“This might affect his career when it comes out, though,” Aaliyah replied, “this might hurt him in the long run.”
“I doubt that. More people are open about that type of stuff now than they have been. If anything, O might get more votes from women because he believes in sex positivity and all that new feminist jazz they spit.” Avery laughed. “If he really loves you, this is a nothing burger.”
Aaliyah wanted to believe her father. Ocean wanted to marry her as soon as possible back then. He wanted to marry her as soon as next week.
Aaliyah decided she could no longer wait to tell Ocean or hoped to hell he would never find out. She went into her closet and began packing. The sooner she told Ocean the truth, the better they both would be off.
“I guess I’m going to D.C.” Aaliyah surmised.
“I guess so.” Avery replied.
~~~~~~~
Aaliyah hadn’t been in D.C. more than a few hours to know she wasn’t going to spend the rest of her days there.
It was full of rich history and many current laws had ben enacted there. She got chills by feeling the history of the Founding Fathers. She had an unbearable sadness of the slaves they’ve kept and the laws their masters created that wouldn’t give them the same protection.
Policymakers routinely met with voters, constituents, and big-money donators to ensure their voices (and wallets) were heard. Various protestors carried signs about their cause; each declaring their issue was urgent.
Families with small children took every Instagram-worthy photo op they could. Vloggers talked into their phones and cameras and panned behind him to show potential viewers what they see. Tourists snapped selfies and kissed each other’s cheek for those adorable like-worthy pics.
The sounds of D.C. were different. It was busy but a different kind of busy. There were the hustlers in Atlanta who had an idea for everything. People in L.A. were busy trying to get home, to work, to auditions, to anywhere and everywhere.
People in D.C. were constantly running to meetings. They had a meeting with someone important. They had a meeting to discuss something important. They had an important meeting to discuss another important meeting.
And then there was Aaliyah.
She traipsed around D.C. with a flower in her hair and her trademark Bohemian look of flare pants and a tank top. It was already mid-October in D.C. and the weather reflected the season. It was cold enough for a sweater but not for a heavy coat.
The vibe in D.C. felt wordily different from Atlanta and Los Angeles. Sure, Aaliyah had her fair share of fake people but it seemed they really came out in force in D.C. People kissed ass to get what they wanted and if they determined one useless, the relationship was ended, no matter how nice and friendly the other party was.
She told the camera crew she wasn’t going to film her trip and wanted it to be private. Laura argued it would be great television but Aaliyah was insistent this storyline couldn’t be shown. If Ocean’s reaction to her revelation was ugly, she didn’t want cameras to witness it.
Her stomach coiled in tight knots and Aaliyah wondered if she was doing the right thing. She knew Ocean was going to break up with her and she was more than prepared for that. She wanted to do it in person. She even packed the ring and took it with her in case he wanted it back. She’d missed wearing it already.
She let out a deep breath and held her head up high. She was going to see him, confess all, and break up a short time later. Then she would return back to her life and mourn his loss as she would go through lover after lover, trying to fill the impossible void.
She stopped by a local coffee shop and ordered a jasmine tea while she contemplated her next course of action. Ocean didn’t know she was in town and Aaliyah did that intentionally. If she told him about her plans, he would’ve been insistent on introducing her to people like he did before at Briana’s fundraiser. Aaliyah wanted the anonymity between them.
She sat down at a secluded table and began to people watch. Two women gossiped about their friends. A mother was trying to get her young son to eat a grilled cheese sandwich. A power player was negotiating a deal over the phone and tried to quiet his booming voice as much as he could.
Aaliyah shook her head and smiled. None of them had life-altering scandals. None of them would be called every name in the book. None of them would have to clean up their respective social media pages. They could live carefree, enjoy the sunlight, and call it a day.
She quietly sipped her tea and checked her cell phone. Nothing but potential bookings and fan comments on IG. No texts from Ocean, though Aaliyah didn’t expect any. Ocean was very busy and his time was short. He would call when he had a moment to spare.
Aaliyah was used to being ignored by him, though she could admit it started to get bothersome. He promised to do better and she knew he was being pulled in all directions as a first-time senator. She also knew he could manage a phone call if he wanted to.
“Girl, can you believe that mess?” A black woman with long red hair walked into the coffee shop, followed by her Asian cohort. “I knew he was an asshole just by looking at him.”
“Doesn’t he know he could go to jail for that?” The Asian woman replied. “In fact, I think he is going to jail for that! I thought I heard a whisper about charges potentially being filed.”
“They need to!” The redhead replied. “They need to charge him. He’s so guilty.”
“And the daughter? What’s her name? Ximena?” Aaliyah’s ears perked up. “You know she’s going to stand by her daddy.”
“Of course, she is! Daddy’s been pimping her out probably since she was a newborn. She’s not going against the grain now.” The redhead shook her head. “A right movement was laid to rest by a nutjob. Just like Occupy Wall Street. Just like these other movements. Right intentions, but the wrong person in charge of it.”
“And just watch all of these rapists and harassers get their old jobs back. Now they have a reason. No one is focusing on the big story the father did; they’re going to look at how the daughter is behaving.” The brunette shook her head. “Sometimes when family is sinking, you need to let them drown.”
