FLASHBACK

Nicki picked at the food on her plate. Her stomach was tossing and turning and she had a million thoughts going through her mind. She looked around the table at her mother, brother and niece. Right now was as good of a time as any to tell them her news. The only thing holding her back was the fear of what they might think or say. She was grown though, twenty years old, and on her own. They really had no say so in her life but their support was needed.

"So, how's Pop's liking the new job?" Jelani asked.

"Good." Nicki's mother replied. "He mostly works nights. He says it keeps him from going back to that other stuff."

"That's good." Jelani said. "Nic, you still working in that office?"

"I'm pregnant." She blurted out. She scanned their faces. Nothing. "Mommy, I know you wanted me to be married and do things the right way but-"

"Who was it?" Jelani asked angrily.

"Jay-"

"Don't fucking play with me, Nicki." He stood up.

"Daddy?" Nicki's niece looked concerned.

"He wanted to be here to tell you guys with me but-"

"It was that nigga SB?" He stared at her breathing heavy. She just stared back. "Imma kill that nigga!"

"Jay!" She stood up and followed him to the door and her mother did the same.

"Jelani, calm down." Their mother said.

"No! That's my baby sister!"

"I'm grown!" She yelled.

"Do mommy know who he is? What he about?"

"Jay." She looked at him with pleading eyes, tears now falling. She looked at her mother who was in a state of shock. "Mommy, he's a good guy." She nodded then glanced at her brother. "Safaree, is a really good guy and. . .and I know he's gonna be a great father."

"Fuck SB!" He walked towards the door but Nicki ran and stood in front of it. "Move, Onika."

"Where are you going?"

"To talk to this nigga."

"I'll tell him to come over here."

"Nah."

"Jay, please." He huffed. "Lani, I. . . I really love him and I would appreciate it if you officially met him for yourself before-"

"Before what?! You better than that, son! A fucking no good ass nigga. I told you. ." He shook his head. "Man, all these niggas out here the same. I been in these streets."

"He's not like that!" She said defensively. "He really cares about me."

"Son." He shook his head.

"Please." She pleaded again. "I can't bring a baby into this world knowing that the two most important men to him or her hate each other. Just. . .please."

"Call em'." He saw her face lighten up. "He got twenty minutes to be over here."


Safaree arrived in ten minutes. He had dropped Nicki off and she told him to stay in the area in case she needed him. Now, he and her brother were in the basement talking. They had been down there for almost twenty minutes. Her leg bounced nervously as she waited. It didn't help that her mother wasn't talking to her. She sat up straight when she heard them coming up the stairs laughing.

"You staying here?" Safaree asked her smiling.

"Um, no." She tried to read him.

"Oh, well, you ready?"

"Just a second. Can you wait for me in the car?"

"Sure."

She got up and walked into the kitchen. Her mother was sat at the table, reading her bible. She didn't even acknowledge her presence.

"I'm about to go." She said but her mother said nothing. She sighed. "I can't keep apologizing. I mean, I'm not trying to be disrespectful but it is what it is, Mommy. You not talking to me won't change anything." Her mother still didn't respond. "Seriously?! Of all the mistakes you made. . ." She sighed and went to turn away.

"Onika." Nicki turned to her mother with tears steadily streaming down. "I just. . . I just always wanted better for you." She shook her head. "I should've pushed you to go to school or-"

"Ma."

"Are you ready for this?"

"Yes."

She shook her head, "Nicki, this won't be like when you were little and playing with dolls on my kitchen floor. This is real life."

"I know."

"You can't just toss a baby to the side when you're tired. Its a twenty four seven job until the day you die."

"Are you trying to talk me out of it?! I mean, what am I supposed to do? Get rid of it?"

"No, but you and that boy need to get your lives together. You were never able to fool me. I know you aren't living how you were raised. Now, that doesn't mean I love you any less but until I see things looking up. . ." She shook her head and she began crying.

Nicki rolled her eyes in attempt to keep the tears from falling again but she failed. Her mother stood and they embraced each other. Nicki's mother pulled away and wiped her daughters face. She put her hand on her abdomen.

"You know, I already knew." She smiled.

Nicki smiled and sniffled, "How?"

She shrugged, "A mother just knows these things."

"You think I'll be a good mother?" She asked seriously.

Her mother nodded and smiled, "The best."






This is short, I know, but it's something. AOL might be the next thing I post on, if not it will be the One-shots/short stories. Hopefully, everyone who is reading this has read Falling Star and understands this completely though it's really not complex at all.