In my last class, someone has taken it upon themselves to put the article all over my desk. The teacher sees it, raises her bushy eyebrows, then turns around like I deserve how I’m being treated.
“Look, don’t let these fuckers get to you, Mel. Let’s go out tonight. I have my car; we can drive down to New York City and skip classes tomorrow while all of this dies down. There’s sure to be some new scandal soon, but you can use the break from all this.” Rhonda says, while we wait for her water to drop from the vending machine.
“Is that the brother fucker?” Someone says loudly as they pass us, and I want nothing more than to disappear.
“Fuck off, pig!” Rhonda calls out, and I give her a grateful smile. I’ve never been one for conflict, but Rhonda? She’s got my back.
“Yeah, let’s get the hell out of here.”
* * *
Where are you?
Chase texts me.I haven’t wanted to talk. He’s called me several times, but I don’t know what to even say to him right now.
Please, talk to me.
I put my phone on silent and turn my attention to Rhonda. She regales me with stories from her childhood, distracting me from the shit show back at Langford. I learn that she’s been playing violin since she was old enough to hold the instrument. Her family comes from old money. Her older brothers are set to inherit the family empire, leaving her free to pursue her interests. And by her interests she really means what her mom has decided she’s interested in.
“Honestly, I don’t know how much I love playing the violin because I actually love it, and how much is because I’m expected to,” she says.
“I can’t relate. Most of the time when I was growing up, my mom forgot I existed, and my dad took off, which was really for the best. He was abusive and I haven’t spoken to him in years. I don’t even know if he’s still alive. ”
“Jesus.”
“I have no idea why all of a sudden she decided to do something for me now.”
“Maybe she’s making up for her mistakes?” Rhonda offers.
“Yeah. Maybe.” I’m no psychological expert, but something tells me that isn’t the case. I can’t help but feeling there’s something deeper that I’m just not seeing.
Rhonda takes us into the city to Club Nobu, the hottest spot I could have only dreamed of getting into when I lived here. It’s weird being back. Though it hasn’t been that long, I feel like a stranger to the place I once called home. Memories of rushing to and from work flit in my mind as we walk right into the VIP section. If my friends could see me now, they would flip. I should text them to see what they’re doing, but then I remember how weird they treated me once my financial situation changed and decide against it.
“I’m going to get us some drinks. What do you want?”
“Whiskey Sour.”
“Alright, I’ll be right back. Watch my purse,” Rhonda says, swaying away to the music and leaving me in the dark booth. I can see the whole club from up here. It’s a stunning view. The entire place looks like a neon enchanted forest come to life. There’s even a large tree in the center that extends from the ground floor to the ceiling. Large blue and purple neon orbs hang in staggered fashion throughout the room and pulse in time with the music. It’s absolutely stunning. Like Alice in Wonderland come to life, but in a more adult alcohol induced kind of way.
“Cheers!” Rhonda yells over the music, handing me my drink and clinking our glasses together. “Now let’s get fucked up and forget that dull, judgmental place!”
“Cheers!” I say back, slinging back the sour tasting drink. It coats my empty stomach and belatedly I realize I should have probably eaten something beforehand. I was so focused on getting here that it didn’t even register. Oh, well. Too late now.
“Another?” She asks eyeing my empty glass.
“Hell yeah.”
I’ve lost count of how many drinks I’ve had, but the room is spinning. I sway along to the music, not knowing where Rhonda has gone off to. Foreign hands find their way to my waste and for a moment I think it’s Chase. I let them touch me, hating how people have been treating us. Well, mostly me. I lean into the person I think might be Chase whose dancing with me, partly because it’s become difficult to stand up, and partly because I want to forget.
The music pulsates throughout my whole body, and for a moment I can just be. I’m not the school laughingstock, or the perpetual disappointment my mother thinks I am. I’m just one with the music, and nothing else matters. Not Chase. Not my future. Not everything I’ve worked for. Just the music.
20
CHASE
My eyes lock in on her body immediately finding her in a sea of swaying sweaty bodies. Her face is tilted to the ceiling, arms in the air as she dances to the music. Her body is swathed in purple and blue lights, looking fucking beautiful. But it isn’t what she’s doing that has me seeing red. It’s the asshole who’s grinding on her like he’s about to fuck her right out in the open. As if he has the right to.
Lights flicker and the ceiling flashes imitating a storm streaking across the sky. It illuminates the space just enough for me to push my way through the crowd to her.
