What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger

Chapter 1

W hy the hell are you looking at me? Mia asked sounding annoyed.

How did you know I was looking at you? Chris asked.

Because I felt you looking at me.

How can somebody feel someone looking at them?

That has never happened to you before?

Nope... You are the first.

Well I guess it’s my sixth sense.

Now you are funny.

Whatever.

So beautiful, what’s your name?

What the hell took you so long to get here?! Mia exclaimed not hearing Chris’ question.

I am sorry. I was stuck in traffic. Amoy said.

You and your silly excuses. If you had left at the time you said you were leaving, then you wouldn’t be giving me these silly excuses.

Are you going to stay here and argue with me or are you going to let us go?

Let’s go. Although our appointment must have been pushed aside by now.

The girls walked off leaving Chris, looking at Mia. The girls walked for about seven minutes until they reached a plaza and went up the stairs, and entered a salon. Vanessa, their hairdresser, was present; she was braiding a little girl’s hair. She smiled at them.

Good morning ladies. What brings you both here this morning? Vanessa smiled.

Morning Nessa. Amoy smiled.

Don’t tell me Sean has left already? See you made me miss my appointment! Mia exclaimed.

Another tattoo? Mia I keep telling you, that tattoos aren’t good for you; but you won’t listen.

Tattoos are how I get to express myself and by the way, I am here to get a piercing. Amoy is the one who is getting a tattoo.

Oh I see, you have finally influenced the poor girl to get a mark on her skin.

No I didn’t. She just made up her mind. I don’t have the time and energy to influence a soul against their will. I haven’t gotten to that stage as yet.

Okay ma’am. By the way Sean isn’t here. He called that he was going to be late. I guess he will be here by 10:15am. It’s now 10:00am.

See and you were rushing me. Amoy said drily.

Don’t get me started. We had a 9:30am appointment and we should honor it. What if when we had arrived here; Sean had pushed us until 1:00pm because we were late for our appointment?

That didn’t happen! Gosh! You are so negative! Amoy shouted as she pulled her headphones over her ears.

Vanessa only shook her head and continued what she was doing. At 10:12am, Sean barged through the door.

Why do you look like you haven’t slept last night? Vanessa asked.

Because I haven’t. Sean smiled.

Why? This better be a good reason.

I have been at the hospital since 3:15am this morning.

Why? What happened? Is Janice okay?

Yes she is.

Sean you are scaring me. Why were you at the hospital?

You are now looking at a father.

OMG! Wow! This is great news! But I thought Janice was due ion three weeks.

Yes we all thought so. But three weeks early isn’t a problem.

What time did my boy arrive?

7:30am, this morning.

I have to go and see her on my lunch break.

Doesn’t make any sense. She is getting discharged at 11:00am.

So why did you come here?

She is going to her mother’s place for a month. Gosh I miss her already.

Well that’s understandable. It’s the first in four years she is going to be away from you. The time will run out very fast. In no time she will be home with you. But tell me something, when are you guys going for the girl?

Nessa! Come on, this time, it’s when Janice is ready. I am not going to push her this time.

Finally, you have admitted that you were the one who had pushed her to get pregnant.

Don’t bother with me... Which of you ladies is coming first? And I am sorry for being late; although I had told Vanessa to inform you girls that I would be late. Sean smiled.

That’s no problem. Congratulations on the arrival of your son. Amoy you can go first. I’ll wait. Mia smiled as she poked Amoy, whose ears were covered.

What? Amoy said looking annoyed as she removed the headphones from her ears.

I am ready for you. Sean laughed.

Amoy got up from the sofa and followed Sean into his office. Just then two ladies walked inside, laughing and talking. They were both hairdressers.

Vanessa, did you hear that Sean’s girlfriend had baby last night? Judean asked smiling.

No I didn’t know! Because my best friend wouldn’t tell me that his son has been born. He would just pass me this morning and go into his office and begin working and not say anything to his best friend. Vanessa said sarcastically as Mia laughed.

You didn’t have to be so harsh. Judean smirked.

Wow! Where did I leave the mop last night? Mitsi said sarcastically walking towards the bathroom.

Bam! I am an auntie! Shanae screamed as she entered the salon.

Yes, Shanae. We all know that! I see you are so excited. Vanessa laughed.

I am more than excited! My baby brother is finally a man!

Seriously! Wasn’t he a man before?

I won’t argue with you, because he is your best friend and I am too happy to argue with you. Anyways I am going to share my happiness, any client I have today will be getting a discount on their nails. Morning Mia, so sorry you did yours yesterday. Shanae laughed.

Morning Shan, I won’t worry, because when my discounts are coming, I know it will be large. Mia laughed.

That’s why you are the best!

After fifteen minutes, Amoy was out of the room and Mia entered. Mia was out in five minutes. The room was now filled with waiting customers, whether for piercings, tattoos, hairstyles or nails. The room was very noisy; as almost everyone was talking and the television was on.

Mia! Vanessa called as she was stepping outside with Amoy.

Yeah? Mia answered as she reentered the salon.

Where did you get pierced this time? I want to see it, only if it can be shown public.

Vanessa! It’s my navel! Mia smirked as she showed her navel piercing to Vanessa.

Chapter 2

The girls went to café to have lunch.

Welcome to Grey’s Café. What would you like to order? the cashier smiled gracefully.

Good afternoon, I would like to order a Caesar Salad with Ranch Dressing and a Dr. Pepper. What are you ordering? Mia said before turning to Amoy.

Hi, I want a, uhmmm a Ham Sandwich with extra Cheese a small Seasoned Fries and a Dr. Pepper. Amoy smiled.

That completes your order? Would you like to add a cookie or pie? The cashier smiled.

Amoy aren’t you going to order your pie? Mia smiled.

No. I don’t want any pie.

Amoy, what’s wrong with you?

Nothing.

Amoy, what is wrong? You don’t look well to me.

I am just feeling hot and dizzy.

How much is it?

$12.36. The cashier said looking concerned at Amoy.

Here. I’ll get the change and receipt shortly. Can I get the fan on over there please? Mia said walking off with Amoy.

George! Please turn on the fan at table, uhhh five? The cashier shouted as she saw the table that the girls sat at.

I’ll be back soon. Mia smiled.

Yes girl.

Mia went to the cashier and collected her change and receipt. After ten minutes she returned to the table where Amoy was seated. She had ordered a cup of tea for Amoy.

Amoy, what is wrong with you? And don’t tell me nothing. Mia asked as they both ate.

It’s probably gas. I haven’t eaten since we ate yesterday. Amoy said.

What the hell! You are crazy! What we ate yesterday was not substantial!

I know but I didn’t feel like eating last night and mom decided to give my breakfast to the helper this morning because she didn’t eat before coming to work this morning.

So what about you dinner which you didn’t eat last night?

That was my breakfast. And my cereal, the last serving went to the helper’s daughter.

Amoy, that’s not funny. Why are you smiling?

Because I just find it funny, that my mother is giving away my food. Do you know when you are in love and you don’t want to eat? Well that’s what happened to me last night. I was so caught up with texting sweet nothings and receiving sweet nothings from my baby last night; that I didn’t feel for any dinner. She was upset and whenever she is upset, that’s what she does.

So couldn’t you prepare something to eat?

Well after arguing with her, yes I sure did start preparing something to eat and I don’t know what happened but it got burnt and I just got fed up and walked from the kitchen and left.

Your mother is something else. Mia forced a smile.

I say the same thing every day. If every mother could be like your mom, it would be great. Amoy smiled as she took a bite off her sandwich.

Great indeed. Mia smirked but Amoy didn’t see.

Well if my princess wasn’t here, I don’t know where else I would find her. Anthony laughed as he interrupted the girls and hugged Mia.

Don’t touch me. Mia said through clenched teeth, as Amoy looked up furiously.

"Come on Mia, don’t start with the drama.

What drama? You know why I am upset so don’t come here pretending like everything is okay between us because it’s not.

Mia baby, I thought we were long over this.

I thought so too Anthony, but clearly we aren’t.

Amoy sat looking at Anthony rather annoyed.

Mia don’t let me get upset. I am coming to get you tonight. We are going to chill at my place and talk and please I am begging you, don’t ignore my calls like you have been doing since last night.

Everything based on sex. I am not coming to your place.

Sex! Who said anything about sex?! Anthony shouted as everyone in the hall looked at them.

Like seriously Anthony! Was all this necessary? Well since you wanted everyone to know what we were talking about, let me clear it up for them! We don’t do what normal couples do anymore! Once I come to your place, it’s just sex even if we had planned something else! I can’t be around my boyfriend and he doesn’t want sex! If I am around you for seven days I know for sure we are going to be having sex for seven days! There won’t anytime to talk about things that really matter in the relationship or about something that is bothering me! We don’t do that anymore! Everything is just sex! This problem has been going on for months now and still it cannot be resolved! Mia exclaimed catching everyone’s attention.

Amoy was very astonished. Mia got up from the table and Anthony grabbed her wrist.

Let go! That hurts!

Like I care! Are you trying to embarrass me! You know I don’t take embarrassments too well. Anthony said through clenched teeth still gripping Mia’s wrist.

Let my wrist go! You are hurting me! Mia cried.

You heard her! Amoy snapped as she arose from the table and pulled Mia’s hand from Anthony’s hand.

You stay out of this! Anthony shouted as Mia ran towards the restroom.

I guess you don’t know me by now Anthony!

I said stay out of this. Anthony said shoving Amoy which resulted in her hitting her side.

Ouch! That hurts! Amoy screamed as she held her side.

It was meant to! That’s what happen when you meddle in other people’s business! Anthony shouted just as Amoy punched him in his face.

His nose began bleeding.

That’s for messing with my best friend. And this one is for messing with me! Amoy shouted as she punched Anthony once more before walking towards the bathroom.

Anthony stood looking at her as he wiped the blood from his nose with his handkerchief, as everyone looked at him. Some of the customers were laughing at him. He stormed from the café. Amoy barged into the restroom. She looked at Mia.

I am going to tell you what happened, so no need to ask. Mia said quickly.

You better. Amoy said as she washed her hands.

Well, this problem started last October and...

Hold on, last October? And we are now in March and I am just hearing about it as your best friend? Okay continue... Amoy interrupted.

I just didn’t want to get you involved because I knew you would have done something that you would probably regret.

Am listening. Amoy said cleaning her teeth.

Mia had a worried look on her face.

Well, it started last October, when I saw him putting on his status a pic of his baby-mother almost every day. I would question him about it but he told me it was game that she sent him as he had replied to something on her status and was dared to put her pic up every day for two weeks. I turned to him and said since I replied to your status, where is my game and up until today I haven’t received to game.  Then in November I saw that she was on his status again, loads of her pic; he was telling her happy birthday and she was his display pic. I didn’t say anything. Well I thought everything was back to normal as it went back to only my pics, his and his daughter on his status. Until last night when I looked on his status, he had a pic where he was at the park with his baby-mother and daughter and he captioned it ‘My wonderful little family, they are all that matters to me’. Then one with his daughter then a pic of her and one with me captioned ‘This is my baby, I know she is going to trip and create a big scene over the first and third pic but you know I love you’ with my name and hearts. Of course I did create an excitement and he was like why am I tripping, that it’s just a pic and I am too jealous! It’s not like he is sleeping with the girl. Mia