A/N: I'm soo sorry that this chapter took so long to get out! Life just caught up with me, as it inevitably does. I've been writing this chapter since April. I'm still not super happy with it, but I've decided to quit working on it, and dedicate my time on making the next one even better.
Please bear with me for this chapter. There are a lot of OCs. They are not going to play major parts in the rest of the fic, but they were important to show a little insight into Jasmine's life. So sorry if you think this chapter sucks, but I have a feeling the next one is something we've all been waiting for... ;)
So please read and review!
Ding-dong. A girl in a monogramed bathrobe and her strawberry-blonde hair entwined in hot-rollers, save for bangs that hung just below her eyebrows, opened the door.
"Happy birthday!" Jasmine greeted, and pulled the girl in for a hug – careful not to tamper with her flaxen hair.
"Oh my goodness, thank you," the girl hugged her back. "Come in, come in."
Jasmine, as she stepped through the door, presented her with a delicately wrapped gift, name-carded with a calligraphy Melanie.
"You shouldn't have! That was so thoughtful!" the girl named Melanie told her best friend.
"Open it, silly!" Jasmine urged.
Melanie tore through the delicate wrappings, and pulled out a beautiful light beige handbag.
"Is this what I think it is?" Melanie questioned.
"If what you think it is, is Tom Burch's latest collection, then yes. It is exactly what you think it is."
Melanie grabbed Jasmine around the waist to hug her once more, only with one hand now as her other hand was holding her new gift.
"But the Brody collection just came out! I found out about it a week ago!"
"And I knew you'd want it," Jasmine shrugged with a soft smile.
"I love you so much," Melanie smiled, her eyes teary.
"And I love you," Jasmine gave her another hug.
"Now seriously, get out of the door way," Melanie giggled, and Jasmine stepped through the threshold.
"What time is dinner for, again?" Jasmine asked, needing a reminder.
"7, so we have an hour left to get ready," the fairer girl answered, and shut the door. They walked up the grand staircase together, and entered the blonde's bathroom – an ivory-themed décor with a claw foot tub and enormous chandelier.
Jasmine began to get her supplies out of her overnight bag. She was a wizard with a make-up brush, as her friends would say.
The host took a seat at the vanity, and Jasmine stood beside her. "What are you wearing tonight?" she asked.
"I already told you," Jasmine replied. "My Stella McCartney dress; the blue one that's off the shoulder."
"Oh right! But that's more an aqua than a blue…"
"Whatever," Jasmine laughed. "You know which one I'm talking about. What are you wearing?" she asked her friend who had already begun applying moisturizer to her flawless face.
"My mom bought me a Herve Leger dress for tonight," she told her simply.
"Herve Leger? My dad wouldn't let me walk out the house with Herve Leger! Let alone buy it for me."
"My mom just reminisces her golden days by living through me. It's a blessing… and a curse," she half-joked.
"So what does it look like?" Jasmine wanted to see it now.
"It's white, sleeveless. And has a little keyhole."
"That sounds so cute. I can't wait to see it," Jasmine cooed. She too pulled out a brush, and began to fill in her fierce eyebrows.
"It is!" Melanie assured. "But I can't decide between gold or silver jewelry…"
"Well silver would complement your complexion," Jasmine reminded.
"I know, but I feel like gold would complement the dress… I'll let you help me after you see it," Melanie took out her eye shadow palette, and she began to apply her traditional romantic smokey-eye. Meanwhile, Jasmine reached for her liquid liner, and started drawing her cat-eye.
"When are Jacqueline and Win getting here?" Jasmine asked.
"They're not. We're picking them up, remember?"
"Oh, duh!"
Melanie laughed, "How you manage to be so great at school, and yet so spacy still bewilders me."
Jasmine shrugged and laughed, "You can't win at everything."
"Too true!"
Melanie had finished with her eyeshadow and looked at her face in the mirror. She then turned to Jasmine and asked, "Even?"
Jasmine nodded. "Beautiful. Are you doing brown or black eyeliner?"
"I was thinking brown. Black would be too much, you know?"
"I feel that. Brown would also bring out your eyes more."
Melanie flashed her stunning blue eyes at her friend, who laughed.
Melanie finished lining her eyes, and Jasmine stopped applying her cat eye. Jasmine patted her face with a deep honey powder, and Melanie did the same except with a light ivory. They both applied their respective blush, and then lips. Jasmine wanted a natural, nude lip to balance out her heavy eyes. Melanie, on the other hand, felt like a rich bold to complement the color of her eye shadow and also to add color to her white dress.
"What're you doing with your hair?" Melanie wondered aloud.
"I'm tempted to leave it down, but I think it will hide the dress. So maybe a high pony?"
"And your hair's so thick that the pony tail won't lie flat against your head," she supported.
"Right, that's exactly what I was thinking!" Jasmine smiled. "What're you gonna do?"
"Well I'm curling it right now so that it's more manageable. My hair's so flat and straight that I can't do much with it."
"How about a high bun? Or a low chignon?" Jasmine wondered aloud.
"Oh I can't do a chignon," Melanie laughed. "I don't have the fingers for it. It never works."
"Then let me!" Jasmine laughed.
She immediately stood behind her friend's seat, and pulled the now cooled rollers out of her hair. The gentle waves made the hair significantly easier to work with, and Jasmine was able to pull all of the hair into a gentle, braided chignon, complete with a braided headband of Melanie's own hair.
"That's gorgeous, girl! Thank you!" Melanie said when she looked in the mirror at the complete look. The girl combed her straight-across bangs a little bit
Jasmine's brown eyes twinkled. "It's my pleasure." She then took a step back, to complete her own hairstyle with a teased crown, high pony. She tied the elastic off, and wrapped a piece of her own hair around it to hide the elastic.
"That's beautiful! Now c'mon! We have to finish getting dressed."
Jasmine followed Melanie back into her magnificent bedroom and went to her bag. She pulled out a glorious pavonine blue dress.
"Jaz, that's gorgeous!" Melanie remarked upon seeing the satin fabric. She had just slipped into her own dress, and turned around.
"Zip me, will you?"
"Sure thing."
Jasmine pulled the zipper up to the nape of her friend's neck, who turned around to show off the dress, whose body con bandage style hugged all of the pale girl's curves. The key whole emitted the perfect amount of cleavage.
"Melanie, that is stunning. Look at your hips! Oh my god, if I could wear Herve Leger–"
"Then you'd be the pretty one, and we can't have that," Melanie kidded. Jasmine laughed and rolled her eyes.
"Now put yours on!" Melanie ordered, and Jasmine complied. She stepped into her own dress, and held up her arm to zip up the side zipper. The A-line made Jasmine's already toned tummy appear even smaller.
"Oh my god that's so pretty," Melanie smiled. "Now the age-old question: silver or gold?"
"White gold," Jasmine demanded.
"That's perfect! I didn't even think of that! It's so much nicer looking than silver."
"I wish your new bag would go with the dress," Jasmine sighed.
"I was literally just thinking that! It's just a shade off though, you know? Whatever, I'll wear it every day besides today, haha," Melanie assured.
Jasmine appreciated the fact that she liked it so much and began to clasp her own jewelry on. She first closed her golden choker necklace, and then she put on her huge triangle earrings. Melanie did the same but with small white gold hoops, and three rings: her plain band, a Claddagh ring that celebrated her Irish heritage, and a white gold ring with a gorgeous tulip engraved in it. Melanie slipped into her strappy heels and Jasmine into her pumps.
Melanie combed her bangs a bit in the mirror, and puckered her lips. Behind her, Jasmine checked the application of her bronzer. "God we are so hot," Melanie smiled.
"Two of the sexiest babes around," Jasmine agreed with a chuckle.
"Miss Melanie?" a knock sounded from the other side of the door. The voice was dripping in a heavy Jordan accent. "Jor motha is ready fo' you"
"I will be right there, Naasim," Melanie called back, and quiet footsteps retreated from her door.
"Ready to go then?" Melanie asked.
"You have your ID, right?" Jasmine checked.
"Of course, girl. Come on," Melanie strutted to the door, and opened it. Jasmine followed her, and the two girls descended the grand staircase.
"Oh you two look beautiful!" Melanie's mom appeared around the corner. Despite the fact that she had been home all day, she wore an antique white skirt suit, and nude pumps. Her casual wear was always struck Jasmine as so put together that it hurt her to watch. "Let me get a picture!" she exclaimed.
Melanie smiled and rolled her eyes, but Jasmine knew she secretly loved the attention her mom was giving her. Despite being the only daughter in her household and her mother's most prized possession, Melanie was often overlooked. She didn't receive any of the attention that she deserved, Jasmine thought, but so is life. Jasmine often believed she received too much attention.
"We have to get going Mom, enough," Melanie reminded.
"Yes yes I know, but it's not every day that your only daughter turns 18. I'm excited! What can I say?" her mom's eyes twinkled. "But you're right: it's enough. Daniel is waiting outside for you and Jasmine."
"Thanks Mom. Love you," Melanie motioned for Jasmine to follow, but she turned to Melanie's mother before chasing after her friend. "Thank you so much, Ms. Rhodes."
"It's always my pleasure, Jasmine."
Jasmine waved good bye, and followed her friend, whose mom shut the front door behind Jasmine. Melanie and Jasmine walked to the family's chauffeur's car, and climbed into the back of the black Mercedes GL Class.
"Where to Miss Melanie?" Daniel asked from the driver's seat.
"766 Oak Dr." she replied. "And then to 2946 Perrier Pkwy."
"Yes, Miss Melanie." Daniel switched the car into drive, and pulled out of the circular driveway.
…
The car pulled up to a huge house on Oak Drive. The house had two outdoor staircases, turrets on the roof, dark shutters that complemented the beige-painted bricks – in a word, it was gorgeous. Daniel hopped out of the car, leaving it running. He went to the magnificent French doors, and rang the bell. Not a complete minute later, Daniel was walking back down the walkway with a bodacious black girl tagging along.
The girl had the top half of her long braided hair in a huge bun sitting on top of her head, while the underside flowed down her back to the curve of her butt. Her womanly curves were clad in a royal blue AX Paris dress that hugged her tiny waist and wide hips just perfectly. The dress had cutouts on either side of her waist, and it was adorned with plates of silver running along the round neckline, down the middle, and along the cutouts. Her shoulders were covered with small cap sleeves. It was a stunning dress on a beautiful person – the perfect match.
Jasmine wished her father would let her wear dresses like that, but she had to wear fit and flare or babydoll dresses. Nothing that showed too much skin or was too tight. She had to be dressed in a "proper manner", as he liked to say.
Daniel opened the door for the black girl, and she squeezed in next to Jasmine. "Hey girlies," she greeted.
"Hey Jacqueline," Jasmine and Melanie said simultaneously.
Daniel backed out of Jacqueline's driveway with ease, and the girls were on the road again once more.
"And a very happy birthday to you, Miss Legal," Jacqueline reached across Jasmine to touch Melanie on the arm to convey her genuine intentions.
"You are too sweet. Thank you," Melanie gave Jacqueline a very real smile to show her appreciation.
"And I love this dress!" Jacqueline told the birthday girl. "And Jasmine! Only you could pull off this look. I'm obsessed."
"Thank you," Jasmine threw the girl a smirking look and winked. "I think it could be said that I look… proper."
A roar of laughter from all three girls made the driver, Daniel, jump.
"You're too funny, Jasmine," Jacqueline tried to air-dry her teary eyes without messing up her royal blue winged eyeliner.
"Winifred Johnson's home, Miss Melanie," Daniel's voice sounded from the front seat. He then removed himself from the front seat to go fetch Winnie from her front door.
"Daniel's cute," Jacqueline stated when the young man had rung the bell.
"He's 'off limits' to me," Melanie rolled her eyes.
"Whatt?" Jacqueline demanded. "Why?"
"Apparently if I hook up with him, he could lose his job. I wouldn't care except that a good driver is so hard to find. A lot of them try to talk to you. It's obnoxious, honestly. Like 'Did I ask your opinion?'," Melanie sighed. "I'd rather just not fuck him. It's not that big of a deal, honestly. There are much cuter and much richer guys out there."
"He's not off limits to me," Jacqueline sniggered.
"Yeah, you can have him," Melanie shrugged. "Lemme know if he's any good."
Daniel had returned with a small blonde girl in tow. The girl's wavy and textured blonde hair was cute at an asymmetrical bob. Her hair, parted to the left, gave her even face an unbalanced effect: the left side was cut to her chin and the right just tickled her shoulders. The sun-kissed ends shone golden while the rest of the hair was more of a butterscotch. She wore a black, high-neck, sleeveless, Anne Sofie Madsen dress with a fluted skirt right below her butt. To complement the dress, she wore a black leather arm cuff on her upper arm, huge silver dangling earrings that stopped at about her collar bone, and white flatforms.
Daniel opened the door for the girl who stood 5'0", and she climbed in. "Hey Win," Jacqueline, Jasmine, and Melanie all greeted.
"Heyy," she said in a croak. Her voice always sounded raspy, and a stranger would think that she just had a sore throat or had lost her voice. But her friends knew of her large vocal nodules that she was born with that gave her voice a sultry tone.
"How's it going?" Jacqueline asked the girl as she sat down.
"Fine, thanks for asking. Oh! And a happy birthday to you, Mel," she added with a wink.
"Thanks, Winnie," Melanie smiled back.
"Are you planning on getting any crazy tattoos or piercings now that you're 18?" Winnie asked the Birthday Girl.
Melanie laughed. "Have you met me? Absolutely not."
Winnie rolled her eyes, but her expression remained sweet. "You should be crazy for once in your life. Let loose!"
"Yeah, Mel! Just get something small pierced. Or a tattoo on your ankle! S'cute," Jackie backed up.
"I don't know… I'm just not into that life," Melanie admitted.
"We know, we know. You're more… classic," Win and Jacqueline sniggered together.
"I am classic!" Melanie fought.
Win and Jacqueline laughed.
"Moving away from this conversation," Melanie began. "Let's talk about drinks for the night. What are we thinking?"
"I'm in the mood for wine…" Jasmine thought aloud.
"Ooh but a cosmo sounds really good right now," Winnie added.
"Ew, vodka? Ugh not for dinner, Win," Melanie said, disgusted. "What wine were you thinking?"
"I don't know… maybe a sangria. Or pinot noir."
"Rosé! That's what I feel like," Jacqueline stated.
"I could definitely go for rosé…" Melanie considered to herself. "Something sweet and light…"
"Like a sparkling blush wine…" Winnie added.
"That would be delicious," Jasmine agreed.
"We'll ask what the best rosé they have is. Rosé d'anjou is of course delicious, but it's too savory. I want something fruity for tonight, you know?" Melanie asked the opinion of her girlfriends who agreed that they ought to ask the waiter which rosé was most popular.
The girls continued to talk about various trivial topics when the car came to a halt. Daniel shifted the car into park, and quickly went around the car to open the door for Melanie and her friends, who were all squished in the backseat of the car. Melanie was the first to jump out, followed by Jasmine and then Jacqueline and finally Winnie.
Melanie brushed off her dress, and turned to her driver, "Thank you, Daniel. We should be done in no less than an hour. Meet us back here at eight, okay?"
"Yes, Miss Melanie. And, er, please take your time and enjoy your evening."
Melanie smiled a second too long at her driver before she turned to her girlfriends, linked arms with Jasmine, and the foursome began to walk towards Maison Fantaisie, an elegant restaurant that served authentic and delicious French-cuisine.
Once inside, Melanie told the hostess she had a reservation for Rhodes at 7:30. She immediately led them to a table upstairs with a view overlooking the immense landscape. The city looked beautiful under the opaque, black sky.
"Good evening, ladies, welcome to Maison Fantaisie. How are you doing tonight?" Jasmine locked eyes with the man. His were blue with spatters of gold, framed with thick, dark lashes, and they lied beneath thick and perfectly arched brows. A mumble of "well" echoed through the table, and the man continued his speech: "Terrific! My name is Gary, and I'm going to be taking care of you all. Would you care to get anything to drink tonight? Perhaps a bottle wine? Some cocktails?" Jasmine felt as though he was talking to her specifically, but it was the Birthday Girl who had an ID and therefore she who responded: "Which one is your wine menu?" She looked around the table.
Gary took the liberty of picking it up for her, and handed her the menu.
"These all look so delicious," Melanie's eyes gazed across the menu. "Tell me, Gary, what's your most popular rosé?
"That would be our Pinot Grigio Rosé. It is an excellent complement to chicken, pork, turkey, and veal – all delicious entrees we have this evening. Its taste is describes as a light citrusy, floral aroma of almond, pear and green apple. From experience I can say it delights the palate," he told Jasmine despite having been asked by Melanie.
"Would you recommend it?" Jasmine questioned him.
"I would. However, there is a brand new rosé from Wölfeer Estate called 'Bottle of Summer'. That, I do recommend. It's a sophisticated blend of in-season fruits like blueberry, raspberry, and black cherry. Very crisp."
"Perfect. We'll get two bottles,' Melanie told him, shutting the menu.
"Would you mind if I could see your ID, first? I apologize for the inconvenience, but it's policy."
Melanie smiled, totally natural, "I completely understand."
She fidgeted with her purse, and pulled out her wallet. She danced her manicured fingers along the pockets until she was able to pull out her horizontal ID. Gary took a quick look at its authenticity, and nodded with approval. He went to go fetch their wine.
"Seamless," Melanie smirked when the waiter was out of earshot.
"That's because it looks legit," Jacqueline noted.
"That's because it is legit," Melanie told her. "What do you take me for? Some poor boy? I only invest in the finer things."
Gary came back with two opened bottles of the chilled wine in buckets of ice. He set them on the table, and poured the contents into each of the four glasses, beginning with Jasmine. The four girls respectively said thank you when their glass was filled.
He set the bottle back into the bucket of ice, and folded his hands. "Would you like to hear the specials? (An assent was found throughout the table) Our soup du jour is bouillabaisse – a classic French stew made primarily with branzino, saffron, and fennel. An excellent choice." As he spoke his eyes never left Jasmine's – her dark chocolate orbs innocent and wide like that of a doe. "In addition to our soup special, we also have a special entrée – mignonettes de veau au parmesan – parmesan crusted veal medallion. Tender, sweet, and a classic option. I'll leave you all to look over the menus for a bit longer. Please take your time, and I will be back to put your orders in."
The waiter left, and the girls began to discuss their options.
Ten minutes later, Gary returned, his arms elegantly folded behind his back.
"Have you all made your decisions?" he asked. The girls all nodded, so Gary took out his paper pad and pen. "Alright, I'll start with you. What would you like?" he said, gesturing with a flat hand to Jasmine and smiling with a wink.
Jasmine was a little surprised that she was told to go first, but nonetheless began the order. "I'm going to get a cup of that saffron and fennel soup ("the bouillabaisse") Yes that one. Thank you. And the lamb niϛoise, please."
"Splendid choice. One of my favorites ," he smiled at her again.
"Well I know you won't disappoint."
"Never," he said to her, and seemed to drag his eyes off her to face the girl on her right.
"And you, Miss," he began with noticeably less enthusiasm at Melanie.
"I will have the soup du jour as well, and poulet aux champignons," Melanie told him.
"Very good. And for you?" he continued around the table.
Jacqueline opted for the onglet de veau, and Win went with the jackfruit au vin.
"Very well, ladies, I will go put those orders in for you. Let me top you off, ma'am," he picked up the wine bottle, and refilled Jasmine's wine glass from the bottle off the table. He then made the rounds with the other glasses on the table before departing to the kitchen.
"He's friendly," Jasmine laughed when he was out of earshot. She took a sip of her wine, the bitter yet sweet taste leaving an imprint on her tongue.
"Maybe with you," Jacqueline seriously joked.
"Agreed," Winnie said. "He's not even looking at the rest of us."
"You all are crazy. He's just really friendly," Jasmine stated.
"Just with you, girl," Melanie told her.
"I think I would notice if someone was trying to flirt with me," she folded her arms.
"You can think all you want, Jaz, but you definitely didn't," Winnie chuckled to herself.
"Well, I'll just prove it to you," Jasmine huffed, refusing to accept defeat in this argument.
Melanie giggled, the wine perhaps hitting her on an empty stomach, "How are you expecting to do that?"
"I'm going to ask him," she said as if that was a stupid question.
But all three girls' eyes nearly bulged from their heads.
"You're going to– WHAT?"
"You cannot do that!"
"Are you insane?!"
"Okay listen, Jaz," Melanie began, trying to talk sense into her friend. "How about this: he flirts with you. You flirt back with him. If he asks for your number – you were wrong. He if doesn't, we were. Deal?"
"Fine," said Jasmine, sure in herself.
And speaking of the devil, Gary had just returned with their soup starters. The fennel and carrot complemented each other grandly, and the saffron spice was a skillful addition.
After the girls had finished their first course, everyone except Jasmine had finished a whole glass of wine. After some teasing, she gulped down her last sip, and Gary was at her side within the minute to refill hers (and afterwards everyone else's) glasses. But not even that was enough to prove to Jasmine; she simply refused to believe her friends. She had her heart set on the fact that she was receiving no more special treatment than the rest of them.
After their entrees came and went, and after an order had already been placed for dessert and coffee, Jasmine realized (two or three wine glasses later) just how bad she had to pee. She immediately stood up from the table, and excused herself to the restroom, located near the kitchen.
After finishing in the restroom, she exited to find her waiter, Gary, enter the kitchen, and then double take and step out of the kitchen to greet Jasmine.
"Hi," he said with a sly, arrogant smile.
"Hello," Jasmine just slightly, hardly noticeably slurred.
"I don't think I caught your name," he told her.
"It's Jasmine," she stated.
"Jasmine? I love the way that smells."
"Oh, I wasn't named after the flower," she stated.
"Really? What were you named after?"
"That's a long story," Jasmine stated. "Maybe for another time."
"Another time? Does that mean I'll see you again?"
Jasmine did all she could do hold back her blush. The alcohol had already given a rosy tint to her cheeks, and she did not need that to be more prominent.
"Maybe," she gave him a wink , and walked back to her table.
She sat down, and decided not to tell her girlfriends about her talk with their very attractive waiter. She'd save that one just from Melanie tonight when they were watching a movie in bed or something.
"You were gone a while," Win stated.
Busted.
"Was I?" Jasmine wondered aloud, hopefully not a pitch too high. "I had to check my makeup in the mirror."
She was greeted with a skeptical glare from each girl at the table.
"…or maybe I was having a conversation with Gary…" she added.
"Whattt?" the girls shrieked.
"Sounds like we were right," Melanie bragged.
"Yeah, yeah whatever," Jasmine rolled her eyes, a deep blush boiling under her cheeks. She gave them the details of the conversation, but made sure to add, "I really don't think he's my type."
"What's the mattah with him?" Jackie said, disbelieving.
"He's arrogant. Cocky. Obnoxious. And I'm not sure I want to surround myself with someone like that," she stated firmly.
"Do what you want, girl, but listen: he's capital-H-Hot. You don't have to date him," Melanie urged.
"I'm not sure I want anything to do with him," Jasmine folded her arms, and the decision was made. Everyone knew that once Jasmine had her mind set on something, nothing could break her devotion.
Not a minute later, Gary came and brought their desserts – house-made vanilla bean ice cream and fresh raspberries with a house-made chocolate sauce from cocoa beans in Peru – and their coffees – espresso con panna, please – his eyes lingering on Jasmine once again. She locked eyes with him, and he didn't look away. Jasmine still wasn't sure if his confidence was off-putting or endearing.
As the girls ate, Jackie and Win took out their presents from their purses.
"Oh you shouldn't have," Melanie told them both, though it was clear she was very happy to be receiving gifts.
She first opened Winnie's to reveal a stunning Tiffany Harmony® rose gold ring. There was a twist in the solid gold band, and Melanie couldn't take her eyes away from it.
"Oh my god, Win, this is amazing. I… I'm speechless! I don't even know what to say!"
"You're welcome," Winnie said with a soft smile.
"Yes, thank you. Thank you so much."
"The rose gold is going to look amazing with your complexion, Mel," Jasmine offered as her eyes lingered on the glinting ring.
"And it's simple yet sophisticated," Jacqueline offered. "Now open mine!"
Melanie took the small bag from her friend's hands, and began to dig inside. She pulled out a small pink box labeled "Acqua Di Parmi Rosa Nobile" and almost screamed with delight.
"Oh my god, you didn't!"
"I did!" Jacqueline smiled brightly.
"Jackie, this is my favorite perfume ever. I can't believe you remembered that. I've been meaning to buy it for MONTHS!"
"And now you don't have to."
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she shrieked with delight. She stood up from her seat to give both girls a friendly hug of gratitude. Then she sat back down.
"Jasmine, what did you get her?" Winnie asked.
"A handbag from the new Tom Burch collection," Jasmine stated.
"That's insane!" the two girls who were not present for the gift exchange cheered. "No way!"
"What color is it?" Jacqueline questioned.
"Light oak," Melanie responded.
"I'm so jealous, Melanie! That must be gorgeous!"
"It is! I would've worn it if my dress were any other color. And I would've changed my dress to match it, except my mom bought me this dress for this dinner, so I couldn't have done that to her."
"You'll have plenty other opportunities," Jasmine told her.
Just then Gary had returned to their table, bearing a black leather folder. He stood right beside Jasmine, and placed a folded piece of paper on the table by Jasmine's resting hand. Acting as natural as ever, he placed the check in the middle of the table, and then told them "Whenever you are ready," before disappearing once again, without saying another word to Jasmine. None of the other girls even seemed to notice, but Jasmine secretly unfolded it in her hands, and read the note.
Hope to hear from you soon, Jasmine it read, followed by a seven digit number. Jasmine crumpled the note and stuck it into her purse. She'd consider, perhaps.
Melanie reached for it, and she laid three hundred-dollar-bills inside the folder, and shut it once more. "Are you all ready?"
Everyone was, so they stood up from the table and walked to the car.
Though Melanie had instructed Daniel it would be no longer than an hour, it was nearly ten when they got back to the car.
"I'm exhausted," Winifred said in her low voice.
"Oh my god, me, too!" Jackie sighed.
Daniel immediately emerged from the car, and opened the door for the four ladies. Winnie climbed in first, and went to the farthest seat. Jacqueline made to follow her, but before she got into the car, she laid a caring hand on Daniel's left shoulder and smiled. "Thank you," she said in a throaty voice. It took all of the other girls' wills not to laugh.
Daniel blushed to a deep vermillion, and nodded gently. Melanie climbed in after Jacqueline, and finally Jasmine. Daniel hurried around to the front of the car, and climbed into the driver's seat. He sped away from the parking garage, and headed for Winnie's house. The routine went the same as it did for pick up – Daniel would park the car, but leave it running, and then walk the girl to the car and return back to the car to drive to the next house. However, when he pulled up to Jacqueline's house, Melanie and Jasmine couldn't help but notice how close she walked to him, and how her hands seem to hold onto his arm a little too fiercely.
When Daniel had returned to the car, Jasmine and Melanie couldn't help but notice just how pink the boy's ears were. He turned the air up higher, and seemed to pull at his collar. They both made a note to ask Jacqueline what happened when he walked her to the door.
No later were the two girls laughing at Daniel's extreme embarrassment that they were already pulling up into Melanie's driveway. Jasmine, being Melanie's best friend, was asked to spend the night without the other girl's knowledge. It had always been clear that Melanie and Jasmine were closer with each other than with the other girls. That being said, Winnie and Jackie were always very close friends. That's why the quartet got along so well!
So when Jasmine and Melanie got back to her house, the two friends immediately got into their pajamas.
"That food was sooo good," Jasmine said as she crawled into her friend's bed.
Melanie, having already gotten into bed, laid against her huge fluffy pillows. "Oh god, wasn't it amazing! That's one of my favorite places."
"Well I'm happy you enjoyed your birthday," Jasmine smiled.
Melanie snuggled into the bed, and smiled, too. "Yes. It was quite the happy 18."
Silence permeated for a while, then Melanie asked her friend the plans for tomorrow.
"I have to be home by dinner, so we should hang in the morning or something. We can talk about it tomorrow though. You wanna watch a movie or something?"
Melanie agreed to watch a movie with her friend, and they flipped through the channels on her TV. ABC Family was playing Clueless, so they immediately knew what to watch. Neither were paying that much attention, so it really just behaved as background noise as the two talked.
"Why do you have to be home tomorrow for dinner?" Melanie asked.
"Oh my brother is coming home from school, and we have to have a special family meal to celebrate it," she told her with an eye roll.
"What? It's like June 18th. Why wasn't he home already?"
"I think his school makes you do some weird study program after the semester ends. It's called like 'Study Immersion' or something. I don't know much about it other than he decided to do it this summer to get it over with. Next year is the last year he can do it, with graduation and all in the following year, so my only guess is he wanted to get it over with."
"I would've waited until my third year," she decided.
"You're insane. I would've done it my freshman year."
Melanie could do nothing but laugh at her friend's worth ethic. She was sometimes surprised, despite knowing how hard she worked.
The two girls continued to talk about other things – including the fact that Gary had slipped Jasmine his number, and whether or not Jasmine intended to text Gary – until they eventually fell asleep, exhausted from the food, the wine, and the effort it took to talk.
A/N: So there you have it. Just a little snippet into Jasmine's privileged life to complement the first chapter. And to reward you all for making it through the chapter, here's a little excerpt from Chapter 3:
He ran a hand through his messy, black hair. He was standing so close that Jasmine could really see his appearance. His mocha skin was even and smooth. His dark hair matched his eyes, and he seemed too skinny. He wore a black t-shirt under an unzipped purple hoodie, and baggy jeans.
He walked closer to her, and Jasmine instinctively backed away. Her breath hitched, and she wasn't sure what this man's next move was going to be. He kept his distance, but offered her a hand. She gazed at it, quizzically. She still hadn't made up her mind on him.
"Come on, I'll walk you home," the boy gave a lopsided grin.
Stay tuned!