11. Nourah Marcell
"Nou Nouuu! Get up, bookie butt!" I heard my sister yell.
I wasn't even sure what time it was, but I ain't even open my eyes. "Somebody died?" I asked groggily.
"No, but—"
"Then why is you screaming?"
She snatched my blanket off my body, and cool air hit my legs. I curled up and grabbed for it but couldn't find it. I opened one eye to see Noree had it balled up in her arms.
I groaned. "Noreeee…what? What is it, and what time is it?"
"It's time for you to get up and get ready. We're going to Ozy Love's video shoot today."
I laid there for a second. Rubbed my eyes with the back of my hand. "Huh?"
"His video shoot is at twelve-thirty. We're going," she boasted as I slowly sat up, eyes half closed.
"We?"
"Yes, Nourah, get on up."
"Girl, I know you don't mean me. They be having security and lists and all that." I tried to lay back down and put my face in the pillow. "Let me sleep."
"Uh…no." She snatched the pillow. "I slept with Ozy last night, so I asked him if you could come and—"
I sat straight up so fast my head was spinning, eyes wide as hell, sleep immediately nonexistent.
"Bitch, you did what?" I was pointing at her now. "Noree Arianna Marcell…back all the way up. Back up like fifteen steps."
"Wait." She giggled. "That came out wrong." She threw my covers back on the bed.
"No, don't try to laugh now. You sat on that man's dick?" I was intrigued.
"No…I said it wrong, I swear." She was laughing and waving her hands. "Not like that."
I scooted back against my headboard and sat crisscross applesauce. "Okay. Sooo…spill it, hoe. What happened?"
She sat on the edge of the bed, a huge smile on her face.
“Okay, so boom… they got to fighting at dinner, right? And I mean throwing food. Like third graders.”
“Throwing food?”
“Sis yes! It got all on my dress, so I went up to my room to change, and like fifteen minutes later, somebody was knocking. It was his assistant, Ky. She said she was going to personally handle my dry cleaning, which, by the way, she did. It was somehow on my bed this morning when I got back to my room. But anyway… last night, when she was at the door, she said Ozy requested me to come to his room.”
"Biiitch, no he didn't!" I shouted, smiling along with her like I was there.
"He did! So, I go up there, and Nourah, listen. I ain't even walk in the room at first. I stood in that doorway and made him tell me what he was tryna do."
"Good." I nodded. "I taught you well," I kidded.
She gave me the eye playfully, and I laughed. "So anyway, he said it wasn't like that. He said he wanted my opinion on a song he was working on and that he wanted to get to know me. So, I went in. And we talked alllll night, Nou Nou…like till two in the morning."
"And?"
"And I fell asleep on his shoulder."
"Noree!"
"Nothing happened, I swear. Cookie stayed in the cookie jar."
I put my hand over my mouth. "That's so cute, I'm sick."
"But listen. Listen." She got a little more serious. "I really like him. And I know how that sounds."
"Go on." I squinted my eyes at her. My sis hadn't been with anybody in a long-ass time, and I didn't want her getting her hopes up with a man who was a well-known player, heartbreaker, womanizer, and all of the above.
"And he told me he likes me and enjoyed our night together. I don't know what that even means.”
“Uh…it means he likes you, sis. Don't act surprised. You the shit."
I stretched my arms up over my head and twisted my neck from side to side, stretching. "Wait…hold on. What about Ginger?"
“Okay, so…” She scooted closer. “One of the other winners, Veronica, told me her cousin, or her cousin’s sister, or her sister’s baby daddy…
I don’t know. One of them was around Ginger one night when she was drunk.
Ginger was crying about how the whole relationship was fake and how she wished he really wanted her like that.
I asked him about the rumor I’d heard, and he said, ‘Believe ’em. ’”
My mouth was open. "Get the fuck out of town, bitch….that's crazy." I was shaking my head. "I knew their chemistry looked off…every time I see pics of them online, photoshoots, club appearances, performances, it just looks like he ain't feeling her ass."
"That's what I was thinking, sis. And I'm not saying I'm getting involved with him or if this is even going anywhere because it's only been one damn day.
" She laughed. "But it was nice to know just in case.
Now…get up, we're wasting time. I brought my outfit and I already showered, so I’ma do my face while you get ready. "
"Okay, bet, but let me just say one thing, sis.
I love you like a fat kid loves cake, so just enjoy the moment, let it be whatever it's gone be, even if you let that man sip from that coochie fountain, you feel me!
" We shared a laugh. "But I don't wanna see you hurt, so just be aware.
He may be a nice man, I don't doubt that, but he's a famous R&B singer.
A lot comes with that, and famous or not, I don't wanna have to cut that nigga. "
"You're right. I’ma let it be what it's gone be."
"Good, and I loveee that for you."
I climbed out the bed, and so did she. "I gotta figure out what I’ma wear. We gotta be the baddest in that building. I don't care who else in there."
"I'm with you when you right, sis. They ain't ready for the Marcell sisters."
I headed for my bathroom to turn on the shower, but I stopped in the doorway. "Oh…I ain't even tell you about last night."
"What about last night?"
"So, I was in my feelings. I got another rejection email." I leaned against the wall.
"Aww, I'm sorry, Nourah."
"It's cool." And I meant it, mostly. "My time is coming."
"It is. Trust me, I know it is. Your designs are so good! If they ain't fucking with it, they haters, off rip."
"Period!" I agreed with her a hundred percent.
"So, I went to the liquor store, the one by the wing spot, because I was gone get me a little something, sit in the house, and be sad about it for like two hours, and then be done.
But baby, let me tell you, the man I met was so fine!
" I smiled just thinking about him. "Tall, handsome, fresh braids, and he smelled good. "
"Ooo…tell me more."
"Girl, a nigga with no teeth grabbed my arm—"
"Nourah!"
"I'm fine—"
"Are you sure? Why you ain't call me?" Noree asked, concerned like the big sis she is.
"Because I'm good, I swear. Mr. Fine stepped up, threatening his funny-looking ass."
"Okay, we love a protector."
"Yes!" I chimed in. "Protect me, baby!" I kidded.
She laughed. "So, then what?"
"So, then we stood in that parking lot talking a lil'. I went to my car and was about to pull off, but…" I bit down on my finger. "He tapped my window and asked for my digits, bay-beee!"
"I love that for you, sis. Seems like we both may be getting our dream man."
I nodded, smile big as day. "Yeah, maybe, but…" I lifted my arms. "Okay, I’m a lil' tart. Let me hop in the shower."
I was almost in the bathroom when she said, "Oh. And Nourah?"
"Yeah?"
"Pack a bag."
I turned around. "For what?"
"Because after those two women got kicked out, they let me put you on the list for the rest of the weekend. You staying at the hotel too, boo boo!"
I ain't say nothing for a second.
"The St. Regis Crescent? Biiitch! You lying!"
"Nope. Annnd per the itinerary, we're going to the club tonight and brunch in the morning, so pack accordingly."
I screamed so loud my neighbor probably called 911 on my ass!
An hour and forty minutes later, we were standing in front of my hallway mirror, and I ain't gone lie, we ate.
Noree had on a green two-piece skirt set, side part, hair straightened and laid the fuck down, with gold accessories and heels.
I had on cut-up jeans, a cowl-neck top, back fully on display, titties sitting, with tan heels, and Noree did my face.
My hair was in a high pony. I put on my sunglasses and added the finishing touches with my lip gloss
We must've snapped a bunch of pictures together before I grabbed my duffel and threw the strap over my shoulder. I had packed it like I was going on a seven-day cruise.
We hopped in Noree's car. She pulled off, and she turned the music up. As we rode down 85, I sat there thinking about how yesterday I was down, and today I was on my way to an Ozy Love video shoot.
“Hey,” I said.
"Hm?"
"You think it's gone be food there?"
She busted out laughing. "Nourah."
"What? Hoe, I'm starving!"