~Talkin' My Baby Down~

By: Unique

"Mom, I love him! Why can't you understand that? You don't see how he holds me and how great he makes me feel, but I do. I know this is right. Can't you just be happy for me?" I asked in desperation.

"Oh Jasmine. I want you to be happy, but I don't want you to do something you'll regret. He's going to hurt you Jaz. Just listen to me baby, I just want to protect you," said my mom not getting the point.

"Mom, you don't even try to see who he is inside. He's so much more than what meets the eye. I know he seems kind of rough, being that he's got a few tattoos and everything, but he's a real sweetheart and I love him."

"Listen Jasmine," said my dad interrupting. "He not only looks like some bad guy off the street, but he's in show biz. Do you know how many girls like him and want to be with him? I know how all your life you wanted to be with him, but he's just trying to get with you to hurt you. Can't you see Jasmine?"

"No daddy! You're wrong! Alex is not like that! Not like that at all! So what if all the girls like him, he's with me. He would never hurt me, we love each other." I replied back angrily with frustration.

"Honey, his nickname is Bone. How do you think he got the nickname? He probably sleeps with all his fans, and that'll include you too, if you don't open your eyes soon!" said my dad.

"Dad, I didn't come here to hear this bullshit! Alex, is a great guy. All I want you to do is try to see that. Why is everyone putting my baby down! And it's not me that's blind it's all of you guys for judging him by his appearances!" I said as I slammed the front door and got in my Corvette. I kept driving until I reached my condo and arrived home to find a bouquet of flowers on the coffee table. I reached over to smell them as two arms wrapped around me.

"Hey baby," whispered Alex as he leaned over to kiss me.

"Hey babe," I replied as I leaned back a little.

"So how'd it blow over with your parents? Did you tell them about the engagement?"

"Not so well," I said as a felt a tear roll down my cheek. The thought of my family not being part of my future with Alex stung.

"I'm sorry honey. Come on and tell me what happened," he said comfortingly as he turned me around to face him. With that said, I stared into his deep brown eyes and thought of how bad it all was going. I kissed him to ease what was about to be said. I then proceeded to tell him the conversation that was tearing me up inside. By the end of it, I was leaning against his chest with his arms around me as I cried myself to sleep.

The next week was filled with a lot of confusion, pain, and messages on the answering machine from my parents, demanding me to talk. I was listening to an old Celine Dion CD, when I finally decided what I wanted to do. I was hoping that this would get the point across to my parents, brother, and friends. I called them all up and arranged a dinner meeting at a little restaurant I knew. I planned it so that it would be on karaoke night. I arrived with Alex the next day to meet them. We all sat down for dinner, but no one spoke. I decided that it was then, that I wanted to tell them. I rose from the table and proceeded towards the stage. Everyone stared at me, wondering what was up, including Alex. I asked the man to put on number 5 on the Celine Dion CD, that I had brought with me in my purse. I then proceeded to walk towards the center of the stage. The music began.

"People are saying, that boy is gonna hurt you. His kind of love is not for real. He's only playing, fooling with your heart girl, but I know how me makes me feel and I don't need any other proof," I sang as I looked at them.

"They just don't understand. They don't know the truth. Momma says he's bad for me and poppa says I'll be sorry. Everybody's talkin' my baby down. And all my friends doubt him. Tell me I should live without him. Everybody's talkin' my baby down," I continued to sing as I saw my friends begin to cry.

"He's not like the others. Nobody wants to see it. They don't even want to try. Just a book by its cover and you'll never know the story. There's so much more than meets the eye. Oh and I know his heart his true. I don't need anyone to tell me what to do. My sisters and my brothers tell me I should find another. Everybody's talkin' my baby down. Oh but they can't feel his touch. They can't feel his kiss. They don't know what its like to be loved like this. I don't care about their point of view, cause it's understood, that when the love is good nothin' else is gonna do…" I continued singing and by the end of the song everyone was crying including me.

I got off the stage and ran to Alex who enveloped me in a strong hug. When I pulled away, everyone was staring at us.

"I'm sorry Jasmine. Daddy and I should have been more understanding," said my mom as we both cried. I gave her and my dad a hug too.

"The reason I need you guys to understand is because Alex and I are engaged. I really want you guys to be a part of our future," I said as everyone at the restaurant stared at our table.

"That's wonderful sweetie. I'm so sorry that it took you to sing a song onstage for us to get to listen to you. We do want to be a part of your life and Alex, I would like the chance to get to know the real you. We are truly sorry for judging you," said my dad.

"It's okay and I would like to get better acquainted with you guys too. I know it means a lot to Jasmine," replied Alex understandingly.

"Yea. We're very happy for the both of you," said my parents.

"Yup, I just want to say, Jasmine we're sorry and should have been better friends throughout this whole situation," said Unique. She was my best friend. The rest of the night was filled with more apologies, congratulations, and plans for the future.

Alex and I got married the following year, with our family and friends supporting us. His group, the Backstreet Boys, sang our wedding song (I'll Never Break Your Heart) for us as we danced in each other's arms. Life was now perfect and everyone had finally stopped talkin my baby down.