o + b residence - 10am

i have to meet with my mom today. she wants to talk about the whole myana thing, how we're gonna do this. i'm already knowing that i won't be able to keep a child 24/7. i'm not living alone, i have a whole roommate. bey would be so confused to see a little girl running around. she probably wouldn't even like that. i don't wanna make her uncomfortable in her own home.

she's making me take off of work for this.

but i know something is gonna work out. it's friday, i should be glad to have this day off.

"mornin. where ya goin?" bey asked from the kitchen while i was getting my shoes on in the living room. can't lie, she kind of scared me. i didn't know she was in there this whole time.

"i have to go meet with my mom about something."

"wanna talk about it?"

"uhhhh." i sighed standing up. i mean....it would be smart to talk to her about it, i might be coming home with an eight year old on my hip.

she should be prepared.

"well....remember when i told you i was going to work early for a patient?"

"yea."

"so that patient was a little girl. she's eight and her parents were immigrants. over the time of her being in there i was her nurse. somehow someway she found comfort in me and only me so...her parents got deported recently with hopes that i'll take her in. she's at my moms house right now but like, at some point she's gonna have to come with me."

she hummed taking a bite of her food. i was really waiting for what she had to say about it. if she's not okay with it then i'll just have to respect it.

"so are you asking me or like...."

"basically i'm asking if you're okay with that."

"i mean this isn't just my place, whatever you do isn't up to me. a little kid would probably give me some company since you're never here." she pettily rolled her neck at me making me laugh. i'll never live that through.

"i do be here, you just don't see me."

"mmhm. but when is she supposed to be coming?"

"i don't know. she may be coming this weekend because my mom has to work double shift and all that jazz. my dad isn't too good with kids, i'm his only child. so look out for kiddy shoes by the door."

"copy."

"ok i'll see you later. you look good by the way." i smiled grabbing my keys from the bowl.  her hair was in a messy pony, it looked good on her. the dark hair sets her off a lot, i like it.

"are you flirting with me dr.maraj?"

"oh bye....maybe." i chuckled before going out the door. definitely see where blue gets it from. the ride to my moms house was quick, i had to to really push it.

she hates when i'm late after giving me a specific time. i just hope she doesn't get on me.

"momma why do you think i'm dating someone that i work with?"

"onika you're my child and i know you more than you know yourself. nobody at that job is worth anything to be risking. pda at the job?"

i looked at her confused because how could she even know about that? plus it happened in a closet, not even really public. no one saw.

"if i'm a head doctor at the hospital, what do you think they're telling me when they see camera footage of my child being pulled into the storage closet?"

my heart dropped. they're really up there snitching on me? i'm an adult, they shouldn't be running their mouths about anything i do. it's not like i did it in front of everyone. plus it was just a couple of kisses.

i didn't say anything for a minute, just looked at my hands. i'm basically caught, she saw the footage so she knows who it is i'm sure. one thing about her, she's gonna figure everything out.

i bet they didn't even tell her, she looked on her own to see if she could figure it out. my mom is very protective of me. she says it's because she doesn't want me to be taken advantage of. but nothing has happened to make her think that.

as a kid she was tough on me because she didn't want me to grow up soft. momma had her reasons for everything but i'm an adult now, she shouldn't be so worried about what i do. although it's greatly appreciated.

"momma it's not even what you think." i finally decided to speak up. she was just staring me down so that was probably best. "he's really nice to me and i like him. what am i supposed to do about that? i can't just cut my feelings off."

my voice was soft as i watched her watch me. can't sit here and say i'm not nervous because i am. the two people i've taken serious in a relationship before, momma didn't like. as i said before, she had her reasons. and now that i've been through what i did, i get why.

but michael is different. i like him and he likes me for me. he's not putting up a front, or just using me. i can see that he actually likes me. that makes me feel good.

"but you can be smart. why do you think that boy is so hard on liking you?"

"because he does mommy, what do you mean?" i gave her a big look of confusion. she's making it sound like he's using me. what could he possibly be using me for? i have nothing that he doesn't have. we're in the same position.

"onika i swear i thought i raised you better than this."

"you're hurting my feelings momma."

"i don't mean to hurt your feelings baby but think tanya. i'm your mother...the head doctor and person that determines who will keep their job or lose it. how long have you known michael?"

i thought back. we've actually known each other for months. but we never really talked or actually spent time together until i began working at the hospital.

like a couple weeks before i was hired i was going up there with my mom, we started to talk then. he seemed really interested in me, i thought he was cool so we started to chat.
didn't make things official until i started to work at the hospital.

"nothing more than three months." she answered her own question with a head nod. "he's using you onika."

"i see no signs of that momma."

"because you're closed with the thought that he likes you onika."

"i'm not. he actually does and i like him."

momma sighed looking off to mya who was on her ipad. she can't make me believe that he's using me. how is it even so? it makes no sense to me.

i refuse.

"nika who's that?" mya tapped me as we walked inside the apartment. she noticed blue and bey on the couch before i did. i should really start being more aware.

"those are my friends. beyoncé and blue."

"oh. ok." she grabbed my hand waiting for me to continue. i could already see blue staring at us.

"bae you got a kid!?"

i chuckled shaking my head as mya started to hide behind my legs. this is such a surprise, i've never seen her so shy. she was not like this with my mom.

"guys, this is myana. sweet girl this is beyoncé and blue." i bent down, pulling her in front of me. beyoncé was all smiles, coming up to her bending as well.

"hey pretty....why you looking all shy? i like to play so you're gonna have to get used to that."

"what do you play?" mya looked confused. she's always playing on her ipad, so they could probably play games with one another. "i play this. on my ipad."

we watched her open it and sit on the floor before going to whatever game. beyoncé seemed to be interested, so i slowly walked away. i'm not into games so that's not my conversation.

i went in my room to put her things away when my phone rang. it was michael making me smile before answering. he's probably wondering why i'm not at work today. momma surprised me with my own absence.

"hellooo."

"baby where you at?"

"i had to handle something with my mom today. she insisted i stayed home for it."

"i been sitting here waiting for you to walk through that door before i got off. i had night shift. but what you got planned today?"

"uhhh, nothing really. i have myana for the weekend."

"damn, for real? y'all down to go somewhere?"

"i mean....we can. beyoncé and her sister could come too. we're all just in the house today."

"mmm. i guess."

i scrunched my eyebrows a bit. he sounded like that was a bad idea or something. when they met, things seemed cool.

"if that's fine with you..."

"yea. ain't none but a thang. talk to them and then let me know."

"ok."

he hung up quickly making me look confused. was that not a good idea or something?? i would want him to tell me if so, because i don't want anyone to be uncomfortable around one another.

"guys." i stepped in the living room to see the three of them on devices. they looked so focused, no one responded to me. "you guys."

i still didn't get a reply so i peeked over to beys phone. ok so i guess they're playing a game together. but it doesn't even look that interesting honestly.

"guyyyysss."

"mm?" bey glanced up at me before going back to her phone. they can't be serious. "what?"

"y'all are ignoring me."

"we're not. what is it?"

"michael wanted to know if we were down to go somewhere with him today...do you want to?"

"nah. we're having fun. right mya?"

"yea! ms.nicki look!"

i watched whatever she was showing me before she moved away. beyoncé pulled my arm to the couch so i just sat there looking at my fingers as they played.

"aw you found me!" blue threw her arms up while they laughed.

"you okay?" bey whispered to me making me look at her before nodding. she kept her eyes on me, just looking with a small smile. it made me feel weird a bit. so i had to look away.

"ou ms.nicki dats your girlfriend!?"

"huh? no." i responded quickly, shaking my head.

"well....mmm." she shrugged flopping on the couch leaving me confused. why would that even be a question? she's eight.

"so....you gonna play with us?" bey nudged my shoulder but i shook my head. i'm not a gamer, i would just mess the whole thing up. it's not for me. "sucker."

"y'all seem to be having enough fun." i moved her legs the correct way before laying across them. she smiled pushing my hair back and going back to her phone.

the whole day consisted on me listening to them bicker about the games they played. i eventually started to watch tv while laying on beys legs still. they were so deep into what they were doing, no one noticed i said i ordered pizza.

it wasn't until i got up to get it that beyoncé payed me attention. i think it's because i got off of her.

"where you going?"

"i ordered pizza. i said that like thirty minutes ago."

"oh. ok."

i went to get the pizza and brought it to the coffee table for them. it didn't seem like they would be getting it themselves so i got plates. this will be the only time i do all this while they ignore me. i am not their servant. they'll starve next time.

"here, y'all have to eat. can't just sit here playing games all day."

they grabbed their plates from me. thankfully they put their phones down this time, instead of just replying and going straight back to it. i'm actually happy that they're doing something calm to have fun. it's so much better than them running all over the place.

but i can't speak too soon, knowing beyoncé she'll have them going crazy in no time. at least once, i'm gonna get annoyed with them. i know it.

"you want some attention bae?" blue bit her pizza pulling me closer to her. but beyoncé reached over to mush her off me before pulling me back to her.

ok then.

"you always coming between us."

"shut up."

i chuckled at them. they're always pointlessly arguing.