S.E.A.L IV: All I Need

Chapter 21

~Charli~

I'd been dodging...well not really dodging, I'd say, but really avoiding dealing with the issues between Gigi and myself. She hasn't said anything to anyone I am assuming because none of my family has said anything to me about it. I decided to visit her at her studio. Her and my dad went in on an exclusive studio space in Buckhead. My security system ain't got nothing on theirs, you gotta buzz in just to get into the damn gate of the studio and once you get past there you still have to have an entrance card to get into the actual building. Guess when you legendary producers you can't just make music anywhere.

Hey haven't seen you in a while Mike said as I came out the elevator. I know man I be busy all the time it seems like. I hear, you getting that Summer Jam concert off the ground. Oh for sure just got some big time names to commit to it. Word on the street is you got Wayne coming through? Yup he's gonna doa couple songs on the second night. I though he was retiring? Naw he just had to work some stuff out with his record label he working though. That's what's up. Your aunt is in the studio you going to see her? Yeah, we need to talk. Cool Cool, I'll see you later man don't be a stranger. I won't man, I said dapping him up before proceeding to the studio. I walked in and Gigi was working with Nicholas on his song that she was producing for him. Talk about talent Nicholas was the it boy in the R&B game. He was Chris Brown if he was born in the 90's. He got the looks, the dance moves, and the voice of a god, or so the girls say. We won't start on them girls either cause Gigi has had to up her gun game for these fast little girls that be after him now.

Mom look it's Charli he said looking up at me. She looked over her shoulder at me before sucking her teeth. Take 5 Nicholas. Ok he said taking off the ear phones. Hey Charli! Hey boy you in here working hard? Of course, gotta do it can't just be a pretty face. Boy please, Gigi said. You need to get them grades up, we agreed you could do this but you gotta keep your grades up. Mom my grades are fine. C minus on your English paper is not fine, especially for someone that writes music. She got a point Nicholas, you do write! It's not the same, yall don't understand, the writing they have us doing is soul sucking not like the music. Well make it interesting and get that grade up before she beat my ass Gigi said. Sorry mom. Mhm in fact hour break go do some homework she said motioning for him to leave the studio.

And what do you want she said looking at me. I came to talk to you. Talk, last time I tried to talk to you pretty much told me to fuck off. Gigi, I did not. May as well have. Listen Gigi I said taking a seat next to her, I am sorry okay I've just been on edge lately. And that gives you the right to treat me like shit, like I ain't bust my ass raising you. No, it doesn't and I am sorry for speaking to you that way. I am not trying to be in your business okay, I am concerned about you and your wellbeing. My wellbeing! Yeah you know how are our family is, we can sense things and I am getting this bad feeling that some shit is about to happen Charli and I just don't want nothing to happen to you, the kids, or Nia.

Taking these kids isn't going to hurt us Gigi. It's not the kids I am worried about Charli it's their family. Their family why would their family worry you? Just hear me out on this. I nodded listening to her. How much do you know about their family other than that both of their parents are in jail? I mean do you know why they are in jail? It was good question, I mean the father was in jail for something having to do with armed robbery but their mom, I had no clue why she was in jail, only that she was in there for the rest of her life.

The fathers in jail for armed robbery and the mom I don't know. Armed robbery Charli! He's changed now. And let me guess he told you that? You got more to worry about than just Nia and the kids, this family is well known you don't think they haven't peeped that and that yall have money. Gigi, his dad isn't like that. I mean he's pushing that we adopt them. Why! What's his motive? Nothing other than their mom not getting them. And her that another thing, what the hell did she do to get life in prison? I don't know, and his grandmother didn't tell me either. Does Terrance know? I am sure he does, but as you saw at the funeral, he isn't her biggest fan either. Right now, what's to say she don't get in his head and have him stealing or trying to blackmail yall?