VENUS

{SEPTEMBER 1st, 2020}

"LISA'S BEAUTY SALON, how can I help you today?" I questioned as I picked up the phone for the thirtieth time today.

no one answered and then hung up after twenty seconds of silence, "well fuck you too." i muttered, putting down the phone.

"woah, hey, hey, stop with the profanity young lady." my co worker, eeshana, joked throwing a candy wrapper at me. i laughed softly and picked up the wrapper, throwing it back at her. "now whats up with all this hostility today miss girl?" she cocked her eyebrow at me.

"baby daddy drama, i bet $10 on it." hikari, my other co worker walked over sitting down in front of us. "am i right?" he raised his eyebrow, looking at me, causing me to sigh and mumble a small 'yes' "sweetheart, you gotta stop letting this man get to you." he spoke, resting his hand on my shoulder.

eeshana nodded, agreeing, "i agree. it's affecting your mental health, imagine what its doing to mateo."

"i know. . . i'm just so. . . lost? what do i do?" i looked down.

"be straight up." hikari shrugged, "and be serious. tell him if his son isn't his number one priority, to stop coming around period. its better to have no father than one who comes and goes as they please. . ."

i nodded "you're right. . . i'm tired of seeing my son in pain." i said pulling my phone out, "i'll text him right now to meet me after work." i typed a quick text and sent it.

TO: caleb
are you busy at 6:30?

"and sent." i clicked my phone off, tucking it back in my pocket. the chime went off above our front door, signaling that someone was here. all three or us looked and i almost gagged.

it was my mother.

"mom?" i questioned, standing up, walking towards her, "what are you doing here?"

"well that's not how you greet your mother, now is it?" she laughed lightly, setting her purse down on the counter that was in between the both of us. "how's your son? um... what's his name... mathew?" she pondered.

"mateo." i corrected her bluntly. "he's amazing." i crossed my arms.

"yes! that's it, mateo..." she trailed off looking around. "nice place you're working at, i love the pink aesthetic that's going on he—."

"cut the shit violet." i cut her off, standing up straight. "what are you here for?"

she laughed lightly, "venus, i'm not here for anything. what would make you think that?" she looked me in my eyes. it was like looking at an older version of myself. out of all my siblings, i look like her the most. my mother was a beautiful woman; at one point.

"well i know that you know about our inheritance from dad." i cleared my throat.

"and the sack of shit didn't leave me a dime." she mumbled.

"you aren't getting money, violet. i don't have shit to give you. dad didn't leave me a lot, it all went to my son." i turned away from her, grabbing the broom and beginning to sweep.

my mother began to follow me, "just a couple grand venus, i have an amazing business opportunity and we can all be set!" she sat down in the pedicure chair. "i'll even buy you your own beauty studio... pay for your realtors license. we can be set, vee..." she placed her hand on my arm.

"who the fuck is a 'we'?" i yanked my arm back from her, looking her with disgust, "you left me to raise my son by myself with no help: when i needed you the most, you fucking left. you don't even know your own grandchild's name!" i laughed bitterly as i slammed down the broom.

"i am your mother and that is no way to talk to me venus abigail." she spoke sternly.

i shook my head, "you need to go." i spoke lowly, crossing my arms once again. she stared off in space, not moving, "i said get out of my store!" i raised my voice.

she jumped lightly, taking a double take at my anger. i was never the type to be disrespectful to my parents or anyone in general. i can hardly stand up for myself, and she knows that. thats why she always asks me for something. she doesn't even bother vince and roni. they would laugh in her face.

"you're going to regret this venus. you and your son." she looked at me in my eyes, which were filled with pure evil.

i took a step closer to her, getting in her face, "you won't touch my son with a ten foot pole. i will kill you." i growled.

"is that a threat?"

"no, thats a promise that i put on daddy's grave." i looked at her one last time, "get the hell out of my face." i turned away from her, facing hikari and shana, who were stunned. i heard the bell above the door go off, signaling that she left. "she's gone?" i asked as i approached them, sitting on a chair.

they both nodded. hikari pulled me into a tight hug, "i'm sorry about that, babe... i don't speak with my parents either... we don't need them."

"yeah, you didn't deserve that... i can't believe you came out of her." shana spoke softly as she stroked my hair.

"she's sick." i shook my head, looking down.

"we know... go home babe. me and shana can close tonight." hikari pulled away, beginning to clean up.

i shook my head again, protesting, "no what the hell? let me help you guys."

"you need to go home, vee. take a shower and chill out. seriously, we got it!" shana insisted as she started wiping down the counters.

"are you guys sure?" i asked, standing up, "i can stay, its fine—."

"go home venus!" they both said in sync

"okay okay," i laughed lightly, grabbing my purse. "i love y'all, goodnight!" i yelled before walking out and hopping in my car.

what a psycho bitch. threatening my son? who the fuck does she think she is?

i sighed, shaking my head before starting up my car and heading home. smile by juice wrld was playing faintly in the background, "i'd do anything in my power to see you just smile," i sung as i pulled up to a red light, looking out of the window, "i want you to prosper and become proper, even if that means i aint by your side."

+

VENUS

i pulled up to my neighbors home, orion, who lives directly next to me. i hopped out my car and locked it, walking up to the door and walking in, "honey, i'm home!" i yelled through the house jokingly.

i heard faint music coming from the back of the house, sounded like justin bieber. i began humming to the tune as i walked towards to living room; where mateo and orion were playing just dance.

"cause allllllll i need, is a beauty and a beat!" mateo song as he danced in sync with orion.

"who can make my life complete!" orion sung along. i giggled lightly and continued to watch until they finished. "yeah! i won that time mateo! how you like them apples?" she jokingly nagged at him.

"you still can't dance for shit." mateo blurted out, causing both me and orion to gasp.

"MATEO!" we both yelled in sync.

he jumped and looked at me, "mommy! hey!" he smiled and ran over to me, jumping in my arms.

"what did you just say mister?" i held him up, looking in his eye.

"i said, 'mommy! hey'." he smiled with his eyes closed.

i shook my head, definitely my son. "no swearing! you understand?" i gave him a hard stare.

"yes ma'am!" he exclaimed. i laughed softly and put him down.

"how was he?" i asked as i walked up to orion, who was still laughing from mateo cussing.

"he was good! i discovered his new favorite word is shit." she nodded.

"well thats great!" i exclaimed jokingly. "but seriously, thank you for watching him today." i gave her a smile.

she shook her head, "anytime! don't thank me! he keeps me company." she grinned.

"he's something else isn't he?" i asked, looking at mateo as he played with his hotwheels on the ground.

she nodded, "he's definitely something special."

i went in my purse and grabbed two twenty's, handing it to orion, "here riri."

"venus, how many times do i have to tell you that i'm not taking money from you?" she pushed it back to me, "that $40 could go to mateo or opening your studio."

"i know my son easts a lot, please take it." i pouted.

she groaned, "vee, i hate you." she took the money out of my hand, "you wanna go shopping this week mateo?" she turned to him, causing me to roll my eyes.

"yes yes! new hotwheels!" he exclaimed, jumping up.

i shook my head softly as i adjusted my purse and jacket, "you ready to go home and take a bath baby?" i questioned.

he nodded, holding his arms up. i picked him up and placed him on my hip, "thank you again, riri." i thanked her once more and kissed her cheek. "i appreciate you so much!"

"anytime, hon!" she smiled and poked mateos sides, "goodnight lil dude."

"night, night riri." he yawned, smiling at her.

i told orion goodnight and walked out of the house, putting mateo in the car and pulling into my drive way. "mommy? whats that all over the house?" he stood up in the car as we both stared at our home; which was filled with eggs.

"that bitch." i mumbled, "thats eggs, mateo, someone egged our house." i let out a huff as i hopped out, grabbing mateo and his bag.

"thats eggs? what's wrong with people? why would someone do that?" he continued to ask questions as we walked inside.

"because," i began. "people are just... people baby. we live in an weird world." i told him as i sat him down on the couch. i don't want to worry my son about my mom, "wanna watch tv and eat a snack while mommy cleans up outside?" i asked him.

he nodded, "paw patrol?"

i smiled, "of course. go get a snack and i'll set you up." i said as i turned on the tv and put on paw patrol. "fucking eggs, mom? really?" i muttered lowly before grabbing some cleaning supplies and heading outside.

+

"and i believe thats the last of it," i spoke to myself as i turned the hose off and began to pick up the cleaning supplies. only took me about an entire hour to clean everything up. i was about to walk inside, but i see car lights pull up behind me. i turned around to reveal calebs car.

he actually came.

he got out of his car and walked over to me, looking around, "i knew you were a clean freak... but seriously venus? you're scrubbing the exterior of your home at 7 o'clock at night?" he asked chuckling.

i laughed softly and shook my head, "no... i just cleaned up an egged home." i put my thumbs up and began to walk inside.

"egged? who the hell egged your house?" he questioned as he followed me inside. we walked through the living room where mateo was crashed out on the couch.

"no one other than violet abigail." i let out a long breathe as i sat down the cleaning supplies on my counter.

he took a step back, confusion filling every last part of his face, "y-your mom did that? what the hell?"

i nodded as i pumped soap onto my hands, "yep," i turned the sink on, "she came into my work today asking for money, threatened me and mateo." i sighed as i began scrubbing my hands.

"she threatened y'all? what?" he walked over to me, leaning against the counter, "vee... i'm not sure if I want you guys staying here alone."

"the fuck is that old hag gonna do to me and my kid?" i rinsed my hands off, turned the faucet off, and grabbed a towel. "i'll beat that bitch up. my mother or not. don't fuck with my kid bro." i shrugged as i wiped off my hands.

zion laughed, "you really called her an old hag. who says that?" he joked.

"fuck you," i joked back, throwing my towel at his face.

"girl, don't play with me." he spoke in a feminine voice, causing me to giggle. "i'll really rock yo world." he put his fists up.

"zion, get out my face brah." i pushed him away as i walked over to the kitchen table.

"zion? you called me zion!" he walked over to me with a huge smile, "you haven't called me zion in... God only knows how long."

i chuckled and sat down, shrugging my shoulders, "we're always fighting. i know you hate being called caleb, so thats what i do."

"you're a dick." he laughed lightly. "you're the only person to ever call my caleb... but i love you so, its fine." he shrugged, looking away. i smiled sadly, looking at his features from head to toe. i really used to love the fuck out of him. at one point, before mateo, he was my entire life.

"i love you too." i said lowly, causing him to look up at me with a smile. "i always will love you, caleb."

he let out a breath and reached his hand out, "lets do this. this co parenting shit? yeah that."

i chuckled and nodded, grabbing his hand, "lets do it."

+

ZION

"goodnight, call me if you need me." i told venus as i walked out of the house, hopping into my car snd starting up the engine. before i started driving i stared at the house. the toys on the front porch from my son, the cute cheap decor venus put up.

i could have had this.

i could have been here every minute of the day.

watching my son. watching over venus.

god, do i fucking miss her.

she was my entire heart. no girl could ever compare to her.

i sighed and pulled out of the driveway, heading home. the entire ride back i couldn't seem to shake the thought of venus lucía abigail out of my head.

i want her back.

+

{did i just double update... again? yes, yes i did.}