Chapter 1: VMAs

Nicki was just waking up as her private plane slowed down the runway in LAX and she was exhausted. She was just coming home from the UK where she was in the middle of her Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded tour. The VMAs were tomorrow night so she’d be back on the go again. She didn’t even have an outfit picked out yet so she guessed she’d be spending the day working on her ensemble. It seemed like she was never getting a break anymore. She couldn’t be that mad though. She was defiantly excited that she would get to see Drake.

Ever since their careers had skyrocketed they hardly got to see each other anymore and she missed him. The old days where they would joke around on the tour bus and crack jokes all day is what she missed the most. That was life. But how could she be feeling this way? Everything she had ever wanted she had achieved. She was famous, known world wide, and selling platinum albums. What more could she want? What more did she need? Little did she know, the answer was love.

She was snapped out of her daydream when Manny let her know it was safe to get off the plane. She looked over at the rest of her team exiting the plane… except Safaree. He was sprawled out in his chair with his mouth hanging wide open.

“Damn buffoon." Nicki muttered under her breath. She was tired and cranky and wanted to go home. She lazily got out of her chair and walked over to Safaree’s seat. “Faree get up.” she said nudging him gently. He didn’t even stir. “Faree.” She said while nudging him again. When she got no response she could feel her temper coming on until she got an idea. She leaned close to his ear and whispered “Faree, there are strippers in your bed.”

“What? Where?” Safaree said groggily as he rubbed his eyes.

“Thought that would get you up.” Nicki said, walking away with a devilish grin.

“You too cruel Nic.” Safaree said, getting up out of his chair. He followed Nicki out of the plane to the rest of her team.

Nicki said her goodbyes to everyone then got into her car. As the driver took her home all she could think about was her soft and comfortable king sized bed. It was 2:30 in the morning and the 16-hour flight had exhausted her. She never got much sleep on planes because of her fear of heights so she would be happy when she got home. After showering and performing her bedtime routine she finally crawled into the center of her big bed. While trying to fall asleep all she could think about was how lonely it felt to be in her big bed by herself but soon she finally dosed off into a deep slumber.

The next day Nicki was woken up by the alarm on her phone. She checked the time. It was 8:00 AM.

“Five freaking hours of sleep.” She groaned. She slowly got out of her bed to perform her morning rituals then headed downstairs in her robe to see what all the noise was. When she got downstairs she couldn’t help but laugh at Terrence being ratchet and making a fool out of himself. Safaree, Joyce, and Kanna all erupted into laughter as Terrence's loud ass made another joke.

“Boy get off my couch.” Nicki laughed as she entered the room. “What are you guys doing here. I told you I wasn’t sure if I was even gonna go.”

“You were serious? Of course you have to go. It’s the VMAs!” Joyce said shocked.

“Come on Nic you’re nominated for two awards. Two. Do you know how big of a deal that is?” Safaree interjected.

“But Faree, I’m not gonna win any. There are amazing artists in my categories like Drake, Beyonce, Rihanna, and Katy Perry. Come on! We all know I don’t stand a chance against them so why even go?” Nicki hung her head and headed into the kitchen. Safaree felt bad. He told the others he’d be back and followed Nicki into the kitchen. She was getting herself some water when she turned around and saw Safaree standing there. “Faree I don’t wana talk about it.” she said with her lip poked out.

“I’m not askin you to talk about anything but I’m askin you to listen. Look Nic, you’re amazing at what you do and you need to be more confident in your music. You make that music for your barbz and they always come through for you because they love you… I love you.”

“Aw, thank you Faree. That means a lot to me.” Nicki said moving towards him and wrapping her arms around his waist. She looked up at him and stared into his eyes. “I love you too.” At that moment Safaree felt brave. He leaned down and let his lips lightly touch hers but Nicki quickly broke the kiss. away. “Faree we can’t do this, not again.”

“But things are different now… I’m different now and I’ll never hurt you like that again. We can make this work. Why won’t you give me another chance?”

“I have given you another chance. I forgave you, which was a hard thing for me to do. Now we’re back to being friends and I want it to stay that way.”

“Stop fightin this Onika. Stop fightin us.”

“I have to get dressed.” She said detaching herself from Safaree. “Thank you for what you said though.” And with that, she left him standing there, wondering if she would ever let him back in again.

It was now 7:00 PM and Nicki was finally ready. It had taken her all day to prepare for the show. She ended up settling for a red and black bodysuit with black pumps and a yellow and pink fused short curly wig toped with a cute hat. She was waiting on the couch when the limo arrived. Joyce, Kanna, and Terrence had already left so she was alone. Once she approached the limo the driver opened the door for her. She got in and saw Safaree texting on his phone. “Hey.” She said once she realized he wasn’t going to acknowledge her.

“Sup.” He said not looking up from his phone.

This Nigga she thought. “And you wonder we not together.” She said with attitude.

“What?” Safaree finally looked up from is phone, wondering if he had heard right.

“Did I stutter?”

“You know what-”

“What?” She challenged.

“I’m not even gon do this with you right now.”

“Well obviously you have something on your mind or you wouldn’t be coppin such an attitude!”

“You need to calm down.”

“I need to calm down? You must be joking! You’re the one over there actin like a child ignoring me in my limo. If you think-”

“I’m tryin Nic!” The limo quickly fell silent. Safaree composed himself before speaking again. “I’m tryin so hard and all you do is push me away. I need you to stop playin with my heart.”

“Aint nobody playin with your damn heart Safaree.” Nicki said bitterly but as soon as the words left her lips she regretted saying it.

“You know what, I’m done.”

“Me too.” She felt bad that he felt this way but could she give her heart to him again, only to have him break it a second time. You know what they say. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. For the rest of the ride the two sat in silence, making no eye contact. Once they arrived, the two got out and headed for the theater. Once they got inside Nicki turned to tell Safaree something but he wasn’t there. “Stuborn Ass.” She muttered.

It was only 7:30 but she didn’t feel like watching the pre-show. She made her way backstage to her dressing room where Terrence had set up her outfit for her surprise performance with Alicia Keys. She was going over her verse when she felt a strong pair of arms wrap around her tiny frame behind her.

“Hey beautiful.” The man whispered in he ear. She knew that voice all too well.

“Aubrey!” She turned around to face him and gave him a tight squeeze. “OMG! I haven’t seen you in like forever!” She continued to hug him as she buried her face into his chest.”

“I’ve missed you.” He said softly in her ear.

“Me too.” She said as she looked up at him. “So how is the famous Dizzy Drake?”

“Good, and how is Ms. Nicki Minaj?”

“Fine.” She giggled.

“So, I hear were nominated in the same category. Think you can beat me?” He asked as he gently pulled her closer to him.”

“Actually… I don’t think I have a chance.” She said with a pout on her face. “I know you’re gonna win.”

Drake immediately felt bad. “Nika I didn’t mean to-”

“I know.” She interrupted. “But I’ll be rooting for you tonight.”

“Tell you what?”

“What?”

“If I do win I want you to come onstage with me.”

“Aubrey I can’t. That’s suppose to be your time.”

“Nic if you don’t come onstage with me I won’t except it.”

“Well… I guess.” she said unsure

“Yeah?”

“Fine.” she smiled.

“What’s going on in here?” Both Drake and Nicki looked over to an angry looking Safaree.

“Just catching up man.” Drake said. He had never liked Safaree and after what he did to Nicki, he lost all the respect he'd actually had for him. He was annoyed that he thought he had rights to her as if she was still his. Well Drake was going to change that because he had a plan to make Nicki his, and soon.

“You gonna let go of her?” Safaree asked angrily referring to Drake's arms that were still wrapped tightly around Nicki.

“No.”

This infuriated Safaree. “Nigga if you don’t-”

“Okay Safaree.” Nicki interjected, gently pushing away from Drake. She was annoyed at Safaree right now but didn’t want a fight to go down in her dressing room.

“Get out.” Safaree said to Drake.

“Excuse me?”

“Get. Out.” Safaree repeated slower and getting more agitated by the second.

Drake looked over at Nicki. “I’m so sorry Aubrey. I’ll meet you when the show starts. Save me a seat between you and Wayne okay?” She leaned up to kiss his cheek. He nodded and flashed his ear to ear smile then made his way past Safaree, glaring at him angrily before leaving out the door.

“You wanna explain to me what that was?” Safaree asked Nicki. He was still fuming.

“I don’t have to explain shit to you. Your just being plain rude.”

“I’m not bein rude Nic. That ass was huggin up on you!”

“First of all DO NOT call him an ass. If anyone has been an ass today it’s you. And second of all, I hugged him too.”

“Did you like it?” Safaree questioned.

“Gosh! SO WHAT if I did! Your acting like a jealous boyfriend Safaree and I thought I made it very clear today that we’re not even close to getting back together.” Silence fell upon the room. “Can you please leave Safaree, I really don’t feel like being around you right now.”

“No.”

“Okay, then I’ll leave.” Nicki said moving towards the door until Safaree blocked her way.

“No.”

“Stop playing games Safaree.”

“Stop calling me Safaree.”

Nicki let out a deep sigh. “Faree please move.”

“No. Not until you forgive me.”

“Forgive you?” Nicki asked while lifting an eyebrow. This should be good. She thought.

“For bein a dumbass in the limo… and just now. Just tell me what I need to do for us to work.”

“There’s nothing you can do right now except give me space Faree.”

“So does this mean you forgive me?”

“I don’t know cause that didn’t sound like a legit apology to da kid.” Nicki said grinning.

“Nicki, I’m sorry for ignoring you in the limo and… for bein… rude to Drake.” He said the last part quietly but Nicki still heard it.

“Your forgiven Faree.” Nicki said reaching up to wrap her arms around his neck. He rested his arms around her waist and snuggled his face into the nape of her neck. “Come on. Shows gonna start soon and lord knows I’m already late to enough things.” Nicki grabbed Safaree’s hand and led him to their seats. What a crazy day.