bed okay?" I said.
She nodded and got up. She knows where to go, she's stayed over here before. I looked at Chanel.
"Ma, what are we going to do? We can't let her go back there." Chanel said.
"I know." I said.
"Like, do we call the police on her mom and that dude? Why wouldn't her mother believe her. She gonna trust a nigga over her child!" Chanel said frustrated.
"Chanel! Language." I said.
She mumbled a sorry as I tried to think. Like what could I do? I'm a little skeptical on telling Shawn because I don't know what he would do but I have not a clue running through my mind.
"Just go enjoy your night with her. Don't bring it up. Just relax and watch movies okay."
She nodded and got up and I followed her but went to my room and closed the door. Shawn was sitting on the bed and looked at me.
"Uh oh, what happened?"
I walked over and sat on the bed next to him.
"Is it about Ciera?"
I nodded.
"What's going on? Grades dropping or something?"
"Yeah but because of a reason." I said.
"What reason?"
I took a deep breath.
"Her mothers boyfriend-"
"No."
I sighed when he stopped me.
"I don't know what to do. Do we call the police or what?"
"Did she tell her mother?"
"Her mother didn't believe her." I said sadly.
Shawn got up and just stood like he was thinking.
"If we call the police where she gonna go?" He asked.
"I don't know." I said.
He looked like he was thinking again. I don't want Ciera to get put in the system she's been through too much as is.
Shawn came and stood in front of me. He took my hand.
"Bey, if we go to the cops about this she's gonna have to talk to us. She's gonna have to tell us everything and then their gonna arrest her mother and her boyfriend. After that the state will come for Ciera and they will put her in a foster home-"
"I don't want that to happen."
"I know, I know." He said. "But if we became legal guardians she can stay with us."
"What are you saying?" I asked.
"We've known Ciera three years, she knows our family. I know you don't want her going back home."
"No I don't." I said. "But where is she gonna stay?"
He put his thinking face back on.
The rooms on this side of the house are filled well besides Shawn's office. I looked at Shawn.
"If she stays here. Your office is gone." I said.
"I guess I'll just move it." He said.
"Shawn, are you really sure?" I asked.
"I'm not letting Ciera go back over there." He said adamantly.
"Ok." I said. "But we'll talk to her tomorrow. She cried enough today." I said.
He nodded.
"I can't believe this happened." He said.
"I know." I said.
