The Prince And The Waitress
Not Myself Tonight
Two months have passed and to Laurence's disappointment Naveen still hasn't informed his parents of his relationship with Tiana. The valet would've told them already himself but forgot the new access code to get in contact with them.
Naveen has since moved out of the LaBouff bachelor house and lives in a decent apartment in the heart of the French Quarter. He still has enough money to live comfortable on since US dollars are double of what Maldonia dontas are worth. But is more cautious on spending it.
Since confessing his love to Tiana, his fangirl attention has somewhat died down, but there are still some hoping that they will eventually break-up. Eudora welcomed him with open arms as did the whole neighborhood.
Tiana opened the front door to see the love of her life standing on the other side and instantly felt his arms around her body.
"Mi benita." Naveen said before pressing his lips onto his lover's and to his disappointment felt her hands on his chest before pulling away.
"Naveen…" Tiana laughed as he kissed her on the cheek.
"We haven't seen each other in almost a week, Tiana." He pulled her back into a possessive hold before kissing her again.
"I know, but…" She tried to talk through the kisses. "But my…" She laughed.
"It's only a matter of time before ya have ya grandkids, Eudora." Naveen heard older woman chimed. He quickly pulled from his kiss fest with Tiana to grin over at Eudora and Mrs. Jones who were beaming at the two lovebirds. "Good evening ladies."
Eudora smiled. "Good evening Naveen."
He gave the women a nervous chuckle before Tiana took his hand and led them to the kitchen.
Naveen laughed. "I didn't see your mother and Mrs.-
She then pulled him into a passionate kiss
Naveen moaned and lifted her onto the counter.
"Naveen…" Tiana stopped kissing him and jumped off. "What do you think you're doing?"
"Kissing my girl?" He simply answered.
She rolled her eyes. "What if my mama and Mrs. Jones walked in on us like this?"
Naveen groaned. "All I did was lift you on the counter and kissed you. What's the harm in that?"
"A lot. Unmarried people just don't do that kind of stuff under their parent's roof."
"You Americans have an odd way of defining morals."
"That's just how it is here. At least in New Orleans." She crossed her arms.
"Are you sure about that? Because last night I saw several couples engaging in a lot more than kissing." Naveen challenged
"Those kind of people don't…" Tiana couldn't really find an argument with that so she changed the subject. "So I guess those people reminded you of Maldonia."
"Pretty much." Naveen said. "In Maldonia we don't really think too much of what others say when couples share something as simple as a kiss or a hug. At least I don't." He wrapped his arms around Tiana's waist.
Tiana wrapped her arms over his broad shoulders. "So when are we gonna begin our night out?"
"Right…" He scooped her in his arms. "…now." Walking them out of the kitchen and into the living room. "Goodnight ladies." "Bye Mama and Mrs. Jones!" They both said before stepping out of the door.
"Have fun!" Eudora waved.
"Bye children!" Said Mrs. Jones and chuckled. "Yep ya grandkids will be here in no time."
"After the wedding!" Eudora added proudly.
()()()()
Naveen drove himself and Tiana near Canal Street and decided to walk the rest of the way to a jazz club he was invited to through a friend of Louis'. It was more upscale and one of the few interracial businesses in the city.
Tiana now enjoyed the nightlife and was thankful to have the night-off just to spend it with Naveen who always had something planned for them to do together. 'I wonder what he has planned for tomorrow?' She wondered as they entered the building where cigarette smoke instantly hit their faces.
"Ugh." She groaned. "You know I can't stand cigarette smoke."
"We won't be around too much of the smoke from the outside." Naveen knew she hated the smell of cigarettes and was hoping to find this friend of Louis who was described as a 'little dark man with a huge smile'. But judging from some of the male workers here they definitely fit the description which made it harder for him to spot the right person.
"Naveen?"
He heard a man calling his name and looked around. "Did someone just call my name?"
Tiana raised an eyebrow. "I think so?" She too was looking around puzzled.
"Down here."
The couple turned and looked down at a man who looked to be about four feet four inches with a huge smile.
"Louis described you perfectly." Said the man, extending out his hand. "The name's Frankie."
Naveen shook his hand. "How do you do? This is my date Tiana."
The man shook her hand. "Good evening pretty lady."
"Good evening." Tiana said before pulling her hand away.
"So ya'll want some privacy for ya romancin'?"
"That's why we came here." Naveen answered.
"Follow me." The man instructed.
Charles sat his drink down just as he spotted Naveen and Tiana walking up the stairs with a shorter man. "What the hell are they doing here?"
"What are you talking about, baby?" Asked a squeaky voice petite woman who came as his date.
He handed her his already lit cigarette before raising from his seat. "I'll be back."
"Where are ya going?" She asked.
He ignored her as he made his way up the stairs.
"It's beautiful up here." Tiana said, looking around and saw both Louis and Ray holding their instruments, waving at her.
She waved back before looking over and noticing rose pedals on the floor that trailed up to a candlelit table. She gasped and rested her hand on her chest. "Oh my years…" She looked up at Naveen who gave her a loving gaze. "You planned all of this?"
"Yes, but with the help of some friends." Naveen took her hand and walked them over to the table. He pulled out her chair as she sat and went over to his side, sitting himself.
Frankie placed the menus on the table. "What would you two like to start out with?"
"Your special dish." He said to the man as his heart race at what would come next.
"Ah!" Frankie touched the side of his nose before fetching for the order.
Tiana noticed that the prince was growing a bit nervous. "Naveen?"
"Hmm?" He looked her way.
"Are you alright?" She asked softly as Frankie came out with two covered plates
"Your dinner." He announced before stepping away.
"Do they not serve appetizers here?" Tiana asked, lifting the cover and gasped again. "Minced vegetables?" She then figured out who was behind this. "You minced?"
"Yes." Naveen answered proudly.
"Really? You minced?" She laughed.
"I did!" He laughed nervously while putting a hand over his pocket, feeling the small box that held the most important piece of jewelry he's ever purchased. "You've been quite the influence on me…"
Tiana rested her chin on the back of her hand as she listened on.
"…because I have dated thousands of women and..." Naveen looked over at an annoyed Tiana and quickly corrected himself. "...actually they were two, three…just other women. Anyway, from the moment I…I..." He tried to take the small box from his pocket but had a difficult time getting it out. "…wow, this was so much easier when I practiced with your mother on my earlier visit."
Tiana frowned. "You were at my mama's house earlier today?"
"While you were at work…" He finally got the box out. "…but enough about that." He tried to rest his elbow on the table, but missed his target but caught himself before falling over. "Ha, ha…not myself tonight." He told himself.
Tiana covered her mouth in humour at Naveen's sudden nervousness.
"TIANA!" He shouted. "Oh sorry. That was loud."
Tiana laughed a little.
Naveen sighed. "This is a disaster."
"No, it's cute." Tiana smiled, noticing a box in his hand. 'Oh my goodness is he...' She realized why he suddenly grew very nervous. Her heart stopped and swallowed hard. "W-what's that you got there?"
Naveen looked down at the box before raising it up. "Oh this? It's…" He closed his eyes and sighed. "Tiana, what I was trying to say—ask you is that." He opened his honey coloured eyes and gazed right into her brown ones. "Tiana, you make me feel in a way I've never felt in my entire twenty years of living. I thought that all the money in the world could make me happy but it only led me to loneliness and selfishness. I never cared for loving someone because I thought that if I loved myself enough then why share it or give it away? That of course changed when you served me those beignets with a warm smile and just when I thought that you were interesting you brought out a glass of ice cold milk. That's when you stole my heart..." He got off his chair to get down on one knee.
Tiana felt as if she lost her breath.
"...and when I finally realized that I wanted to share my love and hoped you could share yours with mine." He took her hand. "I thought that my dream was to travel all over the world, party, celebrate and live my life as if it were my final day on this earth, but now I want more than that. I want to actually do something that's worth living for and that's having you as my wife, my partner, my lover, the other half of my heart."
Tiana's eyes watered with tears.
"I thought that coming here would be the end of my happiness, but in fact it is only the beginning." He opened the box and revealed a golden band with a large diamond on top. "Tiana will you make me the happiness man alive and be my wife?"
"Yes!" She answered, her voice trembled.
He took the ring out and slipped it through her left ringer finger before standing up and scooping her in his arms. "Achidonza! She said yes!"
Ray, Louis and Frankie all clapped.
"Ya'll gonna have the cutest lil kids!" Chimed Ray.
Naveen and Tiana pressed their lips onto each other.
"I love you." Naveen said through the kiss.
"I love you, too!" Tiana responded through the kiss.
Charles witnessed the entire thing and grew furious. "So you're marrying him and not me?"
Everyone looked over at the muscular man.
"Hey sir. You do not belong up here!" Frankie scolded.
"And you of all people condone this?" He gestured his hand over at the couple.
Naveen frowned, growing defensive. "What do you mean by that?"
"Oh you know what I mean! Ya obvious marrying her because you knocked her up!"
Tiana also frowned. "What?"
"Sneaking in and out of ya mama's house with this man?" Charles chuckled darkly. "You were willing to lay with this man-
Tiana could believe this man. "I've never lain..."
"It must be nice to have all the money in the world!" Charles looked over at Naveen before returning his gaze at Tiana. "But you, Tiana. I thought that you were better than this! I actually wanted to marry you."
"It's time for you to get out of here, Charles." Naveen said calmly. Trying to not grow angry.
The man continued with Tiana. "We could have it all once I'm done with college! You didn't even have to work I would support and provide for you."
"Charles I told you that I don't want to be just a housewife." Tiana argued.
"But you were playing house with this gentleman." Charles pointed out.
"Back off." Naveen warned.
"Or what? You're gonna fight me!" He looked Naveen up and down. "What the hell are you anyway? You ain't white or coloured?"
"Charles…stop it!" Tiana said, holding Naveen's arm.
"I always thought that you were better than all the coloured women around here, Tiana. You were different then they were." Charles began. "You thought you were better than they were and you are…" He nodded his head. "But did you have to go out and sleep with one of these?" He pointed at Naveen. "He ain't even coloured.'
"Sir, it's time for you to leave." Frankie said.
"I'll leave when I please!" Charles' temper began flaring up. "If you wanted to play house then we could've done that, Tiana. My grandfather left me a huge house and a lot of land. We could've practiced our future there. You didn't have to stoop down to this...euro demon!"
"What are you talking about?" Tiana was growing angry. "Even if Naveen wasn't around I would never want to be with you!"
"Oh if Naveen wasn't around I would've already taken what's rightfully mine!" Charles threatened.
"What do you mean by that?" Naveen was very close to losing his own temper but knew that's what Charles wanted.
"It means what it means. And she would've no choice but to marry me if I gave her a child."
"I don't want you! Don't you get it?" Tiana shouted on of her lungs.
Charles got it loud and clear. "So you were basically pulling me along for nothing?" He balled his fists. "If you were mine I would've-
"You have to get through to me first." Naveen warned.
"Charles you have to leave." Frankie cut in. "Or you will be banned from ever coming here."
"I'll leave." Charles gave the couple a dirty glare. "But don't think I'll just sit and let you marry this…prince. I know about the women, the gamblin', the shame you've caused in ya home country." He tried walking over at Naveen but was pulled back by Louis and Ray.
"You should leave." Louis suggested.
Charles pulled from their hold before glaring at Tiana once last time.
"Leave!" Said Frankie.
He looked her up and down and smirked before walking out the door.
Naveen gave Tiana a protective hug. "Are you alright?"
"I'm alright." Tiana answered.
"That ex-boyfriend of ya's is very bitter, yea." Said Ray.
"He was never a boyfriend of mine." Tiana said, looking up at her fiance. "He was never a friend." She admitted.
Naveen caressed her face. "Are you sure you're alright?"
"Mmhmm." She nodded her head, but deep inside she was terrified and furious.
"I'll take you by your word" He took her hand to his. "Let me drive you back home."
"Don't let Charles' hate ruin our beautiful night." Tiana didn't want their night to end.
"It's not my style to let someone ruin anything for me. I just want you to be safe and not upset." Naveen stated.
Tiana gave him a small smile. "See? I'm not upset. But if you want to take me back home." She kissed him on the lips. "Then the least you can do is stay awhile."
Naveen gave her a cocky grin. "If you insist."
Charles stormed at his table, furious and ready to fight.
His date saw this and rose from her seat "Baby, are you alright?"
"How much do we owe?" He asked, not looking her way.
"It says twenty eight dollars-
He threw three ten dollar bills before grabbing her wrist, literally dragging her out of the club.
"Wait! Charles!" The petite woman could hardly keep up. "Baby wait a second. What's wrong?"
"I will be damned if I let that prince take what's already mine!"
She frowned. "What?"
"Vernita, I'm taking you home. I need to be alone." Charles opened the passenger door
The woman got in the car clearly confused by her date's sudden change in attitude.
He slammed the door before going on the driver's side, driving off soon after.
"Baby, what's got you so upset?" Vernita asked.
Charles didn't hear a word the woman asked him. All that was on his mind was Tiana, and what it will take to get Naveen out of the equation.
()()()()
A/N: When writing the Charles character I had Gaston in mind, but I also had Action Jackson from 'Action Jackson', Biff Tannen from 'Back To The Future', and this stalker/creepy guy I knew by the name of Charles. All but one of these guys are actual bullies/chauvinistic pigs. Action Jackson is how Charles look physically(body wise). He's actually a good guy in his movie. I don't know about you, but the bullies from the 80s and 90s movies were more like real bullies.