"So you are finally free to walk around town with me unashamed?"

Tone laughed and she pushed him as they walked through Battlefield Mall. It was pretty crowded as usual on a Saturday afternoon.

"Stop it! I was never ashamed of you. I'm telling you if my sisters saw me home and I did not explain to them why...well, it wouldn't be pretty."

"Are you that afraid of your sisters?"

"You haven't met them, huh?"

"Naa, but I've seen Hurricane Sarena...that's what we call her. She's always upset about something. Wanna micro-manage us, bruh. Of course, I know Tennille, she's cool as shit. And Kitty Kelly...well, she's an untouchable BIC. I see her all over the media, have yet to meet her in person."

"She's probably the most down-to-earth of them all. She likes everybody and she's a sweetie, no attitude, no shade. Unlike Tennille, Ms. Shade Queen. And Sarena doesn't like anyone unless it's family..." She trailed her voice off, thinking of her father and the brother she wanted to meet so badly. "Well, she doesn't treat all family kindly. She is a good big sister though."

"That's what's up. It's good that you are all close. I don't have any brothers or sisters. Only kid, just my crew as my family."

"You're close with your mom." In the few weeks they dated, she learned that was all he had, having a father that left him as well.

"My moms is my err'thing."

At least he had one of his parents. Well, technically she had her father back in her life. After that day, she tried to reach out to him again, but he had not called her back. Maybe she pushed too hard trying to build a relationship with him. More than anything, she wanted to meet her brother.

What was he like? Since they were the same age, were they similar? Was he smart like her? Did he look like their father? Was he a nice person?

"My sisters are my everything. And Victor." She looked around the mall she had been in thousands of times. She could not wait to be in her sister's mall. Battlefield Mall stayed on full over the weekends. The Missouri State University students, and surrounding colleges, had nothing better to do than hang out at the mall Saturday afternoons.

"Scared you will be recognized?"

"Who me? I'm nobody." She scoffed at that thought. "If I was with Tennille, maybe people would recognize her, but-"

"Why do you think so little of yourself?" He took her hand and led her to a bench where they both sat. "If no one notices you that's cuz they don't have eyes, ma. You da whole meal, baby."

She blushed. Tone was so hot she had to pinch herself she was with him. She leaned over to give him a kiss when two girls walked over to them and stood in front of them. One had her arms crossed over her chest and gave her a stank face. Her mouth scrunched up like something tasted bitter, a little neck roll and the eye roll to go with it.

Lime green, bright lace front wig past her waist that needed the edges glues down better. Baby hair twirls down her forehead and wore long false eyelashes over heavy eye make-up. There was a small hoop nose ring in one nostril, and a stud pierced into each cheek. She wore super glossy lipstick and long claw-like nails that matched her hair.

She had a nice body, she could tell from the tiny pink dress she wore. Ample breasts on her short frame, a small waist, and a butt that did not match the rest of her body. Did not take a genius to know she took butt shots.

Immediately she knew the girls were about to start something.

"Tone! Who is this bitch?"

"Yo Maleeka, what's yo problem girl?" Tone stood up to face the girl. "Why are you disrespecting my girl?"

"Your girl? Pft!" She looked Nola over and rolled her neck again, pushing Tone so he fell back and bumped against her. "So you like plain jane, ugly bitches now? You had all of this and now you fucking Ugly Bettys?"

She jumped up and got in her face. "Who are you calling ugly? Do you know who the fuck I am?"

The girl did not back down, even though she was a few inches shorter than her five feet five inches.

"Bitch, you better get off my man, that's who you are."

"Your man? It doesn't look like he wants your fake, plastic-looking ass, so you better run find a brother that likes to play with Barbie dolls."

"Always the sluts like you trying to get with a man once he on a come up. Since Tone signed with Icee, all y'all tricks want his money."

"Maleeka, what the fuck are you talking about?" She could tell Tone was frustrated, she had never seen him so animated, using his hands as he talked. "Nola ain't trying to get my bag, you are. That's why I dumped your ass months ago. Now like I said, disrespect my girl again."

Her little friend beside her finally said something. "That's Nola Kelly."

Great! She did not need them to know who she was. She was done with this whole showdown. They were scaring the white people passing by looking at them like they were a display on some reality show.

"I'on give a fuck!"

"You need to give a fuck." Tone grabbed her hand. "Come on No, you don't need to be around this bullshit."

She smiled, giving the little girl a salute. "Byeeee!"

She was petty, but the girl was a nobody to her. The only reason she would call her ugly was jealousy. She knew she was pretty enough without the make-up, fake hair, lashes, nails, and booty. If some guys liked it, so be it. She liked to stay au natural.

Then again, Tone must like that if he was with her before.

Once they made it out of the mall, Tone not having said anything, she finally stopped walking.

"Who was that?"

"No, don't trip, she was nothing-"

"Now if you lie, I'll show you what real damage a Kelly girl can do."

"Ma, why you gotta trip about that bitch? I'on even like her."

"But you did, at some point. If that's the type of girl you like, why are you with me?"

"What? Where is this coming from?"

Was he stuck on stupid? That Maleeka chick looked like the type of girl that was not saving herself for marriage. That type of chick looked like she was down for whatever. She knew Tone was not a virgin, and he said he would wait until she was ready, but maybe he would slip back and go fuck that girl to get some when he wanted to.

She hated having those thoughts but having her one and only boyfriend cheat on her with her roommate effed up her mind.

She couldn't look up at Tone, even though she felt him staring down at her. What a loser she was. She was just thinking how could a cute boy like her, and that little fake Barbie doll came and ruined how she felt about herself just like that.

"Nola, talk to me?"

"Can we just go? Take me back to my place, I'm tired."

She walked through the parking lot to get to his car. Neither said anything as he started his car and drove off. She looked down at her phone, texting her sister Tennille.

I don't know if I can date a guy like Tone

Wha u mean, boo?

Outta my league!! He likes a different type of girl. Not me. Like you.

He likes the lezzys?

She chuckled at her sister. Nobody knew she was gay because she had not flaunted it to the world. She didn't know why she wouldn't out herself to the world. She would probably get more fans coming out as bi.

Should I get a weave? Some nails? Maybe I need to get to LeyLey's shop.

Girlllll, whyyyyyyy???? Iz yo hair in a fuddy-duddy bun?

She ran a hand over her tight, pulled-back bun. It was her staple style since she hated even combing her hair.

I hate you NiNi. We can't all be supastars.

Got that right. Chillllllleeee, you ain't got to be to want to look good.

She bit on her bottom lip, thinking about that. She glanced over at Tone, probably thinking of how to get rid of her and linking back up with Maleeka.

Soon as Tone pulled up at her house, he turned the car off and sat there. This was when he would break up with her.

She hesitated, but asked, "So ummm...you wanna come in and-"

"So you can dump me?"

"What? I don't want to dump you. Why would I do that?"

"Cuz you think I'm fooling around on you with Maleeka, and I'm not and I don't know how to prove to you I'm not and I know your ex got you fucked up, but I wouldn't do that to you No, I like you...a lot...too damn much to mess it up with her."

She smiled. "I thought you wanted to break up with me because you can have any other girl you want, not this "Ugly Betty" as she called me."

"Nola, are you fucking serious? Babe, you fine ass hell. Why do you think you had me on day one? You real. I like that."

She gave him the kiss she wanted to give him earlier. One, she had to believe in herself. Two, she had to believe in Tone. Easier said than done, but they would just take their time and figure out things as they went.

A/N: It's so hard to get over a breakup when you've been with that person for years. Especially when you're still young and learning about yourself.

Should Nola do things to enhance her looks? Hair, makeup, lashes, nails?