Real Daughters of Atlanta: Chapter 1 Ariean's Problems

Most people look at me and my family and see perfection, I look at them and see lost perfection. Sure we still live in the same house and go to church together and have a pretty appearance, but if only you heard the arguing my parents do after church or once we’re away from people. Don’t get me wrong it hasn’t always been like this, there was a time when the Brady Bunch and Cleaver’s would have been jealous of us. I guess with my dad’s new position overseeing the overseas company projects my parents don’t see each other like they used to. They used to have date nights like three times a week and now we’re just lucky if he’s home long enough for that “after church fight” I mentioned. I’d feel so much better about going to college if I knew my parent’s marriage was going to be ok, but hey a girls gotta live her own life, right?

Ariean’s diary writing has picked up a lot since her picturesque family started to look more and more like everyone else’s family in her eyes. Recently graduating at the top of her class, her and her friends are excited to be going to Georgia Southern State University together. Ariean, Neveah, and Rayne have been friends since childhood and they weren’t about to let college separate them. In just four months they are about to enter some of the best years of their life, if they can get to them peacefully.

“Hey girl are you ready, Rayne finally finished putting on her face, and six other people’s”, Neveah says on the phone with Ariean. “Yeah, I’m coming down now, you do know you could have come in the house though, right”, Ariean says, “Yeah I know but I didn’t want to walk in on your parents arguing again and have to deal with your sad face”, Neveah says quickly. Ariean’s face changed from laughing to offended as she walked out the door and actually saw Neveah’s face. “Well that was super rude Veah”, Rayne says as Ariean gets into Neveah’s car, “It’s ok Rayne we’re used to rude Veah, it’s nice Veah you should be put off by”, Ariean says laughing to cover her embarrassment. “So why did he have go shopping today like something important is happening”, Ariean says to Neveah who has a growing smile on her face, “Well my mom and her new boyfriend just sprung this on me but they are moving to the Bahamas for a while to get his business set up and they invited us out there to vacation”, Neveah says while starting to dance. “O-M-G what! The Bahamas that’s so cool, wait I thought you never met this guy”, Rayne says with a confused look, “I mean I’m down for a free vacation and all, but that’s real nice of a man to just invite strangers to his house like that.” “Well you said it right there Rayne, he’s a man! And that’s what men do they treat women like queens”, Neveah says, “That’s why I only date grown men, not these little boys in high school.” “Yup and that’s how you landed in trouble, by messing with grown men and you are only a kid yourself”, Ariean says very sarcastically, “Oh I get it, that’s a shot after what I said about your parents huh”, Neveah says catching the vibe, “No it’s the truth mixed with a little revenge”, Ariean says laughing a little. All the girls start laughing and remembering Neveah’s trouble last summer in New York with her mother. You see Neveah is the wild child of the group coming from divorced parents at a very young age, she clung to her mother’s hustle but her father’s love. She was known around school for dating older guys and even caught a rumor that she was dating a teacher at school, she shot that down by saying he didn’t have enough money to date her. After her mother heard she was dating a club owner and another older guy, she sent Neveah back to Atlanta early. After her mother sent her back early their relationship changed, Neveah felt that her mother only sent her back home because she was cramping her style as a party girl herself and men were eyeing her younger daughter over her. Neveah had the kind of looks that would make Kris Jenner want to adopt her into the Kardashian clan and start pimping her out immediately!

At the mall the girls are done shopping for the day and notice that Rayne has almost 20 bags and some bags inside of bags combined. “Dang man you literally brought the mall, did you leave some for the rest”, Neveah says searching her bags, “Dude we’re going to the Bahamas for a week I don’t know what to pack and I deserve it with all these long hours I work”, Rayne said rubbing her sore thighs. “Speaking of your long hours where and what do you do Tommy”, Ariean says making Neveah bust out laughing, “Y’all know what I do it’s an online customer service thing”, Rayne says getting mad about the subject, “Well if you making this kind of money at home doing ya own thing hook us up with it”, Ariean says slapping her sore legs, “I told y’all it’s kind of hard to just hook y’all up into it’, Rayne says louder and almost angry. “Hey man we come in peace, we just asking you to hook ya sisters up with some of your long money”, Neveah says backing up trying to defuse the situation, “I-I’ll see what I can do, are y’all hungry cause I’m hungry”, Rayne says walking ahead of the girls leaving them to wonder why she got so mad and why she was rubbing her thighs considering she works from home. “Look Ari I’m not trying to shade Rayne or anything but as broke as her family is with her daddy in jail how do spend $300 dollars at one store alone and not bat an eye”, Neveah says stepping in front of Ariean to make her stop walking. “Yeah I know I’m just not trying to over step you know, like is it really our place to say something”, Ariean says scratching her head, “I know but what if she’s doing something illegal, you know her family is known for that right now”, Neveah says with real concern on her face, “I can’t bail her out of jail, hell she the only with money Ari.”

As the girls sit down to a dinner Rayne still looks bothered by the conversation they just had. She knows that people look at her and her family just as Neveah described them now that her father was in jail for 18 years for credit card fraud. Anytime anyone in her family says anything about money or jobs people turn their head and laugh. Her family use to have money in every bank in Georgia, at one time they were featured in magazines showing off their houses and their backyard water theme park that broke records for the biggest pool in a home in America. Now that the banks have taken back all their homes, cars, and almost all their money. To her this job is the best thing that could have happened to her and her mother and their relationship, she finally gets some respect she’s so longed for from her mother by taking a job her mom’s old friend set up. Although she tells people she’s a virtual assistant for a couple of businesses that is far from what her job really is, and her friends have a right to wonder if this job is legal or not.

Back at home Ariean comes in looking for her parents to tell them about the trip, but is met with Monroe, her father’s assistant, coming out the kitchen. “Oh I’m sorry Monroe I didn’t know you were here, I didn’t see your car outside”, Ariean says after almost running smack into Monroe. “It’s ok your father actually had to come get me, my car is in the shop this week, I see you’re already shopping for your bohemian vacation”, Monroe says smiling as though they are her bags, “Yeah me and the gir- how did you know we were going on vacation”, Ariean says realizing she hasn’t told her parents yet. “Oh your mother and father already knew, they’re going too”, Monroe says, “Oh wow I didn’t know they were going to that’s great it’s about time we start spending more time together”, Ariean says lighting up like a Christmas tree. “You don’t seem to excited about it though Monroe”, Ariean says noticing a change in Monroe’s attitude after that statement, “I just want me and your father to finish up on this project that’s all, you know I would hate for your father to look bad already in this new position, hold on I have to take this phone call I’ll be back”, Monroe says walking off. Monroe was actually just supposed to assist him while he was in France, but she knew so much about the business he wagered with his boss to move her to Atlanta for a few projects. She owns some small businesses of her own as well. Monroe is a super quiet about her life in France and other businesses and jobs, some figure it’s because she works with French government but she remains tight lipped either way.

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