Left Or Right?

"Onika, that was an excellent presentation! I just know you can take our company to whole new heights, and I'm excited to offer you the position of the new executive digital director!" Edward reached in for a handshake.

"Thank you so much!! I really appreciate it, I've worked so hard and this means a lot. I have big plans!"

"Oh, we know! Keep up the phenomenal work. How about this, you can take the rest of the day and tomorrow off, it won't count against you." He suggested patting her on the back.

"Thank you, Mr. Dotson!" Nicki was so happy, for once in a long time. She grabbed her purse, work bag, and got out of that building as soon as possible. It was a nice, sunny, day outside in Georgia. The trees swayed in the wind, giving a cool little breeze. It was around the beginning of September, so the weather was perfect. As Nicki started up her engine, she got a call from Victor.

"What do you want?"

"Let me make everything up to you, babe." he whispered on the other end of the phone.

"I'm done with your bullshit. Do you know how much you've put me and my daughter through? We don't deserve this shit. What you can do is get your shit out of my house and I wouldn't care if I never saw your dumb ass again!" Nicki yelled.

"Your daughter? That's OUR daughter. You're barely even home. All you give a fuck about is your damn job and yourself." he spat back.

"How fucking dare you. I'm barely home? Nigga I'm home every single day. At 7 fucking 30 I'm walking through that damn door. I don't have time to hang out with my girlfriends, or do things I wan't to do. I'm worried about keeping my fucking job and making sure my family is good. Get the fuck outta here! I'm the one providing a roof over your damn head, and you have the motherfuckin' nerve to say some shit like that to me?"

"You think you better than everybody else cuz you living in the Suburbs with a nice house, fancy car, a good paying job, and because you got a fucking degree. Well let me fucking tell you this, you ain't no better than any black woman out here trying to make something out of themselves.  Fuck that, you ain't even fully black. You must be in Georgia too long cuz you damn sure forgot where the fuck yo ass came from."

Nicki calmed down. She was livid, irate, and was feeling every emotion in in between. But, at the same time.. she was proud of herself for telling him off and not being afraid to.

"Man, fuck you. I don't need you anymore, I'll find a place my damn self and prove you wrong. Have my shit ready tonight." was all Victor said to Nicki before he hung up the phone.

Right when she builds up the strength and self-esteem to tell him off anymore, he hits her with reality. It's not that she think's she's better than anyone, but she just believes she deserves the recognition and acknowledgment for actually coming from the projects, to a whole new side of life many people would love to have.


"I'll be more than glad too." Nic said softly, but then realized he had hung up. Saddened, she placed her phone back in her purse and started her car up. 


'Fuck it and him' she thought to herself. Today Nicki was going to reward herself. With a day off work basically, and Victor practically gone.. what more could she ask for? To suit herself, she went to the 5 star restaurant that not many people around the town went to. The restaurant was quiet and provided a sense of tranquility.



-----

"Welcome to Bacchanalia! How many seats you want?" The long haired, african american, waiter asked with menu's in her hand. 

"Table for 1, please." replied Nicki. As she looked around, it wasn't a lot of people at the Restaurant. It was a little before lunchtime, so she got there at just the right time. 'Bacchanalia' specialized in american, asian, and new american cuisines. The waiter, Brittney, showed Nic where she would be sitting and offered her a drink.

"I think I'll just have a water." she said while placing her purse beside her.

"You sure you wouldn't like a Martini? Girl, they be banging!!! I know your  man would love for you to loosen up!! You seem so tight!!!!" convinced the waiter. Nicki was not feeling her. She looked around the 5 star restaurant, then back at the waiter. Who hired her?

"Ummmmm, I think I'll just have a water!" she made clear.

"You Sho'? The Margaritas are pr-"

"No. I'm perfectly fine with a water, thank you." Nicki managed to get a smile out.
Brittney stopped her dancing in circles, moved her hair out of her face, and took down Nicki's order.

"Right. I'm sorry! I be getting out of my element sometime. They want us to be so professional here, like aint no celebrities finna come up in this Restaurant!" She sighed. "So you know what food you want?

'I could care less about you right now" Nic thought to herself.

In response, she just forced a smile. "I'll have the Sour Cherry Mosorato with the Malted Chocolate Sweet Cream Cardamom."

"Black people shouldn't order things they know dang well they cant spell!" She popped her gum.

"Excuse me?"

"What? I said African American's shouldn't order food that they know they couldn't spell to save their life. Is that better?" she batted her false eyelashes. 

"Okay, you know what. Have a great day!" Nick got her purse and marched towards the entrance of the restaurant. So much for being tranquil and attempting to treat herself.

"Wait, lady! Lady! I'm sahry, today just aint my day. My kid is in the hospital and she had an asthma attack, but I had to come here and work extra hours to be able to pay her hospital bill!" Brittney yelled to Nicki as she was walking out. When Nic heard the news, she stopped in her tracks and turned around. 

"I am so sorry!" 

"Nah, you good."

"No, really. I'm sorry. When my daughter was little her asthma was terrible, so I understand. We can talk if you wanna." proposed Nic, feeling bad for how she acted  towards her and her thoughts earlier.

"I'm sure you don't wanna hear my sob story."

"Well, how much is your hospital bill?"

"No, I can't let you do that!!! It's perfectly fine, I appreciate it though!"

Nicki rolled her eyes. 'This girl know she need some damn money, I don't know why she ain't taking it. Poor baby.' she thought to herself.

"Whatever." Nicki took out 300 from her wallet, placed it on the table infront of her, and glanced at Brittney. "Well, are you gonna take it?! Shit. Just staring at it."

The waiter looked around, kind of ashamed. But, then took the money, shoved it in her pocket, and gave Nicki a shy smile.

"Okay, look. Here is my number if you need it." Brittney ripped a piece of paper from her notepad while Nicki got out a pen to write down her house number. "If I don't answer, then always leave a message."

"Thank you so much!!" Britney gave Nicki a big hug, causing her to stumble back a little bit. "I really appreciate it!!"

"And you're so welcome!" Nicki smiled nervously while moving her hair out of her face. 

"Would you like to sit and talk?"

'Oh, shit.' Nic thought to herself. "I'm sorry! I really can't, I have to be at a meeting at work really soon! I'm sorry! I'll see you later." she gave Brittney a small smile and rushed out the door to her car to head home. 

--------

Pulling into her subdivision, Nicki once again took a look at the first house that someone was moving into to. The man wasn't there, but moving men were still unloading the trucks and moving things into the house. Being nosy, she parked in front of their house and walked up to one of the moving men. 

"Excuse me, do you know who's moving here?" she asked crossing her arms.

"Some guy and his son, I don't really know." he picked up another box and started hauling it into the owner's garage.

"Hmmm, thank you!" 

'Well, that wasn't much help'  she thought to herself pulling off. "A guy with a kid though? Single? Divorced? Just not together?" Nicki said out loud as her mind that out of all the possibilities about this man.

As she turned a couple corners, went in a circle, and found her house she saw Victor sitting on the porch. Before she could get out of her car, he came up to the window and demanded her to let it down.

"I TOLD YOU I wanted my shit ready when I came!"

"Correction: you said tonight! Dumb ass. Can you fucking move so I can get out of my car? I'll be happy to get your shit ready."

Victor didn't move, Nicki stared into his red eyes that were filled with evil and guilt. "Are you gonna hit me right now? Infront of all my neighbors? Or are you too pussy to do that shit when people are watching? Fuck kind of man are you." she whispered and pushed the door open hard, causing him to to stumble back. "I told you to move, didn't I!"

"All you need to do is get my shit and I'll be on my way." he said back to her.

"Where are you gonna go, Victor?"

"I don't know man! I'll find a place." He huffed and puffed like he was about to cry.

Nicki just looked at him, disgusted. She took her keys out of her purse, unlocked the door, and slammed it behind her. She walked over to the kitchen, with her hands buried in her face. She couldn't believe this was happening.  The first man she ever really loved, had wanted to walk out on her. Well, the feeling was mutual. Nicki had put so much hate towards him. But wasn't she supposed to? If you genuinely love someone, you aren't suppose to put your hands on them. It isn't that easy though. This had been going on for so long, he should have been left. Nicki just couldn't do what was best for her, but for her daughter to. The same had went down with her mother and father when she was younger.
The two would continually fight. And Nicki, being as young as she was, couldn't take it. Taking her out of a trance, Victor banged on the door. "Hurry up!" he said. Nicki got up from her spot at the table, and got a trashbag from the drawer.

As she was walking up the stairs, she glanced at the family photo that was framed of the 3 of them about 3 years ago. Nicki remembered that day exactly. It was July 2nd, one of the most hottest days of the year. They had taken about 20 pictures that day, and picked the top 10 that they liked. The one she liked the most was the one that was taken of the 3 of them on the beach. They had to travel to Tybee Island, which was 5 hours away.. but to Nicki it was all worth it. That was when everyone was happy, loving, and things went perfect. Within one night, all of that changed.

"Nicki! Hurry up! You want me out so bad but you're taking forever!!" Victor yelled again outside of the door.

She sighed, and ran upstairs to her master bedroom. Hurrying, she grabbed all of his jeans, shirts, socks, toiletries, & etc & placed them in the trash bag. Stepping back, and admiring all of the closet space which was now hers, she looked at the photo of them on her nightstand. After everything he did and said, thinking about that day and getting that picture taken had put her to ease and gave her hope that what was once there.. could stil be there. She went over to her drawer, and pulled out that same picture of them, the picture from 3 years ago, and a picture of Sarai from this school year. Nicki didn't know if she was ever going to see him again. Having a feeling he was going to yell again, she tied a knot in the bag and made her way back downstairs. Once Nicki opened up the front door, Victor was sitting on the porch with his hands in his face.

"Here's your things, I put some pictures in there also. Ya know, just because." she handed him the bags. "Do you have any idea where you're going to?"

"You know damn well you don't even care."

"Victor, seriously. Just answer the question." Nicki leaned against the side of the door.

"I'm gonna go to a friends house, try to keep the job I have now, and maybe find an apartment out of Forsyth. I gotta get out of here."

"Oh." replied Nicki with obvious hurt in her voice.

"Look. I gotta catch the bus soon. So I'll see you whenever."

'Should I offer to drive him?" she thought to herself. 'Nah, that nigga is good.'

"Bye, Victor." Nicki said to him as she watched him walk down the sidewalk, with his hands in his pockets. He looked so lonely and so sad. "Fuck is wrong with me?" she said out loud closing the door behind her. "What the fuck do I want?"


The Restaurant.


The Kichen. Mad pretty right?



How are you guys liking this? Sorry it's been taking me a while to post. What do you think is going through Nicki's mind? How she's acting? Victor? How he feels? What are you interpreting about the characters and their personality? Do you think Nicki is making the right decision? Comment below. (: Spread the world. Follow. & awl dat. xoxo. -Cid Oh, & leave your @ names below if you read this so I can know who to tweet when I update. THANK YOU! 

Same Old Shit

The two took a seat at the dinner table. It was nice when it was just them two. With no interruptions at all. Well, they hoped. Nicki made Baked Pesto Chicken with Angel Hair Pasta and French Bread. She always felt the need to cook something special whenever Victor came around and fucked things up..she felt like she had to make up for him acting that way. 

"Did you finish that project?" Nicki asked taking a bite of the delicious french bread that she was so proud of herself for cooking the right way.

"Yo, have you ever thought about finding another man? Ya know, try to loosen up. You're so business savvy." Sarai asked changing the subject.

"Don't do that! Did you finish it or not?"

"No! I'll do it later, I promise." she rolled her eyes. "Okay. Back to what I was saying. Why don't you dump Victor and go find someone else! He obviously aint good for nothing. I'm just saying you could do betteerrrrrrrrr." she sung, laughing. She didn't feel comfortable calling him "dad" anymore because a real dad doesn't lay his hands on a women.

"I'll find someone when the time is right. Don't question, just trust." Nicki winked.

"He has to be black."

"Wait. Why he gotta be a nigga?" Nicki asked.

"Because. As I was saying before I was interrupted. He gotta be tall, skinny with muscles, and he has to have money."

"Wowwwwww."

----------

The night passed and things went pretty well after dinner. Victor was a no show, thank God. But Nicki didn't get her hopes up because he could come back in the middle of the night. She had her thoughts about changing the locks, but thought it would complicate things even more. About to put on her pajamas, her phone rung and it was her mom.

Nicki grabbed her blackberry and pressed the green call button with a smile on her face. She hadn't heard from her mom in a while who lived back in New York. "Hey, ma!"

"Hi, beautiful. How's everything going down there?"

"Eh, same ol same ol. Nothing's changed I guess." Nicki layed her phone on the bed while putting her shirt over her head to get it on.

"And whose fault is that?"

"I don't need another pep talk, I already have Sarai in my ear."

"Remember what you went through with me and your father? Are you gonna repeat the cycle?"

"Look." Nicki checked her clock. "It's getting late, and you know I have work tomorrow. 6 o' clock comes too fast for me."

Carol sighed deeply on the other side of the phone. "Goodnight."

"Night." Nicki clicked over and got in her Queen Size bed. She wasn't gonna lie, she did miss Victor on his side. It was lonely for her. He was always there, waiting for her to hop into bed and cuddle with him until they both fell asleep. Those were the good days. 


It was about 2am when Nicki heard the front door slam shut. "God please don't let this be him." she prayed silently to herself while getting out of her bed. Victor came up the steps as she stood in the doorway turning around but he grabbed her by her upper arm and turned her around.

"Do you know what the FUCK I went through today?" He spat in her face.

"No, Victor. I don't. Just let me go to bed, please. I have to get up in 4 hours." she begged and tried to loosen from his grip but that caused him to grip tighter.

"You don't try to get away from me."

"Let me the FUCK go." exclaimed Nicki. Within seconds, she pushed him back with all her might and he fell back tripping over his own feet.

"Oh, so that's how the fuck you wanna play?" He got himself up.

"What, Victor? What? You're gonna continue to do this shit knowing you have a daughter. Is this how you want her to see you act? Is this how you want guys to treat her? How you treat me? Like a piece of shit. Kinda fucking example are you setting."

"Don't ever speak on my relationship with her!"

"What relationship? What? Maybe yo dumbass should look up what relationship means." She spat back at him getting in his face, daring him to do something. 

"You know what? I'm out." He ran his hand through his curls and slowly shut the door behind him. 

"Thank you." she sighed with relief. Nicki made her way to her bathroom to see if she had a bruise on her upper arm. 'Thank God' she thought. That was one more thing she didn't have to hide from the people at work. Before she got back into bed, she went to go check on Sarai to see if she slept through the commotion. Nic eased her door open and to her surprise, she was snoring loud as hell sprawled out across her bed. 'Great.' she whispered to herself.

--------

"Wait, you're leaving the house without your project?" Nicki asked curiously before her and Sarai left the house to start their day.

"I never finished it."

"You said that it would get finished while he wasn't here. Why isn't it done?"

Rai didn't dare respond, thinking it would only make the situation worse. When it came to Nicki and school, she was such an ass.

"I don't even wanna hear it, I don't know why I asked. Get your stuff and meet me in the car." she grabbed her Black 'Vera Wang' work bag and walked out to her brand new 'Chrysler Town & Country' that she purchased herself about 2 weeks ago. Everything about the car fit her perfectly. Plus, in her driveway the sun hit it just right giving it a sleek look. It was a brilliant black, with a tint of a crystal pearl. To Nic, the color gave off a classy, bossy, and independent type of feel. Everyone at the job was jealous, and Nicki loved the thought. The interior design was amazing. The limited edition, which she had, seated up 7 people. After about 5 minutes passed, Sarai still wasn't out of the house. She knew school started soon, and she had to be at work early for a corporate meeting. Getting annoyed, Nic beeped her horn 3 times before she started up the car.

"I'm right here." Sarai yelled closing the front door behind her.

"Did you lock it?"

"Of course." she opened up the passenger door and hopped right in. As Nicki pulled out of the driveway, her neighbor came into view walking his dog on the sidewalk. He was kind of old, but was the nicest guy on the block. 

"Good Morning Mr. Holaman. I see you got your garden growing again! It's looking nice, I'll pay you to come fix mine." said Nicki as she let down her window to wave.

"Anything for you." he replied with a smile as Nicki drove off.

"He's one weird old white man." Rai sneered.

"He is not wierd, don't say that. He's really sweet and kind, just a weird way of showing it."

They drove up and down their subdivision, which seemed like it lasted for days. The streets were full of new, updated houses, freshly cut grass, and brand new spankin' cars. Life was pretty good in the suburbs, but as hard as Nicki tried to forget how hard her life was back in NY.. the past seemed to continuously haunt her in the weirdest ways. As she looked to her left, Nic noticed a man moving into a house that had been on the market for months. Not really seeing him fully, she could tell he was black and muscular..and he looked attractive. 

"Who's he?" Sarai asked leaning forward.

"I have no clue, I'll find out sooner or later."

"Hopefully whoever he is has a hot son or something." she smirked.

Nicki looked at her daughter and rolled her eyes. "The thirst." was all she said and shook her head.

"Did he come home last night?" she questioned looking out the window.

"Nope, not at all." Nicki had to lie. She didn't need her even more worried and scared for her than she was her damn self. Plus, if Nic did tell her now then that was all she would think about at school.

"What are you lyyyying for? You thought I slept through that crap?" exclaimed Sarai.

Nicki turned on the radio, and sighed at the thought of her asking that just to see if she would tell her the truth.

Sarai turned it right back off. "Why'd you lie?"

"You don't need to worry about me. I'm good."

"Obviously not if your boyfriend is coming home almost every night hitting you & you're not telling anyone! More importantly, you're not do-"

"Dammit, ENOUGH." Squawked Nicki as she pulled up into the school drop off section. "I'm not having this damn conversation every single morning. Shit is tiring, Sarai. You think I don't hear this from Grandma, Grandpa, and everybody else. Then, every time I come home and every morning I go to work I either have to start or end my day with people telling me that same shit."

Sarai huffed and sat back in her seat and folded her arms. 'If you're tired of something then do something about it.' she thought to herself, but didn't dare say it. "I have to go." she whimpered while grabbing her backpack from the floor and slamming the door once she got out of the car. 

"Shit." Nicki gritted her teeth while pulling off heading to work. If it wasn't her mother on case, it was Sarai. But who was she really to blame for everything?


---------

"I would like to thank all of my employees for attending this mandatory meeting on time." Nicki's boss addressed. Edward Dotson was his name. Older, in about his mid 40's.. Imperious was an understatement. When he said something was due in a week, he really meant that next day. Sure, he was a pain in the ass.. but he was all about his business and getting the job done, and so was Nicki. "Now, our very own Ms. Onika Maraj will lead us in our discussion. Nicki, what recommendations on technology partners or platforms can we use to execute new or exsisting market programs?" he asked taking a seat.

"Thank you, Mr. Dotson." she got up from her spot at the long conference table and made her way to the front of the room, pulling up her powerpoint. She had been working on for weeks. If she aced this presentation, she was promised move up in rank. A move up in rank meant more money flowing through her bank account. "As you can see here, I have thought of a plethora of ideas." Before going on, she looked around the room to make sure she had everyone's attention. "So, one thing we can do is.." Looking up, she was distracted from a policemen eyeing her down from outside of the conference room. Her mind raced with thoughts and questions about why he was here. Breaking her trance, he barged through the door interrupting the meeting.

"Excuse me, may I see Onika Maraj for one second?" Nicki licked her lips. He was a muscular, tall, and dark black man. But, she couldn't help to notice how big his head was.

Mr. Dotson got up from his seat to protest. "Excuse me Officer but we are in a very critical meeting. Can this wait another time?" He looked at them, and then at Nicki. The policeman showed him his badge. "Don't worry sir, your client here isn't in any trouble but I do need to talk to her now." Nicki gazed at her boss, waiting for her to give him the A-Ok that she could leave. The policemen led her outside to his car.

"Really! Out of all places you could have found me, you decide to come to my job? I was in the middle of a very important meeting! This is embarrassing. Now what if I lose my job?" Nicki was livid. 

The officer just chuckled at how dramatic she was. "Look, Ms. Maraj... we got word of you being physically abused by your partner and it's my job to come check it out."

Nicki's was in dismay. "Wait... who told you this?" The only people who knew what was happening to her was Sarai, Thembi, Tyesha, and her mom.. and they promised not to tell a soul.

"I'm not allowed to release that information. But, a beautiful women like you shouldn't have to go through anything like that." Nicki blushed at the comment and read his name tag.

"Thanks, but I am not in an abusive relationship right now." she smiled.

"You lying to a cop like me?"

"What makes you think I'm lying, Mr. Samuels?"

"Well, you're not making eye contact, and women normally who have been abused don't like to admit it because they're embarrassed or scared." he leaned on his police car.

"Look, I've told you the truth already. Now, if you don't mind I have money to make." Nicki turned around and started to walk away. He couldn't help but stare at her beautiful body. The way she switched when she walked, her beautiful thick, but toned legs, and her vanilla skin tone made him just want to lick her body up and down.

"Wait!" He ran to catch up with her. "Here's my card. I'm the new police chief here in Forsyth County. Call me if you ever need anything, I always answer. I promise. And I'll be more than happy to arrest any nigga putting their hands on you." he made eye contact with her, staring down into her deep brown eyes. Mr. Samuels saw a strong, intelligent, lovely women who needed someone to be strong for her, and to be there for her.

"Thank you so much!"

"I would love to take you out to lunch sometime." he confidently said while opening up the door for her.

"Such a gentlemen, but oh you're such a flirt." Nicki chuckled and smiled. A genuine smile. As she was nearing the conference room, Thembi stopped her.

"Why you cheesing so hard? Looking like you just got some dick." she said a little too loud.

Nicki hit her on the arm. "Thembi!! You are not Riverdale! Do you know why a cop was here for me?"

"Hell fucking no." Nicki just shook her head at how ghetto she was acting in corporate america.

"But hey, he was mighty fine! I say you go for him!" She suggested.

"Whatever!" Nic replied back to her while entering the room to go back to her meeting. He was kind of fine and seemed like a nice guy, but a guy isn't going to do anything for her right now except make life more difficult than it already is.


This is the 2012 Chrysler Town And Country Limited


This is her house. (: They stay in Atlanta. County: Forsyth City: Cumming Picture The Chrysler in the driveway :p


I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. I'm going to start updating on this regularly  Surprisingly, the first  chapter has over 400 views and I'm kinda pleased (: Follow this blog if you haven't. Spread the word. Do you like where this is going? Yay or nay?

Well..

This a new fiction I've been thinking about lately. I'm going to continue to write 'Head Over Heels' so don't think I'm gonna dead it. I'm not going to lie, I think I like this more but don't worry. I thought this was different. So, hopefully you kiddos love it! Yes, it IS Onikafaree. But, not yet. You'll see, barbz. (: Trust me, he's coming. PAUZ. But yeah. Spread the word, and I hope yall like it. K? K. 


"Ma, you can't keep letting him hit you like this!" Onika's 14 year old daughter, Sarai yelled as she ran to the kitchen seeing her dad head out the door. She was beyond tired of the fights the couple had every night. Victor, that was his name. Tall, african-american and white, with hair all the niggas would love to have. Cute? Not at all. More like let me fuck you on sight. When Nicki first met him, he was a thug. After dating him for some years,she got tired of his thug life after they had they're first child together. Helping Victor get off the streets was a handfull, but helping him find a real job wasn't any better. 'With only a highschool diploma, what can that get him?' Nic used to think to herself. Later, he found himself a good job working at an auto-repair shop and kept it for about 12 years. When he moved up in rank, the pressure and stress got to him. Guess who he took it out on?

"Why do you keep allowing him to do this to you?" Sarai grabbed an ice-pack from the freezer and handed it to her mom. They always knew to keep some in the back because sadly, this happened frequently.

"Don't worry about me. Don't you have a history project to be working on?" asked Nicki changing the direction of the ice-pack on her face.

"How am I supposed to work on a project when this is happening almost every night I come home from school?" She sighed.

Nicki placed her hand on her daughter's cheek. "I'm sorry. You shouldn't have to go through this. We're getting this figured out, I promise."

The family of 2, well sometimes 3 when Victor was acting right.. was middle class, you could say. She could pay all of her bills by herself, and keep up with her & Sarai's expensive taste. God has been so good to her despite everything, and that's one thing she would never deny. Nicki landed an amazing job with AT&T as the digital marketing manager in Atlanta. Coming from a struggled home, she wanted to be the first woman in her family to attend college and make something out of herself. Attending 'Howard University', she graduated top of her class with her masters in Marketing. Life was pretty good at the time, but messing around with the wrong men guided her the wrong direction. Onika knew she was attractive. Who didn't want her? She had the smarts, but most of the guys just wanted her body. Falling in the trap, Nicki met Victor smoking weed behind a gas station when her car broke down.

"Ya know, you really shouldn't be smoking weed out here in these streets." she warned him attempting to start up her car. "Look a here, let me do me, and you do you. Okay?" he took a puff, as she watched the smoke come from his nose. Nicki rolled her eyes and turned up her nose at the smell. After about 10 more tries with the car, she banged her head on the steering wheel causing the horn to go off. "Shit" she whispered. Victor laughed. "Are you gonna help a sister out or are you gonna sit and smoke?" He got up from the curb, and examined her car battery. "Yup, you have a dead battery." "Okay.. and that means what?" asked Nicki as she drew closer to him. "Well, I checked the battery cables and the alternator.." she looked lost still. "How about this. Let me clean your battery posts and cable connectors, then I'll see if I can give you a jump." "Okay, that sounds good." Nicki shook her head. After about 15 minutes, Victor said that everything was good. "I need you to get in the car and start it up while I try to connect the cables. It should make you home, but you need to get your car checked out." "Do you need a ride home? It's the least I can do." she offered. "Um, sure."

"Mom! Hello! Snap out of it." Her daughter snapped her fingers in her face to get her attention. 

"Oh, I'm sorry." Nicki took the ice-pack off of her face.

"Lemme see!" Nic turned her head. 

"Is it that bad?"

"Ooooo, just keep putting that cream on it that you always use. Yeah, ma that's bad. You might wanna take off for a couple of days." Sarai suggested.

"I can't afford anymore off days, I've used too many already."

There was a silence. 

"I'm gonna get dinner started, you go work on that project that's 2 days late!!" Nicki banged on the table between her words.

"Fine, I'll do it when he isn't here." she marched up the steps.

-------

As Nicki got dinner started, she thought and thought about everything she had been going through. The abuse gradually got worse and worse. At first, it was mental and emotional. He would talk down on her, and make Nic feel terrible about herself. Every now and then he would come home and act like everything is fine and be the nicest man in the world, but he had his days.. which were often where he would blow up on her. Did he stay there? Yes, and no. If he did, she didn't let him sleep with her, to the couch he went. That would set him off. The abuse started getting really bad and physical about 1 month ago. From pushing and shoving, to knocking down, punching, and sometimes even slapping. He would never threaten to kill her, it never got to that point. But, after he got done doing what he was doing he would always have a look of guilt in his eyes but he could never explain why he did it. 'I don't deserve this, neither does Sarai' would go through her mind daily. 'Why am I letting this happen?' Why DID she let this happen? At work, Nicki would put up a front that everything was okay at home. But, little did she know she had the whole office talking about her visible bruises she tried so hard to cover up. Some knew what was going on, like her coworkers Thembi and Tyesha, but they knew not to tell a living soul. It wasn't that she felt helpless, more like embarrassed. No one would ever expect a person like her who makes life seem perfect to be going through such a difficult time.





This is just a little preview, barbz. Yall better had liked it. :p I really want yall to have a clear image of what the characters look like.

This is Sarai:

This that one nigga Victor:










Yall know what Nicki looks like (: