Gone Crazy (Chapter 6)

The next day

Justin laid on his back, out on the sand at the beach as he watched Aaliyah and Brandi collect sea shells. Brandi could never go a day without collecting shells. It was her favorite hobby to do. Aaliyah on the other hand, loved spending time with her daughter. It helped them bond together and get closer. Justin was the one who watched everything.

Last night, him and Aaliyah had made up in a very romantic way, and things were going good. He was hoping it had stayed that way.

"Mommy, look. This shell has purple lines on it." Brandi spoke, holding up the shell for Aaliyah to see.

"Ooh wow. We're DEFINITELY keeping that one. Go put it in the bucket by daddy, and hurry back." she smiled excitedly as she quickly ran up towards Justin.

"Daddy, daddy. I found a UNIQUE shell. It has purple lines and...it's sparkling. Pretty, isn't it?" he grasped the shell, scrutinizing it carefully.

"Yeah. It is...unique. Here." he handed it to her. "Put it in your bucket." he watched as she carefully sat the shells in her bucket of shells. "You havin' fun?" she nodded excitedly.

"Yep. Lots of fun, but...I'm getting hungry now. I want Burger King." she pouted playfully.

"Well..." he glimpsed at his watch. "We HAVE been here...far too long now. I guess we could leave. Baby...you ready?" he spoke to Aaliyah. "Brandi's hungry." he stood up and brushed down his sweat shorts.

"Sure." she jogged up towards the two with two handfuls of shells. "Brandi...I found more for you." she sat them all in the bucket and brushed her hands together. "I'm hungry also. Where are we going for lunch?" she asked, collecting her things.

"Up the street to Burger King. That's what Brandi want. What do you want?" she shrugged her shoulders.

"I dunno. I guess I could settle for Burger King." he clapped his hands together.

"Alright, kiddo." he kneeled down. "Time for your ride."

"Yayyyyy." she climbed on his back, and wrapped her arms around his neck as he carried her towards the entrance of the beach. "Horsey back ride. Horsey back rideeeee." she repeated. "Giddy up. Giddy up." he chuckled softly. As soon as they reached the car, he kneeled down and helped her to her feet. "Yayyyyy." she cheered, clapping her hands together. "Now it's mommy's turn." he unlocked the doors and pulled the driver's door open.

"Mommy will have her chance later." he sat in and closed the door. "Seat belt everyone." they both buckled their seat belts on. "Great. Now let's rock and roll."

On the road

There was silence in the car during the ride to Burger King. "So um..." Justin gawked to the side to gaze at Aaliyah. "Are you okay? You're not really...talkative today." she asked, a little concerned.

"Yeah. I'm fine. I was just...thinking. You know...trying to clear my head." he reached out, turning the volume on the radio. "What's on the radio?" he asked, flipping through the stations.

I LOVEEEEE ROCK AND ROLLL!!
SO PUT ANOTHER DIMEEEE
IN THE JUKEBOX BABY

"Nah. No Britney Spears now." he spoke, changing the station.

"But I LOVE that song." Brandi complained. "And Susie does too." she spoke, holding Susie in her hands. "Put it back on, please."

"Wait, lil' girl. I wanna see what else is on FIRST!"

WHEN YOU'RE OUT IN THE CLUB
DON'T THINK I'M NOT
EVEN WHEN YOU'RE OUT
MAKING LOVE, DON'T THINK
I'M NOT

"Oooh. Kandi. I like this song." Aaliyah spoke. "Cause I'm out gettin' mines." she song.

"Well sorry, baby girl, but I gotta see what else is on first. JUST like I told Brandi." he flipped to the next station.

RIGHT HERE ON 99 JAMZZZZ

He turned the volume down.

Farewell my lonely one
Nothing else here can be done
(So hit the freeway)

"Hmmm. This is more like it." he spoke, sitting back in his chair. Aaliyah and Brandi both gave him a dirty look, but he paid no attention. "I would appreciate it if you guys would STOP lookin' at me like that." Aaliyah broke out laughing.

"How'd you know we were lookin' at you like that?"

"Because..." he made a right and pulled up in front of a Burger King. "When you guys don't get your way...you give me a dirty look. Come on, baby. I been there AND done that. Like Dr Dre would say." she chuckled softly.

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever." he parked the car, and turned the engine off. "Damn. I feel kinda drowsy. As SOON as we leave from here...I'm goin' home and hopping in bed." she stepped out of the car, and closed the door, helping Brandi out. "You taking Susie?" she nodded with her head down.

"Susie is mad at me." she frowned.

"Really? Why?" she asked, looking up to gaze at Justin who held her other hand. She shrugged her shoulders and gazed back at Brandi.

"Because...she said that I shoulda (should've) let her collect shells with us. She likes shells too." at the point, Aaliyah wanted to laugh, but if she did, it would only make things worse.

"Um..." she bit the bottom of her lip to hold in the laughs that were begging to escape. "I'm sure she won't be mad at you for long. Just give her some time. Trust me. Right now...try to have fun. I mean...we're at Burger King. Your FAVORITE place. You can eat ALL you want." Justin pulled the door open for the both of them and watched them walk in the building. He followed them in, and began searching for a table in the semi crowded room.

"I found a table for us." he replied, leading them towards the table. Brandi climbed up on a chair and took her seat. "What do you guys want?" he asked, pulling out a seat for Aaliyah.

"Thank you. Um..." she sat down, thinking about what she wanted. "I'll take a chicken tenders meal. And give Brandi the same. You know how she loves what mommy want." he smiled warmly.

"Okay. I'll be right back." she watched him stuff his hands in his pockets as he headed towards the ordering counter.

"Ugh." she skimmed her arms from the cool air blowing on her. "It's cool in here. You cold?" she asked Brandi who payed her attention on a menu.

"No. It's warm in here. You have low blood, mommy." she giggled softly.

"Alright, smarty pants." she frolicked.

A few minutes later, Justin made it back to the table with two trays of food in his hands. "The food is here." he sat the trays down, and took his seat in front of Aaliyah. "Yummy. Time to grub." he began separating the orders. "Oh yeah. I gotta go get some ketchup and napkins. I'll be right back." he stood up and headed towards the counter.

"Alright. Here's your chicken tenders." Aaliyah set up Brandi's food in front of her. "Daddy will be back with the ketchup." she moaned, chewing on a hot, tender CHICKEN tender. "This is so fresh. I need some barbeque sauce." Justin sat a bundle of ketchup packages on the table and took his seat.

"You guys eating without me?" he joked, pouring his cup of fries out on a napkin. "Mmm." he groaned, stuffing a couple of fries in his mouth. "Where's Susie? Oh yeah. She's mad at you." Aaliyah broke out laughing. His eyebrows lifted up questionably. "What's so funny? All I said was..."

"She's laughing at me." they both gazed at her. She sat there with a sad look on her face. "I know why. And...I bet you guys think I'm a loser because I have a Barbie doll as a best friend. But I wouldn't have this problem if you guys let me go out more." they both sat there in shock, dismayed by her words. "I gotta use the restroom." they watched her stand up and head towards the restrooms.

"Oh my god. Look what you've caused. NOW you have to go apologize to her." Aaliyah spoke, upset.

"What? I didn't say anything offensive. It was YOU who had to laugh. You should've kept your big fat mouth closed, then maybe we wouldn't have had this problem." her head jerked back offensively. "And if you let her go out more...maybe she would have REAL best friends, besides Samantha."

"What?" she stared in complete shock. "How are you gonna sit here and blame EVERYTHING on me? This is NOT just my fault, but YOURS ALSO!"

"And how?" he asked simply. "I mean...who has to get permissions from WHO to go somewhere? It's you. And half of the time you say NO! But if it was me...I would let her do what she wants as long as it's legal." she rolled her eyes and looked away.

"Whatever. It's just like you to try and blame EVERYTHING on me. Well I'm not gonna sit here and take this shit from you. I'm gonna go check up on my baby." he watched her leave the table, heading straight for the restrooms.
_________

It's been almost an half hour and Aaliyah and Brandi was still in the restroom. Justin, definitely was beginning to get impatient. "Justin?" he hastily looked over his shoulder to gaze at a familiar blond walking up behind him. "Hey." his eyes shot wide open in surprise.

"Oliver? What the HELL are you doing here? I suggest you leave before my girlfriend shows up." he warned.

"And I'm supposed to be scared? Ahaha." she laughed pathetically. "In your dreams." he looked away to focus in on Aaliyah who headed towards the table with Brandi by her side.

"I cleared up every..." she trailed off, focusing in on Oliver who stood by their table with her arms over her chest and a smirk on her face. "Oliver? What the..." she locked eyes with Justin's. "What the fuck is she doing here?" she lowered her voice so Brandi wouldn't hear.

"I...I don't even know myself. I was surprised just as you were." she rolled her eyes, and grabbed her coke, instantly spilling it all over him.

"I'm tired of your games. I don't know who you think you're fooling but I'm NOT gonna STICK AROUND ANY LONGER TO TAKE YOUR BULLSHIT!" she yelled with tears in her eyes. "I'm outta here. Come on, Brandi." she sniffled, leading her to the exit of the building.

"Wh...Aaliyah? Baby..." he stood up and gazed at Oliver, giving her a dirty look. "You bitch." he brushed pass her, following the way Aaliyah went. He was hoping things hadn't ended. No telling what he would have done.

Chapter 7

ALL WORK COPYRIGHTED BY SHONA 2002