Chap. 14: Ex-Factor (Part 2/2)

Nicki woke up around 10:21am. Her family was still at church so she was home alone. Since she had to be at the airport at 2:30pm, she decided to hit the shower right away. After she cleaned up, brushed her teeth, and did her hair, she packed her suitcase. Nicki made up the bed then carried her suitcase down stairs and sat it by the door. All she had to do now was wait for Safaree. Candi would be dropping him off so he and Nic could drive to the airport together. Nicki went in the kitchen and fixed herself something to eat. After she was well fed, she washed the dishes and went into the living room, sat on the couch and called SB.

"Hey Faree, I'm ready. You could be on your way now."

"Ard Nic. I'll be there shortly."

"K."

"Bye."

After they hung up, Nicki called the rest of her buddies to let them know she'd be leaving. They were all a bit sad, but they knew she couldn't stay forever. After she made her phone calls, she turned on the television and watched Judge Judy. Around 1:17pm, Mama Carol, Cai and Robert were back from church. They greeted Nicki then went to go change into something more comfy. While they were upstairs, there was a knock on the door. Nic got up to answer it. It was SB.

"Ready?"

"Sure am."

Nicki grabbed her suitcase and then remembered something.

"Oh, wait. Let me say bye first. Um, you can wait on the couch."

SB came inside and went into the kitchen instead, he was kinda thirsty. Nicki had already began going upstairs so she didn't notice. Robert was coming down as she went up. She stopped him of course.

"Hey dad, sorry about earlier. I really shouldn't've spoken to you like that. I apologize."

"It's ok Onika. You were sayin how you felt. There's nothing wrong with that." He smiled. Nicki returned it then they embraced as she told him she was leaving. Robert patted her on the shoulder and told her to be safe. He went into the kitchen and Nic went upstairs to say goodbye to Cai and Carol. Safaree was looking in the fridge for something to drink. He settled for a bottle of Dasani. As he closed the fridge, he saw Robert walking into the kitchen. He suddenly had the urge to put it back, but instead, he closed the fridge and unscrewed the cap to take a sip. Robert walked over to the pantry, keeping his eyes on SB. He could feel Robert staring.

"What's ya problem wit me?" Safaree asked turning around to look at him. Robert shook his head.

"No problem son... No problem at all."

"Ha, who you think you foolin? I know a problem when I see one."

"Listen here boy. You're the problem. Who told you you could jus come in folks house and help yourself to their stuff without askin?"

"It's jus water..." He took another sip. "Besides, I doubt thas why you mad. I can look on your face and tell... Get over it Robert. It was years ago. If anything I helped the situation."

Nicki came downstairs and walked into the kitchen after she hadn't found Safaree in the living room. She saw them mean mugging each other like cowboys in the wild west. If they both had guns, they would've been drawn by now.

"What's this?" She asked, looking from face to face. Nicki could tell this was gonna end badly if she didn't step in.

"Your father." SB said, shaking his head with a smirk. He took another sip of water.

"Excuse me?" Robert asked with a squint.

"Oh God... Guyz please. Settle this some other time. I have a plane to catch."

"No. We can settle this now. I don't have a problem. It's him."

"Safaree no, please? Let's jus go. We hafta leave."

Nicki walked over to him and grabbed him by the wrist. She looked over at her father and thought, *Didn't I JUST apologize to you?! Ugh! Please don't piss me off again and make me regret it.* as she pulled Safaree out of the kitchen. She grabbed her suitcase and made sure Safaree was outside before her then she closed the door. When they got into the car, Nicki sat in the drivers seat then looked over at SB.

"What the fuck was that?!" She asked, hitting him on the shoulder.

"Ow? Relax. It was nothing... Ya pops jus needs to chill out. I sware that man still hates me."

Safaree shook his head and put his seatbelt on. Nicki rolled her eyes at him and put her seatbelt on as well.

"You both need to chill. You weren't the only one's hurt..."

Nic crunk up the Benz by pressing the 'push to start' button and they were off. They drove to the airport in silence, only music playing. When they arrived, the rental company was already there to pick up the Benz so Nic handed it over then went to catch her flight. Safaree wasn't too far behind her. They went through security then boarded their flight. First class. L.A. bound.



[Drake: Miami, FL. In the Studio]

4:23pm.

Drake sat on the leather couch as Wayne recorded his verse in the booth. He and all of YMCMB were there. The song of choice today was "It's Good". While everybody was joking around, drinking and having a good time, Drake was off in his own world. He couldn't stop thinking about Nicki. Jadakiss had just went in the booth to record his part so Wayne came out and sat next to Drake.

"Aye? Wussup man? You seem out of it today. You good?"

"Yea... Jus tired, I'll be fine."
Wayne knew something was still bothering him, but he didn't ask. He felt it wasn't his place.

"Ard man." They dapped up and Wayne went over to talk to Baby. A few minutes later, Jada came out of the booth so it was now Drake's turn. He went in and started off kinda slow. His energy was way off.

"Aye Boi-1da, I'm... I'm not feelin it. Let me do that again." After a few tries, Drake still couldn't get with it. Wayne couldn't take it anymore.

"Aye man?!" He walked up to the booth's door and opened it. "Lemme holla at'chu for a second." He held the door open for Drake to walk out and they both exited the studio. They stood outside of it, in the hallway.

"Look, I know it's none of my business, but what's really up? Is it Nic?"
Drake slowly nodded his head.

"You could say that. I jus don't know what I'm gonna do. She still seemed pretty pissed last night even after I called her back and tried to explain myself."

"Aye man. She might be mad now, but she'll realize she's jus blowin this whole thing outta proportion. It'll be all good soon enough."

"Ch... I hope you right. I'm s'posed to be goin to see her tonight. I gotta fix this."

"I know things will work themselves out, but what I need you to do is get ya shit straight. We got a song to record nigga."
Drake chuckled.

"A'ight. I'm good, I'm good. Thanks man."
They slapped up and walked back in. Drake recorded his part with no trouble. Wayne's lil pep talk actually worked. Once everything was done, YMCMB parted ways. Drake headed back to his condo and packed his duffel bag. He had already made flight arrangements for L.A. earlier that day so all he had to do was drive to the airport. When he got there, he went through all the security then hopped on the plane. He was on his way to see his baby.



Drake arrived at Nicki's around 7:31pm. He crept his ferrari into her driveway, got out and went to knock on her door.



Nicki came to the door dressed in a loose-fitting white tee, her fuzzy pink slippers, grey sweatpants and her hair in a messy, but cute bun.

"Hey..." Drake said as she opened the door. Nicki looked tired. She stood in the doorway leaning her head against the door and staring at Drake as if she had given up on trying to solve a difficult puzzle. Without saying anything, Nicki rolled her eyes and sighed. She opened the door wider, let go of the doorknob then turned to go back up the steps on her left. Drake took that as his cue to come in. After he closed and locked the door, he climbed up the stairs and found his way into her living room. Drake plopped on the big, white couch as Nicki came from out of her kitchen with a bowl of cranberries and almonds. She sat on the brown seat across from him and kicked her feet up on the ottoman. He looked at her and she looked at him, then she picked the remote up to turn the television on.



"So you not gon speak to me?" Drake asked, sitting comfortably on her couch. He had both arms on top of the sofa and his feet flat on the floor. Nicki sat back in her Lazy Boy recliner and looked at him, she still hadn't said a word.

"So we're gonna play this game? Give Drake the silent treatment... How fun?" He asked sarcastically, with a smirk.

"Nobody's givin ya ass the silent treatment. You came here to talk so talk..."

"Lose the attitude first."

"Lose the attitude? Don't start with me right now. You're lucky I let you in..."

"You still mad huh?"

"Am I still mad? Oh, I don't know... My boyfriend just forgot to mention he had an ex-fiancé. That's all. Im not mad..." Drake looked at her.

"Nic, we went over this already. I thought we buried it last nite?"

"I thought so too Drake, but on the plane... I had some time to think to myself... I jus feel like I don't really know who you are..."

"Nicki come on. You know me. I-"

"No Aubrey, if that is your real name, I don't. I only know what you've told me. And frankly, thas not much."

Nicki sat the half empty bowl on her coffee table and stood up to ascend the spiral staircase leading into her bedroom. Drake hopped up and stopped her by reaching for her arm.

"You know the basics." She spun around to face him.

"The basics? Drake?! The basics???? What else are you hiding from me?!" She shoved him in his chest with both hands. He stumbled back a little, almost falling back onto the couch. Nicki was starting to get pissy.

"Nicki stop. I'm not hiding anything. I told you last night it's hard for me to open up. Jus like you, I've been hurt in the past so it's not that easy for me to let my guard down. It jus takes time..."
(Takes time... Takes time... Hmmm.... Where has Nic heard that before? Oh that's right! Mama Carol! The person who's useful advice she's NOT taking!! Smh, tsk, tsk Onika)

"So what... Jus because those past relationships didn't work out for you, you're refusing to let me in? Im not those girls Aubrey!" Nicki folded her arms.

"I know you're not, but like I said. It's difficult for me. You should know that by now at least."

"I'm not sure I do! Who are you Mr. Graham?! Are you even Jewish?!" She shoved him again, but he stood his ground this time.

"Onika, stop..." He said calmly.

"Have you murdered any one Drake?!" She mushed him in his face.

"Onika..." Drake exhaled deeply, closing his eyes.

"Were you really born in Canada?!"
She asked, rolling her neck with lots of sass and attitude.

"You know what?" She smirked. "I bet you like dudes to!!!! Don't you?!" She yelled, pointing her finger in his face. Drake frowned at that last bit, he clenched his teeth and exhaled through his nose.

"Do you have any children I should know about?!?!" Nicki mushed him in his face again.

"STOP IT!!! JUS SHUT THE FUCK UP AND STOP!!!!" Wrong move. Drake lost it. He turned into the Hulk within seconds. Nicki was extremely startled by it. Her eyes widened and she jumped a few inches out of her skin with a gasp. She pushed him too far and she knew it. Nicki dropped her arms and looked at Drake's reddened face. Her heart was beating a little faster than usual.

"DO YOU EVER THINK ABOUT HALF THE SHIT YOU SAY SOMETIMES?! LIKE REEEAALLLYY THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK?! IM SICK OF LISTENIN TO YOU AND THIS BULLSHIT COMIN OUT OF YOUR MOUTH!!! IT SOUNDS SO DAMN STUPID!!!! HAVE I EVER GAVE YOU ANY REASON TO THINK I'D BE THAT PERSON TO HIDE HALF THAT SHIT YOU JUS MENTIONED?!?! HUH?!?"

Nicki quickly shook her head no like she was the child being scolded by her teacher for doing something wrong.

"SO WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU ACTIN LIKE THIS?! ALL SPOILED AND SHIT!! I DON'T GET IT!! I CAME OVER HERE TO FIX US AND YOU'RE NOT EVEN LISTENIN TO A DAMN THING I SAY!! IT'S LIKE YOU ONLY CARE ABOUT WHY ONIKA'S NOT HAPPY!! AND WHY ONIKA ISN'T GETTING WHAT THE FUCK SHE WANTS!! WHY ONIKA HAS TO BE PATIENT!!! HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT ME?! LIKE HONESTLY! YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY PERSON IN THIS RELATIONSHIP!!"

Nicki looked up at Drake with guilt in her eyes. She knew she was giving him a hard time so she just bit her lip and listened to what he had to say... or yell rather.

"IF I DIDN'T LOVE YOU LIKE I DO, I WOULDN'T CARE TO TELL YOU THIS AND TRY TO WORK SHIT OUT! I'M TRYING MY HARDEST ONIKA, BUT YOU HAFTA WORK WITH ME! NOT ALONE OR AGAINST ME! WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER SO AT LEAST LET ME TRY! YOU CAN'T ALWAYS HAVE IT YOUR WAY! YOU CAN'T ALWAYS WIN!"

Drake walked closer to her and she took a step back, allowing her back to meet the facade of the fireplace. He put his right hand on the shelf atop the fireplace, just a little to the right above her head, and took a deep breath while leaning over her.

"Listen....." He breathed in a low, somber tone. He closed his eyes then slowly reopened them. "I... I apologize for jus blowin up on you like that... You jus weren't listenin to me, it seemed like the only way to get your attention..."
Nicki cleared her throat and looked up at him with glossy eyes before she spoke.

"I know... It's my fault... I'm... I'm sorry..." She said, almost whispering it.

"I don't wanna ever do that again... I hate havin to raise my voice to get a point across. It jus doesn't sit well with me.... Forgive me?" Nicki shook her head yes.

"No, I mean for everything that's happened these last few days... You forgive me?"

"Yes... I forgive you Aubrey. I'm really sorry. I am... Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?" She asked lowly, holding her head down, but looking up at him and fiddling with her hands while covering her top lip with her bottom. She still felt a bit guilty.

"Of course. You're forgiven. You understand it jus takes time rite?"

"Yea... patience is key."

"Can I have a hug?"

Nicki leaned forward, off of the fireplace, and wrapped her arms around his warm torso, laying her head on his chest.

"And a kiss?" Nicki smiled and planted a big wet one on his right cheek.

"Since when we start doin that?" Nicki giggled then pecked him on the lips. He smiled and went back over to the sofa to get his cell phone. Nicki grabbed the bowl of cranberries and almonds from off the coffee table and took them in the kitchen. Drake headed down the steps to the front door after he got his phone.

"See you baby. Ima be at the Ritz-Carlton, call you when I get there." Nicki came out of the kitchen, just before he opened the door. She stood near the dining room table with the blue lights overhead.

"No! I mean... You... you don't hafta leave... You can stay here with me? There's plenty of room..." Drake smiled.

"It's ok Nic. My room's already ready. I'll be fine."

"But... I don't... I don't want you to go. Can you jus stay tonight? Please?" Drake winked at her and walked outside, closing the door behind him. Nicki's jaw dropped. *He wouldn't do that to me!* She thought. *Would he? :(* She hurried down the steps to the front door to see if he left. Before she could reach the door knob, Drake came back in with his duffel bag. Nicki shrieked and squeezed him into a tight hug.

"Aww, I love you baby. Don't play with my emotions like that."

"Haha, I love you too." He closed the door while Nicki went up the steps to sit on the big, white couch.

"Come join me." She said patting the cushion next to her.

"I need a shower first... Which way is your bathroom?" Nicki got up and showed him. She then came back down the spiral staircase and went to lay on the couch. An hour passed before Drake emerged from the steamy bathroom.



He came out in only briefs and socks. This made Nicki's insides smile, and it showed. He sat his duffel on top of the brown, leather ottoman and glanced back at Nic before he bent over and began to dig through it.

"What?"

"Huh?"

"What's with that goofy grin on your face?" He asked smiling.

"Oh! Nothing... I was jus thinkin about some... things..."

"Haha, oh really?" He asked, zipping up his duffel. She nodded then he stood up and walked over to sit on the couch with her. Drake placed his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close.

"Like what?" Nicki smiled.

"Nothing really. I was just admiring your fine ass... abs..." She admitted, staring at them.
Drake smiled that wonderful smile of his and kissed Nicki on her cheek. She blushed and adverted her eyes toward the television.

"What's this?" He asked.

"Ha, I have no idea..."

Drake grabbed the remote and started flipping through channels.

"Heeey, I didn't say I didn't like it."
Drake shrugged and continued to flip. He found something decent they both liked and they sat there, comfortably cuddled close. Hours passed as they watched a few movies and shared laughs and snacks. It was now 12am so Nicki decided to go put on her jammies. She came back down into the living room wearing a long shirt, thongs and grey socks.




She noticed Drake was dozing off. Nicki walked over and sat next to him on the edge of the couch.

"You tired babe?" She asked, rubbing his arm. Drake lazily opened his eyes, looked at her then closed them again.

"Yea..." He yawned.

"Oh... Well... You don't have to sleep right here..."

"I'll be fine." He said, getting comfortable.

"You can sleep upstairs... in my bed... with me... if you want..."
"I'm good Nic, really."

Nicki frowned. She quit trying to get him in her bed. She was a bit sad he turned down her offer though.

"K..."

She turned off the tv and kissed his cheek. Nicki then turned off all the lights and looked his way one last time before she went upstairs to her room. She lie in her bed assuming Drake was serious about not joining her until she heard footsteps minutes later. He came into her dark room and crawled in bed on the right side of Nicki, laying on his back.



"I see you changed your mind." She said with a smile.

"Yea, I couldn't let you sleep alone." Nicki scooted herself close to him and rested her head on his chest; he put his arm around her. Minutes passed as they lie there in complete silence before Nicki spoke up.

"Where were you when I needed you?"

"Hmm?" Drake looked down at her, Nicki lifted her head up off his chest a little to look at him. The moonlight shone through the windows, illuminating their faces perfectly.

"Where were you when I needed you?"

"Right here baby."

"No, I mean before... I know it sounds strange, but before I met you..... All those guys I've dated in the past were all wrong for me. They didn't care about me as much as you do. They treated me horribly, but at the time I was too blind to see they were no good for me. I was looking for all the wrong things. I didn't think it'd be possible to ever find a good man, but..... I've found you... You're everything and more. You're the man I needed then and now."

A tear rolled down her cheek.

"You're the man I've searched for all my life, but could never manage to find. And I was thinkin, where were you when I needed you... to pull me out of all those fucked up relationships... I know you can't answer that. I don't expect you to. I'm jus happy you're here with me. After all these years, I've finally met the right one."

Drake wiped the tears from her face.

"Instead of askin yourself, where was I when you needed me, think of it like this... I was searching for you. Waiting patiently for the right time to come into your life..."

This made Nicki cry even more, she was happy. It seemed like Drake always had the right answer even if she couldn't manage to find it.

"I love you Aubrey." She kissed him, her cheeks wet with tears.

"I love you too Onika. You should never hafta ask that question again. I'll always be right here. Shit, I'd die for you girl. Hahaha." Nicki laughed with him.

"Don't say things like that babe. I don't know what I'd do if I lost you." Drake smiled.

"Ard, I won't say it again. But jus know I mean that..." He kissed her. They passionately tongue wrestled for quite some time before Nicki laid her head back down on his bare chest. She bent her knee and brought her left leg up, resting the inside of her thigh on Drake's pelvic area. She was slightly on top of him as she rested her left arm on his chest. About twenty minutes passed while Nicki toyed with the pendant on the chain around Drake's neck. He was already knocked out and she was just starting to tire. He lay on his back, of course, with his right hand under his head and his left arm around Nicki's waist. They slept that way through half of the night. :)





Yaaay!!! :D I fixed it! Happy? Lol, I'll never make that mistake again! I kno u guyz like happy Dricki, so do I!!! Now I feel good again! ^_^ Don't b shy ppl, plz comment! Even if u're reading this years after i posted, still comment, lol! Nd idc if u type over 140 characters! This isn't twitter so feel free to comment away! I love you all!

Here's the wonderful song this chapter's titled after! Listen 2 it plz! It's Lauryn Hill so if you don't press play, you've committed a SIN!! Hahaha!! :p





Oh! S/O 2 Cleo!! She's the reason I posted 2day! U can all thank her by following her on twitter! @TeamMINAJ_PYB X)