CHAPTER SEVEN

Azzaria

I made my way home and just hopped in the shower. I really needed it. Today felt like a five minute roller aster ride; short but crazy. I need to start documenting my life to make a Netflix series because there's no fucking way this is real— it can't be real.

Abi and I planned to have dinner at a nice chill spot first and then club the night away. Thank God I don't have school or work in the morning. That sounds so weird to say— "work".

As the water splashed on my body, my heart fell to my feet. I felt empty and surprisingly, I could only think of one person— Mr. Xander. What the hell is wrong with me? There's just something about him I can't seem to shake.

But then, for a second. there was sole insolence. There was emptiness from the past. There was pain and hurt swelling in my bones from all the unhealed trauma and all the sorrow I've been through. Twenty-two years on this earth and all I felt for the better part of 18 years was dismay. I didn't want to die, not right now at least— but she wanted life as she knew and lived it to end.

There were no tears, just a sudden moment of emptiness. As the water droplets continued to fall on my body, it seemed as if time stilled and my heart went dry. All those deep thoughts just vanished. They went away like nothing and that's when I know it's getting bad again.

I left the shower and got dressed for dinner. I decided on wearing my mini black ruched dress and flats. Heels just seemed too much for tonight.

Being in true Azzaria fashion, I couldn't help but reach out to Halley even though I shouldn't. I shouldn't care about her. I shouldn't want her in my life but I do. It's hard to give up someone who's a big part of your life

especially on the most unforeseen circumstances.

halles💞

i hope you're having fun

with you in laws at the party.

I sat around waiting for a response but got none. God, I'm so pathetic sometimes. You know, fuck her. I'll be fine regardless of the outcome.

•

"So what's going on with you?" Abigail asked me as we sat at dinner. The real question that everyone should ask is what isn't going on with me?

"What do you mean?"

"It's not rocket science to see how sad you look and how painful everything looks to be. I might not be as close to you as your other bestfriend, but I can easily tell when you're just not doing well," Abigail explained.

"Abi-"

"You don't have to tell me because I can understand and respect your privacy but don't forget that I'm here for you and whatever you need I'll try my best to be there. I love you zz."

My heart was full. This woman will never know how much I appreciate her and how much she's continuously changed my life.

"Thank you Abi." I smiled and continued eating.

"Now that we're finished with the sappy stuff," Abigail said and laughed "how's your internship going?"

"It's not too bad. I'm the boss' assistant."

"Tell me more," she asked sounding very interested.

"Well, Abigail my internship's going fine. My boss has an ego problem and thinks he can be rude to anyone."

"Sounds like he's your type," she joked. I choked on my pasta and let out a loud laugh. What a good thing it wasn't a private restaurant.

"You're done, you're so done but he's not my type. I don't even have a type hence me being single," I said in response.

"We both know you can get any guy you want, you're just a bit unstable right now and not quite ready to open up for love and that's fine."

"Precisely," I said and laughed.

We finished eating, paid the bills and left the restaurant. I might just fuck around, get drunk and fuck around some more. No one ever remembers club sex anyways. It wasn't all the time I let loose, but I deserved to get a break this weekend.

"Your tits look perfect in this dress," Abigail exclaimed glancing at me. I took off the sweatshirt I was wearing when we entered the club.

"Great way of telling me you wanna sleep with me," I joked and honestly, I don't mind.

"I'll be more straightforward next time," she smirked and we walked to the entrance.

It was always fun to know that I could turn up and be like this with Abigail. I didn't have that level of love, connection, fun and vibe with anyone else.

The guard at the gate was so mesmerized by our beauty and their body that he let us in without collecting a single dime. Pretty privilege was a real thing and luckily, we had it all.

The club was a typical loud and colourful scenery. There were bartenders at every corner, strippers on the polls, workers walking up down waiting tables and then the VIP section. I've never been there as the men were always either getting sucked off or fucking women, I wasn't one to judge but I've never been a voyeur type of gal.

"Hello sexy," a random man walked over and called to me. Ugh, catcalling.

"She's taken," Abigail said in defense for me. Well, that's certainly one way to go about it.

"By who?"

"Me," she said and grabbed my face leaving the longest and sloppiest wet kiss there. Woah. I totally enjoyed that kiss more than I should've and the guy just stood there watching. What a creep.

"Sorry," he said with his cheeks flushed and walked away.

"I don't know if he told you but you're a great kisser," I teased.

"Oh, you ain't see nothing yet baby but don't worry. I didn't want him to make you uncomfortable or ruin your night," Abi said. Oh to be joshua.

"I appreciate you doing that.No one's ever done that before." I smiled, we locked elbows and walked over to the bar.

We were relatively heavy drinkers who could actually hold our alcohol. It took a lot of intake for us to get drunk. But we try our best to not get drunk in public or if one gets drunk, the other has to stay sober.

"What for you pretty ladies?," the bartender asked.

"I'll have scotch on the rocks and she'll have some whites, neat."

Laughing in shock, he asked, "Are you sure you ladies can handle that?"

"Are you doubting us?"

"I'll get you those drinks."

"That's what I thought," I said and turned to look at Abigail.

We were sitting down and taking in the music, taking in the sights and the overall fun vibe. It wasn't all the time I enjoyed being in the scene but the few times we did, we always made sure to have fun. The bartender brought the drinks and we hit the dance floor.

"I just need somebody to lean on!," I screamed as she sang the lyrics to that Major Lazor song.

We were having the time of their lives getting swept up in the bliss of the club. Taking drink after drink, we were on high.

"I want hookah machine," I said and giggled. I was drunk.

"You're drunk," Abigail said "but who cares? So am I. Let's do it."

We walked over to the side of the hookah machine and were taking our entrance.

"You can't enter without a VIP pass," The guard dressed in a full black suit told them. Oh crap.

"How much?" i asked looking at him.

"No cash. A pass," he said, raising his voice even louder. I above everyone else didn't appreciate his tone. Who the fuck did he think he was talking to? Or was it because I was a woman, he felt he could say whatever shit he wanted?

"You don't have to be a fucking asshole," Abigail shouted, which was sort of making a scene.

"You need a-"

"Let them in," a strange, rough voice shouted.

"But sir-"

"I said to fucking let them in," he growled and walked over to the entrance. Wait, the voice didn't sound so strange anymore. Was I drunk or was this actually happening right now?

I glanced up at the man to say thank you but was facing shock. The shock of who the person was. Abigail was yet to recognize him but she just went along with my expressions.

"Holy shit," I whispered.

"Isn't that-"

"Yes," I whispered, "yes it is."

"I can hear you both, no need to whisper." He laughed. "Hello to you too," he said.

Fuck. This was actually happening.

Dillon

"Pour me a shot of something," I said to the bartender as I sat in the VIP lounge of my club.

Ah, it's great to be back. Many thought I neglected this business but it was under great control. I had different people watching this plus Arnoldo Reyes, my most trusted advisor saw to it that the everything went well.

I arrived here not too long ago and was just getting settled in. There were dancers all around and normally this was jus scenery but tonight, they all felt unimportant and I was actually disgusted by them. Not by their profession, I respected any form of hustle but I just felt like I was betraying someone by being here.

"Take it easy will you?" I heard a familiar voice say and looking around, I saw it was Bryce. What is he doing here?

"What are you doing here?"

"Sister's birthday got cancelled so we had to drive back," he sighed and sat beside me. Things were looking rough in paradise. I can't wait to tell the guys this.

"Where's your girl?"

"She's at home, sleeping," Bryce said "May I?" He asked as he pointed to the cup in my hand.

"Sure," he said passing it to him "what's wrong though? You never just come here unannounced."

"I just don't want children right now, and that's all Halley wants," Bryce sighed. Trouble in paradise indeed.

"Have you communicated that with her? She is still a bit young so I understand why you wouldn't want as yet but you're not getting any younger so you need to act quick but not too quick," I suggested.

"Yeah, I did but then she just got sad. If it happens, it happens but I don't want to rush anything and ruin anything ," he sighed.

"Doesn't she have a best friend who you can get to talk to her?"

"Azzaria but those two haven't been talking, so then there's no one else she trusts enough to tell her personal life."

"Bryce, you're so dumb," I said.

"How?"

"Proposal, buying a house, everything. Those things lead up to wanting children and marriage. So it's clear why she thought you did. Or did you just go about everything the Bryce way?"

"The Bryce way?"

"Yes. You have a tendency to just think everyone has the same brain cells as you and then you end up flopping yourself because the world doesn't work like that," I said.

"Oh come on," Bryce groaned "I'll figure it out but I have to go now so goodbye."

We said our goodbye and I went back to my drinking.

"Just keep the scotch coming," I said to the bartender and braced in my seat.

As I sat down, I could feels the eyes of many women on him but my brain wouldn't let me go in for anything; my thoughts were way too occupied with Azzaria. I need to figure her out as her mysterious personality peaked my interest and I just couldn't explain it.

Flashes of light beamed behind me. Oh fuck. Paparazzi.