Capricorn
Chapter 14

Appearance
The typical Capricorn man:
* stocky
* has the sharp "stare", that intimidates and disciplines practically everyone
* strong, penetrating eyes
* short on smiles
* can be self-conscious about his appearance
* has strong, very white teeth  

* doesn't like to undress in public, no matter the weather

*

Yes, it's 4 am but it's a Saturday night in New York City and that saying is true. The city never sleeps.

Unfortunately, everyone Adena was ignoring was still up because they were worried. It was very rare that Adena wasn't in bed at this time. She wasn't a night owl and never saw the need or never wanted to stay out too late. 2 am was her personal curfew and she'll leave you behind if you were not ready to go; because one thing about her, she wasn't gonna let anyone keep her up when she was dead tired. Her personal clock shut off then and so did she.

Her parents told her that nothing good or necessary happens after 2 am. Go home.

You won't miss much, the city never sleeps, and will still be there after you get some proper rest. You've had enough to drink by this time, if not oh well, drink at home. Hungry? Go home and pop something quick in the microwave, you're going to sleep anyway. Trust. You're not missing out on any special cuisine after 2 am in NYC that wasn't greasy or fried. Save your money. Eat at home. Millennials and Gen Z supposedly have it good, anything can be delivered to you, even whatever other vices you need besides food or alcohol. There's an app for that.

Do they still say that?

Hell, if there was a chance you were still wide awake and in a great mood, you know you can listen to music at home right? Be your own DJ, play what you want, eat your delivered pizza or whatever else showed up at your door, drink your wine, take off those fucking heels and let your bad girls rest. Numbing cream only lasts for so long. Your whole body needs to rest by this time. Take it easy. You've probably been holding your pee since you left. You know you have. Depending on who you are, you'll have a nice bathroom that was safe to walk around barefoot in, has your favorite products, and where you can truly let go of all that tension without noisy girls doing coke or arguing or crying or farting. There's nothing better than going to the bathroom in your own damn bathroom. Ahhhh. Get even comfier and put on your favorite PJs and watch a random movie because someone had the nerve to never have seen it, even though you're under the influence, and either talk through it or pass out and miss it anyway.

What a night right? Still, fun, and your body wouldn't be chopped up somewhere.

That sold little innocent 15-year-old Adena. Her dad was quite the salesman, literally and figuratively, and she had no choice but to say yes anyway. Once her parents saw how freely the other parents let their kids run amok, they knew they had to shut that down before it started. Adena was their one and only. Her parents were strict and then some.

So Adena picked up those same habits and boundaries. Daddy was right anyway, to be honest. One time she got back home at 5 am and she thanked God that he got her home because it was one of the worst nights of her life. Damn, her parents WERE right.

Now, though only 23, she was "too grown for that shit" or "too tired for that shit." Everyone close to her knew it and respected it. Whatever. It's cool.

However, it wasn't cool for Taye. Who gives THEMSELVES a curfew?? It blew his mind. He hasn't had a curfew since he was like 12 or 13. He understood once he met her parents and when they told them to their faces that if she was caught out doing some "trailer park white people foolishness"...their words guys...her account would be frozen. She wouldn't get a dime. You're going to pay the 60 grand a year yourself. That's $200,000 so you'll be paying that until you die of old age the way that bitch Sallie Mae set things up, with interest.

Adena knew they were serious. So when it got late or if she happened to be out with people she didn't know, she'd sober up quickly and get mad anxiety if she couldn't leave when she wanted. Gotta go. And Taye had to follow behind with his tail between his legs. He worked really hard at one point, no lie, to the bone, to build Adena's trust so strong and confident that she started not to care whether he came with her or not all the time. As long as she knew who he was kicking it with and answered his phone.

But once they graduated, got married, officially moved into their place, and got jobs...they were FREE! To do whatever they wanted!!

NOT.

"It's about that time, Taye."
"I'm tired."
"Some other time...."
"Are you really gonna throw a tantrum because your WIFE is tired and wants to go home?!"

It was college all over again, the only difference was tuition was now called rent, class was now called work, and homework was now errands you'd rather not do after pulling a double.

I think we get the picture now...

So you can see why Taye was starting to feel stifled, and stuck, and that turned into resentment...

It was embarrassing when his friends called Adena, "your mom", "the warden" or "the babysitter" behind her back. It was innocent at first. Just fucking around. Just don't let her catch you calling her that. Now the more it happened, it wasn't innocent. He started to get angrier and annoyed. Then the arguments started...

And now here we are, Adena was nowhere to be found at 4 am? Where? Partying? With who!? If it had to be Missy, he'll take that. Missy was wild AF but that was better than some random dickheads. She never wanted to do that with him and they were together for YEARS. Now someone else was gonna get the attention and freedom to let off some steam and live it up with the Adena Without The Curfew?????????

WHO DIS?

She was doing this on purpose. Trying to get back at him. Fine. Cool. OK.

She made her point though.

She was pissing him off now.

Taye took his anger out on Adena through video games. He didn't bother calling the girl that he's been running around with, even though she called several times saying she was "horny and wanted to see him". He had told her what happened and she was happy. But he wasn't worried about that, he was worried about his soon-to-be ex-wife and he hasn't heard from her.

He went back and forth between being so pissed off he could strangle someone to worrying to death that she maybe got strangled by someone.

There was some crazy sicko attacking women in Central Park recently, 2 girls were found since Christmas. It happened all the time, like every other year. Cutting and stabbing each victim the same way, like a sick game. It's like these sickos want to get caught. The last 20 serial killers did the same thing and ended up the same way. Be original or something.

Just don't touch his Dena of course. At all.

*

A secure, warm home with a regular routine and reliable, appreciative parents are essential to Capricorns.

*

Kim tried to force herself to go to sleep but of course, she couldn't. It wasn't like Adena not to check in or be out this late at all. Ever. They all knew it. She's never been out this late with either of them either. Her "sisters from other misters." So where was she?? She alternated between texting and calling her, trying not to come off crazy, worried, and overprotective. It was too late for that.

She glanced at the time in the top corner of her phone. She was forcing herself not to look at it. She wished she didn't. It was too early for this.

"4 am Dena?" Kim groaned to herself. She practically read a whole book while staying up and waiting. She was all read out. The letters were starting to blend together. She had been reading the same paragraph for about 5 minutes. She put her tablet away and turned off the small lamp next to her. She looked over to the other side where Adena overslept just this morning. Kim groaned and reached as far as she could so she could turn the lamp off without having to get up. She saw Adena's watch sitting on the nightstand. No wonder she had no sense of time. She didn't have her favorite watch. She never took it off.

She reached to pick it up and settled back comfortably. It was a beautiful watch. She turned it over and read what was inscribed on the back.

Ur right on time, angel of mine ~ Love Taye

Kim sighed, "Shit..." she said with a shake of her head. She remembered helping Taye pick out this exact watch as a surprise for Adena. The man who bought this watch was different, he was practically perfect.

Adena and Taye were the last couple she thought would go through something like this. Kim even said they were perfect for each other, though we all know that doesn't exist. She's definitely seen that enough times to know. Adena and Taye were close enough. She truly believed that. Yes, they were opposites but opposites attract. They balanced each other out.

Without Dena, who knows where he would be, to be honest? She helped reel him back to earth, back to reality. He was stubborn but deep down he knew he would be wandering aimlessly without her. He could be easily swayed if he was around people who didn't have his best interests at heart. He was the type of person that would jump off a bridge because all his friends were doing it. Literally. He's broken several bones over his lifetime so far doing dumb stuff. He wasn't a follower. He was a daredevil. He had no fear. He lived in the moment. We'll cross that bridge when we get there! Too late, you already jumped off one!

Without Taye, to be honest, Adena would be just fine no matter how this ends, she hopes Adena knows that. She'll get through this. She had a very sheltered childhood. Textbook definition of "good girl next door" and "star student." They didn't know how sheltered she actually was until she and Missy would drag her to parties. She looked absolutely terrified sometimes then make an excuse and leave. Taye helps keep her grounded when she wants to run, he reels her in too you can say. Protected her. She always imagined things WILL go wrong if she didn't run. Taye taught her that most of her anxiety was made up worst case scenarios that would most likely never happen. Before Adena and her high school sweetheart broke up, Taye was respectful and waited. He later said, "waiting for her to be mine taught me how to be patient." Taye gently pushed her out of her comfort zone the more time they spent together. Taught her how to have fun, laugh loud, party, and let loose and she blossomed into a confident art dealer after that. Without Taye back then, who knows where Adena would be now either? She wouldn't be wandering aimlessly, she would be running away from fears her parents instilled in her brain for 18 years. We'll cross that bridge when we get there. Ok, and when will that be exactly? Gotta get there on time!

Kim saw this in living color. She, Taye, Adena, and Missy were all best friends. He was an honorary "sister who was a mister." Inside joke. He was the crazy brother she never had. He was a great person, a kind person, an exciting person. He even helped her through a couple of relationships she dealt with. She'd be crushed if their friendship had to end because he betrayed the person who was closest to him, closest to all of them.

He was everything but this. Again, just because a couple or someone looks fine on the outside, you never know what's happening behind closed doors. But this situation came running out of a locked door like it was fighting to get out. Practically out of nowhere. What else was going on? Why didn't Adena come to her sooner? Taye even. How did they go from so in love to "he cheated on me" in a matter of weeks? What happened?

No wonder it felt like a slap in the face for Adena, it felt the same for her. They were a tight family they made all their own. No blood was shared at all. Now that he did this, it felt like he was divorcing all of them. Kim sighed, "Ohmygod," she said as a tear rolled down her face. "Just go to sleep Kim, tomorrow is a new day," she said to herself, turned off the last light, and laid down.

Maybe she went back to Taye and they're trying to work things out? She hoped so but also not. She felt that he didn't need a second chance but she also felt he needed to be heard at least. Ugh, it was so complicated. She hated how she accidentally got in the middle of all of this. It felt like watching her parents getting divorced all over again.

She turned on her oil diffuser and soon a scent filled the room. This oil was for calming yourself down. Aromatherapy. She loved it and it worked. She took a few deep breaths in and out, breathing in the soft lavender and chamomile aroma. About 10 more minutes, she'll be able to slip away...she continued to take deep breaths.

Then her phone started vibrating on the nightstand beside her. She sat up so fast she made herself dizzy. She accepted the call. Finally, Adena was ok.

*

Usually, Capricorns work at all school subjects with great tenacity and persistence, aiming for good grades and high honors.

*

"Kim? Thank God I thought you weren't going to answer like your friends-"

Kim shook herself awake, feeling she had just woken up from a dream. She leaned over and turned the small bedside lamp on. She could have sworn and hoped to God it was Adena calling back but no, it was Taye.

"Taye, do you know what time it is? It's 4 am" Kim said to him.

"Oh...sorry...I've been up all night worried about her. I'm sorry. I woke you up?"

"Not exactly. It's fine. I was up anyway, just reading, relaxing-"

"Wait, so she's still not there? Still? You haven't seen her?" he asked her, sounding out of breath," So she's been with Missy then?" he asked. "Right?"

"I saw her earlier but she was by herself. She didn't know where she was either."

"What time was that?" Taye asked.

Kim paused. Should she tell him anything? It's his fault that they're both up, past Adena's curfew, worried and helpless. He needs to fix this and keep HER updated, not the other way around.

"Hello?"

Kim bit her lip as she took the phone away from her ear and pressed speaker...but how could she stick up for her friend when she couldn't have the decency to call her back? Yes, Adena was hurt, rightfully so, but it's also her fault that they were up past HER curfew, worried and helpless. This is why she can't have kids. At least not anytime soon.

"Kim? Kim?"

"My bad. She hasn't called me at all. I texted her, checked all her social media, nothing."

"So she still hasn't come back from the gallery?" he asked her. It felt like that happened days ago not less than 24 hours. "Did you leave? She maybe snuck in when you were out?"

"I've been here all day. We were gonna go thrifting when she got back but she never came. You sure she hasn't been hiding at the gallery?"

"I checked there earlier just before it got dark. Empty. Cruella De Ville wasn't even there. Thank God."

"No not thank God, she was the last person who probably saw her. We need her. Is she with her? Have you called her? You can't track-"

"She turned off her location. I have no idea and I left Cruella a message and she called back saying she hasn't seen her and to keep her out of 'our mess."'

"Oh wow."

"Yeah Boss of the Year," he said defeated as he sat on the couch. "How...how was she when she left? She slept in...which also isn't like her. Has she still been cooking and cleaning?"

"She was high-strung, anxious, stressed, snippy. She grabbed one of my outfits and that's the last I saw of her...and yeah I got leftovers like yesterday was Thanksgiving and this place still smells like Fabuloso."

Taye sighed but still managed a smile at the thought, it wasn't a good sign but it was so like her to 'Fab' up the place, he called it. He teased her about it all the time. He knew Adena all too well. When they had their first fight as a couple Adena cleaned their whole dorm room, even the shared bathroom. She pissed Missy off because she cleaned up so well that Missy couldn't find some of her things. That's when they learned of her "habit."

"I bet the food was great though," he said, just saying the first thing that came to mind. What could he say?

"Oh, it has. I mean I haven't had a shrimp cocktail in a while and I have never seen my bathroom floor look so clean. I swear, if her art dealing career didn't work out she would have a bomb cleaning business."

"Yeah but you know she'll fire her employees because they won't ever do it right. She'll be cleaning all by herself" Taye chuckled sadly, shaking his head.

Kim tried to hold back a chuckle. She wasn't going to entertain him. She was only talking to him because she hasn't seen Adena either.

"Are you sure she isn't with Missy?" he asked her.

"Last I spoke to Missy...was like around 9...she said she hadn't seen her either."

"Can you call her? Maybe she found her way over there-?"

"Taye if she did Missy would have called right away and she hasn't-"

"I just can't take it. I'm worried sick and I won't be able to sleep until I know where she is." He felt like he was going to be sick.

"Yeah sure hold on..."Kim said, hearing Taye speak in a tone she's never heard before. "She's probably up, now if she answers, that's another story," she said to him. Luckily Missy could go days without sleep so she was easy to reach most of the time. She sent an SOS emoji to Missy and hoped she saw it. They only used that emoji if they needed to talk to each other that instant because it was an emergency. 30 seconds later, Missy called back. "Oh great here she is, I'ma add her," she said before Taye could protest.

"What's wrong? I'm leaving the club now girl" Missy said, she sounded drunk and out of breath, and various males talking loudly around her. "Why are you up?"

"Have you seen Adena since I last spoke to you?" Kim asked her.

"Girl, that is not an SOS! You broke the code! Emergencies only!" Missy said annoyed.

"This is an emergency Missy, you know what time it is?"

"I haven't seen her. When I left your place, I went to Shaye's and we went to the club from there. She ain't at my place, hiding out or anything, you know I would've called...but she hasn't called me either."

Taye sighed, Missy was their last option.

"You talk to her cheating ass husband?" Missy asked her. "It's really his job to find her. You know she turns into a track star once the shit hits the fan and it's his shit-"

"Missy! Taye's-"

"Where is he? Huh?" Missy asked. "This is ALL his fault. We didn't break her heart. HE DID. Tell him to fuck off! Now he wants to know where she is? It's been days since she's come to stay with you! Tell him that I said that he shouldn't have slipped his dick inside some random hoe when he had a good woman waiting up for him every night! Tell him that! He fucking deserves it!" Missy yelled, getting hyped up. Yeah, she was drunk, she had too much brown too because she was about to pop off.

"Missy. I'm right here" Taye said awkwardly once there was an ounce of silence. Kim shook her head. "And you're right, I deserve it. This is all my fault" he said sadly. Kim's eyes widened. Was he about to cry? Was he crying? THAT never happened, this was serious.

"GOOD. I'm glad you heard all of that because I said what I said and I meant every letter!-"

"Missy, calm down, it's 4 am. It doesn't matter whose fault it is, all that matters is where is she" Kim butted in.

"Girl," Missy said and sucked her teeth as she stood outside. It was too cold to be out here but the conversation was too private to have inside. "Since her CHEATING ASS HUSBAND doesn't know. I don't know. I'll know when he does. How about that? Unless she took the train out to Long Island. She could be with her real family" Missy said spouting out any possible explanation so she can wrap this up. "She probably just packed up and left. She went home, it's Sunday. Sunday dinner and all that" Missy said, "I gotta go though-"

Adena only went to Long Island for vacay's or emergencies. This was an emergency. She explicitly said she didn't want to talk to her parents at all about it but maybe she changed her mind. That's the only other option. "You're probably right. Ok well...if she does call you, call me. I don't care what time it is" Kim told her.

"Ok ok girl, anything else?" Missy asked her sarcastically.

"I just hope she's there-"

"She's fine Kim. Now get some sleep please?" Missy said in a calmer tone. "Oh and Taye? SUCK MY ASS" she said harshly and hung up.

Kim shook her head, "Taye I'm sorry-"

"No, I deserve it. I wouldn't expect anything less. You know Missy. We all know Missy" he said forlornly. "Come to think of it, she was taking it easy. She's done worse" he said. Oh, the stories. "I didn't respect Dena at all when I was out...why should she respect me? This is what I get. I mean there were nights when she stayed up worrying about me. Karma. She's just giving me a taste of my own medicine."

"Yes but...we are all adults now. We can't run away from our problems. Especially Adena, and the adult thing to do was come back, pack up and let us all know where she was going. She could have at least called one of us. She knows we've been calling. She's intentionally ignoring all of us."

"Again, it's my fault. I just hope she's home. That's her best option."

"Have you called them?" Kim asked.

"No...but I will-"

"No. As hard as it is, let her break the news to them. Let's give her some space. That's obviously what she wants. Once she reaches out, we can go from there" Kim warned him. "Don't call them ok? Don't plead your case or try to talk to them. Collect your thoughts. Get some rest." She could hear him sniffling, he was crying. She felt sorry for him and her heart went out to him. He was truly sorry, she believed that now. This was the Taye she knew and he knew what he had done was wrong.

"You're right," Taye said, "Thanks Kim, I mean you could have been screaming at me like Missy or ignoring me entirely like Dena...thanks for being there," he said to her. "And you know what? I'm sorry for hurting you too. I know you have better things to worry about than be in the middle of this."

"Look, you're family. We're all family, despite..."

"Me fucking it all up?"

"As long as you're not denying that, great. We'll get through this Taye."

Her brother from another mother needed her help. He's helped her with her toxic exes. It was time for her to return the favor. If she had to be the neutral one so they could get their little family back together again, she'll do that. Whatever it takes.

*Later on Long Island...

Adena's father, Mr. Capricorn, walked out of their master bathroom and was instantly stunned by the look on his wife's face. His stomach dropped. "Sweetheart, what's wrong?" he asked.

*

For Capricorn sun signs, home is a place for enjoying the family as much as possible.

*

https://youtu.be/3eOuK-pYhy4