Page 57 of Beyond The Stars

The distance between Siasia and Qamar couldn’t keep Noodle and Esmeray apart if they tried. After a few days of trying to respect her sister’s broken heart, she was back locked into the world of Qamar with no shame. When Noodle loved, she loved for eternity and her bond with Esmeray was rock solid.

“Okay, Noodle.” Esmeray pouted, always ready to obey whatever her Noodle told her.

Siasia burst into the room with a frown that seemed to be permanent these days. She looked from Noodle to the closet catching an attitude immediately. “Didn’t I tell you to go through your old clothes and see what you can wear from last summer?”

Siasia had been stressed about clothing a constantly growing Noodle. The seasons were changing and although it never got too cold in Lynn Beach, shorts and tank tops wasn’t appropriate during the cooler months. Now that it was really starting to warm up, Siasia knew Noodle would need new summer clothes. It was cool— just another thing added onto her always growing to-do list.

She wouldn’t complain too much since it seemed Stacy and Cynthia had gotten their shit together. There had been no eviction notices or past due bills coming in the mall over the last few weeks. It had to be God giving her a break.

Siasia hadn’t worked the club and was trying to gain new clients by running a promotion for thirty-minute shoots. So far, five people booked her and she prayed she got a few more seeing as Noodle needed a few new clothes.

“I’m ordering clothes online now. What you think about these shorts?” Noodle looked up at Siasia with big eyes, tanned skin, and a big bun sitting on top of her head.

“How the hell are you ordering shit online? Who’s card do you have?”

Noodle passed the black card with gold writing to Siasia like it was no big deal. Grabbing it, from the name alone, the card felt like it weighed a ton knowing it was unlimited.

“Did you steal this, Noodle?” Siasia’s mouth opened as she glared at her sister in disbelief. “I know damn well you didn’t so tell me how you got it?”

“He gave it to me,” Noodle responded. “Like that night when we left the park, Qamar handed me his card told me to use it every day if I wanted to because he knew you wouldn’t.”

Siasia stood there, her brow furrowed in confusion. A whirlwind of thoughts raced through her mind, each one more chaotic than the rest. She placed her hand on her heart to make sure she wasn’t imagining the pounding. Pounding like a drum it fueled the fire of her frustrations. Qamar just wouldn’t allow her to find her own journey in a galaxy unknown to man.

“Why won’t he just leave us alone,” she mumbled under her breath, clenching the card in her hand. A storm of confusion and anger brewed in her head.

But like all things attached to Qamar—like the sun breaking through the dark clouds that seemed to have followed her for a lifetime, thoughts of him warmed her skin and spread all over her body, softening the scowl she’d been carrying around for weeks. A smile broke through at the thought of Qamar never abandoning her even when she’d ran off on him time and time again.

“You okay, SiSi?” Esmeray’s deep voice reminded her that wetness had somehow coated her face.

Siasia wiped her face before confessing, “Yes, Es.”

“You not mad at my daddy anymore?” Esmeray eyes blinked through the iPad’s screen.

Noodle snickered.

Knowing how her daddy told her to stay out grown people’s business, she hurried to snitch. “My mama fussed at him. I heard her say it,” she whispered the last part, hoping Malaysia wasn’t close enough to hear.

That pulled a light chuckle from Siasia. She and Malaysia had kept in touch since they’d met. Siasia thought Malaysia was a vibe and a very sweet girl. The intimidation she’d felt in the beginning had long ago vanished because Malaysia wasn’t worried about Qamar and vice versa.

“And Qamar really said it was okay for you to use his card?” She needed to make sure, so she asked once again.

Noodle wagged her head frantically. “Mhm. And I been paying the bills with it so Mama and Daddy won’t fight anymore.”

Sudden anger lit her eyes. Just when she was thankful that her parents seemed to be getting their shit together, she found out that it was her ten-year-old sister keeping the house afloat. If she didn’t love her mother, she’d be on her ass like her name was Stacy. The love for her mama ran deep. So deep that as she stormed into the living room to cuss her out, she stalled looking at the cast still on her mother’s arm and the black eye that seemed to be permanent.

“Hey, baby, you look nice. Where you going with that fine boy that ruffed Stacy up?” Cynthia smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes while only one side seemed to lift at all.

Cynthia had been sitting in the living room with the TV on the local news channel. She’d been in a daze so the TV watched her. Even when he wasn’t there, she never sat in Stacy’s recliner, unlike Siasia who made it her business to sit in it every day since she had clearly been the king of the house.

Siasia choked on sorrow. The sight of her mother never got easy. “Ally is supposed to be picking me up soon. You good?” She inched closer to take a seat beside her mama.

Another forced smile.

“I’m going to leave soon, SiSi,” she confessed. “I’m serious this time,” she promised, placing her hand on top of her daughter’s, hoping Siasia could feel her sincerity. “I’m just afraid he’s going to take Noodle from you. You know his ugly ass been talking back to her no-good ass mama?”

Siasia shook her head, no.

“Mhm.” She tightened her lips. “He think I don’t know but I do.” If you ever get a chance to leave this place, do it and never look back.”

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