Orphanage

23

later on that night.

I was laying in bed, reading a book called So You Love Pets? It was a book about what pets do and such, so if I want to be a veterinarian I could know how to handle them.

Ring-Ring!

I looked at my phone, it was a number that wasn't saved. I answered it :

"Hello?"

"Miss.Pullins?"

"That's me, who's calling?"

"Mr.Strauss, from UCLA."

"Oh yeah, I remember."

"Good news, you've been accepted."

"Are you serious?!"

"Yes I am, come down here early tomorrow to discuss your classes and textbooks you need to order."

"Yes sir, I'll be there."

I hung up and smiled. I got accepted! I went onto i********: and took a selfie. The caption read :

"Guess who got accepted to UCLA?! Your girl Star!"

I instantly got likes and comments saying "Congratulations." I smiled and looked at Codi. "I'm going to college!" I smiled. I looked at the fishtank, Swizzle was swimming around and Neema was just sitting there in one spot. I tapped the fishtank and she moved slowly. "Don't leave me now Neema." I whispered.

I went to the family room, where Bre and Bee was. They were on their phones.

"I have fascinating news!" I hollered.

"Wassup?" Asked Bre.

I sat next to them. "I got accepted to UCLA!" I yelled.

They both hugged me tight. "I'm so proud of you Zo." Bee said.

"Thanks." I laughed. "I can't wait."

It was a knock at the door, "I'll get it." Bre said. She got up and opened the door. "Look who's here Mr.Iovine and Mrs.Iovine." She smiled.

They walked in with food in their hands. "Hey girls!" Mrs.Iovine said. "Congratulations about tonight, we brought dinner."

Mr.Iovine kissed our cheeks. "I gave Maria the night off, she was exhausted." He laughed. "Anyway, let's get to the kitchen!"

We all went in the kitchen, Mrs.Iovine set everyone's plates. Ribs, fried asparagus, corn, mashed potatoes, macaroni, and croissants filled the table. We said our prayer and began to eat.

"So what's coming up for us Mr.Iovine?" Bre asked.

He drank his wine. "Well, I figured tomorrow could be a day off for you girls as well. You've been working hard for so long."

I nodded. "True, I have good news though." I smiled.

"What is it Zonnique?" Mrs.Iovine asked.

I bit a piece of rib. "I got accepted to UCLA!"

Mrs.Iovine and Bre clapped. Mr.Iovine looked confused.

"Something wrong sir?" I asked sipping my wine.

"Star you can't go to school, your a celebrity." He said.

"Not technically." I disagreed.

"Homeschool is okay and online classes but that's a university, you can't do that."

"Why not?" I semi yelled.

He sighed. "Because Star all of the work were going to be doing, and the process of being famous you don't have time for school."

"Education is more important than f*****g singing!" I shouted.

"Online classes or no classes Star, that's my rule." He said picking up his asparagus.

"If you don't let me go to my dream college." I whispered. "You'll be the worst manager ever."

He shrugged. "Well, I guess I'm the worst manager ever."

the next morning

I laid in bed, sobbing holding my pillow tight. I can't believe Mr.Iovine, he's not fair at all. I looked at the time on my alarm clock, 8:43 AM. I got out if bed slowly, limping and whining. I went in my bathroom and looked in the mirror, my hair was a mess and I had dried up tears all over my face. I walked over to the tub and turned the shower on. I stripped out my clothing and got in the shower. I let the warm water hit my body as I daydreamed, he basically forced me to choose music over school. That's illegal, right? After all he is my manager, I could just leave the contract, but I am kind of becoming famous. I grabbed my towel and my Pink Cotton body wash. I began washing my body, then washing my hair.

30 minutes later I got out of the shower and dried off my body. I put on my burgundy and black leggings, burgundy crop sweater, and my Uggs. I blow dried my hair and put it in a bun. After that I grabbed my iPhone, sunglasses, and car keys and went downstairs. I went in the kitchen and grabbed a banana, I looked at the time on the microwave that read 9:45 AM. I walked out the kitchen and opened the front door.

"Zo?"

I turned around and saw Bee. "Hey." I whispered.

She came down the stairs. "You alright?"

I nodded. "I'm fine."

"You sure?" She asked.

"Yeah, I gotta go."

I left out the door and went in my car. I started the ignition and began to listen to music as I pulled out the driveway.

•

•

Bahja.

I poured me some orange juice and sat on the kitchen counter. I looked over at the house phone, I guess I should call my mother. I put down my orange juice and picked up the phone.

1 unread voicemail

I clicked the message, it was from Mr.Iovine.

"I can't believe you Jimmy! That girl really cared about college and you let her down."

"Clara shut up. That was going to be to much."

"How come? Because she was going to be focused on school work and make you loose money?!"

"Clara that's not the reason! She didn't mean what she said, all three of those girls are thirsty for atleast a hit record. Without me, they'll see be in that orphanage."

I widen my eyes, what the hell? Mr.Iovine must have butt dialed us, that was pure wrong. He doesn't care about us, he doesn't even believe in us. I have to tell the girls, this isn't right. I ran upstairs and banged on Bre's door. She hurried and opened it, her hair was all over the place and she had on her pajamas. You could tell I woke her up from her sleep.

"Bee what the hell are you knocking on my door for like your the police!" She shouted.

"Sorry." I panted. "Just come here." I grabbed her arm as we ran downstairs and into the kitchen.

"Bee it's not even 10:00 dammit! Stop being so energetic!" She said sounding annoyed.

I pressed the recoding box and let her listen to the message. "What the ..." She whispered. "Did he just try to diss us?" She semi yelled.

I shrugged. "I don't know, but this isn't right! He thinks well be nothing without him Bre. He thinks we need him to be who we are now."

"We don't need him!" She yelled.

I nodded. "I know. What are we gonna do?"

She sighed. "Look, we can't do anything."

"What?" I gasped.

"We can't tell Zo either! You know how she is, she's already pissed off at him."

"So we just sit around and act like everything's okay?!" I shouted.

She nodded. "We have to, we just have to lay low for a while. Just act like nothing ever happened, then when we get really big like Chris Brown or some s**t well diss his label."

I didn't say anything, I just don't wanna hide this from Zo, but knowing her shell wanna get dropped out the label.

"Bahja, lay low." She said again.

I nodded slowly. "Alright." I whispered.

•

•

Zonnique.

I walked up to the to the UCLA building stairs, people were walking all around the campus with their friends - holding books and smiling, laughing. That should be me, I wanna be on campus. I sighed and went inside, I went to the from desk.

"Miss.Pullins, Mr.Strauss have been expecting you." The lady smiled. She gave me the clipboard and a pen.

I began to sign in. "Really? Well I'm here now." I fake smiled.

I walked in Mr.Strauss office, he was on his computer. He looked up at me and smiled. "Miss Pullins! There you are! The new incomer of UCLA."

I sat down. "About that, I-"

"So since you love animals and singing, I decided to give you multiple of choices. You can go to drama and pet med, or you could go to choir and pet med. your choice." He explained.

"Mr.Strauss I really can't -"

"Now since you won't be on campus it'll be okay for you to drive home and back everyday, as long as your here early." He went back into his computer. "I'll print your schedule after you tell me your -"

"Mr.Strauss I can't attend here!" I shouted.

He looked at me. "Why not?"

I sighed. "My manager ... says it isn't right for me right now."

"Well what does he know?!" He semi yelled.

I shrugged. "I have to do online classes."

"We do have online classes..." He whispered. "I'll sign you up and email you the conformation code and everything."

I nodded. "Thank you Mr.Strauss."

"No problem. I was looking forward for you to attend here, but I guess not." He sighed. "Good day."

I walked out of the office slowly and shed a tear, I put on my sunglasses and went outside.

"Excuse me, do you know where room B43 is?" Someone asked.

I turned around and saw a caramel girl, half of her head was shaved. She had on a white tee, shorts, and sandals. Her hair was in a ponytail.

I shook my head no. "Check with that lady at the front desk." I whispered.

"Thanks." She smiled. "I'm new here so I don't really know my way around - California that is. I'm from Atlanta. I'm Cassandra."

I looked at her. "So your Cassie huh?" I asked.

"That's what my friends call me." She laughed.

"Your 'bestfriend' to?"

The smile crept off her face. "Who are you?"

"Zonnique." I said proudly.

"Ray Ray's girlfriend?" She smiled.

"Not anymore." I sighed. "Thanks to you- slut."

I walked off the porch steps and went into my car. So Rayan and Cassie is in town huh?

•

•

Rayan.

I walked into Stanford doors, admiring my sight. I walked to the main office.

"Hi , I'm Rayan Lopez."

The older lady looked at me, she have me a clipboard. "Sign your name young man."

I signed my name and gave her back the clipboard.

"Miss. Johnson's office is on the far end of the right. You can to inside." She said.

"Thanks."

I walked where she told me to, I stopped at a door that had the words Lucy Johnson on it. I knocked slowly and a women in her early 30's opened it. She was super thick and short, she was a flawless darkskin lady. With deep dimples, glasses, and pretty teeth, her long weave went down to her butt.

"Damn." I whispered.

"Excuse me?" She said with a attitude.

I looked up. "I apologize Miss. Johnson." I said.

She looked at me up and down. "Come in."

I went inside her office and closed the door.

"Name?"

"Rayan Lopez."

She looked at me. "Your the Atlanta guy?"

I smiled and nodded.

"Welcome. Anyway on your letter I saw you enjoy music, art, and cameras." She said searching something up on her computer.

"Yes, I enjoy them all." I explained.

She took off her glasses. "Good. Now your previous grades in highschool are somewhat suitable."

"What does that mean?" I asked.

She looked at me. "They're okay."

I nodded. "Right."

"You have a nice grade in physics and grammar, also math." She said overlooking my letter. "Your classes will be : music tech, art pro, photography pro , physics 101, algebra 101, and law. Is that fine?" She asked looking up at me.

I nodded. "That's fine Miss. Johnson." I smiled.

Ring-Ring!

I took my phone out my pocket, it was Cassandra. "Can I take this call?"

She nodded. "Go out there while I print your schedule."

I left out her office and answered the phone.

"Hello?"

"Really Ray Ray!"

"What?"

"What did you tell your girlfriend? Oh I'm sorry - ex girlfriend! She completely just disrespected me!"

"What are you saying Cassie! You saw Zonnique?"

"Leaving UCLA, yes I did. I can't believe you Ray Ray. You got her thinking there's something going on between us!"

"I didn't tell her anything alright!"

"That's hard to believe."

"Whatever Cassandra."

"Yeah whatever, Rayan."

"Stop it, stop calling me Rayan! You know you don't normally call you that!"

"I call you that when I'm mad at you."

"So your mad at me? Why?"

"She called me a slut! She said I'm the reason you guys broke up! You told her that?"

"What? Cassie your no slut and no I didn't . She broke up with me!"

"Bye Rayan."

She hung up, I sighed and went back into her office. "Here's your schedule." She smiled.

"Thank you."

"Your room Z12 , 9th floor." She said handing me my schedule. "I'll call an assistant to guide you there".

I bit my lip. "Can you guide me there."

She looked at me blankly. "Don't play with me."

I laughed. "I'm saying, I don't see a ring on your finger."

She smacked her teeth. "On your records it says your 19."

I shrugged. "What that mean?"

"I'm 32."

I began to sing. "Age ain't nothing but a number."

She playfully punched my arm. "Let's go Mr.Lopez."

I opened the office door for her, we both left her office. "Please, call me Ray." I winked.