When Danatha arrives, she slides into position to cuddle Tonya’s sleeping frame. I take the dress she brought for me while explaining what happened. Danatha doesn’t even react. Instead, she returns to the topic of Leona’s dress.

“I got one to go with your yellow heels.” she whispers into the dark living room.

“You’re not going out with JD anymore?”

“No, I am; as soon as I put her to bed.” Tonya begins to stir, so we wait for a minute. Then Danatha continues. “Sybil will come check on her in the morning.”

I nod, get my things and the makeup Tonya promised to lend me, then leave in a hurry to go get dressed. When I arrive at the Montecristo, Aden is dressed. He’s focused, donning his earphones, working on his music. I peck him on the cheek and chuck my bag in the corner yelling, “No time!”, and rushing into the bathroom.

First though, I have an important call to make.  I look out the window facing the raucous streets below, waiting. London answers on the fourth ring.

“Hello? Who is this?”

“Hey London, it’s McKay.”

“Oh yeah; from school, right?”

“Yes. How are you?”

“I’m doing great, thanks and you?”

“I just… I thought that maybe I should mention to you that you can come to me with whatever.”

I cringe, knowing I sound non-sensical.

“What?”

“If you ever need to talk–”

“Uhm, okay…?” 

She sounds uneasy. I should just be direct and put her out of her misery.

“London, I heard about what happened at JD’s party from a few months ago.”

She hesitates.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about…”

What she says immediately alerts me to the fact that she’s probably lying. Plus, why would Tonya lie about something so ugly?

“You know I’m Tonya’s friend, but even I condemned her for what she did. But all these months have gone by and she’s still miserable without you.”

“Did she tell you to call me? Is she on the line with you? Tonya, if you think–!”

“She’s not here,” I interrupt. “I saw you two together back in–”

“I’m sorry McKay, but I don’t want to talk about this with you.”

“No, that’s perfect. I’m not the one you should be talking to.”

“Yeah, you’re not.”

Her voice softens which gives me my cue to leave the call.

“Alright, London. All the best.”

“Bye.” she murmurs.

“Wait!” I yell impulsively, “I just need to know: do you even still care for her?”

“I said bye.”

“London–”

“Of course, I do.” she says and hangs up.
I immediately dial Tonya, get voicemail but still sigh with relief. At least that one task is handled. I know Tonya will thank me later.

I put on Leona’s dress, immediately noticing the scooping back, but grateful that the front is modest with a gold chain hanging right atop my chest. The gold’s just the type to match with yellow. I slap on the makeup and slip on earrings and bracelets before rushing out and getting my shoes. As I bend down, Aden makes a noise which prompts me to twist my head.

“You don’t bend it like that.”

I laugh and slip on the yellow heels, and only then do I rip off the scarf from my head.

“You look stunning.”

Aden shifts in the chair before deciding to come to me and slip his hands around my waist to plant a sensual kiss on my neck.

“Can we go now? It’s nine. I’m sorry I was late.”

“Is the redhead alright?”

“You do know she isn’t a real redhead, right? She’s Persian. Her hair is jet black. Although I never did know why her hair is so wavy.”

“Yeah, it can’t have been from her family.” Aden teases as we head out.

When we get to the club, Aden is met outside, and we’re escorted straight to VIP. But as we approach, I notice something odd. There are only four booths and we’re led to the worst looking one. A guy full of chains is smoking a cigar next to another guy who is fully suited, and they are both surrounded by very scantily dressed women and bottles strewn all over the table.

Aden slows down and whispers in my ear.

“I’m so sorry about this. I had no idea they were going to do this. We’ll get rid of them, I promise. Just follow my lead.”

I nod in the loud music.

He leads us to sit right between the men. They greet each other, and Aden introduces me to them offhandedly, only mentioning my name and that I’m his girl. The men move up to allow two girls on each side to sit next to us.

Immediately, I realise what’s happening. The girls next to the other men are touching and kissing them as they laugh together with Aden. The girl next to me sets her hand on my thigh and rubs while the girl next to Aden moves his hair to kiss his throat. He barely flinches. He simply takes her hand off his torso and continues to laugh.

I’m about to complain, but I feel the girl’s hand touch the inside of my thighs and I involuntarily clench them, trapping her. Aden’s arm comes across me to slowly but firmly remove the girl’s hand from between my legs. The other girl next to him hugs his torso and he handles her again, setting her hands in their place.

I’m so flustered, I can’t react to anything. Aden eventually urges me to stand up. I frown since that means two girls will have access to him, but I try to search his face for signs. He’s still joking around with the other guys, but his eyes are glinting. He immediately pulls me onto his lap and grips my waist tight. He starts to feel up on me aggressively. It’s weird at first but then the haze clears when I hear Aden laugh.

“My girl is wild, best believe. She’s hardly ever sated. She was mauling me in the car. I’m surprised she’s lasted this long. Vicious as a black widow and definitely not afraid of intense PDA, this one.”

Wait, where have I heard that? Didn’t Callisto…? Or was it Jude who…? Oh.