Page 87 of Beyond The Stars

“Will I be able to ever see her again?” Jackie asked, handing the papers over to him.

“Reach out to Siasia. If you got your shit together I don’t see why not.” Qamar cupped his hand around his mouth, “Princess!” he called out to Noodle.

Running at full speed with sad eyes, she looked up at him when she got to the door.

“Give Jackie a hug and lets go,” he revealed, watching the sadness vanish from her eyes immediately.

Only the sound of Noodle humming was heard as Qamar drove them to the other side of town. Lynn Beach was a peculiar place—the college side was affluent with malls, shops, and high-end restaurants while the other side was worn and lacked basic necessities. It reminded Qamar of The Jig except there was no other side. Yes, Sapphire City had a side of town that was better than the ghetto but it wasn’t a drastic change from one side to the other.

“Qamar is it bad if I want to maybe still see my real mom?” Noodle kept her focus on the scenery outside, afraid of what he might say. Scared to look at him and see disappointment in his eyes.

“Nah, Princess, I don’t think it’s bad but you might want to ask yourself why you think it’s bad.”

“Um, probably because she tried to take me from SiSi.” Noodle’s brain tried to rationalize all the reasons she shouldn’t like Jackie.

Qamar kept his eyes on the road when he spoke. “That don’t matter because you’re going back with Siasia. Do you want a relationship with Jackie?”

Noodle twisted her mouth to the side of her face, thinking on the question she already had the answers to. “I know it was only two days but Jackie wasn’t mean to me or anything. It felt like she could be okay if I had to live with her forever… and I don’t have a mama anymore so…” Her shoulders hiked before falling just as fast.

“I think you should get to know your mama, Princess. I know what it feels like to be mad at the woman who birthed you and at the same time loving them so much it should’ve been criminal. I support whatever you want to do, and I know Siasia will too.” He peeked in on her through the mirror, smiling when he saw her lips curl.

Noodle was content with his support and a ball of energy when they pulled up to Qamar’s apartment that had easily become her and Siasia’s home.

“Qamar?”

“Yea?”

“Name a song.” She smiled, unable to contain her big smile. Being with Qamar was almost better than being with Siasia and Esmeray.

“Hmm.” He tapped his chin, pretending to think. “You like Beyonce, right?” Twisting his neck, he peered at her. They were in the parking lot just sitting in the car.

“You know I do.” She rolled her eyes playfully.

“Bigger. How it go?”

“Life is your birthright, they hid that in the fine print… you’re part of something way bigger.” Veins popped out of Noodle’s slim neck as she sung like a woman twice her age.

Siasia hadn’t even heard her sing before but Qamar and Luna knew. They knew she would be special. Noodle was part of something way bigger. They’d told her that and had shown her that.

Just as Noodle climbed from the backseat to wrap her arms around Qamar, Siasia’s worn down car pulled up. They heard it before they saw her and that made them laugh.

“I gotta get Mama a new car.”

“Please.” Noodle rolled her neck in a circle.

Qamar ruffled her hair. “Don’t do my baby like that. Come on, so she can gone ahead and cry.”

He didn’t have to tell Noodle twice. Just as eager to cry and hug her sister because two days was too damn long, she pushed the front door opened, catching Siasia by surprise.

“No.” In shock Siasia fell to her knees. “Are you really here?” she asked when Noodle fell into her. Examining her hair and her face, Siasia needed to be sure it was all real.

“It’s me, SiSi. I’m back forever.” She turned to Qamar to make sure it was forever. When he nodded, she snuggled her head into her big sister more.

“Ooh,” Siasia couldn’t hold in her happiness. It spilled out of her pores—dripped from her eyes. Her Noodle was back and it was all thanks to the boy whose eyes had all the answers.

As they all reunited, the sky opened. The rain began to fall, a cleansing downpour that washed away the past and heralded a new beginning for them. Drenched just that fast, Qamar lifted them up to embrace the both of them in his arms. All he needed was for his other two girls to be there. In due time, they would all be together. Qamar was certain.

His phone vibrated in his pockets. When he dug it out, he didn’t recognize the number but decided to answer it while the three of them stood in the pouring rain in no hurry to retreat to shelter.

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