On the seventh day of Christmas...
𝔄 𝔇𝔢𝔠𝔢𝔪𝔟𝔢𝔯 𝔗𝔬 ℜ𝔢𝔪𝔢𝔪𝔟𝔢𝔯 𝔭𝔱. 𝟑
𝔭𝔞𝔦𝔯𝔦𝔫𝔤 ➛ Actor!Michael B Jordan x OC!Naomi Samuels
𝔯𝔞𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔤 ➛ Fluff, angst
𝔴𝔬𝔯𝔡 𝔠𝔬𝔲𝔫𝔱 ➛ 5.8K
𝔰𝔶𝔫𝔬𝔭𝔰𝔦𝔰 ➛ Naomi and Ashanti get into it and things go downhill. Thankfully, Michael is there to save the day and cheer Naomi up. They end up getting a bit closer than expected. Later on, Naomi learns why Ashanti is the way she is.
𝔞/𝔫 ➛ Listen, I know y'all have your opinions about Ashanti, but all I'm gonna say is, never judge a book by its cover. Also I literally had to stop myself from melting while writing this chapter! I hope you guys enjoy!
12 Days of Christmas Masterlist
Part 2 Here
"Wow! Okay, I think it's obvious that's the winner right there." James says in surprise.
"What can I say? We've just got that creative touch." I say, putting my elbow on the snowman. Unfortunately, it wasn't packed together sturdy enough and my added weight caused it to crumble and me to fall on top of it.
"Naomi!" Ashanti shouts, annoyed that I ruined the snowman. Michael rushes over to help me up as Dan, Teresa, and James all laugh at the sight. Michael is laughing a bit too, but he makes sure I'm okay and pulls me to my feet. I brush snow off my bottom and chuckle at my clumsiness.
"Oh shit, I didn't mean for that to happen." I rub my neck sheepishly and look over at Ashanti, who looks livid. "You okay, Ashanti?"
"No! I'm not okay! You always ruin everything!" She shouts angrily. We all look at her in confusion, wondering where this all came from.
"What do you mean? I thought we were having fun." I respond, attempting to diffuse the tension.
"No, you're always stealing the spotlight!" She retorts, her voice sharp.
"Whoa, calm down, Ashanti. She didn't mean to ruin the snowman." Michael intervenes, trying to ease the escalating situation. But Ashanti, fueled by jealousy and frustration, continues her tirade.
"No, Michael! She's always stealing the spotlight! Trying to be the center of attention with her stupid ideas," Ashanti crosses her arms as I stare at her, taken aback by the sudden outburst.
"Stupid ideas? This was supposed to be a fun activity. Why are you so upset?" I question, trying to understand.
"Because you always have to be the special one, don't you? You can't stand anyone else getting attention," She accuses, her eyes narrowing. "Always pretending to be all cute and clumsy, always trying to be the one everyone likes. It's pathetic, really." Her words cut deeper than expected. The atmosphere grows tense, and I feel a mixture of hurt and anger welling up inside me. Michael and Dan exchange uneasy glances, unsure what to do. Teresa tries to calm the situation.
"Come on, guys, let's not do this here. Let's just go back to having fun." She says, trying to hype us up again, but to no avail.
"No, she needs to hear this, Teresa. You can act innocent all you want, Naomi, but you're not fooling me. Everyone falls for your act, but I see right through it. You're manipulative, Naomi. Always trying to make people sorry for you." I glance at Daniel, hoping for support, but he seems caught in the middle, unsure of how to navigate this awkward conversation.
"Enough, both of you." James interjects, trying to diffuse. "You're ruining this for all of us with this unnecessary drama."
"It's not unnecessary, James. She needs to hear the truth," Ashanti retorts, her anger only growing.
"The truth? You're making baseless accusations and I'm just supposed to sit back and take it? Hell no." I fire back, my frustration boiling over.
"Baseless? Look at you, falling around like a toddler, trying to make Michael feel sorry for you. You're always playing the victim. And he's been falling for it all day," She sneers, gesturing towards Michael.
"That's not fair, Ashanti. Naomi hasn't done anything wrong," Michael finally speaks up, unable to stand her bashing me. Ashanti looks offended.
"Of course, you'd defend her. You always seem to prefer her over me," She accuses, her jealousy showing.
"I'm not choosing anyone. But I won't stand here while you attack her for things that obviously make you insecure."
"Michael, can't you see she doesn't care about anyone but herself? She's only pretending to be this interesting, edgy girl because that's the only way people can notice her. Quite frankly, it's disappointing you can't see how she's trying to manipulate you to not like me."
"That's enough!" I snap, unable to contain my anger any longer. "If I make you so miserable and you can't stand to be around me so much, why don't you just leave?" The silence is loud as she glares at me, before huffing.
"Fine! Maybe I will!" She turns and stomps off angrily, leaving the group in an awkward silence. I grunt in frustration as I watch her leave.
"Naomi, maybe you should go after her." James suggests, trying to be a voice of reason.
"No, I'm done playing her games. She wants to walk away? Fine," I reply, my tone strong. "Maybe she'll finally realize everything isn't about her."
"I'll go after her." Teresa says, leaving to follow her cousin. Dan puts a comforting hand on my shoulder.
"You didn't deserve that, Naomi. She's just... I don't know what her deal is." He says with a sigh.
"I don't know, maybe there's something else going on that we don't know about." James suggests, shrugging his shoulders.
"The audacity she has to accuse me of all that stuff, when I've had to put up with that from her since we were kids!" I frown angrily, my hands clenching again.
"Let's just take our minds off that for now. We can't let it ruin our whole day. How about we explore the market a bit more?" Dan suggests and James and Michael nod in agreement. Reluctantly, I agree, realizing that dwelling on negativity won't do me any good.
As we start to walk through the market, the vibrant lights and festive atmosphere fail to fully lift my spirits. The encounter with Ashanti keeps replaying in my mind, leaving me feeling a mix of frustration and hurt. I trail behind the boys and Michael slows down until he's walking beside me.
"Don't believe any of what she said, Naomi. She's just projecting onto you and that's not fair." He speaks softly. I sigh and glance up at him.
"I know, but it's still frustrating," I admit. His presence offers me some comfort, a reminder that not everyone interprets situations like how Ashanti did.
Meanwhile, Teresa catches up with Ashanti, finding a quieter section of the market where the snowfall adds a serene touch to the surroundings.
"What do you want, T?" Ashanti snaps, her frustration still evident.
"Just checking on you. What happened back there?" Teresa inquires, genuinely concerned.
"I don't wanna talk about it," Ashanti mutters, avoiding eye contact.
"Look, I get that something upset you, but taking it out on Naomi like that wasn't fair. She's our cousin, and she doesn't deserve that kind of treatment," She asserts, her protective instincts kicking in.
"You always take her side!" Ashanti shouts, turning away.
"I'm not on anyone's side, but I won't stand by when you're treating people unfairly. Sort out whatever's bothering you, Ashanti, before it ruins more than just today," Teresa advises before leaving Ashanti to her thoughts.
Back at the market, I'm walking with Michael as we've split up from Daniel and James. The sun has begun to set and it starts to get a bit colder. Michael smiles at me and places his arm around my shoulder as we walk, providing me a sense of warmth. He tries to get my mind off of the earlier confrontation and cheer me up.
"You know something else that's irritating?" He starts, his tone suggesting he has something to say.
"What's that?" I ask, raising an eyebrow as we walk. He takes a moment to reply.
"I haven't gotten to buy you a drink yet. A real one," He gestures to the market ahead. "We've been walking all day, so this is my chance." He grins and my eyes light up at the suggestion. I think for a moment, before cracking a small smile.
"I guess one drink can't hurt." I give in and Michael squeezes my shoulder, gently.
"Glad to see I haven't lost my charm." He says playfully, causing me to chuckle softly. "Just, this time, it's not gonna be hot chocolate. Let's change it up." I grin and nod in response. "I've got the perfect idea." Michael takes his arm from around my shoulder and grabs my hand, leading me into the market. His hand is warm against mine and he links our fingers, causing me to smile.
"It's just over here." He tugs my hand as he leads me through the crowd.
"What kind of drink did you have in mind?" I ask him. "Nothing too strong, please." I joke.
"Relax, I don't want to see you passed out on the floor." He answers before laughing. I roll my eyes and playfully slap the back of his hand in response.
"Okay, so what's this perfect idea?" I inquire with a smirk. Michael grins as we reach a small stand selling Christmas treats, hot cocoa, and other seasonal beverages before stopping and pointing towards the menu.
"Mulled apple cider." He says and I raise my eyebrows.
"I actually love that idea. They're nice and warm, but with a little bit of a kick. Love it." I nod in approval and we order two hot mulled ciders from the vendor.
"Here you go." The vendor smiles as he hands us our drinks. We all take them and move to find a spot to sit. After a few seconds of searching, we settle on a park bench away from the crowds. I take a seat and cradle the drink in my hands.
The mulled cider has a strong cinnamon smell, the heat warming the air around us. Michael sits down beside me, his own cider in one hand and the other placed on the back of the bench. We smile at each other as we take the first sips of our drinks.
"Mmmm, it's so good." I say, enjoying the warmth of the winter beverage. Our eyes meet but we go on drinking in silence. It's not awkward. We both know that we could talk if we wanted to but the peace is nice. Finally, after about a minute, Michael breaks the silence.
"Naomi..." He starts and I tilt my head in his direction.
"Yeah?"
"About what happened earlier. I just want you to know that I don't think those things about you. Not at all." He pauses for a moment as I listen intently. "And honestly, I don't think Ashanti does either. She just feels insecure about her image, and my arrival didn't make things any easier for her. But, whether she meant it or not, she's wrong about you." I didn't even realize how much I needed to hear that tonight, but his words seem to bring me some peace.
"Thank you, Michael. Really. I really appreciate it." I respond with a smile of my own. Our gaze lingers for a few more seconds, but I realize there's still something bothering me. Suddenly I turn to face him on the bench so we're sitting face to face.
"Can I admit something?" I hesitate. He nods and looks at me intently. I take a deep breath before speaking.
"I'm just as insecure as Ashanti," I confess, looking down into my mug. "I'm always trying to be cool and impressive, but I'm scared of looking dumb. It's like I'm not truly special to anyone." I glance over at Michael and I know he's listening carefully.
"My family is the most judgmental. Nothing seems to please them. I became a real estate agent, but it wasn't as good as Teresa's nursing job. I quit to be a full-time artist, and they say I'm throwing away all their hard work. Broke up with my cheating ex, and they say I should've paid more attention to him. Now that I'm almost thirty, they're nagging me about marriage and kids. What about what makes me happy?" I take a deep breath, feeling my eyes well up with tears.
Michael nods and I spill more, feeling vulnerable. "Their expectations are exhausting. I second guess every choice I make. Even if they're right, I don't want to live worrying about what people think. I want to live for me." I look up at Michael, his eyes still trained on me. I blush, realizing I've dumped a lot on him. He places a reassuring hand on my thigh.
"You know, I get it, Naomi. There's a lot of pressure on you to be perfect. But you don't have to be that. I see you for you. You're not perfect, but you're real. Don't be so hard on yourself." He smiles and takes my hand. I give him a small smile in return, grateful for his encouragement. His words resonate deep within me, creating a sense of warmth that goes beyond the heat radiating from the mulled cider. For a moment, I forget the chaos that unfolded earlier, and it's just Michael and me, sharing a connection.
"Thanks, Michael," I say, my voice a mix of gratitude and relief. "I really needed to hear that." He squeezes my hand gently.
"Anytime, Nao." He winks as he uses the nickname he gave me. "I'm happy to help." We share a cuddle on the bench, finishing our ciders. Michael breaks the silence again with a mischievous grin.
"You know," he starts, his eyes sparkling with playful intent, "as much as the scavenger hunt was a bust, there's still one thing I really wanted to check off our list."
"What is it?" I ask, my curiosity piqued. Michael smirks.
"Close your eyes and trust me." Raising an eyebrow, I decide to play along. Closing my eyes, I feel Michael taking my hand, lacing his fingers with mine once more and guiding me through the bustling market. He takes care to keep me from bumping into anyone or stumbling. As we walk, with my eyes closed, all I can focus on is the warmth and softness of his hands, making me feel at ease.
"Almost there." He whispers, excitement in his voice. A flutter of anticipation builds. The market sounds far and I realize we've steered away from it. Snow crunches under our feet as we come to a stop. "Now, open." Gasping, I find a beautifully adorned horse-drawn carriage before us, illuminated by twinkling Christmas lights in the trees. The festive carriage driver welcomes us with a warm smile.
"Surprise," Michael says, grinning that gorgeous smile as he gestures toward the carriage. Speechless, I take a moment to react.
"Michael, this is amazing. How did you...?" He chuckles, pulling me into his side.
"I saw them doing rides earlier today and I figured, if anything, this might somewhat salvage the evening." He glances over at me. "I hope you like it."
"Of course, I love it." I respond, still in shock at the gesture as I take in the magic of the moment.
"So, you wanna hop in? Or just stand out in the cold?" He asks teasingly, offering me his hand. I roll my eyes and grab his hand as he helps me into the carriage. As we get settled into the seats, the carriage lurches forward and the ride starts. As we're pulled down the snowy road, I look up and see the beautiful Christmas lights above us.
"Wow," I whisper in awe and smile brightly. "It's so beautiful." Michael smiles back and looks up as well.
"Yeah, it really is." He agrees. As the gentle rocking of the carriage and the peaceful night setting work in harmony, I feel my body relax more and more with each second.
I look over at Michael and his eyes are trained on me. I gaze back at him, noticing, once again, how striking his features are. He's handsome in such a unique way, with his deep, chocolate-brown eyes, his strong jawline, and his playful, almost cheeky dimpled grin that makes me want to melt every time I see it. He doesn't look away from me and I can't make myself look away either.
It seems like he's about to say something, but the sound of the horse whinnying as it trots on the snowy gravel draws our attention back to the moment. When we glance at each other again and I'm surprised by the intense way he's looking at me. His eyes study me carefully, as if he's trying to memorize every single detail about me; my skin, my expression, the way my lips move when I speak.
Out of nowhere, I begin to feel a bit shy, a warmth rising within me as I realize how close we are. I look back up at the lights, my cheeks turning red and out of the corner of my eye, I see Michael do the same. We sit there for a few moments, silently looking up at the lights, our bodies inching ever so slightly closer. Suddenly, I feel Michael's lips peck my cheek. I look over at him, pressing my hand to my cheek in surprise. He looks back at me, his gaze still focused intently on mine. He watches me, studying my reaction before bringing his fingers to rest underneath my chin.
"Come here..." His words send electricity through my body as he pulls me forward a few inches and presses his plump lips against my own in a gentle kiss. My eyes flutter shut as my breath grows shallow. His lips feel soft on mine and I can taste the sweetness of the mulled cider from before. Every nerve in my body sparks with heat as the world around us becomes muffled. He's tender and gentle, kissing me in a way that says he truly cares about me.
Michael pulls away for a moment, his thumb caressing my skin softly as it grazes across my bottom lip. He wets his lips slightly before pulling me back in for another kiss. This time, his touch is firmer, his tongue slipping its way into my mouth. I find my hands resting on either side of his neck, pulling him in deeper. He sets his hands on my hips, pulling me closer so that our bodies fit neatly together.
The kiss continues for a few more seconds before he finally breaks it, breathing heavily. He pulls his head back slightly as he looks at me. I'm completely speechless. I've never felt anything like this before. My heart is fluttering, my arms are weak, and my body feels like it's on fire.
Our moment is interrupted by the sound of the driver clearing his throat awkwardly. Michael turns to him and smiles apologetically.
"Sorry, my lovebirds. We're almost there, don't worry." I look up at the driver and give him a sheepish smile, my expression growing even redder if that's even possible. Before I can say anything, Michael cuts in.
"Heh. Lovebirds." He mocks the driver's words jokingly, his tone light and playful. He turns back to me and kisses my hand. "He knows what's up." I smile, feeling like I'm in a dream. We pull back to the place where we started and the carriage comes to a halt. The driver climbs down from his seat and opens the gate so we can leave. Michael gets out first and puts his hands on my waist, helping me down from the carriage. He tips the driver before pulling me by the hand to his side, wrapping his arm back around me.
"Did you enjoy the ride?" He asks, smiling down at me.
"The physical one or the emotional one?" I reply teasingly, causing Michael to laugh. "I did enjoy the ride," I admit, giving a bit of a shy grin.
"Good," he replies, his tone shifting to something more sincere.
"It's getting late." I sigh as I look at the time. Michael glances at his watch and nods in agreement.
"Yeah, we should probably get back before they start to worry." He replies, giving me a warm smile. I return the smile, turning to face him.
"Today was a lot... but you really turned it around for me. Thank you for that." Michael pulls me into a hug, his body engulfing me.
"Don't mention it. I didn't like seeing a frown on your face." He says as he lets go of me. "You look way prettier when you smile." I blush at his compliment, looking down at my feet as he takes my hand in his. He looks ahead as we make our way back to the family house, the festive lights and decorations still illuminating the winter night.
As we near the house, I can't help but to feel a mix of emotions. Today had unexpected turns, but it all worked out in the end. Mostly. As we step inside, we're met with the warmth of the home and all of the lights are off. It seems like everyone's gone to sleep. Michael and I slip off our shoes before quietly making our way up the stairs.
"Looks like everyone's down for the night," He says, peering into the hallway and seeing no lights.
"Hopefully we didn't keep them up." I whisper, trying not to make too much noise on the creaky floor. Michael turns to me, leaning against the wall as he gazes at me through the darkness.
"Hey, Nao," He starts and I look at him in curiosity.
"Yeah?" He looks off to the side for a moment, as if contemplating his next words.
"I know today wasn't perfect, but I really enjoyed spending time with you." He takes my hand in his again. "I know I've only been here for a day, but I already feel so close to you. I'm not exactly sure how to describe it, but I know exactly how I feel when I'm with you." He leans in and speaks softly, causing me to shiver. His smile grows brighter as I look up at him with affection. "And I gotta say, I'm pretty excited for tomorrow."
"I really can't tell you how much this means to me. I feel like I don't have to try with you. Everything just flows so naturally. I can't wait to spend more time with you." I reply, biting my lip slightly.
"You sleep well, Nao. Goodnight." He tells me, planting a kiss on my cheek.
"Goodnight to you too, Michael." I say back and he gives me that small, flirty nod he gave me when we first met as he turns and begins walking down the hall towards his room. I watch Michael leave, his warmth lingering as he disappears into the guest room. I stand there for a moment, absorbing the sincerity in his voice and the unexpected connection we've formed. As I enter my room, the quiet of the night surrounds me, and the events of the day play like a movie in my mind.
I take a deep breath and decide to capture the essence of the day on paper. I grab the cheap sketchbook Ashanti gave me yesterday, along with a few coloring pencils. The room is dimly lit by the soft glow of the streetlamps outside, casting a gentle ambiance.
I begin sketching, letting my hand move freely across the paper. The pencil captures the laughter, the awkwardness, the joy, and the unexpected intimacy that all came with today. The lines on the paper become a visual narrative, each stroke expressing the emotions that I experienced throughout the day. I feel a sense of regret as I recall how Ashanti and I acted towards each other. I feel grateful for the comfort I was given today.
As I continue to sketch, I am reminded just how much art has a way of helping me process my feelings. The notepad becomes a canvas for both the highs and lows of the day, a tangible representation of the emotional rollercoaster I've been on.
On another page, I capture the moment I had with Michael. The mulled ciders, the carriage ride, even our time by the fireplace this morning. I smile as I reminisce on this eventful day, feeling lucky to be where I am. I glance at the clock and realize how much later it has gotten. The exhaustion of the day catches up with me and I decide it's time to put the pencil down. I change into my pajamas and slide under the cozy covers of the bed.
With a contented sigh, I close my eyes, waiting for sleep to take me. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, who knows what surprises it might hold. The room is filled with a quiet peace, and as I drift off to sleep, the events of the day soften into dreams, leaving behind the anticipation of what tomorrow might bring.
When I wake up the next morning, I feel sense of anticipation, eager to make the most of today. As I get ready, I take a deep breath, preparing myself for the day ahead. There's still a lingering tension in the air, especially with Ashanti, but I'm determined to make Christmas Eve memorable for everyone.
I head downstairs to find the family gathering in the living room, watching a movie. I say good morning to everyone and head into the kitchen to see if I can help. I get there to find just my aunts Tina and Pat preparing the Christmas Eve feast. I find a place to help out and smile to myself, chopping up some vegetables.
As I move around the kitchen, Ashanti enters, her eyes meeting mine briefly. There's a flicker of guilt in Ashanti's expression, a silent tension between us that, at some point, needs to be addressed. Although, I am not planning on being the one to start that conversation. She goes and sits at the kitchen table, scrolling on her phone. My aunt Tina looks over her shoulder and smiles.
"Oh, I loved that photoshoot you did, sweetie. You looked so fierce and powerful!" She compliments, putting her hand on Ashanti's shoulder.
"Yeah..." She replies, not looking up from her phone. Aunt Tina smirks and glances over at me.
"You know, Naomi, I want to apologize for the other day." She starts and I look up from my task with a raised eyebrow.
"You do?" I question and she nods.
"Maybe you're onto something with your art. At least it's better than jumping from job to job." She says, causing Aunt Pat to snicker a bit. I look over at Ashanti, who doesn't look up from her cellphone. "Ugh, the things I would do to be able to get paid to just doodle all day. Must be a dream." I sigh deeply, looking over at her.
"Aunt Tina, do you really think that art is just about sitting around and drawing whatever I want?" I ask her calmly.
"Well, honey-"
"No." I cut her off. "My job isn't that simple. It takes years to learn the skills I have. Art is a form of expression. It's like telling a story and it isn't always your own. It has a way of connecting people and cementing memories for years to come. I'm not some toddler with a crayon. To me, art is everything. Why can't any of you respect that?" I ask, gesturing to everyone in the room. My aunt Pat looks at me with a raised eyebrow.
"Mimi," She starts with a sigh, "you know we want nothing but the best for you." I clench my fist as I stare at her.
"See, that's another thing. If I'm being honest, a lot of my insecurities come from others telling me what they think I should be. I think it's time I start listening to what I want for a change."
"We're just trying to look out for you, sweetie. You're a bit reckless is all." Aunt Tina says, rolling her eyes.
"No, the problem is that you guys don't respect my choices or ambitions," I reply. "Thank you for the concern, but at the end of the day, it's my life." I say with a bit of sass.
"Whatever." Aunt Tina says, throwing her hands up. "Just do what you want. You always do anyway." Ashanti slams her hand down on the table and stands up.
"Will you stop, Mom?" She raises her voice, shocking us all. Ashanti takes a deep breath and points a finger at Aunt Tina. "It's one thing if you want to judge me and treat me like a child because I'm your daughter," She continues firmly. "But keep Naomi out of it! What she's doing is amazing and, I've got to admit, I'm jealous that she actually has the courage to do what she wants."
"Ashanti-"
"I'm not finished!" She cuts her mom off. "All my life, you've had a plan for who I was gonna be and what I was gonna do, but did you once ask me what I wanted to do? I just went along with it because I figured mother knows best. But I hate my life and I'm starting to hate the person I've become." I start seeing Ashanti in a new light, having heard this new bit of information. I'd always thought that she just didn't like me and that we were always at odds, but now I know why.
"Naomi and I used to be best friends, but because of how you raised me, I grew to despise her, when really I should've despised you. I've stood by my whole life and let you dictate my decisions, but I won't let you do that to my cousin. You have no right!" I stare at Ashanti, stunned by her outburst. I'm also a little relieved that someone finally stood up for me. Aunt Tina and Pat don't know what to say.
"If you guys are my real family, then you won't just want me to be a carbon copy of you." She says, a bit calmer. "And if you care about us and what's good for us, you'll respect our choices."
My aunts are silent, their smug expressions completely washed away. Aunt Tina sighs again, not wanting to admit that we're correct. Before she can say a word, my mom comes downstairs, wearing her best Christmas sweater. She immediately senses the tension in the room and steps in. "What's going on down here?" She asks, her tone firm and direct.
"Nothing, Mom. Ashanti and I were just leaving." I say, before heading out of the kitchen. Ashanti follows behind me and we make our way to the study.
The room is dark and quiet, Ashanti flipping on a light to see the room. The two of us share a look, the mood of the moment taking a sharp turn. Ashanti sits down on the couch, burying her face in her hands. I hesitate for a second before sitting down beside her.
"Ashanti, I'm so sorry." I offer, reaching my hand out to her. She doesn't respond right away, but she finally takes my hand in hers.
"No, I should be the one apologizing. I have been so unfair to you and I'm sorry for all I've put you through." The look she gives is one of guilt and regret. I give her a soft smile and she continues. "I've just been so angry for so long and I took it out on you. My mother would always pressure me to do exactly what she wanted me to do and I was jealous that you could do anything you wanted when we were growing up."
"Ashanti..." I say softly, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. "I never knew you felt this way. I always thought your life was perfect and I felt like I would never amount to all the things you've accomplished." I admit.
"No ones life is perfect, Naomi. All those accomplishments, they weren't mine. They were my mother's. I just went along with everything, in hopes that I would make them proud. But nothing is ever enough." She takes a deep breath and looks me in the eye. "And I want to apologize for yesterday. I didn't mean any of those things I said. Honestly, I'm not doing as well as everyone says."
"What do you mean?" I question. There's a long pause as Ashanti considers her words, trying to get them right.
"You know how everyone's been talking about how successful I am?" She begins, seeming unsure of herself. I nod, listening intently. "Well, I'm struggling. A lot. My mother doesn't know this, but I lost my modeling job. My boyfriend and I broke up a few months and I'm about to be evicted!" She confesses, a tear running down her face. "That's why I've been so mean lately. I've been trying to keep up appearances but it's stressful as hell and it's even worse because Michael's here." My eyes widen as she tells me this, the words catching me off guard.
"You don't like that Michael's here?"
"I like Michael," She says, shaking her head. "I mean hello! He's Michael B Jordan, who wouldn't like him? But ever since he arrived, Mom has been pressuring me to seduce him. I hate it, I feel like some shallow bitch who annoys everyone. I just wanted to make my mother happy, but at what cost? I'm just making a fool out of myself and it's obvious that he likes you. I'm so tired of being fake. I can tell that no one likes me." She looks down at her lap, avoiding my eyes.
"That's not true," I defend. "Yeah, you get on our nerves sometimes and sometimes you make Michael a bit uncomfortable..." She gives a wry laugh as I speak. "But we all love to have you around. You may see yourself as fake, but we all know the real you. And we love being around you. Ashanti, even when you started being mean to me when we were kids, I still was excited to see you. And I'm glad to have you as my cousin. If I'm honest, your teasing made me want to do better. And your mom may have pushed you to be perfect, but every accomplishment is yours. You earned each of them. And I'm so proud of you, Ashanti." She looks up at me in disbelief.
"Really?" She asks, a shocked expression on her face. Her eyes are filled with tears and her shoulders are slumped. "But how can you say that when I've made things so difficult for you? I've been nothing but nasty to you."
"Because you're still my cousin." I reply with a gentle smile on my face. "It's true that you can sometimes be a bit much, but I still love you. Like you said, we both got on each others nerves when we were kids, but no one's perfect, especially when it comes to our family."
Ashanti wipes away her tears. "I appreciate that, Naomi. Honestly, I really think that you're such an amazing person. I'm just really bad at saying it." She says with a faint smile. "I'm really sorry for everything I put you through before and after Michael got here. I really do love you. Please forgive me?"
"Of course, I forgive you, Ashanti." I pull her into a hug, a real one. She hesitates for a second, before hugging me back. I give her a little squeeze as I missed this feeling with my cousin. She doesn't let go for a moment, before finally speaking again.
"Hey... can I ask you a favor?" She asks, her voice soft.
"Yeah, what is it?" I reply, prepared for whatever she might ask of me.
To be continued...
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[TASK 201: SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS]
In celebration of June being Caribbean American Heritage Month, there’s a masterlist below compiled of over 80+ Kittitian and/or Nevisian faceclaims categorised by gender with their occupation and ethnicity denoted if there was a reliable source. If you want an extra challenge use random.org to pick a random number! Of course everything listed below are just suggestions and you can pick whichever faceclaim or whichever project you desire.
Any questions can be sent here and all tutorials have been linked below the cut for ease of access! REMEMBER to tag your resources with #TASKSWEEKLY and we will reblog them onto the main! This task can be tagged with whatever you want but if you want us to see it please be sure that our tag is the first five tags, @ mention us or send us a messaging linking us to your post!
THE TASK - scroll down for FC’s!
STEP 1: Decide on a FC you wish to create resources for! You can always do more than one but who are you starting with? There are links to masterlists you can use in order to find them and if you want help, just send us a message and we can pick one for you at random!
STEP 2: Pick what you want to create! You can obviously do more than one thing, but what do you want to start off with? Screencaps, RP icons, GIF packs, masterlists, PNG’s, fancasts, alternative FC’s - LITERALLY anything you desire!
STEP 3: Look back on tasks that we have created previously for tutorials on the thing you are creating unless you have whatever it is you are doing mastered - then of course feel free to just get on and do it. :)
STEP 4: Upload and tag with #TASKSWEEKLY! If you didn’t use your own screencaps/images make sure to credit where you got them from as we will not reblog packs which do not credit caps or original gifs from the original maker.
THINGS YOU CAN MAKE FOR THIS TASK - examples are linked!
Stumped for ideas? Maybe make a masterlist or graphic of your favourite faceclaims. A masterlist of names. Plot ideas or screencaps from a music video preformed by an artist. Masterlist of quotes and lyrics that can be used for starters, thread titles or tags. Guides on culture and customs.
Screencaps
RP icons [of all sizes]
Gif Pack [maybe gif icons if you wish]
PNG packs
Manips
Dash Icons
Character Aesthetics
PSD’s
XCF’s
Graphic Templates - can be chara header, promo, border or background PSD’s!
FC Masterlists - underused, with resources, without resources!
FC Help - could be related, family templates, alternatives.
Written Guides.
and whatever else you can think of / make!
MASTERLIST!
F:
Cicely Tyson (1924) Afro-Nevisian - actress and model.
Susan L. Taylor (1946) Afro-Trinidianian / Afro-Kittitian - editor and writer.
Joan Armatrading (1950) Afro-Kittitian - singer and guitarist.
Ellen Cleghorne (1965) African-American, Afro-Kittitian - actress and comedian.
Michelle Gayle (1971) Afro-Kittitian or Afro-Nevisian - singer, actress and author.
Alison Hammond (1975) Afro-Kittitian or Afro-Nevisian - presenter.
Angela Griffin (1975) Afro-Kittitian or Afro-Nevisian / English - actress and presenter.
Corinne Bailey Rae (1979) Afro-Kittitian / English - singer.
Rhea Bailey (1983) Afro-Kittitian / English - actress.
Melanie Liburd (1987) Afro-Kittitian / English - actress.
Laura Mvula (1987) Afro-Kittitian / Afro-Jamaican - singer.
Keisha White (1988) Afro-Kittitian or Afro-Nevisian - singer.
Pippa Bennett-Warner (1988) Afro-Jamaican, Afro-Kittitian - actress.
Lady Leshurr (1989) Afro-Kittitian - rapper.
Damaris Lewis (1990) Afro-Kittitian - model.
Wendy St. Kitts (?) Afro-Kittitian - singer.
Ngozi Paul (?) Afro-Kittitian or Afro-Nevisian / Dominica - actress, writer and director.
F - Athletes:
Nicola Adams (1982) Afro-Kittitian or Afro-Nevisian, French, British - boxer.
Virgil Hodge (1983) Afro-Kittitan or Afro-Nevisian - sprinter.
Tiandra Ponteen (1984) Afro-Kittitian or Afro-Nevisian - sprinter.
Phoenetia Browne (1994) Afro-Kittitian or Afro-Nevisian - footballer.
Brittney Lawrence (1995) Afro-Kittitian or Afro-Nevisian - footballer.
Dakota Mills (1997) Afro-Kittitian or Afro-Nevisian - footballer.
Quinn Josiah (2000) Afro-Kittitian or Afro-Nevisian - footballer.
Carley Uddenberg (2000) Afro-Kittitian or Afro-Nevisian - footballer.
M:
Leon Herbert (1955) Afro-Kittitian or Afro-Nevisian - actor, director, writer and producer.
Robbie Gee (1964) Afro-Kittitian or Afro-Nevisian - actor.
Michael Boatman (1964) Afro-Kittitian or Afro-Nevisian - actor.
Simon Webbe (1978) Afro-Kittitian or Afro-Nevisian - singer.
Devon Anderson (1987) Afro-Kittitian or Afro-Nevisian - actor.
Leeon Jones (1993) Afro-Kittitian or Afro-Nevisian - actor.
Burt Caesar (?) Afro-Kittitian - actor, broadcaster and director.
Tevin Wallace (?) Afro-Kittitian, Afro-Trinidadian - actor and model.
E-Carter / Eric Carter (?) Afro-Kittitian - rapper.
Santoy / Santoy Barrett (?) Afro-Kittitian - singer.
Louis Hanley (?) Afro-Kittitian - singer.
Tifferny Cyanne (?) Afro-Nevisian, Montserratian, Irish - model (Instagram: tiffernynco).
M - Athletes:
Ces Podd (1952) Afro-Kittitian - footballer.
Elquemedo Willett (1953) Afro-Nevisian - cricketer.
Bert Bowery (1954) Afro-Kittitian or Afro-Nevisian - footballer.
Derick Parry (1954) Afro-Nevisian - cricketer.
Victor Eddy (1955) Afro-Kittitian - cricketer.
Desai Williams (1959) Afro-Kittitian or Afro-Nevisian - sprinter.
Livingstone Bramble (1960) Afro-Kittitian or Afro-Nevisian - boxer.
Derek Redmond (1965) Afro-Kittitian or Afro-Nevisian - sprinter.
Keith Arthurton (1965) Afro-Nevisian - cricketer.
Gary Smith (1966) Afro-Kittitian or Afro-Nevisian - footballer.
Des Hazel (1967) Afro-Kittitian or Afro-Nevisian - footballer.
Dean Walling (1969) Afro-Kittitian - footballer.
Stuart Williams (1969) Afro-Kittitian - cricketer.
Carl Tuckett (1970) Afro-Nevisian - cricketer.
Bobby Bowry (1971) Afro-Kittitian - footballer.
Keith Gumbs (1972) Afro-Kittitian - footballer.
Lutel James (1972) Afro-Kittitian or Afro-Nevisian - footballer.
Sagi Burton (1977) Afro-Kittitian - footballer.
Brian Quailey (1978) Afro-Kittitian or Afro-Nevisian - footballer.
Adam Newton (1980) Afro-Kittitian or Afro-Nevisian - footballer.
Calum Willock (1981) Afro-Kittitian or Afro-Nevisian - footballer.
Erasmus James (1982) Afro-Kittitian - American footballer.
Tesfa Robinson (1985) Afro-Kittitian - footballer.
Atiba Harris (1985) Afro-Kittitian - footballer.
Jason St Juste (1985) Afro-Kittitian or Afro-Nevisian - footballer.
Matthew Berkeley (1987) Afro-Kittitian or Afro-Nevisian - footballer.
Patrece Liburd (1988) Afro-Kittitian or Afro-Nevisian - footballer.
Ryan Robbins (1988) Afro-Kittitian or Afro-Nevisian - footballer.
Micah Richards (1988) Afro-Kittitian / Unknown - footballer.
Antoine Adams (1988) Afro-Kittitian - footballer.
Febian Brandy (1989) Afro-Kittitian - footballer.
Brijesh Lawrence (1989) Afro-Kittitian or Afro-Nevisian - sprinter.
Zephaniah Thomas (1989) Afro-Kittitian or Afro-Nevisian - footballer.
Michael Nottingham (1989) Afro-Kittitian or Afro-Nevisian - footballer.
Aaron Moses-Garvey (1989) Afro-Kittitianor Afro-Nevisian - footballer.
Kieran Powell (1990) Afro-Nevisian - cricketer.
Jordan Bowery (1991) Afro-Kittitianor Afro-Nevisian - footballer.
Jason Rogers (1991) Afro-Kittitian - sprinter.
Romaine Sawyers (1991) Afro-Kittitian / Unknown - footballer.
Rowan Liburd (1992) Afro-Kittitian or Afro-Nevisian - footballer.
Omari Sterling-James (1993) Afro-Kittitian or Afro-Nevisian - footballer.
Raheem Hanley (1994) Afro-Kittitian or Afro-Nevisian - footballer.
Theo Wharton (1994) Afro-Kittitian or Afro-Nevisian - footballer.
Jacob Hazel (1994) Afro-Kittitian- footballer.
Harry Panayiotou (1994) Afro-Kittitian / Greek Cypriot - footballer.
Alain Sargeant (1995) Afro-Kittitian or Afro-Nevisian - footballer.
Jerry St. Juste (1996) Afro-Kittitian / Dutch - footballer.
Warren Hazel (1996) Afro-Kittitian or Afro-Nevisian - sprinter.
Jeremiah Louis (1996) Afro-Kittitian - cricketer.
Marcus Rashford (1997) Afro-Kittitian - footballer.
Raheem Somersall (1997) Afro-Kittitian or Afro-Nevisian - footballer.
Daniel Bowry (1998) Afro-Kittitian or Afro-Nevisian - footballer.
Romario Martin (1999) Afro-Kittitian - footballer.
Mikyle Louis (2000) Afro-Kittitian - cricketer.
Kareem Queeley (2001) Afro-Kittitian - basketball player.
Problematic:
Bertil Fox (1951) Afro-Kittitian - convicted murderer.
Neil deGrasse Tyson (1958) African-American, Puerto Rican, Afro-Nevisian - sexual assault allegations.
Mel B (1975) Afro-Kittitian or Nevisian / British - said in an interview that she slept with a co-star, named them but didn’t get their permission.
Akil Grier (1992) Afro-Kittitian or Nevisian - charged with rape.
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