hiiii friend,
i have something special i’ve been working on just for you.
as you know i’ve been in my creative writing bag lately. i took a slight pause on writing my novel to do something that I have been thinking about ever since i saw Beyoncé’s Renaissance film.
B teased all viewers by showing us a quick glimpse of her, Kelly, Michelle, LeToya, and LaTavia in one room. the moment that popped up on the IMAX screen at my local theater, my mind was racing with how this meeting came about and what happened.
we will never know, but I decided to create my own narrative and fill in the gaps … creatively.
for the rest of April please enjoy my creative storytelling series … say my name
please note, this is a work of fiction. don’t come for me at my fictional story that has some pieces of truth (not from the meet-up) included.
Morning of – Beyoncé
As they lounged in their penthouse suite overlooking the Houston skyline, Jay-Z broke their peaceful silence.
"How you feeling about this B? I know you have shared your hopes about getting everyone together. But do you feel like right now is the ideal time? I mean you are the biggest star you’ve ever been, while others … not so much," he said carefully.
Beyoncé paused before responding with a determined tone, "It’s time. It's beyond time. We’ve never gotten together to talk about what really happened. Michelle barely knows LaTavia and she’s somewhat familiar with LeToya, but it's time we all talk. I don't see a better time than right now."
Nodding in understanding, Jay-Z affirmed, "Alright then. If you say it’s time, then it’s time."
With that, they both knew that the long-awaited reunion was finally happening.
One week before - LeToya
LeToya leaned back in her chair, watching her manager Tara on Zoom outlining a well-known brand's proposal.
"Okay, say that again. This brand wants me to do what?" she questions.
"They feel like your story to motherhood is in alignment with their mission, and they want you to be a spokesperson for their relaunch. All you need to do is a couple of online interviews and one in-person appearance at a conference in Atlanta at the top of the year," Tara explained.
LeToya considered the offer. "Okay, that sounds … alright, I guess. Wait, hold on, I have a call coming in."
She glanced at her phone as the word "unavailable" popped up on her screen. "I have to take this," she told Tara before answering the call.
"Hello, how may I direct your call?" LeToya greeted.
"I see you're still answering the phone the same way," came Beyoncé's familiar voice.
LeToya's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Wait, let me get off this Zoom. Tara, let me call you back. I have to take this," she said hastily, leaving Tara with a puzzled expression on her screen.
As LeToya switched her attention to Beyoncé's call, a sense of curiosity filled the air.
"Hey," LeToya said cautiously.
"I'll just get to it. I have a show next week in Houston, and I want all of us to get together," Beyoncé announced.
LeToya's interest was piqued. "Interesting," she replied.
Beyoncé chuckled. "Are you going to give me more than one-word responses?"
LeToya hesitated, trying to process the unexpected invitation. "This is just out of left field. We talk—not often, but we talk. You’ve never mentioned that you were interested in getting all of us together, even when I’ve mentioned it to you in the past. I didn’t even think you would want to be in a room with Farrah."
"Okay, so maybe not all of us. Farrah is not invited," Beyoncé clarified.
LeToya rolled her eyes. "So not all of us, five out of the six."
"Are you in or not?" Beyoncé pressed.
"What is bringing this about, B? Why now? Why are you trying to orchestrate a meeting that has been decades in the making during one of your most important moments? I’m just trying to see what’s going on here," LeToya questioned.
"I just think it’s time. I’ve been talking to Kelly about this for a while, and I feel like we … I, owe it to everyone to talk," Beyoncé explained.
"What does LaTavia think about it? I don’t know the last time the two of you have been in the same room, let alone communicated," LeToya pointed out.
"I haven’t talked to her yet. I was hoping you could help me out with that," Beyoncé admitted.
"I will surely not. I love you, girl, but that is one conversation you need to have on your own. You and I have hashed out our differences over the years, but Tavia is a different story," LeToya replied firmly.
"How are you and Kelly doing?" Beyoncé changed the subject.
"We are the same as we’ve always been. We co-exist, nothing more. That’s always been your friend. My story hasn’t changed and never will," LeToya answered bluntly.
Beyoncé persisted, "Well, she said—"
"I’ll be at the meeting, as long as LaTavia is there. Kelly can tell me whatever she needs to at that time," LeToya interrupted.
"Fair enough. Any advice for reaching out to Tavia?" Beyoncé inquired.
"For one, she doesn’t answer unavailable numbers," LeToya quipped.
"Anything else?" Beyoncé pressed.
"I’ll give her the heads up," says LeToya.
"Thank you. Trust me, we need this."
"How are the kids? And Jay?" LeToya asked, shifting the conversation.
"Everyone’s good. Thriving. Jay will bring the kids by to meet everyone. Blue is really into performing now and has been asking a lot of questions about how I … we, started, so I felt it would be good for her to ask you and Tavia too. The twins are just excited to be wherever we are," Beyoncé shared.
"Good to hear," LeToya replied.
"Look, I’m sorry things didn't work out with you and Tommi. I should have reached out more," Beyoncé apologized.
"I got your email."
"But you didn’t respond," Beyoncé noted.
LeToya responds with a slightly cold tone. "I didn’t."
"Fair enough. Toya, I’ve always valued your friendship, but I could have been a better friend to you. And for that, I’m sorry," Beyoncé expressed sincerely.
Tears welled up in LeToya’s eyes. "Thank you, B. Really, thank you. I’ll see you next week," she said softly.
"I’ll email you the details," Beyoncé promised.
Day before - Kelly
Kelly took a moment to absorb the news. "So she is really coming?"
"That’s what Toya said. She said Tavia is coming with her," Beyoncé confirmed.
"So you never talked to her?" Kelly inquired.
"I tried, but she never answered the phone. And I don’t think she took too well with one of my assistants leaving her a voicemail on my behalf," Beyoncé explained with a hint of frustration. "Sometimes I feel like she doesn’t understand my position. I just can’t call her up like that. We haven’t spoken in years, over a decade if I’m honest."
Kelly nodded in understanding.
"More importantly,” Beyoncé continued, “what are you going to say to Toya? I think she is still feeling some type of way."
"I don’t know what else I am supposed to say to LeToya. I’ve apologized multiple times for I don’t know what honestly. She is mad about something that happened two decades ago, I guess. But I honestly think she is mad because of our relationship," Kelly confessed.
Beyoncé sighed, feeling the weight of the situation. "Let’s not get into that tomorrow. Please, Kelly, let’s not."
"I won’t. But if she brings it up, you better shut it down," Kelly warned.
"Let’s pray it won’t get to that point," Beyoncé responds with a deep sigh.
Five days before - LeToya
LeToya tapped her foot impatiently as she listened to the line ring, frustration building with each unanswered call.
"Girl, I’ve been trying to get a hold of you for two days. Where you been?" she exclaimed as LaTavia finally picked up.
"What does Beyoncé want?" LaTavia cut straight to the point.
"How do you know this is about B?" LeToya questioned.
"Because the last time you left me three voicemails, it had to do with her," LaTavia retorted.
"She wants to meet. All of us."
"Farrah too?"
"Not Farrah."
"So then not all of us," LaTavia pointed out.
"I mean, if we are honest, she was in the group for two minutes. I don’t think she needs to be included. And just because you keep up with her, doesn’t mean she has to be invited," LeToya reasoned.
"So what is this about?" LaTavia pressed.
"She didn’t really say, but she said it's time that we all got together," LeToya explained.
"So we're just supposed to jump when she calls?" LaTavia challenged.
"We are not jumping, but we also have to be realistic here."
"Realistic about what?" LaTavia prodded.
"Come on, Tavia. Don’t be like that. You know what I mean. All I am saying is let’s go and hear what she has to say," LeToya urged.
"And Kelly?" LaTavia brought up.
"What about Kelly?"
"Don’t play stupid, you know what I mean. Are you ready to hear what she has to say?"
"I don’t think she has much to say, honestly. Plus, this is more about us as a group and not our individual differences," LeToya defended.
"It’s our individual differences that got us to this point right now. It’s our individual differences that caused you and I to be left at a tour stop and for two nobodies to step into what we created," LaTavia's voice thundered through the phone.
LeToya fell silent, unable to refute the words.
"Oh, so you're quiet now, huh Toya?" LaTavia remarked.
"You aren’t saying anything wrong. But I would like to get together. We’ve never all been in the same room. You barely know Michelle. It would be nice to officially meet up with her with everyone there. Learn how she felt about everything," LeToya reasoned, attempting to steer the conversation back to a more positive note.
"Sure, whatever you say," LaTavia replied dismissively.
"So you coming or not?" LeToya asked, trying to gauge her commitment.
"When?"
"September 25th," LeToya answered.
"In 5 days?! We really are jumping," LaTavia remarked with a hint of resignation.
"We are," LeToya affirmed, hoping that this long-awaited meeting would finally bring closure to their past.
One week before – Michelle
Michelle voiced her uncertainty, "So is this an idea or is this something that is already happening?"
"It’s going to happen. I want to know what you think about it?" Kelly responded.
"I guess it doesn’t matter what I think if it’s already happening. Why aren’t we having this conversation as a group? Where is B?"
"She’s here. She is talking to LeToya right now," Kelly shared.
"So me and a former group member are learning about this get-together at the same time? Clearly, the two of you have already decided things for everyone," Michelle responded with an edge in her tone.
"This was actually my idea. I’ve been trying to convince B for over a year to do this. You’ve never met all the original members. Yes, you are familiar with LeToya, but we’ve never had a formal introduction as a group. Plus, our second album turns 25 this year and it might be a good idea for us to…" Kelly trailed off, attempting to explain her reasoning.
"The album that doesn’t show my face but I was expected to perform," Michelle interjected.
Kelly took a deep breath, acknowledging Michelle's feelings. "Yes, Michelle, that album."
"The writing sure was on the wall," Michelle remarked dryly.
Just then, Beyoncé entered the room, breaking the tension.
"Toya said she is in," Beyoncé announced.
"LaTavia?" Kelly inquired.
"She’s always been the wild card," Michelle remarked.
"No, that’s Farrah," Kelly corrected with a wry smile.
Three days before - LaTavia
LaTavia cut straight to the chase, "What’s our plan going into this?"
"To get on the same page, I guess. Honestly, I don’t know. I don’t know how we got here," LeToya confessed.
"You don’t? Because I remember clear as day how we got here. Brandon and Brian," LaTavia asserted.
LeToya rolled her eyes, sensing the direction of the conversation, waiting for LaTavia to finish.
"You know I am telling the truth. They were the hottest group out, and we were up next. And I’m sure her cheating-ass daddy wished that the lead singers were more interested in her and Kelly than you and me," she continued.
"I’m not totally disagreeing with you, but I think it was more than just that," LeToya countered, trying to offer a broader perspective.
"Of course, it was more than that, but it all started there. Two lead singers dating the two backup vocalists is how Daddy Matthew viewed it. He knew they would get in our heads about things," LaTavia explained, her voice tinged with frustration.
"The contracts," they both said in unison, the painful memory still fresh in their minds.
"And before you get on me with ‘it’s been almost 30 years,’ I know. But when your dream plays out in front of you days after you find out you are no longer in a group with people you’ve been friends with since you can remember, that feeling never goes away," LaTavia admitted, her vulnerability laid bare.
"I know you think you are over it, but you’ve only buried the hurt in turn for some sort of friendship with B. And you somehow decided to friend Michelle as a part of your healing story," LaTavia pointed out, her words cut deep.
LeToya bristled at the accusation. "Why do you have to go there?"
"Because I’m the only person who will. Why did you seek out a friendship with her anyways?" she prodded, refusing to let LeToya evade the question
"How long you been burning to ask me that question?" LeToya snapped.
"Since the moment I saw you comment on meeting her in Sister 2 Sister magazine," LaTavia confessed.
Shocked at what she just heard, LeToya responds, "Wow. You been holding that in for over 20 years."
"I knew the time would eventually come," LaTavia replied feeling a little lighter.
Next time on … say my name, part 2
"Hey, it’s Tavia. Call me back when you get this. There's something we should talk about."
~~~
"We found out about this meetup, which they are calling a reunion, at the same time. While B was calling you, Kelly was telling me. Now I know why the three of us were getting together," Michelle explained.
"Really?" LeToya exclaimed, processing the information.
"There’s more,” Michelle continued.
~~~
"B, what are you sippin' on right now? Or are you just still riding high from one of your best performances?" LeToya teased. "I peeped some of the videos online. I knew the Houston show was going to be the best one yet."
"Thank you, girl," Beyoncé replied. "But I’m talking about back in ‘93."
reply or leave a comment and tell me what you think. see you for part 2 … bring a friend
xo, jemia
I love it. Can’t wait until the next read!
thanks friend!!!