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enchantinglyjade · 2 years

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Milk & Honey - Ch. 12

Austin!Elvis x Black!OC

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Summary: Pearl finds a new hobby and Honey isn’t having it

Warning: Racial issues, swearing

Note: Sorry it took so long, I had to deadass write 5 chapters ahead just to make sure the plot worked, so look forward to that I guess.

Song: Smile by Nat King Cole

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“Vickie, my life has been absolute hell this week.”

“Girl, what happened?”

Dad and I got on better speaking terms these past few days, went for walks in private parks, he’d bring me gifts, anything he could think to do to win over my affection. Things were still weird between us, we never talked about anything personal, but I appreciated his efforts. I finally got over myself and realized I couldn’t be mad at him for not coming to see me when he didn’t even know I existed. Though I wasn’t too fond of the idea of him with another woman or his spoiled brat of a daughter.

Luckily, they spent most of their nights in a motel. Unluckily, they spent their entire days at our house.

While Dad and I were getting to know each other, Pearl had developed quite the sudden fascination in my boyfriend. Living in a new town with new people and a new family left Pearl with an uneasy head and an unquenchable boredom. Instead of taking up a hobby or looking for a job or getting herself her OWN man like normal people would do, she decided to dedicate her time to making my new happiness an issue.

Apparently, while I was busy learning what having a father was like, she’d sneak behind my back to go see Elvis. I didn’t even know about it until Elvis brought it up to me about three days ago.

‘I brought George and Billy down to the drive in and met this girl there. Her name’s Pearl, just moved here. Bumped into her a few times this week actually. Said she’s lookin to get into music, wanted my advice. George and Billy seemed real fond of her too, nice girl.’ He told me.

I couldn’t believe her. Lookin to get into music, he says. I heard her getting ready in the bathroom one morning, she can’t sing for shit!

“A whole lotta bullshit.” I answer Vickie.

On the other side of the bar sits my man

and Pearl draped over his table.

“Hey.” Vickie calls over the music, nodding over to him. “Who's the white girl?”

“The bullshit.”

She tells him a joke.

He laughs.

Being the obnoxious gentleman he is, Elvis is too nice to push her away. At least that’s what I tell myself. Of course, I have no reason to feel in competition with her, I know he loves me, but she had no business being anywhere near this side of my life.

How did she even find Club Handy? She isn’t supposed to be here. She clearly didn’t belong in a place like this. Her white skin, pastel dress, and bright blonde hair sticking out like a sore thumb against the browns and smokey tans of the club. Hell, even Elvis blended in better than her and he’s almost always dressed in bright pink. How’d she even get in here? It took me weeks.

She doesn’t even listen to Rock & Roll!

“You know, I may have heard Sunbeam talkin about an opening at the end of the week if someone was looking for a spot.” Vickie offers, pretending to speak to no one in particular.

I shake my head, wiping a glass down. “Ah, I couldn’t. Had so much on my mind, I ain’t even been practicing.”

“Exactly why you should do it. Singing’ll help you focus on what really matters to you. You can’t just give up now after getting on WDIA. People round here have been askin about you, and there’s only so much time before they forget. Use it while you can.”

“They have?” I ask shyly.

She smiles as an answer.

I mirror this, looking down in thought. “I guess I will.”

She claps, “Oh! I’ll go tell him now!” then runs out the club, pushing past customers.

I laugh, apologizing to the people, before catching Elvis and Pearl in the corner of my eye.

The two of them make their way over to me. “Hey, baby.” Elvis greets, kissing me on the cheek. “How’s everything over here?”

I clear my throat, “Oh, the usual. At least it’s almost over. Who’s the friend?”

He’s still oblivious to the fact that she’s my new half sister, though from the looks of it, she had no intentions of telling him either.

“This is Pearl. The one I was talkin about. She asked if I’d show her ‘round Beale.”

Of course she did.

“Are you going to do it…?” I ask hesitantly.

He excuses himself to her, pulling me over to the side a few feet away. “Baby, it ain’t nothin to worry about. I just feel bad is all. I ‘member what it was like bein the new kid in town. Wish I woulda had someone nice to show me the ropes. But I won’t do it ‘less you say it’s alright.”

Do I say no and risk looking jealous?

I raise my shoulders uncomfortably. “It is a bit strange, but I trust you.”

“You know I’d never do nothin to hurt you, Bumble.” He kisses me, before turning back to Pearl, who smiles a wicked smile. “Wait!” He snaps his fingers turning over to me once more. “Why don’t you come with us? You know parts of Beale Street better than I even do. We can show her together.”

When I tell you I robbed her of that smile.

“That sounds wonderful.” She says through gritted teeth.

“Alright, I gotta run upstairs to tell King som’ real quick, but I’ll be right down. You’re gonna love it Pearl. Beale’s full of musical history.”

“Yay!” She exclaims with fake enthusiasm, instantly dropping her smile the second he turns his back to walk out the door.

I clear my throat, getting closer to her. “Hey, uh, Pearl. What the hell are you doing?” I guess both of us are dropping our sweet side now that no one’s looking.

She gasps, holding her face in shock. “Oh no, Honey. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize. Is he YOUR boyfriend?”

I cross my arms with a sneer. “Yes, he is and I’d appreciate if you stopped tryna get so friendly with him.”

She puts on an exaggerated pout. “Aw. Go cry to Daddy about it. That’s what happens when you go after the biggest star in the country.”

“Why are you here?” I snap at her.

My attitude slips right off of her, having no real effect on her. “Your Mama told me you left your wallet at home and that I should drop it off to you at ‘the diner’, but I see you must’ve gotten fired. She heard the news?” She says, slipping me the wallet.

Maybe she was better at this than I thought. I snatch it from her, tucking it away in my apron.

“Honestly, it’s embarrassin you think I’m the only one that’s gotten friendly with Elvis. You shoulda seen what the other girls were doin at that drive in, you’d think of me as conservative.” She says, checking her nails.

Alright, that’s enough. I get eye level with her, threatening her with my gaze. “What game are you playing at, huh? What’s your problem?”

She straightens herself out, dropping her preppiness. “My problem is that you took my daddy. So, I’m takin your man from you.”

I scoff, genuinely laughing at the idea of her thinking she could win him over “And how the hell will you manage that?”

“Aw, Honey. It’ll be so easy.” She fixes her hair, as Elvis walks in.

I may have had faith in Elvis, but something in her voice and cocky attitude made a knot twist in my stomach.

“Y’all ready to go?”

Both of us sit in his Cadillac unenthused as we drive down the street. Luckily, the streets died down, so there was no one out to see us together. Still, I wanted this to be over as quickly as possible. On our way out I had to ask Vickie to cover for me. I sure as hell wasn’t about to finish my shift knowing this rat was out riding around town with my man.

I cross my arms, head fuming with annoyance as Elvis goes on and on about stories and landmarks.

“And this lil buildin right here is a place Honey and I once went to-”

Poor thing’s clueless. Normally, I love going driving with him and talking about the past, but right now I just wanted him to shut up and get this bitch out of his car.

“He shouldn’t even be with someone like you.” The devil herself says leaning over the seat to whisper in my ear.

“I think you should mind your damn business.” I could get put down like a dog speaking to a white woman that way, but ain’t nobody else gonna stand up to put her in her place.

“-Then we saw ‘ol B.B. do this one thing with a-” Elvis continues.

“Bet you’re the reason he’s been gettin in so much trouble recently. He needs him a nice, sweet southern belle to help shake all that colored business outta him.”

My lip curls in disgust. I can’t believe Elvis fell for this. “You’re right. Know where we can find him one?”

She sneers at my remark, sitting back in her seat. She crosses her arms, upset that I’m not letting her words get to me.

“-just like the neighbors back in Mississippi. You remember that, baby?” Elvis turns to me with a big smile, waiting for my answer.

“‘Course, I loved David and Kathy.” I chime in happily/

His smile widens even more before he turns around to the backseat. “Where’d you grow up, Pearl?”

She huffs, “Alabama. Grew up on my daddy’s plantation, until one day we found out he was hidin another whole family behind our backs.”

I roll my eyes, feeling her glare in the back of my neck. What a sob story.

“Well, damn. I’m sorry to hear that, Pearl.”

“I think Vickie’s getting me a time to perform on Friday.” I bud in.

Elvis pivots back to me with surprised eyes. I know what I just did was rude, but I’m in no mood to give this disrespectful princess an ounce of my sympathy. “That’s great, Bumble. I’m proud o’ ya.” He takes my hand, giving it a light squeeze. “I, uh, suppose I should bring you back now, Pearl. Where do you live?”

Our eyes widen. Is she gonna do it?

“Just drop me off at the end of the block. I can walk from here.” She quickly states.

Elvis puts his hand up. “Absolutely not. I insist.”

Baby, please stop being so nice and just let the rodent out before it infects the whole car.

“S’just around the corner. Can’t have Daddy seein me, you know?”

He stops the car at the block just like she said. “Alright, if you say so. You have a nice night.” He waves her off.

“Bye now!” She smiles, waving back…at Elvis only.

I glare her down as Elvis drives away. Good, let her walk.

Elvis stares down the street in thought. “She’s a nice girl. Good seein other folk like me be so comfortable and respectful around colored people. Need more people like that.”

I roll my eyes. “Yeah…” This is ridiculous. Fighting another woman for my own goddamn man. Is this how Elvis felt about Michael? This sucks.

He keeps one hand on the wheel while the other reaches for my hand again. “Glad it’s just you and me now though. Wanted to bring you out on another date if you got the time.”

I smile, allowing all thoughts of Pearl to fly out the window as they should. “I always have time for you.”

For the past three days, any time Elvis and I went in public together we ran the risk of running into fans reporters, who always managed to be nearby spying. Though, I guess it was for the best that we weren’t seen on the streets together, it was still annoying. Now with Pearl trying to interfere, things just felt so stressful.

So, we went to a place neither would dare follow us; colored night at the Memphis Fairgrounds.

Of course, we were seen together, he had a few run ins with fans. “Oh no, no performin’ for me. Just here to have a lil fun tonight, that’s all.”

But even if one of them wanted to run off and tell everybody, they knew not a single newspaper would listen to a damn thing they had to say cause of their color. So, it remained a secret.

“Bought you a sno cone, Bumble.”

The colored women were shocked, and dare I say, hopeful when they saw us together. Of course, some were jealous, but they had this look in their eyes, like the same optimism for the future I get when I see Elvis. We gave others hope together.

He eyes me slurping down the ice treat while we hide behind one of the stands from a passing cop.

“Let me get a taste of that.”

“No!”

Maybe one day we’ll inspire change in the world, help make it a better place. I don’t want to be in hiding anymore. I want to grow old with him, get a house together, maybe even have kids.

Who am I kidding, I’d love to have kids with him. We’d raise little superstars together. I’d be his wife, he’d be my husband. But maybe my head was in clouds that were just too high.

“I never did well with heights.” I hesitate out, gripping tightly onto the metal bar.

He puts his arms around me. “Don’t worry. I gotchu.”

I cuddle into his arm, trying my best to not look down from the top of the ferris wheel.

“I’m gonna take you flyin one day.” He says matter of factly.

“Like hell you will. I ain’t getting on no plane.” I exclaim.

He laughs, bringing me to sit in his lap, rubbing up and down my thigh.

Dreams seemed so far away from where we are now. I know it takes baby steps, but looking into a future where we can safely be together, well, I understand why so little have attempted it. I’m shocked Mama did it all them years ago, I’m scared to do it now and it’s almost 1960. I couldn’t imagine the fear she had in the 30’s. Wonder what my dad thought about everything. If he really loved her, if he ever thought about having kids with her.

Elvis watches me patiently as I zone out. “What on your mind, Bumble?”

I look into space, running my fingers along his neck while I think about everything that’s been happening. ”Don’t say anything bout my dad to anyone. I don’t know if he wants people knowin I’m his.”

He hugs me from behind, resting his chin on my shoulder. “I ain’t gonna tell nobody nothing, cause you ain’t his, you’re mine.”

It amazed me Pearl actually thought she had a chance with him. All the history and hardship we’ve been through together, nothing could take that from us.

Later that night I found myself back in my prison of a home. My once happy and lovey dovey mood replaced with a sickening attitude seeing Pearl at the table, no sign of Ma or Dad around. Still on a high from Elvis’ words tonight, I poke my fun at her. “Look who made it home. News said it was gonna be chilly tonight. Did you ‘member a jacket?” I say, hanging my own coat, on the rack near the door.

“Shut up.” She snaps, popping a grape into her mouth.

I walk past her into the kitchen, scanning through the fridge for a drink. “You know, walking alone can be real dangerous this time o’ night. ‘Specially with all that rising crime. Wouldn’t want any of that ‘colored business’ gettin ya.” I hiss at her, taking a sip of cola.

“Watch the way you’re talkin to me, ‘Bumble’.” She spits out the last word, continuing to eat her grapes, not bothering to look at me any longer.

I roll my eyes. I was about to ask her where Ma and Dad were, but I wanted nothing more to do with her. I’ll figure it out myself.

Just then, I hear the faint sound of Nat King Cole. What the hell? Are the neighbors playing that?

Smile though your heart is aching

Smile even though it's breaking

I follow the music until I get to our back door. Peeking out the window, I find the answer to my question. Out in the back yard I see my parents.

Dancing.

Mom looks hesitant, but she can’t help but smile.

I lift the window ever so gently and lightly, listening to them speak.

When there are clouds in the sky

You'll get by

If you smile through your fear and sorrow

“Charles, I ain’t danced in years. I ain’t as smooth as I used to be.”

“Loretta, you’re smoother than a Nestles bar.”

Okay, ew, but cute, I guess.

She smiles at him, closing her eyes and placing her head on his chest. He leans down, resting his head atop hers while they sway back and forth to the music.

Maybe he did really love her.

Smile and maybe tomorrow

You'll see the sun come shining through for you

I saw Elvis and I just then, dancing and swaying together though the world was against us, too lost in each other to care. We may have given others hope at the fair tonight, but seeing Ma and Dad just now, I couldn’t help but feel fear creep into my heart. If only life could be so simple.

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