| UCLA Graduation Day |

Shayla

The hot sun beamed down on me and my colleagues as our guest speaker, President Bill Clinton spoke before us, congratulating us on our accomplishments as we are about to step out in the real world as respectable physicians who will make a difference.

It seems like there was no air present at all and I am in dying need of a drink of water.

This commencement was huge, being that it was being televised on all broadcast channels, CNN, NBC are just a few to name.

I kept looking over my shoulder back at Rih and Kim who sat with their children and boyfriends, including Yella. My auntie Cassie showed up as well with her boyfriend.

The seat that was in the first row was for Eric, and he wasn't here. I felt betrayed, wounded and enraged that the man that I love so much was not here to see this moment.

Fuck him at this point. He wanna be running around LA like something else is more important than this, then I know what I need to do once this graduation is over.

Rih caught me staring and whispered to lil O'shea who was sitting in her lap. She pointed in my direction, then he turned his head and they both waved at me.

I bit down on my bottom lip as waved back at them, while my eyes burned from the tears sitting in the rim of my eyes. I focused back on Bill Clinton as they asked us to rise so we can start issuing out our degrees.

Everyone clapped and cheered as we lined up as the orchestra played the Pomp and Circumstance Graduation Marching song.

"Look at god mommy...say heyyy!" Rih cheered as she held lil O'shea hand and helped him wave at me.

I smiled brightly, as I watched everyone stand up as they started applauding us. Cube, Ren and Yella was snapping pictures and recording the whole moment.

"Baby look over here!" I heard my Auntie Cassie yell as she jumped up and down with her shades on and waving her hands in the air.

I laughed to myself as I followed the rest of the class of 1994 to the stage and prepared to line up. This was going to be a minute, since my last name started with G. Imagine if I was married to Eric; it would be W and I'd be sitting here all damn day.

They began the name calling and I still scanned the crowd, looking for Eric. I bat my eyes quickly to keep from crying and two because I didn't have on waterproof mascara.

Maybe he forgot about me, I thought to myself. I scrunched up my face as I scratched the thought.

Nah, maybe he somewhere sleeping...no bitch don't start thinking like that, Eric aint like that no more and he would never do no such thing.

Would he?

I leaned over out the line a little and as I watched former classmates shake Bill Clinton hand and posing for pictures as they received their degree plaque that was covered in blue and gold.

I looked up at the clock tower; 12:50pm. Damn Eric, I thought.

Just this once I wanted you to be here for me, just this once.

--------

Eric

1:15 pm

Man, its hot as a bitch outside and I'm running with this big stupid ass bear for Shayla, her flowers under my arm and my camcorder underneath my other arm. I darted across the campus as I heard the music and the blue and gold balloons high in the sky.

"Shit!" I yelled as I ran faster.

I could feel the sweat soaking through the wife beater I had on under my dress shirt. I should of just wore Khakis and a baseball jersey, but Shayla begged me not to.

"Kristen Grands" I heard who sounded like Bill Clinton say over the loud speaker.

Fuck, they at G already, shit shit shit shit! I cursed myself as I ran past the security guards that was standing at the entrance of the field.

"Hey little guy, you cannot go pass this point without a ticket" The security said as he held his hand out in front of me, stopping me dead in my tracks.

"Look nigga my fiancé is about to walk the stage and my black ass needs to be in front of that stage when she walks...Now get the fuck out the way!" I heaved as I tried to go past him again, but he stopped me.

"You heard what.... ay." he started lowering his sunshades as his mouth formed a "O". "Your Eazy E man aww shit man I love yo music man!" he expressed excitedly.

A smile crept across my face as I thought of a master plan. "Say man, what's your favorite song by me?"

"Tyrone Grant"

Shit, I thought as anxiously I tried to look past the security who was taking too long to think of a song. I nodded my head and started rapping the first set of lyrics that popped into my head,

"Check it out yall , in da house yall

So, I can show and flow and let the people know

So, won't you ease on down to the yellow brick road to Compton

But first let me tell you somethin'"

The security guard started bouncing up and down with a big ass smile on his face as he continued my verse;

"I possess to 10 commandments of the Hip Hop Thugsta

Known as the thief and murderer"

"Yeaaaaaa" I bopped my head as I crept past the security and running into the graduation while I left that dumb ass security guard standing there.

I looked around quickly scanning the crowd, finally seeing Cube and the rest of the crew. I ran over to them as I Shayla standing right behind the next girl who about to be called.

"Leyla Grant"

Rih turned her head at the sound of me tripping over my shoe laces my Stacey Adams dress shoes.

"Glad to see you finally made it Eric," she smiled as she took the bear out of my hand.

"Yeah, you see me sweating and shit!" I said as while laughing. I looked down at lil O'shea who looked up at me with a big smile, and Kim and Ren son waved at me.

"Sup lil man?" I smiled as I grabbed my camcorder and kissed his forehead.

I head nodded to Ren, Yella and stopping at Cube. We stared at each other for a moment before he cracked a bright smile. I returned the same smile back and head nodded towards him as well.

I looked at the stage as I seen Shayla standing and swaying a little bit. a slow smile crept across my face as I watched my wife to be standing there looking amazing in her cap and gown.

She was breath taking and I'm sure my heart just stopped because she was beautiful and because I just did a 50-yard dash across this big ass campus wearing this hot ass suit.

"Shayla Grant"

I grabbed my camcorder and ran down the aisle to the stage.

"Eric! you're not supposed to...oh fuck it I'm coming too!" Rih laughed as she watched me run down to the stage.

This is her moment and she waited all her life so it's her time.

And I'm here for her.

Shayla baby I'm here.

------

Shayla

"Shayla Grant"

I took a deep breath in as I started to walk across the stage. I felt my legs get weaker with each step I took as I looked at the huge field of people clapping, screaming, flashing pictures and roaring as I walked across the stage.

None of that matters if you know who isnt here.

"You go girl! Yeaaaaaaahh that's my baby girl you better do the damn thing!"

I smiled nervously as I looked around for Eric. I heard his voice but he wasn't visible. Okay maybe I am just tripping, the sun is getting to my ass.

"Look down baby! you finer as a muthafucka! Damn girl my baby a doctor yall!"

I looked down and seen Eric kneeling with his camcorder in his hand as he recorded me walking across the stage. This fool had on his suit but topped it off with a LA SOX cap that he had turned backwards.

Rih, Kim and fellas were standing smack dead in the center of the aisle, taking pictures and recording.

"SHAYYYLLAAAAAA THAT'S MY BEST FRIEND FUCK ITTTT UPPPPP" Rih screamed at the top of her lungs.

Lil O'shea sat on top of Cube shoulders as he clapped for me. everything was complete now and I am so thankful for them showing up and sticking beside me, especially Eric.

I smiled as all the camera snapped pictures of me holding my plaque. I walked off the stage and screamed loudly as Eric approached me while recording me. I kissed the camera as I wiped my tears away, then scoffed.

"what took you so long!" I yelled into the camera.

Eric zoomed in on my face, "That don't matter man, I am here and I aint miss you walking. Miss doctor I got a cough, I need some medicine" Eric joked.

"Gimme that fucking camera, Gon and get you some nigga" Yella laughed as he took the camera from Eric and pushing him toward me.

Eric smiled as he dusted fake dust off his shirt and grabbed me by the waist and kissing my neck. I giggled loudly, softly swatting him with my plaque holder.

Yella laughed hysterically, "Look...Look at this motherfucka! he got on a suit with a fucking baseball cap ol ghetto ass!"

"Man, fuck you! My girl asked me to wear the suit nigga" Eric stuck his middle finger up at the camera and bit my neck softly.

"...Yes, the suit Eric, not that stupid ass hat" I laughed as I leaned back and kissed his cheek.

Lil O'shea and Anthony ran to us with a teddy bear twice their size. "Here god mommy"

"AWWWHH" I screamed as I took the teddy bear out of his hand.

The bear was huge as he had on a graduate cap and holding a red heart. I looked closely at the heart and I smiled brightly at what it read in the middle;

"Eric and Shayla

For Eternity"

I cooed as I turned to look back at Eric, who was still holding my waist. I kissed his cheek, slowly moving to his lips and deepening the kiss.

"Ewww stop that!" Lil O'shea covered his eyes, then started peaking as he giggled.

"My mommy and daddy kisses all the time, its gross" Anthony made a face as if he ate something sour.

"Come here little man" Eric unwrapped his arms from around my waist and swooped both up in his arms, causing them to laugh and giggle hilariously.

A few moments later, everyone else walked over to me as they gave me hugs and kisses, gifts and sending me their well wishes.

Yella even caught Ren, Cube and Eric laughing and talking on video. I smiled brightly at that sight. All we were missing were Dre, but I know he wasn't gonna be here.

Regardless, today was the best day of my life.

"Aye boo, we gotta go" Eric said as he snapped me out of my thoughts as he walked over to me.

I shot Eric a confused look, "What? What you mean we gotta go?''

Eric pulled me closer to him as continued to look at him as if he lost his mind. I watched everyone else start recording as he continued to talk.

"I can't take you to London like I promised..." he lowly said.

"Oh..." I said as I sounded a little disappointed. "I mean it's okay. You came that's a gift in itself".

"Really?" Eric gleamed as he pecked my lips twice.

I nodded, "yes baby, I have my family and my man. What else could I possibly want?"

"What's that place you said you wanted to go to way before London?"

I thought for a split second, "umm. Paris...yeah Paris, France" I eye balled Eric with a quizzical look.

I watched him dig down in his pocket and pulled out two ticket stubs. I took one of them out his hand and I could not believe what I was reading.

"Eric.... ERIC!" I screamed as I jumped in his arms and kissed his lips aggressively as his hands squeezed my ass tightly while tongue kissing me.

"I love you baby", he whispered in my ear as he squeezed me tightly in his arms.

I felt my tears fall as everyone that was here for me cheered and clapped while I continued kissing my man.

We were going to Paris, the city of love and our plane leaves in 3 hours. This has been the best fucking year thus far for me. I cannot thank god enough for these blessings.

"Yall go get ready, yall gotta plane to catch" Auntie Cassie grinned as she gave me a kiss then slipped a roll of money into my hand.

I looked down and back up at her and she winked at me. The fellas gave me hugs as they dapped Eric up. This moment was amazing, I couldn't believe it.

I gave everyone kisses before handing my plaque to Rih to hold while I am gone.

"Come on baby, the driver waiting for us", Eric smirked as he interlocked our fingers together as we made our way through the crowded field.

I looked up at the sky which was filled with different color balloons as the sun shined brightly.

"Thank you, god," I said lowly as I smiled at the sky.

My man and I was going to a brand-new city to celebrate our accomplishments. I am so thankful for this guy. He may not be perfect, but he is mine and I damned blessed to have such a kind heart, loving, strong, homie, lover and friend in my life.

---

[A/N: Owwww my bihhh going to the city of love. Okay Eazyyyy I see you zaddy fuckkk it up lmaoo"  see yall in Paris ! ]

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