Page 21 of Beyond The Stars

Needing to see it for herself, she peeked out the one window in their living room. Noticing his expensive sports car, she squeezed her eyes shut, wishing she could transport somewhere else.

“Mama!” Qamar called out before he rammed his fist against the door again. The way it pushed back, creating a sliver into the house he knew if he knocked again it would fall down.

Siasia assessed her living area, making sure it was as clean and put together as it could possibly be. It was all or nothing. With her head high, she pulled the front door open.

“You almost changed your mind?” Qamar asked, showing off his perfect, white Colgate smile. Even with his back towards the sun, his coffee with heavy cream eyes sparkled.

“I’m ready ain’t I?” Siasia sassed, holding her hands out for him to see she was fully dressed. “I just threw something on,” she added a lie. She had indeed ram-shacked her closet looking for the perfect I just threw something on but its extra fly as hell outfit.

Resting his hands on the door frame, he leaned in. “Spin for me.”

With a mind of its own, her body spun in a slow, seductive manner giving him a full view of her outfit. In a pair of vintage style jeans and an old men’s button down shirt that she left unbuttoned to show off her full breasts barely covered by the flesh tones bralette, she knew she looked good. To make the ensemble event ready, she wore a pair of Adidas sambas. Her vintage bag paired well with the 90s inspired look, along with her box braids.

“Told you, you the fuckin’ prettiest. You ready though?” Qamar asked, still ogling her waist to hips ratio.

Siasia blushed hard with a nod of her head. She twisted the bottom lock before pulling the door up. Just as they stepped off the wonky porch, Noodle’s bus pulled up.

“That’s my sister’s bus,” Siasia announced, feeling dumb for stating the obvious.

Like the first night she pulled up on him, he posted up on the hood of his car looking like the sore thumb he was. Always dressed to impress, Qamar cut a striking figure in his denim jeans that hugged his long legs just right, paired with a designer sweatshirt that draped effortlessly over his broad shoulders. His matching sneakers gleamed in the sunlight, while a diamond pocket chain dangled from his jeans, catching the light with every move. Yet, it was the watch on his wrist—an exquisite piece that whispered luxury—that truly commanded attention. Even from a distance, the rich, musky scent of his expensive cologne wafted through the air, wrapping around Siasia like a warm embrace.

As the kids piled out of the worn-down bus, their excitement was palpable, and a vibrant energy that filled the air. “Oh, I want a car like that when I grow up,” one girl declared, her eyes sparkling with dreams of the future.

“And the drip… the drip would get me all the girls,” another boy chimed in, his enthusiasm bubbling over as he envisioned a life filled with admiration and swagger.

Qamar beamed; his smile infectious as he bent down to dap up the little dudes brave enough to approach him. “You can have all this plus more,” he encouraged, his voice smooth and reassuring.

“How?” one boy asked, gripping his broken backpack straps tightly, his wide eyes filled with wonder, ready to absorb every word Qamar had to offer.

To these impoverished kids, he was a beacon of hope, a living testament that dreams could come true. What Siasia and the group didn’t know was that he had once walked in their shoes—different city, same bad hand dealt by life.

Qamar tapped the young boy’s head gently, his touch both firm and kind. “You gotta use this,” he said, pointing to the boy’s head. “And trust that.” With a flat palm, he rested his hand on the boy’s chest, grounding him. “And you gotta love what you have now ‘cause God won’t give you more if you ain’t appreciating what he already gave you. Then the most important thing you gotta do is dream.”

“Dream?” the boy who wanted to get all the bitches scrunched up his face, confusion etching his features. “Like when we go to sleep at night?”

Qamar chuckled softly, his laughter a warm melody amidst the chaos, and he knew in that moment, he was planting seeds of hope in those young hearts. “Yea but also when you’re wide awake. Dream all day, every day.”

“So, a dream got you this nice ass car?”

“Watch your mouth,” Qamar chastised. “Nah, my family’s dream got me this car.”

Siasia heard the sadness in his voice. There was something more to Qamar than what met the eyes. He had an uncertainty about himself. Like he second guessed it all when all she wanted to do was trade places with him.

“Yea well I know my family can’t do shit for me so.” The boy shrugged his shoulders while dropping his head.

“Then you do it for them.”

Siasia was so caught up in Qamar’s charm she’d almost forgotten about her sister. Just as she looked towards the bus’s door, she smiled at her Noodle. Their eyes connected with Noodle all smiles at the boy with the shiny car.

She ran towards them. “Aye back your nappy head self up off my sister and her man.” Noodle came through, fanning them away.

“Noodle!” Siasia fussed, ready to correct her.

“Nah, you heard my baby sis. I’m your man.” Qamar pulled Siasia into his side, whispering into her ear and creating another mess in her panties. It was like he knew the effect he had on her.

Pushing him off her, Siasia bent down to Noodle. “We’re going to hang with my friend today. You cool with that?”

Noodle looked at her like she had two heads. “Duh.” She walked past her to get to Qamar. “I’m Noodle.” She held out her hand.

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