Janet

Ryan's House

We drove for a long time, passing several nice neighborhoods while leaving behind the city lights and heading into the mountains. The main road lead to a smaller dirt road, and finally off to the side, there revealed a little house surrounded by trees. Kyle and I both rolled our windows down. She glanced back at me.

"I know that you're a very humbled woman but I expected something a lot bigger than this." She squinted her eyes as if the house was hard to see.

I laughed and shook my head. "You really don't have a filter do you?" She was starting to remind me of someone.

Kyle shrugged and continued. "You guys had zoo animals for pets growing up, that's all I'm saying."

I shook my head and glanced back at the beautiful house. "This doesn't belong to me, but make no mistake," I studied it for a moment, "I would love to have a place like this. Away from all of the noise." I paused again. "It's like she has her own tiny piece of paradise out here."

"Tiny is right." She said bringing her focus back to me. I could feel her watching me, trying to figure out what this was. Kyle finally spoke but not without caution.

"Ms. Jackson, I know I probably shouldn't ask but-"

"Then don't... please." I said finally looking at her.

She nodded. "Okay, well at least tell me what I need to say to Toni if she asks."

I was surprised at her response but it was very much appreciated. "Tell her to talk to me when she's sober." I turned to reach for the door.

"Wait, let me get that for you." She hurried around the car to let me out.

"Thank you." I said and headed down the gravel walkway towards the door. My anticipation was building so much so, that I was startled when Kyle called my name. I'd left my purse on the seat. She walked towards me, stopped and smiled.

"A wise man once said, if you'll leave it behind, it means you really don't want to go." She had stepped into the nearby light and I realized for the first time just how gorgeous she was.

"And what wise man said that?" I asked curiously.

Kyle rolled her eyes playfully with a smirk. "Here you go."

As I reached for my purse, she held on tight while I pulled and tugged. She was clearly much stronger than me. I glanced at her, my head tilted to the side. "Are we really going to play this game?" I was beginning to think she was flirting with me. That was quickly confirmed as she stepped in closer to me. "Kyle, hold on." I said putting my hand up. "I think that you're beautiful but I have way to much going on right now and I would also advise you not to hit on the Bosslady's woman."

"When in limbo right?" She recited.

I laughed hard this time. "Where are you getting these quotes?" She laughed too but I could tell she was disappointed.

"Nah but in all seriousness, Bosslady is not taking care of home and if she won't, someone will." Kyle said and nodded her head in the direction of the house. "Well Ms. Jackson, since you're gonna pass up on all of this..." She playfully moved her hands around as if presenting herself with a smile, "Tell me what you need."

"I could use a reliable driver and a good friend right now. My driver is on vacation for the next couple of weeks. I will double what Toni is paying you and it won't interfere with your time driving for her." I held my hand out. "What do you say? Do we have a deal?"

Just when I was sure she would say no, she smiled. "Deal gorgeous. I should probably get back to the club anyway, it will be closing soon."

She got back into the car and smiled at me from the window. I walked over and leaned in to kiss her cheek. She'd been very nice to me tonight, but I couldn't say the same about the way I'd treated her.

"Kyle, I'm really sorry for being such a bitch to you earlier tonight. I hope you can forgive me."

"One on the lips and I'll think about it." She joked. "Just playin'. Let me know if you need me to come back for you. Have a good night Ms Jackson." She took my hand and kissed it.

"Please call me Janet... Goodnight Kyle."

Standing there for a moment, I watched until the headlights faded and started to disappear around the winding road. As the sound of the car was harder to hear, the sounds of the forest around sounded like music around me. Gusts of wind danced through the trees, blowing my hair in every direction.

As I made my way to the door, the trees and grass came alive as lightning bugs illuminated the leaves. My heart was racing as I finally reached the door.

The Club

Toni

Lifting my aching head, I glanced around the VIP sections. It was filled with gorgeous woman, half naked and dancing all around me. Though my head was still a bit foggy, it was a lot more clear than it had been earlier. I hadn't had a single drink since I walked in the club. In fact, I'd done nothing but sulk in the corner alone for the past 2 hours, dismissing every girl that approached me.

Why had I been so mean to Janet today? Stupid question to ask myself. I'm no alcoholic but I like to cut loose every once in a while. The problem is once I get to a certain point, there is no turning back. I become a mess.

Years ago at a industry friend's birthday party, I got so drunk, that I made advances at Janet while she was there with her then boyfriend. I shoved him, yelled "She is mine you fucking jerk!" and then threw up all over her dress. Luckily we were outside by the pool alone.

People saw her leave the party early and swore it was him that puked on her because he was just as drunk. He stayed though she left and that was the night he lost her. The story was he'd cheated on her with one of the dancers at the party and pictures surfaced of him passed out drunk the next day.

I let my head fall into my hands. She loves me and just wants to look out for me and I continue to choose a "fun time" over her. Janet deserved so much more than what I was giving her. She was just trying to show she cared and I thanked her by getting drunk and asking Kyle to come party with me. "What the fuck am I doing?" I asked my self over and over. Just as I was settling in the mode of feeling sorry for myself I heard a familiar voice.

"Toni!" I heard, followed by a shove of my shoulder. "Where is my girl at?" I looked up to see Gil standing in front of me and stood to my feet. He looked around briefly. "I know I'm a little late but she text me asking me to come out."

A younger woman danced over to me slowly grabbed me by the hips and in a very drunken tone asked me to dance with her.

"Seat's taken bitch!" Gil said grabbing her by the wrist, swinging her around and pushed her towards the opposite direction of us. The woman threw her hands up defensively and quickly found another girl near by.

I stood there like a child in trouble and quickly tried to regain control of the situation.

"Gil can you please take your over dramatic ass out of my face, please! I'm not in the mood for this tonight." I turned my back and mumble under my breath as I started to walk away. "Always in somebody's fucking business."

"Excuse me? Don't mumble, annunciate bitch!" He grabbed my hand. "Say what the fuck you got to say?"

"Why are you even here? This is a woman's club." I snapped.

"Yup and my boy pussy is just as good as any of you hoes in here." Gil snapped back. "And we're not here to talk about me, we're talking about your trifling ass. Where the fuck is my girl?"

"She's not here okay!"

"Well where the fuck is she? She hasn't answered me back in over an hour." He said.

I hesitated, because I didn't want to get him started. "We kinda got into a fight."

"The fuck did you do Toni?" Gil snapped as he stepped into my face.

"And who the fuck are you anyway. You act like your her fucking daddy or something. You are not her keeper Gil!" I said and before I knew it, he went to grab me but was held back by Kyle.

"Hey hey hey! I can't let you do this woman." Kyle seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.

Gil jerked around in her arms not giving in that easily. "And who's her keeper Toni? You? I look out for her, I have been there every time you have broken her heart, even when I didn't know that you were the dumb ass bitch doing it! So fuck you!" He finally shook out of Kyle's grip and glared at me. Tears were falling by now. "You will never be good enough for her. Stupid bitch." He said as security approached the booth. None of us had noticed that the music had stopped and the whole club was staring at us.

They kicked all three of us out of the club. We sat leaning against the car, side by side throwing major shade and attitude at each other.

Gil cut his eyes at me. "I'm still waiting for you to tell me where Janet is." He said moving from his spot on the car and standing in my face. Kyle stood between us.

"I don't know where she is Gil. She left."

"Left where? By herself? Did she take a cab, Uber or lift? Tell me something!" Gil was frantic at this point. He'd texted and called Janet over 15 times and she'd yet to respond. In all honesty, I was starting to worry myself. Then I remember, she'd left with Kyle. I looked at her. She avoided my eyes

"Where did you take her?" I asked, Gil and I both waiting for an answer.

"Um well, she told me to just have you call her when you sober up Toni."

"That bitch is sober now, I scared the tipsy right out of that ass." Gil said popping his tongue proudly.

"Fuck you." I snapped. "And I'm not drunk, I haven't had a drink since the car ride. I was too irritated to party after you guys left."

"I don't think she wanted to deal with anyone else tonight you guys and it almost 5. The sun will be up soon, don't you think you should handle this tomorrow after some sleep?"

Gil came from around the car with Kyle's phone. The gps was still up. "Got it bitch. I don't know who's address this is, but we're going."

Kyle stood up and walked over to Gil, quickly snatching her phone away. "Isn't that invasion of privacy or something?"

Gil stepped in close to her. Out of my ear range.

"Look, I know what you are trying to do for her and babe I appreciate it. But when I text Dunk, she always responds, no matter what. Take me to go make sure my sister is okay. Please."

Kyle looked away, worry in her eyes. "Fuck man!" She said under her breath and got in to the driver seat. "Bring y'all asses!" She snapped and Gil and I jumped into the car.

You will reach you destination in 1hr and 32 minutes.

I heard the GPS say. Where are you Janet? I thought to myself.