I mention a character, Mikki, that belongs to KikiJuanita. She has given me her permission to use Mikki. She cannot be used without KikiJuanita's say so. Onyx belongs to me and she cannot be used without my permission. Enjoy!
With her arm in a cast, she found herself laying on the couch, watching some rerun Sebastian had put it on, neither one of them watching the TV screen. Her feet tossed over his lap, as she picked at the gaudy-green color of the cast. She really should have known better than to let Seb pick the color out. At least, it wasn't pink, that is one color she can never like.
"I will smack your hands, if you keep that up," he warned, not even taking his eyes from the TV.
"You're no fun, Seb. Don't you have a girlfriend to bug?" She asked, dropping her arm off the couch.
"No, she's working today," he replied. "The not so pleasant joys of Summer vacation." She rolled her eyes at that. They didn't have a summer vacation, not with planning for the upcoming school year, learning seminars, tutoring and even doing summer school.
"You can go work at a boarding school," she offered. She much preferred her summer vacation. In another week, she would be doing a bit of tutoring at the community center, three days a week. Sebastian joining her.
"I don't miss school that much," he laughed, flicking her ankle. "How are things with you and that guy?" She rolled her eyes, not finding it funny. "What?" He laughed.
"I get it; I talk about him more than I should," she sighed. "He's a nice break from thinking about Hunter."
"You should talk to Hunter. I've seen that he has called a handful of times over the past few days. I do think that you need to hear him out. Get the closure you need to move on," he explained.
"I don't know if I am ready for that, Seb," she sighed, chewing her lip. "I know I need the closure, took me forever to get over Mason; Madison still won't talk to me over that," she said sadly. Madison had been one of her good friends in school. Encouraged her to date her twin brother. A love story written in the stars for the two of them, until it no longer was a love story. Two years together couldn't fix the distance placed between them. Cheating seemed to be the recurring theme in her life when it came to boyfriends. She has yet to get the answers she so desperately wanted when it first happened.
"Like you made him cheat on you with Jane," he said shaking his head.
"No, but she is his twin therefore she will take his side. Not that it matters because I have the best of friends now," she replied, nudging him with her foot.
"Stupid if you ask me," he said shaking his head. "You'll always have us; no stupid ex will change that."
"That should make me feel loved, but the way you are talking about your friend makes me question your friendship," she told him, ignoring her phone on the coffee table.
"You are loved," he stated, moving to grab her phone. "What did your brother do?"
"Put me in the weirdest spot I could possible be," she replied. "What does his message say?" She inquired, making a move to sit up, Seb giving her a stern look, forcing her to lay back down.
"Please with a bunch of emoji faces," he told her, bypassing her lock screen. "You should change that," he laughed, typing in a quick reply and sending it.
"What did you send to him? And yeah the same goes for you. Had a lovely conversation with a miss Mikki. Invited her over for dinner Wednesday," she laughed.
"I see how it is," he smirked, finding the name he needed and sending an invite to him. "Now it's a double date," he smirked, handing her phone over.
"Sebastian Smythe I am going to kill you!" She screeched, looking over the messages he sent. Her brother could wait; it is part of her punishment for him. But the message he sent to Clint; it would be costing him his life.
"What did I do?" He questioned through a laugh, looking at his friend like she is completely and utterly crazy. "It is called payback for a reason."
"Except I never made a date with Mikki to come here. Ever heard of a joke? I talked to her when you left your phone out here, but I didn't invite her over for dinner. We made plans to shop so we could get to know each other that way, it won't be awkward when she is here," she explained, seeing the message thread on her phone with Clint unchanged since the message Seb sent.
"How was I supposed to know?" He questioned. "It's not like you to make a joke about my girlfriends. You talk about them but never joke like that."
"Maybe you should have confirmed it to be true before ruining the friendship I have with Clint," she told him, her anger still the emotion driving her.
"Relax, Onyx," he chuckled. "It is a Monday and he has work to do; he will get back to you. I didn't ruin anything. If anything I gave this friendship of yours a kick it needs," he shrugged, acting way calmer than she is.
"It doesn't need a kick; I'm not ready for anything more, Seb. We've been through this before," she complained. Friends is all she can do.
"Whatever you say," he responded. "It's not like the invite for him to come here says date night. I simply told him to come hang out with my friends."
"And relieve me as the odd one out," she said, reading that straight from her phone. "What are you going to do have everyone and their significant others over for the night?" She questioned. "Yes you are," she told him snapping her fingers. An idea for Jeff and Sugar to hit it off without the bar playing a part of it.
"It is going to take a bit to make it happen on Wednesday night," he pointed out. "We can't pull it off in just a few days."
"Then you best get busy," she told him. "It's not like the guys are going to pass up a chance to come hang out and play games or whatever," she told him. "The most you need to do is send a group text and clean the place a bit. Ordering in is a life saver, dude," she told him.
"I see no way out of this," he caved. "I did get you into this mess, the least I can do is throw a friend night, to help my best friend out," he told her. "While I get plans finalized, you might want to head over to Jeff's place, might do some good to work out the sibling quarrel you have going on."
Taking up Sebastian's offer she changed into something that wasn't filled with holes to venture to her brother's place, hoping she wouldn't run into anyone she knew, mainly Clint as she didn't want to be rejected by him in person. Text would be bad enough.
"Miss Onyx, I haven't seen you around in a while," Mrs. McDevitt said, letting her enter the building with her.
"I've been around. Just here a few days ago," she told her, pushing the button to call the elevator. "Jeff mentioned you flew out to Vermont. How are the grandkids?" She asked, letting her get on the elevator first. Hearing an out of breath hold the elevator, she did as asked, hating when people would be rude and let the door shut making her wait that much longer.
"They're fine, growing up so fast. My son is wanting me to move out there, but I don't think I can handle the snow," she sighed.
"Nothing wrong with a bit of snow," she replied, her smile falling seeing that Clint entered the elevator. Without him asking, she hit the button for his floor. "Family is family; I can see why he wants you to be closer to him."
"To hover over me, like he doesn't do that now. He may be on the other side of the US, but it's like he's right here. I am his mother after all, I raised him," she ranted.
"He's only looking out for you. You raised him right," she offered. "You can't disagree that it would be nice to see your grandkids a bit more," she added on.
"Now you sound like my kid," she laughed. "I'll think about it," she offered, getting off at her floor.
"Should I even ask?" He asked with a chuckle, moving a bit closer to her. She said nothing giving him a shrug, her eyes focused on the floor. "Okay," he commented at her funny behavior. "Are you okay?" She nodded, still not looking at him. "What the hell, Onyx? I thought things were good between us, and now you're pulling this little act of not knowing me."
"You're crazy," she replied, stepping off the elevator. Thinking she was free was the wrong thing to think because he stepped around her stopping her. Lightly he backed her into the corner. "What?" She snapped.
"You tell me," he told her. "What the hell is going on?"
"Nothing," she told him. He cocked an eyebrow not believing her. "Check your messages and you'll figure it out," she told him quietly.
"My messages?" He questioned, pulling his phone from his pocket. "I don't know what they have to do with anything. Not that I have any unread messages, from you or anyone," he told her.
"Oh so you thought it best to ignore the message. I get it. Those words you said were a bunch of shit then. Let me go," she told him harshly, pushing at his chest the best she could with her broken wrist.
"None of what I told you is shit," he seethed out. "The last message I got from you is from last night when you said the painkillers were making you drowsy so you were calling it a night," he told her, flashing the message thread for her to read. "Now what the hell has your panties in a damn twist?"
"You didn't get the message about Wednesday?" She asked shyly, feeling all sorts of embarrassed. He shook his head, not sure what Wednesday had to do with her being pissed at him. Pulling out her phone she opened it to the thread for him and showed him.
"My roommate, you remember Sebastian, right?" He nodded answering her question. "He invited you over after I told him I did it to his girlfriend, in a way to get back at me, except I didn't invite his girl over. And now the whole thing has turned into a night. You don't have to come," she quickly explained.
He laughed, making her mad. She went to duck under his arm when he caught her around the waist, pulling her back. Without thinking he brushed his lips against hers. She froze feeling his soft lips against hers.
"I'll be there, Onyx," he told her. "Let me know what time, and if I need to bring anything," he informed her, slipping back into the elevator.
With her fingers pressed against her lips, she walked to her brother's apartment in a daze, not sure what to take of the small hint of a kiss from Clint.
"You can come in ya know," Jeff laughed, looking in the direction of the elevator to see what had his sister so mesmerized. He shrugged not seeing anyone or anything. "Earth to Onyx," he said, snapping his fingers in front of her face.
"What?" She snapped, pushing her way past him. "Your friend sucks," she muttered grabbing a can of pop from the fridge. "Seriously couldn't you get better ones?" She asked, sitting in the chair, propping her feet on the end of the coffee table, ignoring the look of annoyance from him.
"You are friends with over half of my friends; I need a bit more than that," he laughed, sitting on the couch, tossing an arm over the back of his couch. She gave him a look of really, making him laugh harder. "But I will go out on a very thin limb here and ask you what Sebastian did. But do keep in mind that he is more your friend these days than mine. How did that happen?" He asked. He couldn't remember when Sebastian, and his sister grew so close.
"When you weren't really getting along with him. Back when you were all about fun, and he liked to be serious," she shrugged. "He invited Clint over to have a double date with Mikki, except I was joking with him," she shortened for him. "Now you and your buddies will be at my place Wednesday night and there will be hell to pay if you're not there," she warned, taking a drink from her pop.
"I have to work; some of us work nights," he pointed out.
"That's bull and you know it. You close early on Sunday night, and you remain closed on Wednesday because it's a slump," she retorted, raising an eyebrow.
"And what are you going to do, if I don't show?" He questioned with a laugh. He should have never challenged her with his work schedule. She spent time working there, and she knew the schedule of all the employees better than he did, something he has yet to figure out how she does.
"You want me to put in a good word with Sugar. You don't show up; I will make sure she stays far away from you, and that she finds someone else to be with. And I will make sure Sugar is there. And when you tell your buddies, make sure they know to bring their significant others," she told him, getting up, finishing her drink, tossing the can into the recyclable can bin.
"I'll be there. I'm guessing normal time?" He asked.
"You will be notified," she informed him, walking to the door. "I left Seb before figuring out the details. He wanted me to come over here and talk to you. And now you know my plan for Sugar," she shrugged.
"It's called blackmail," he laughed. "Have you thought about talking to Hunter?"
"You sound just like Seb," she sighed, yanking the door open. "I'm not ready to deal with that drama head on. You can tell him as much when you speak to him next." Costing her brother an old friendship, was never in the cards for her. She wanted her brother to remain friends with him. Their breakup/his cheating on her had nothing to do with her brother so it should not jeopardize their friendship.
"Will do," he nodded, walking to the door holding it open for her. "I can give him the cold shoulder for a while to make you feel better," he offered.
"I appreciate it; I do, but I don't want you to do that. He is your friend; I knew that going into the relationship. You can be as mad at him as you feel is necessary, but I don't want you to throw the friendship out the window because he cheated on me. The relationship I have with him should not affect your friendship with Hunter," she explained to him. It would take some time, but one day she wanted to be friends with him. Right now, she found it hard to look past the hurt, he caused her. Heck she was finding it hard to even face him after what she walked in on.
"Got it," he replied. "Let me know you made it home, okay?" She nodded, turning to leave. "How is the arm?" He called after her, getting her to stop and turn to look at him.
"Hurts every so often. Itches like mad," she shrugged. "So it's good," she told him. "Can I go now or do you have a ton more questions to ask me out in the hall?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You can go," he laughed, waiting until she disappeared around the corner.
The walk from her brothers place to her own, took a few minutes, not enough time to begin processing the soft gentle kiss she received from Clint. That is the first time she has ever received such a gentle kiss from anyone other than her parents. Her friends and brother didn't find it necessary to plaster her with kisses, if that ever happened, she would be sure to punch them in the gut. And past boyfriends and even the one or two girlfriends she has had, never gave her such a sweet kiss, it's a kiss she never gave out. And after today it was easily her favorite kiss to date. It did leave a lasting impression.
"What are you doing?" She asked, stopping in the doorway, not letting the door shut behind her seeing the living room looking as if it threw up everything it held.
"I couldn't take the glare from the kitchen light sitting right in the middle of the TV. Thought I would put the TV elsewhere but the stupid sun didn't help, and now I am trying to find the perfect spot for the TV where the sunlight and artificial light won't be casted on the screen making it hard to watch," he got out.
"Could have told me you were just rearranging the living room. It would've taken less time," she told him, stepping into the apartment, locking the door behind her. "I am going to assume you have this under control. Let me know when it's safe to come out of my room," she told him, heading in the direction of her room.
"Hold up!" He said loudly, getting her to stop short of the hallway. Looking over her shoulder at him. "You could offer to help me," he said, crossing his arms over his chest. She raised her arm up, showing him the green cast he picked out as her answer on not asking to help him. "Fair enough," he shrugged. "How did things go with your brother?"
"Uh good. Just have to let him know what time. As the rest of them," she informed him. "May I go now so you can get back to the disaster you have our living room?"
"Yeah go," he sighed, turning back to the mess he made. "Think Blaine would mind coming over and giving a hand?" He asked, Onyx laughing as she walked away.
"Call him and ask him. He is your friend after all," she called out to him, shutting her bedroom door and turning some music on, laying on her bed, tossing an arm over her eyes, trying to drown out the very alive city below her.
A few hours later, she walked out of her room, stumbling into the living room, stopping short she let a laugh out, seeing everything back in its normal place.
"Silly me, thought you were rearranging the living room," she commented, getting a glass of water. "Hey Blaine," she called, downing half the cup while taking her pain medication.
"Hey Onyx," he laughed.
"That was the plan," Seb said, nodding his head. "Though the best place for the TV is right where it is at. I can't help that," he stated.
"You are such a dork," she laughed, sitting on the couch with Sebastian. "You coming to our party?" She asked, looking at Blaine.
"Can't, I have plans that night. Sorry," he told her.
"It would be the perfect chance for us to meet your girlfriend," she smirked.
"Dude, she's right about that. We've been dying to meet her. You can't miss Jeff making a fool of himself; you'll get to meet Mikki, and the guy whom this one," Seb said, lightly kicking her leg closest to him. "Has been getting chummy with?"
"Who even uses the word chummy anymore?" She asked laughing. "Despite his chose of words, he is right," she shrugged, dreading them meeting Clint officially together; it was going to be torture for her. "And I am not getting anything with him. We are friends and nothing more," she stated, firmly.
"That so?" Blaine questioned with a laugh of his own. "I'll run it past her, but you should know that we haven't discussed where in our relationship, we are," he told them.
"You should get on that. You don't want her to think that all you want her for is sex and not someone you might be able to settle down with," she told him.
"Onyx is right about very little," Seb joked, earning a pillow to the face. "Though she is right about this. If you want more with her, you need to talk to her and define what you guys are," Seb finished.
"I think I'll go do that now," he said, pushing himself up from the chair he occupied. "I'll be letting you know about the party," he told them, seeing himself out.
"I've got to get ready for a date with Mikki. You will be okay by yourself right?" He asked, looking at her.
"I'm not five Sebastian," she retorted rolling her eyes. With Seb gone it would give her the perfect chance to talk to Sugar not only about Jeff, but discuss the rest of the guy drama going on in her life. "It'll be nice to have a girl's night for a few hours," she told him, reaching for her phone to get things in motion.
"Makeovers, that's my cue," he stated, leaving her to plan her night with a few friends.
With her plans made she started to get things put together, ordered a pizza, found a silly romcom to watch when they were all settled in. Snacks spread around the coffee table, in bowls and the bags, they came in. The wine placed on the coffee table with a few glasses next to it.
"You do know that with your pain meds you can't be drinking alcohol in any form, right?" Seb questioned, walking out from his room, working the button on his shirt sleeve.
"Look at you," she whistled. "I do know. Water or orange juice. We don't have apple juice," she sighed.
Seb chuckled walking over to the fridge pulling out her favorite flavored water. A sweet and tart pomegranate one. "I had Blaine pick some up for you on his way over. Don't worry I paid him back when he got here," he told her.
"You are such a lifesaver," she told him over dramatically. "You best go before you're running late," she said, pushing him with her good hand. "Oh and be a dear and let me know if you'll be back tonight," she told him.
"Yes mother," he chuckled, walking from the apartment, checking his pockets as he walked.
With Sebastian gone for his date, she double checked that she had everything. She frowned hearing the knock on the door while she straightened the pillows on the couch. Wondering what neighbor needed what. She didn't mind her neighbors; they didn't bother her, the only problem she ever seems to have with them is when they come knocking when she doesn't have the time to deal with what they need.
"Seb let me in when he was leaving," Sugar explained, hugging her friend before entering the apartment. Onyx nodded, that making sense.
"Make yourself at home, the pizza will be here shortly," she told her friend. "Any word from Marley?"
"She's running a few minutes late," Sugar told her, pouring herself a glass of wine, munching on a chip.
"Good, gives me a chance to talk to you about my dumb brother," she said, getting a bottle of water, getting a funny look from her friend, not sure if it had to do with what she said or the fact she had water and not wine. "Pain meds," she said, curling up in the chair. Sugar nodded, getting more comfortable.
"What is this business with your brother?" Sugar questioned, pulling her feet underneath her, her shoes sitting by the door.
"Can you do me a huge favor in being his fake girlfriend?" Earning more of a curious look, she went on to explain what Jeff said, to help her out, which she would get the full story on once Marley showed up. "I'll owe you big time. You only have to do it once," Onyx pleaded with her friend.
"Do you think that he has real feelings for me?" Sugar questioned, chewing on her lip.
"Wait! You like my brother?" She asked, not wanting to make a funny face and make Sugar think she had a problem against her dating her brother. She didn't; she found it weird because Jeff is her brother, and she can never see him the way the rest do. To her, he will forever be a big dork of a brother who is by far to overprotective.
"I don't if you have a problem against it."
"Sugar, sweetie, I don't have a problem, as long as you remain my friend with whatever happens to transpire between you two," she quickly told her friend.
"Never would I change our friendship over things happening with Jeff," Sugar responded, feeling hurt that her best friend would suggest such a thing.
"It's nothing personal; it's happened before is all. And from what intel I can gather; he does like you," she eased her friend. "I don't think he would have said your name, if he didn't."
"Hold it!" Sugar exclaimed. "Jeff personally used my name. Told your mothers that he was in a relationship with me?"
"He did. And when we got to talking, I could see real emotion there, like he wasn't faking his feelings for you. I am not saying this to make you agree. If I find out he's using you, I will personally beat him up, but I don't think that is the case," she ranted.
"I don't think Jeff is like that," Sugar dreamily smiled. "I will do it," she informed her.
"Good, you can start acting all couply on Wednesday. If you can fool his friends you will ace the dinner," Onyx stated with a smirk.
"I can do that," Sugar nodded, agreeing to it all. "That should be Marley," she said, hearing the knock on the door.
Marley lived in the apartment complex, on the opposite side of the building and on the first floor. Marley is part of the reason on why she lives there with Sebastian. She started out living with Marley until her boyfriend moved in, who is now her husband, married a year ago. Onyx couldn't handle living there in the cramped space, so she moved up to Seb's place until she could find her own place, there was no way she would be staying with or even living with her brother, that would be awkward with their active sexual lives. Once living with Seb, they clicked, and she has yet to move out. She moved in nearly three years ago now.
"Met and paid for the pizza," Marley announced once she was let into the apartment. "Now what is this I hear about Hunter cheating?"
"You didn't tell me Hunter cheated on you!" Sugar screeched.
With a sigh, Onyx retook her spot in the chair, gesturing for Marley to make herself at home and told the story of what happened between her and Hunter, not leaving out the bit about Clint and the barely there kiss he gave her a few hours earlier. She really needed her friend's opinion on what that kiss meant.
