*flashback*
"Beyoncé I want you to go on and live your life. I want you happy baby girl. Promise me." Shawn said.
"I promise" I spoke, crying with tears streaming down my face. "No, look at me and promise." He held my chin. "I-" I couldn't get myself to voice it.
"Promise me, Beyonce." I stared into his eyes. "If you love me, you would love me enough to let me go. I need you happy again. Please find new love because our time is over." He kissed my hand. "Let my Giselle know I love her very much." he re-kissed my hand. "And I hope you know how much I love you. Now, promise me." He demanded sticking out his pinky. "I promise." interlocking my pinky with his.
He smiled softly. 
"I hope she's good to you Beyonce." he whispered under his breath, but I could not hear what he said. "huh?" I questioned. "I can rest now." He sounded as if he was saying goodbye. 
Before I could even respond he drifted away and so did the the heart monitor.
*flashback over*
"I'm trusting you, God. Please let him be right about this. I spoke, draining my bath water.
-----------------
Onika's POV
Thanksgiving is today meaning I'm about to be stuffed to capacity. 
I, along with my family was invited to Principal T's for Thanksgiving. I was excited and I knew my family was too, mainly because every year the food selection is always the same, but this year it will be different since we're eating at someone else's Thanksgiving dinner. "Are you almost ready?" I announce to my family. "Stop all that damn screaming in my house Onika." My mother insisted. "And yes, we are ready. Please go get that pan of potato salad out of my fridge." I roll my eyes, following the directions my mom told me to do. 
I came back and everyone was right by the door. "Perfect," I said. "We're going to take separate cars cause I know after you might want to leave later than us." My father said. 
"Okay," I responded.
Eventually, we all get settled in the cars. In my car, I have Ming and De'arra, my mom and dad drove together and their car. Through the ride I allowed both girls to play their music which consisted of Olivia Rodrigo, Lana Del Ray, and The Weekend. 
We finally pulled up to the house, I texted Principle T that we were here so she could open the door for us. I carried in the potato salad and my family followed behind me. "Hey, Onika!" Mama T pulled me into a hug. "Oh my goodness, you have such a beautiful family." My mother smiled. I playfully rolled my eyes. "Thank you, love." My mother hugged Mama Tina. 
I let each of them exchange hello's before I went to place the potato salad in the dining room, to my surprise there were plenty of people already there waiting to eat. I thought we were gonna be one of the early birds, but apparently not. "Can I have everyone seated around the table" Mama Tina announced. 
You would think the amount of people here would all not fit around the table but her dining room was big, in it she had two tables that could fit up to ten people each. Everyone found themselves a seat. I sat next to my family, and at the head of the table was Mama Tina, on the opposite side of us was supposed to be Mama Tina's immediate family, but I'm assuming they haven't reached the dining room yet. 
At the other table sat her friends, and other family. 
After a bit, in walked Solange, Beyonce's friends, then Beyonce and Giselle. I decided not to look her way, especially after our last encounter. Giselle on the other hand, came over to hug me and fanned girl over my sister.
Everyone at the table greeted each other once they were settled in.
"I'm so thankful that I could have all of you in the room right now It means a lot that you all decided to be here today. I want to say grace first before we dig in. So can I have someone pray over the food please?" Mama T spoke. 
My mother opted to do it. "Heavenly Father, we are thankful for gathering together today. We are grateful for the food prepared with care and for the blessings of life and freedom. As we eat, we pray for health and strength to live according to Your will. We ask this in the name of Christ, Our Heavenly Father. Amen." Everyone followed suit saying Amen. 
We all proceeded to dig into the food.
"Onika introduce us to your family." Mama Tina spoke. "Oh okay, um well." I turn my head in my family's direction. "This is my mama, Angela. This right here is my father, Michael. This is Ming, my baby sister. And that's De'arra the middle child." I point to each of my family members. 
"It's nice meeting you all" Beyonce smiled. "It's nice meeting you all too." My father responded. "Now I'll introduce my family." Mama Tina added. "This is Beyonce, my oldest daughter. Right here is Beyonce's daughter, Giselle. Down there you all know Solange. And these two ladies right here Bey's childhood friends, Kelly and Michelle, my bonus daughters." 
"Beautiful ladies" My mother giggled causing smiles from all the girls.
Giving it a second I decided finally eating, and so did everyone else. Everyone kept conversation with each other. I,  on the opposite side, focused on my food. I could feel Beyonce's eyes on me. 
Throughout the entire dinner, I ignored her presence. I finished my food and excused myself from the table, going to chill outside. I sat on a bench placing my head back and looking at the stars. 
"You okay?" by the voice, I already knew who it was. "Yeah," I responded.
"Can I sit?" she asked. "Sure," I replied, dryly. I felt her presence sitting next to me on the bench. "Onika can we talk please." I look towards her seeing tears in her eyes. "Why are you crying Bey?" she looked away. 
I grabbed her chin. 
"I just..." she paused. "I just have these feelings, I've never felt before," she spoke lowly. 
I wiped the tears falling from her eyes. 
"Feelings like what?" I rub her face trying to comfort her. 
She doesn't even know the half of what I feel for her. I can't even remember ever being upset with her. 
"romantic feelings.. Onika." she grabbed my hand putting it in her lap. "I know my reaction last time was uncalled for but I was just afraid. I can't sit here and pretend I don't like you back because I do. I'm just scared to lose again." We kept eye contact. "You can't live in fear love," I replied. "I know that now." her voice drifted off.
For a moment we just stared into each other's eyes. 
"Kiss me, Onika." I furrowed my eyebrows, confused. "Kiss me so I know what I feel is real." we stare into each other's eyes yet again. "you sure you're ready." she nods. "I need words Beyonce," I say to her. "Yes, Onika."
Beyonce's POV
She leans in to kiss me.
As our lips collided I felt sparks explode inside of me. It felt like we were levitating. 
The longer we kissed, the more the feeling grew. No tongue was involved but that was enough for me to recognize these feelings are real. Our lips felt perfect like they were meant to be together. 
Onika eventually pulled away, wrapping her arms around my body, as if she was comforting me. The hug felt very personal, soothing, and emotional. I could feel her on a deeper level. "Beyonce promise me this is what you want." she unhooked her arms from around me, putting her pinky out towards me.
I began to tear up all over again. 
Nobody has ever made pinky promises with me outside of Shawn. "you okay" Onika looked worried. "Yes." I smiled, and she wiped my tears. "I promise you, Onika" I interlocked our fingers and kissed them.
Onika, I Hope You Save Me.
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Hey Everyone!!
WHAT YALL THINK ABOUT THE SPEED SO FAR OF THE BOOK??
- PFG