7.

“ Austin, Austin! Just leave, get out." Raine stabbed her finger on his chest.

“ Just let me explain, please," he begged.

“ There's nothing to explain, I saw you and the funny part was that you dumped me. So what the heck do you want here after a week?" she asked.

“ I, I -um..." he rubbed his neck.

“ Ha! Wait, wait a minute. You're broke and you need money. Sorry to burst your bubble but there's no more money for you and your pathetic self." she insulted turning on her heels towards the stairs.

“ Raine, Raine, please don't do this. Raine!" he yelled on top of his lungs.

“ That's the door Austin, and don't set your feet in here again, if you do..." she trailed off walking up the stairs ignoring his pleas.

What and whom does he take me for?

A fool?

“ I'm getting married to your mom, goddammit!" Cole yelled on top of his lungs.

“ So? What do you want from us?" Aaliyah rudely asked?

“ Young lady watch your tongue or---

“ Or what? You hit her? Beat her ass? Go ahead then." Willow chipped in.

“ Look, I just came for your consent, Avery would have been here as well but

“ She chose work over us." Aaliyah shrugged.

“ No, don't say that. Your mom loves you. It's just that she has a weird way of showing it. She does care about you girls." Cole added.

“ Cole, you can get married to her any day, anytime and anywhere. We ain't gonna be there anyways. Congratulations on your upcoming wedding." Willow said, walking to the door.

“ She's your mother for crying out loud!" Cole said frustrated.

“ No doubt, she gave birth to us, that's all she did. Our dad took care of me when Aaliyah was born...he took care of her for 9 months, then he left. I was the one who raised her. I learnt how to care for a baby when I was almost 4 years old. Where was she? She was travelling, going on trips forgetting she had kids and now she wants us to be there for her? That's not how it works, Cole. As I said, happy married life." Willow fumed.

“ She still takes care of your needs, how heartless can you be?" Cole fumed.

“ Heartless? Did you just say heartless? Ever grown up without experiencing motherly love? The only mom I've ever known was Willow, the funny part was that we never had a nanny. It's been only us since then and will be only us till forever. We may need her money now but someday we won't. So Cole, have a blissful marriage. We wish you the best." Aaliyah sobbed as her sister hugged her.

“ Not another word Cole, just leave." Willow pointed to the door as he walked out.

“ Thank you Willow, I love you," Aaliyah murmured.

“ I love you too Aaliyah baby." she hugged her tight.

“ You've got a date to prepare for Willow, " Aaliyah reminded her sister.

“ You're not thinking of bailing, are you? Aaliyah raised her eyebrows.

“ I can't leave you home alone, you need company." Willow tried to reason.

“ Oh, I'm going out to the mall and movies with Kiera, so you have a date to prepare for. Willow, please don't blow this up. You've liked him since forever, now he's here to prove it to him." Aaliyah probed.

“Fine, I will and you know I love you right?" she smiled at her as Mila entered.

“ I love you too, see you after you get back." she smiled walking to her room.

“ What happened?" Mila asked, walking with her friend to her room. She had known Aaliyah and Willow for years now, they were like sisters she never had.

“ Cole was here." she sighed sitting on her bed.

“ What did he want?" Mila took a bite from a sneakers bar she took from Willow's stash.

“ For us to come to he and Avery's wedding," she said tight-lipped.

“She's getting married this time around?" Mila asked, perplexed.

“ We told him to tell her we weren't going, and that's final." Willow paced up and down.

“What time is your date with Neo?" Mila changed the topic, making Willow smile.

“ It's 8:30 pm." she blushed.

“ It's 6:30 pm, Willow, you have just two hours to get ready for the date night," Mila explained.

“ Shit!" she exclaimed, raiding her closet.

“ Mila, Willow I'm off to the mall with Kiera," Aaliyah screamed.

“ Stay safe Kiddo, we love you!" Mila responded.

“ I will, Willow, I will need details from the date night," she added as they burst into laughter.

Neo stood at the bottom of the staircase waiting for Willow to get down. His hands were sweaty and he was nervous as hell.

Deep breaths Neo, deep breaths.

His breath hitched as he saw her descend the staircase. She wore a little black dress, with a golden belt. Her long, black, thick hair was let down her back. She wore bold red lipstick and her make up, oh my gosh. She looked stunning.

He fell in love with her deeply with each step she took descending the stairs without breaking eye contact.

“ Hey," he took her hand and kissed it.

“ Hi," she smiled.

“ You look ravishing." he complimented.

“ Thanks, that was all Mila's work." she acknowledged her best friend.

“ You guys have fun, I'd be here waiting for you with Raine," she said as Raine walked in smiling at the duo.

“ We will, and don't forget to lock the door," Neo added as they stepped out.

“ We won't, bye." she waved at them as he drove off.

“ Austin came to my house today," Raine said as Mila locked the door.

“ He what? What did he want this time around?" she sat beside her taking a slice of pizza Raine had come along with.

“ Money, of course, his broke ass needs my money to take care of his whore." she said as Mila's eyes grew to the size of saucers.

“ He what!?" she exclaimed disbelievingly.

“ Yhup,” Raine responded to her friend's reaction.

“What a douche!”