Forever and a Day

by Jasmine Barber

  “Good morning Bri. Your messages are on your desk and I just started some coffee. It should be done in a minute.” Keyshia said.

  “Good morning Keyshia. Can I see you in my office?” Brielle said walking inside taking a seat.

  “Sure. I’m right behind you.” Keyshia said.

  “Keyshia you do know we have to talk about Zo’s Birthday party.”

  “Yes, I know. I apologize for being such a bitch. I had too many drinks obviously and I lost my damn mind.” Keyshia frowned.

  “I don’t think drinking too much is an excuse for how you were acting this weekend. You were out of control. I have never seen you like that.” Brielle reminded Keyshia of her out of control weekend.

  “I know and again I sincerely apologize. I was drunk and I was bugging out. I owe your friends an apology. But most of all I owe you an apology.” Keyshia started to tear up.

  “Don’t cry Keyshia.” Brielle said handing her a tissue.

  “I have to because I really don’t know what was wrong with me.” Keyshia cried.

  “It’s cool but don’t ever talk to me like that again. Whether we are in the office or out because next time you will be looking for another job. Are we clear?” Brielle asked.

  “Yes. We are crystal clear.” Keyshia sniffled.

  “Go clean yourself up and get to work crybaby.” Brielle smiled.

  “Okay. I’ll bring you some coffee in a minute.” Keyshia said leaving out the office.

  Brielle waited until Keyshia was out of the office before she picked up the phone and called Danielle.

  “Good morning,” Danielle greeted Brielle.

  “You sound like you’ve been up for a while.” Brielle joked.

  “You’re joking but I have. I have been in this office eight o’clock this morning.” Danielle sighed.

  “Damn, you wasted no time after the weekend.” Brielle laughed.

  “It’s only because I took the day off Friday to help Shanice look for a outfit for the party.”

  “Now you have double the work huh?” Brielle reminded her.

  “Yes. I’m going to be in here forever.” Danielle sighed.

  “Well go ahead. I was calling you to tell you about Keyshia.”

  “What the sad child say when you fired her?” Danielle laughed.

  “Girl I didn’t fire her. She started crying and carrying on when I asked her to come in my office. She said she was drunk when she was at the party.” Brielle said giving Danielle a play by play on what happened.

  “She suckered your ass because while she was at the bar that girl had two drinks maximum. She wasn’t there long enough to have any more.” Danielle laughed.

  “I’m going to give her the benefit of the doubt that she drunk before she came to the party.” Brielle said.

  “Yeah girl, you better watch her.” Danielle said seriously.

  “I am.” Brielle said.

  “That girl’s elevator definitely doesn’t go all the way up to the top floor.” Danielle said joking.

  “You ain’t shit Danni.” Brielle laughed.

  “I never claimed that I was.”

  “Okay, go ahead and get your work done and call me when you get a break.” Brielle said.

  “Okay chica.” Danielle said hanging up the phone.

  A couple hours later, Brielle was into her work when her door opened and Keyshia came in with a rose box. Brielle got excited because she knew Kiyan was trying to be spontaneous and give her flowers. Ever since she moved back home he had been sending her flowers and she was guessing he was sending her some for her office.

  “Look who is special.” Keyshia smiled.

  “I know. Kiyan is the best.”

  “Well I’ll give you a minute alone.”

  “Thank you.”

  Brielle opened the box of roses looking to see some colorful long stemmed roses, but her smile was turned upside down when she opened up the box and saw a whole bunch of black dead rose petals. Brielle looked at the name on the box and thought it had to be a mistake. She looked at the card and it clearly stated, To: Brielle Williams. She was confused but then she opened the card and her mouth dropped open. She had received yet another note. This was the third one within weeks. She was thinking maybe now was the night to tell Kiyan about her anonymous notes being delivered to her job and through her mail. She promised herself that tonight would be the night she spoke up.

  Chapter 30

  “I almost forgot what time it was.” -Cam

  Danielle was working overtime trying to prepare for a meeting with an upcoming sneaker company in order to get her client an endorsement. She had been at work since 8 o’clock this morning and here it was 9:45 and she was still working on her presentation. Danielle was moving on to her next power point, when she was interrupted by Beyoncé’s 1+1. “If I ain’t got nothing, I got you. If I ain’t got something, I don’t give a damn. Cause I got it with you. I don’t know much about algebra, but I know one plus one equals two. And it’s me and you, that’s all we’ll have when the world is through.”

  “Hey babe,” Danielle spoke into the phone.

  “Supp ma. Where you at?”

  “Still at the office working,” she sighed.

  “Danielle, what the hell? It’s almost 10 o’clock, what are you still doing at work?”

  “I had to prepare for an important meeting.”

  “Who’s there with you?”

  “No one. I let everybody go home for the day two hours ago.”

  “What time are you trying to leave there?”

  “I’ll be done in about thirty to forty-five minutes.”

  “I’m at the studio now, but I’ll meet you there. It’s too late for you to be leaving by yourself.”

  “Okay well I’ll be ready in thirty minutes.”

  ~~~

  Twenty minutes later Cam stood up from the control in the studio and called Zo out of the booth.

  “Aye Zo.”

  “Wassup Yo?” Zo said walking in the room.

  “I’m out for the night.”

  “What? I thought we were doing two tracks?”

  “I know. But Danni still at work, so imma go there and follow her to her house.”

  “Fuck it. I can go home and surprise my shorty.”

  "Yeah, how is my lil sis?" Cam asked about Shanice. He had really grown to love Shanice like she was his blood sister. Everybody in the crew saw that her love for Zo was genuine.

  "Man she straight, with her spoiled ass had my ass watching some chick flick last night. She was in the house in tears for the whole movie,” Zo said shaking his head at Shanice.

  "That girl can ask you to do whatever and you'll still do it because she got you wrapped around her finger."

  He had to laugh at that because it was true. No matter what she asked of him he would do in a heartbeat. "You acting like you ain't the same damn way with Danni!"

  "Yeah I know, but the level that you and Sha on it different than me and Danni. You and Sha are a couple words away from saying 'I do.'" Cam laughed.

  "Man Cam real shit that's my heart, I'll give that girl the world. But marriage? I haven't even thought about it but spending the rest of my life with Sha don't sound bad though."

  "I'm just saying brah. Y'all already live together and practical stay in each other’s faces all the time. Whenever she's not at the studio with you, you somewhere chasing her around. I can tell your willing to do anything for her. Maybe that's something you should consider in the future." Cam said seriously. He knew that out of all the couples, Shanice and Zo would be the ones to last longer than the others.

  "Word! You right but since when your ass become the relationship expert? Let me find out Danni made your ass soft," joked Zo.

  "Miss me with the bullshit. You know I've always had a good judgment of character. It doesn't have shit to do with me being soft. But as for me and Danni, we're in a good spot right now."

  "Aye I was just fucking with you and that's good ya'll in a good spot.
But it won't be for long if you don't get your ass up outta here soon."

  "Oh shit. I almost forgot what time it was. I'll holla at you later," Cam said picking his phone up from the control station.

  "Iight man, call me when you touch down.”

  “Sayless.”

  ~~~~~

  Danielle had finally finished her presentation. She was beyond tired and all she wanted to do was lay in the bed whether it was hers or Cam’s. Before she started to pack up she sent Cam a text:

  Danielle: I’m done. I’ll be waiting in the car for you.

  Cam: Iight. I’m like 5 minutes away.

  Danielle: Okay.

  Danielle cleared off her desk and decided to call Chloe since she had another five minutes before Cam pulled up.

  “Hello,” Chloe answered the phone.

  “What are you doing?” Danielle asked her best friend.

  “Nothing at all. I’m at Ty’s house. I just got in from practice not too long ago.”

  “Cool. Is that my little partner I hear in the background?” Danni said asking about Tiana.

  “Yeah girl, that’s her.” Chloe laughed.

  “It is almost eleven o’clock, what is she still doing up?”

  “Girl bye. This girl will be up all night.”

  “Last time I checked it was a school night and all princesses are grumpy in the morning if they don’t get enough sleep.”

  “Not her. Tiana is what we call a new breed princess because this girl is never tired and she has her daddy wrapped around her finger so no bed time exist in this house.”

  “Lawd. Well I was just calling to check on you. I’m leaving work and I’m walking to my car to meet Cam.” Danielle said pulling her coat tighter.

  “Awe, okay. I love you and tell Cam it’s a work night. No sleepovers for y’all.” Chloe laughed.

  “Girl bye, last time I checked I was grown. But I love you too.” Danielle said hanging up the phone walking towards her car.

  Danielle pulled out her car keys when she felt a presence behind her. She pulled her phone out and pressed Cam name to call him. Just as the phone started ringing she was shoved to the ground. Danielle looked up to see a masked man looking down at her. Danielle had heard about this too many times to be a victim of kidnapping and rape. She didn’t know what the person’s motives were but she just knew she would be one of those people who would not go down with out a fight. Danielle tried to stand up but the before she knew she was kicked in the side by the attacker. Danielle let out a screeching scream.

  Danielle heard Cam’s voice on the phone, but she couldn’t reach it because when she fell on the ground her phone slid out of reach. The attacker continued to give Danielle blows to the head and the side. Before she knew it all she saw was black. Danielle was going in and out of conscious. She could no longer take the blows that the attacker was given.

  After seeing that Danielle was knocked out the attacker threw the paper at her and ran before anyone could catch them leaving Danielle to die. Just as the attacker left, Cam was doing a hundred miles per hour into the parking lot. Cam hopped out of the car and seen a weak Danielle laid flat out on the ground. Cam couldn’t help but to drop a tear. He had never seen Danielle like this. He didn’t know what to do. He pulled out his phone and decided that he could get her to the hospital before any EMT people could.

  “Aye ma you are going to be okay. I’m going to get you some help.”

  Cam lifted Danielle off the ground, grabbed her purse, cell phone and the note off the ground and ran to put her in the car. Cam did one hundred and twenty breaking every driving law ever made up. He seen that Danielle lost a lot of blood and she was still not responsive. Cam reached the hospital and called out for help while pulling Danielle out of the car.

  “My girlfriend needs help yo.”

  “Sir give her to us.” The attendant told Cam.

  The nurses and attendants grabbed Danielle from Cam and rushed her into the operating room. This was one of the only times Cam ever prayed that God helped him out of this situation. He knew that somebody had to die over Danielle’s attack. God couldn’t even help Danielle’s attacker out of this situation so he hoped they were prepared to die.

  Chapter 31

  “Aren’t you tired of keeping secrets?” - Kiyan

  Cam was pacing back and forth in the waiting room. He refused to talk to the police until he knew what the hell was going on with Danni. All he wanted to know was if Danielle was okay. Everything that everybody was saying was going through one ear and out the other. He really wasn’t trying to hear anything that anybody was saying!

  Brielle felt as if her life was moving in slow motion as she sat in the hospital’s waiting room with her friends and boyfriend. She didn’t know what she would do if the doctors didn’t comeback out with good news about Danielle. She wanted to know who would harm her best friend. Brielle had an immediate thought and walked over to Kiyan and began her conversation.

  “Kiy, I’ll be back. I have to go home and get something.”

  “Are you fucking crazy? Your best friend just got attacked leaving work and you think I’m going to let you roam the streets? You’re bugging’”

  “Kiy please! I really need to go!”

  “Well if you really need to go, then lets go! I’ll drive you.”

  “I know how to drive. I don’t need you to do it for me.”

  “That’s the only way you’re leaving this hospital. So choose.”

  “Kiyan like I said I don’t need a babysitter.”

  “Sayless. Go to your house and when somebody crack you upside the head, don’t call me because I told your hard headed ass.”

  Brielle lowered her head and began walking towards the door. Chloe had seen and heard the entire conversation that Kiyan and Brielle had. She was disappointed and confused by Brielle’s actions.

  “Brielle, are you stupid?” Chloe said walking over to Bri.

  “No, why would you say that?” Brielle said feeling slightly offended.

  “Do you see where our best friend is? Do you want us out here crying for you too?” Chloe sniffed.

  “No, I don’t. But I really need something from my house.”

  “Then let your boyfriend take you to the damn house. You’re being difficult for no reason?” Chloe was getting aggravated.

  “I am acting bitchy.” Brielle said frowning.

  “Yes, since Danni is in their fighting for her life, I’m going to tell you like she would, pick up your damn feet and go apologize to him.” Chloe walked back towards Tyrese and Tiana.

  Brielle walked over to Kiyan not knowing how she would begin to apologize. She knew that she was completely wrong and Kiyan was only looking out for her best interest.

  “I’m sorry.” Brielle lowered her head.

  “Don’t apologize to me. That’s your life.” Kiy said turning his back to her and finished texting.

  “I know and you’re right I am taking an unnecessary risk.”

  “Iight. So what are you going to do?”

  “Can you take me to my house?”

  “What is so important that you HAVE to go to your house right this minute?”

  “It’s hard to explain. So are you going to take me or am I going to have to go on my own anyway?”

  “Come on yo because obviously you need what ever the hell is at your house.”

  ~~~~~

  Kiyan pulled up in front of Brielle’s house and parked. He was tired and aggravated. Brielle was acting weird and he really wasn’t in the mood for any extra bullshit that Brielle was spitting out.

  “I’ll be right back out.” Brielle said looking over towards Kiyan.

  “Iight. I’m right here.” Kiyan leaned his chair back.

  Brielle walked into her bedroom and found her brief case. She knew exactly what she was looking for but she wasn’t sure where she lasted placed it. After looking through her brief case she had an instant thought, she got up of the floor and ran into the closet to get her keepsake b
ox and grabbed the papers and proceeded to go back outside with Kiyan.

  “I think you should read these.” Brielle said handing Kiy the letters she’s been getting over the past two months.

  “What is this?”

  “Just read them please.”

  Kiyan began reading. He noticed that these are Brielle’s most recent notes. These had the same type of threatening note that Kiyan had found on Brielle’s car windshield the night that they were at here house.

  Brielle did you receive the gift I sent you. I thought that the dead roses were a nice touch. You thought your man sent you something huh? I had an idea that I wanted to run by you. Which one would you rather see hurt your mother or your friends? Decisions, well I guess you will see that I’m serious when shit hits the fan.

  “What the hell? When did you get these?”

  “The first one you remember is from my car. The other ones started coming a couple weeks later. I’ve gotten them for the past three months.”

  “Are you fucking kidding me?”

  “No, I’m not.”

  “All this time you got us walking around like shit sweet and you got somebody ready to kill you! You have to be kidding me because you are not just showing me this shit after all this damn time. You begged me to let you come back to your house after the shit with your car and you know it’s a crazy ass person out here ready to terminate on site.”

  “I’m sorry. You think I don’t feel bad that I might be the cause of my best friend’s downfall?”

  “You might? The fucking proof is in the damn letters. Whoever wants you is willing to come at anybody close to you just to fuck with you. Whatever happens to Danielle is your fault because you failed to let anybody know about your little notes.”

  Brielle began crying uncontrollable. She knew what Kiyan said was true but she didn’t know that what he said would come out the way that it did. She was the cause of Danielle’s attack. The person who attacked her was the same person who wanted her dead. She knew if Kiyan wasn’t on her side after reading the notes that no one would be willing to hear her out.

  “What am I going to do?” Brielle cried out.