Gat and Pierce were there because of a bet.
The Second in Command was paying his defeat to Pierce on a poker game, and the price agreed was a meal at Stilwater's most expensive restaurant. Pierce of course, knew all about the place. As for Gat, he seemed to be anywhere but in his element, but still seemed to be enjoying the food.
Carlos and The Boss kept waving in their direction, but the two seemed so into checking a hot woman at the bar, they didn't see the couple.
The Boss was about to whistle and scream a joke at them, when her face, without a warning, turned very serious.
She snapped her head to the side, her eyes seemed to catch a glimpse of danger in her side vision. Something any street hood can recognize very quickly.
She took one second to identify the objects on their hands, when something made her eyes go wide with a snap. This nicely dressed asian couple sitting right across them, but now both raised from their chair and aimed at Gat.
'Gun, SHIT!' Without thinking and missing a blink, The Boss drew her gun from her purse, pulling Carlos' head towards her bosom so she could aim over his head.
BANG!
Face squashed between her boobs, he didn't have the time to enjoy the view or the intimate contact. Carlos was by now so used to such things that he just pulled his face backwards, quickly drawing his gun as well.
He distinguished in the mess of the panicked crowd, a woman walking extremely fast towards them. With an expression of intense hate, she raised her hands and a shinning object reflected its light. It seemed to Carlos that he heard her scream over the noise:
'This is for Akuji-san!'
'Gat! Lookout!' He jumped forward out of his place and pushed his two friends out of the way, barely having the time to turn and shot her dead. As the woman fell, a samurai blade slid out off her hand, causing Pierce to have an epiphany:
'Holy fuck! Holy fuck, man! It's The Ronin, Johnny!' He screamed. 'Didn't we kill all of these assholes?'
Meanwhile The Boss hurriedly pushed people out of the way towards center of the room, jumping over a table and shooting another one aiming at Gat from a balcony. His body stumbled forward and fell over another table on the lower level, causing panicked screams to echo all over the restaurant.
The alarm went off.
'Thanks guys. Nice dress Boss.' Johnny recognized them.
'Keep it to youself, Gat.' Carlos warned.
'Were you also on a date?' The Boss teased as the four of them fought their way out of the place.
'I try to be romantic but Pierce can't suck for shit.' Gat joked back.
'Very funny!' Pierce replied. 'We better get the shit out of here before the cops show up.'
Carlos went first up to pick up his Attrazione, the three others jumped in as the tires sung with acceleration, leaving marks over the asphalt.
The vehicle tore as fast as possible, in the direction of the Suburbs.
'Great. Fucking feds.' Gat complained, getting a glimpse of a road block ahead.
Two black armored trucks were parked sideways, with the intention of preventing their car to go through. Standing next to it was a 'friendly' row of cops shooting at the vehicle with heavy caliber.
Carlos stepped on the gas, zigzagging his way through to make the car harder to be aimed at. And then, with that impressive talent to improvise stunts, he turned the wheel with a snap. The Attrazione went over the metro tracks following the road, passing in between trains and jumping to the street below.
'Yeah!' The Boss and Gat screamed in excitement.
With the Fuzz losing visual, it was imperative to find a discrete spot to hide before taking off. The Saints chose one under a bridge at the Factory district and parked there. The sounds of sirens were still everywhere though, it was clear we were going to be there for a while.
Not even five minutes after, my phone started to ring.
''Sup Shaundi?' I put her on speaker.
'Boss, we found the General! An ex of mine works for city hall and they spotted he and his crew entering the mall. We don't have a lot of time.'
I was delighted to hear that. Sunshine was the most active member of The Samedi, but the General was the one calling the shots behind all that insanity. If we got him, The Samedi would be officially history.
'Me and my crew are headed there!' She sounded excited. I knew where this was going though:
'No.'
'Come on, Boss!
'No!'
'I am on this mission this time.'
'Of course you're not. I don't have time to babysit.' I dismissed the possibility. Pierce was in my field of vision and I noticed that he couldn't help but to poke a little smile at those words. His and Shaundi's rivalry in business was talked about at the whole gang.
'Come on Boss, I can totally do this. We're halfway there and, in less than two minutes...'
'…You're amazing in tactics Shaundi, but for this I don't trust…'
'…My ass you don't trust me Boss! You even told me about Carlos way before everybody else!' Her voice insisted on the speaker, trying to make a point.
From the corner of my eye I saw that Gat's head tilted in my direction with an accusing hint of shock.
'Shaundi knew it but you didn't tell me?'
Oops.
I winced. Thanks a lot Shaundi.
'Well, it… It's not like it seems.' I stuttered apologetically, but Gat just sighed with a comic 'I've-just-been-betrayed' nod and turned away from any explanation I tried to give him. 'Gat…?!'
Meanwhile Shaundi brought my mind back to the urgency of the mission:
'Boss? Boss are you there?! They are halfway there.'
'FINE!' I groaned as caved in, considering that I couldn't use any of my other Lieutenants, since they were trapped there with me. But to be honest if that unfortunate distraction didn't happen, no way I would've trusted such a mission to a pothead like Shaundi.'Just make it godamn quick!' Pierce seemed disgusted and extremely anxious by then.
She, however, celebrated with a victory giggle, but I wanted her to know this wasn't about proving herself:
'You want your shot, you've got it. I want the General. Don't screw this up, Shaundi.'
With a quick motion, I turned off the phone and turned to Gat:
'Listen, I am sorry I didn't tell you before. Carlos and I got together around the time I went missing.'
'Drop the KY. You don't need to ease me in. I found out about you two ages ago!'
'Well, it was our business.' Carlos shrugged.
Johnny could sense a bit of defy in his voice and had a feeling he was attempting to mark his territory.
'Yo. I'm talking to her, kid.' He frowned.
'How...How did you know it?' I asked.
'Oh, it's not like you guys hide it too well! I will spare you the details.' Gat groaned, and started to undo his seatbelt.
'Wait, why're ya pissed?'
'At least when it was Max, you told me, didn't let me find out on my own.'
He left the car and banged the door.
'Gat…?!' I wanted to go after him but Carlos held me by the arm. Johnny hastily walked towards a factory disappeared up some iron stairs.
'Let him go.' My love said. 'He will be fine.'
'Nah he's right. He's my best friend, I should have told him.'
'You've got message, Boss.' Pierce said.
'Shaundi again. That better be good.' She groaned. The phone charged a picture Shaundi sent as an MMS. The title was: 'Am I through with babysitting?'
Extremely intrigued, the three gangsters squeezed themselves behind the phone's screen, waiting for the file to load:
In the shot, Shaundi was seen smoking an expensive cigar, the General's favorite. The Boss understood immediately that she and her crew had the gang leader.
She was both shocked and proud to discover this other side of her friend and Lieutenant, that, beyond doobies and tactics, could also also kick ass.
Soon she sent another picture, this time with the bloodied and lifeless face of their enemy on it, but still very recognizable: The General was dead!
'No fucking way! She did it!' The Boss said with a satisfied laughter.
Now there was only one gang left in Stilwater apart from themselves. The Saints should thank Shaundi for it.
Because of this, The Boss ordered a party to be thrown immediately in recognition for her unexpected victory.
When she and Carlos came back to the apartment, the gang was gathered at the Penthouse. The news dropped there like a bomb.
Since The Hideout was under renovation, their official HQ was temporarily transferred to the Suburbs. Everyone who didn't die at their last confrontation was present at the event, eager as usual to 'live it up' until the next.
But it looked like Gat was avoiding The Boss.
He congratulated Shaundi when she arrived with loads of enthusiasm, carrying her on his shoulders, but as soon as his best friend came closer he left the party and went missing for the whole day, his cellphone straight to voice mail.
If anything, more than hurt for what he interpreted as a lack of trust from his best friend's part, Gat resented the perspective of changes that her new relationship could bring in the gang.
For most of his life Johnny was a loner. Never fitting in with anything or anyone but Aisha the gang was more than his family.
Instinctively, he sensed that the Saints and his security where both in danger. He saw it, and now he knew how much she was crazy about that kid. He knew also, from the start, that Carlos was never gang material. Sooner or later he would want them to leave this life, as he told Gat in the bar. Who would take her place then? Could they ever find another leader like her? Or would the gang inevitably sink after she left? Gat believed the second possibility was far more likely.
Despite of the consequences it would have in his life, he wasn't asking his friend to stay, and even knew himself well enough to know that he would ensure that The Boss could have a shot at regular life next to the man she loved. If only, with him and Aisha it would've been the same…
All of this sacrifice, combined with the Shaundi thing caused a muffled anger and resentment to work up on Johnny.
Having nothing better to do and willing to occupy his mind for a while, he went to the garage to finish a tuning job he previously started in his car.
This task unfortunately took less time than he expected, as he could still hear noises coming from upstairs indicating that the party wasn't over.
So with nervous and impatient gestures, he first washed and then polished the car, trying to concentrate on the task the best he could.
He heard heels approaching his back.
He knew damn well who it was, and that probably she was looking for him all that time.
He kept his back stubbornly turned, and made an effort to seem focused on the circular motions of his orbital buffer over the bodywork.
'I fucked it up. Sorry Johnny.' The Boss's voice said behind his shoulder.
He shrugged and half turned, in an unconvincing statement that he didn't bother. But truth was, any word from his best friend only pissed him even further in that moment. With fake nonchalance Gat spoke vaguely, but full of hidden poison:
'I kind of expected it. All this secrecy and drama. That's so you Boss.'
'What do you mean?' She poked an eyebrow sourly, sensing nothing good was about to come out.
'You lose your head over the tiniest crumble of affection, just like you did with Julius...' He said almost casually, turning fully to her.
They stared at each other, and The Boss frowned and stepped closer. Gat dropped his buffer and walked towards hers as well. This time they weren't just annoyed, there was a feeling of real anger and aggression in their attitude.
The Boss changed her tone immediately:
'I should have let that Samedi pop your brains!'
'Oh yeah? And you should have stayed in that coma of yours!' He shouted, pointing at her harshly and concentrating his attention into her eyes to see the effect it would have. 'No one would've missed you.'
'What?' She gestured and hit both hands on her chest, clearly more pissed off as if a sore spot was been rubbed the bad way.
'Don't fuck with me, Gat.' She threatened between her teeth, eyes becoming smaller with frowning and the concentrated rage. 'Don't you fuck with me!'
'Or what? Do you think I'm afraid of you?' He removed his glasses and stared back. It was easy to say that he too, was on the edge of an explosion.
'You should.' She spat back, coming closer to his face, their foreheads nearly touching.
Both assumed a guarded fighting position. The two fought many times before for fun and improving their skills, but this was of consciousness that The Boss was still injured, Gat was respectfully holding back his temper until she took the low road to do what they both really wanted:
'What? Are you a little pussy who needs to ask permission to your Boss to start a fight?!'
'VLAM!'
It was one round kick, that The Boss didn't even bother trying to dodge, probably to make a point. Her body just jerked to the side violently, she stumbled and leant over one hand over the floor. In the same motion her leg swung in the air as well and it was Gat's turn for a nosebleed.
Upstairs, the party was still going on unaffected 'till someone quickly make her way through the crowd and turned off the volume on the DJ table.
The people present complained, stopping their dancing and turning towards the one responsible for it, but soon they understood the party was about the get much better:
'Guys!' Shaundi yelled, in the middle the hall. 'Come quickly, Johnny and The Boss are killing each other at the garage!'
Up for some close up high hierarchy violence and below the belt hits, the members pushed each other on the stairs to reach the lower level of the building, squashing themselves on the elevator as well. After Carlos vs The Cop, it was time to see The Boss vs Gat.
It is safe to say that in a minute or so, the entire gang was present in the garage. Just as the other time, a wall of crazy loud people formed in front the action. Except this time they didn't dare cheer for either fighter, probably not wishing to draw their dangerous anger towards them.
Cornered and fearing that Gat would certainly have the upper hand because of her injuries, The Boss decided to cause a distraction. She drew her pistol and fired at his car, filling the its new shiny bodywork with holes.
Gat withdrew with a jump, putting his hands on each side of his head:
'My Fer de Lance!'
'Ha! Ha! Ha!' The Boss laughed with delight.
'You... fucking...Whore!' He charged to her, blinded by anger.
'Aargh!' The Boss reacted painfully, immediately squashed in a bear hug.
'Estupida!' Gat screamed. She kicked his 'family jewels' with her heels and Johnny let go, sliding to his knees.
The Saints did a painful 'ouch' on the background.
He cursed for a bit, recovering from the pain and returned the favor with a sweep kick.
'Cabron!' The Boss cursed, falling comically on her butt. Muffled and discrete laughs coming from the crew still got to her ears though. Gat smiled as he banged his palms against each other.
The Boss grabbed one of the tools he was using on the car off the floor and smacked it against his leg, bringing him to the ground next to her.
'Gat says he goes to Steelport once a month to sell drugs but in reality it's to visit his mother!' She screamed for everybody to hear. There was blood on her chin and hair all messy.
Again, low laughs emerged from the crowd, but this time not so discreetly. 'That's cheap man!' Pierce whispered to Shaundi.
'... BITCH!' Johnny roared in rage and jumped on top of her, she put both feet on his chest just to try to keep him away, but still could feel his iron like hands grasping her neck.
It wasn't pretty. Real fights have nothing to do with the choreographed dance you see in the movies. They just rolled around over the dirty floor, Johnny hitting his head painfully on the ground. His shirt was torn and a bit of blood was running on his forehead. Been much smaller than Gat, The Boss tried to stay on top of him, but her skirt went up and part of her underwear was mercilessly on display, making punches rain over him to make him let go of her neck but with his strength, it was next to impossible.
With her unbroken hand she dug her fingers as hard as possible against his face, he yelped in pain but still didn't loose the grip by an inch...
'Get you hands off her Gat...!' An angry voice threatened behind them, and Johnny turned his head in surprise to see who it was.
'Oh, it's Carlos, the Lieutenant that only gets to keep his place 'cause he's fucking The Boss!'
The remark made Carlos flush but it didn't stop the young lieutenant to try and separate Gat from the Boss, grabbing him roughly by the back of his pants and squeezing his arm around Johnny's neck.
It only annoyed Johnny further.
Johnny was like a bull out of control when he fought, much more when he was pissed. He shook his body from side to side, getting easily free from the grip and grabbed Carlos by the shirt, tossing him on the ground over his own shoulder.
'The Boss collects glass unicorns!' Johnny retaliated with a satiric smile on his wounded lips.
The Boss gasped in shame in a hilarious high pitch. She turned her head to Carlos. Despite being face down on the floor with blood on his face, the Lieutenant was now laughing his ass off: The riddle of the box in the closet that no one had the right to open was finally solved.
Taking advantage of her shock Gat suddenly stood up and walked away. The Saints watching were disappointed thinking the fight was over, members were starting to disperse. Then a loud, bumping noise coming from the upper floor made everybody turn around. The crew peaked towards the direction of the approaching sound, freezing at the bizarre scene: Turns out someone was dragging a closet around. But since it was Johnny Gat that was nothing unusual about it.
He stopped above the stairs and threw The Boss a grin of defiance.
'You fucking put my shit back where it belongs motherf...!' She threatened pointing a finger in his direction.
She wasn't yet done talking when Gat gave the closet a final push. The gang covered their ears. The pierce of furniture rolled down the stairs, echoing through the garage.
'HIJUEPUTA!' She yelled almost fainting and running towards the disintegrated closet, opening a box inside. It now contained nothing but glass debris. 'My unicorns!'
Soon the two were hitting each other do death, kicking and punching their way through the garage. The Boss kicked Gat over and pass the front glass of a green Stiletto. In return he shoved her into another vehicle, screwing its sides completely. In a final fit of rage, the Second in Command picked up and raised a nearby motorcycle over his head and tossed it towards his opponent. She dodged screaming: 'What the fuck?! What the fuck Gat?!'
Things kept escalating to the peaks of the violent and the absurd until someone finally had the brains to bring some sense into the situation. Pierce grabbed the hose Johnny was using to wash the car and pointed it towards the fight, opening the jet on maximum power and not caring if he was saucing Carlos' ass too.
The trio jumped with the contact of the chilling, high pressure splash; stumbling around while some of them ungraciously and unintentionally swallowed some of the water. There was finally silence.
'Ok. Ok! I'm cool.'The Boss stated grumpily. 'Johnny?'
'Yup.' He agreed. They decided that wanting to kill each other wasn't so important anymore.
Johnny got off The Boss and helped her getting up, in his usual friendly manner. She grabbed his wrist with her unarmed hand. They headed inside and the gang started to move along.
Moments after they were sitting at the kitchen together to treat their minor wounds as if nothing happened.
'I'm sorry I didn't tell you before.' The Boss started, cleaning the bruises in her knees with some antiseptic.
Gat shook his head, holding a bag of ice over his leg.
'It's ok. Sorry I reacted like this. If you didn't tell me earlier, you had your reasons I guess.'
'Don't like been angry at you Johnny...'
'Me neither. But it will be alright. Hey, it's not like it's the first time we had a, huh, disagreement...'
The Boss chuckled, remembering how they had a similar fight many years ago.
'So are we good?'
Johnny smiled a bit and nodded, banging his knuckles against hers.
'And Gat, since we're on the subject. You should be the first one to know: Carlos and I are engaged.'
The Second in Command's face had small a spasm of surprise, causing his signature straw to fall from his lips:
'Come again…?!'
After a long moment when all he did was stare in her eyes very seriously, Gat spilled his worries with a single question:
'Has he talked about you two leaving the gang?'
The Boss inhaled with tension, as she had too many news to break:
'Yeah... Yeah he did. But don't worry, I ain't gonna quit on you. I know you guys need me right now. Not before this city is ours again and we have no one else to fight.'
Gat tossed his bag of ice and turned around, trying to process it. And after another very long silence it was his turn to sigh heavily and say:
'Don't fool yourself. There's always going to be someone to fight. A gang can't sit quietly for long Boss.'
'What is that supposed to mean?'
'Take your things and leave. It's the best thing that could happen to you.'
'Johnny…?!'
'You heard it. Don't think that I am too happy about it, I ain't. But I'll say it anyway.'
'Of all people, I thought you would be the one to...!'
'...Yeah, but I've lost Eesh, Boss! It puts things into perspective.'
'But, what about the gang…?'
Gat knew that what she and Carlos had only happened once in a lifetime: He couldn't have his happily ever after with Eesh, but maybe she and her love could.
'You want it too, or we wouldn't be having this conversation. Stop lying to yourself and don't waste precious time, you two are still alive!' Gat almost shouted, losing his temper. The Boss kept silent. His looks softened as his hands stroke her shoulder with friendly affection:
'Boss, you know how I love to kill, explode, and basically spread all the doom that life as a Saint allows me to, but if I could turn back time, I would give anything for someone to convince me to give normal life a shot. Carlos is a great guy, and he is crazy about you! Wasn't I straight as it comes, I would marry him myself.'
The Boss chuckle at his attempt to make the subject lighter and kept staring back at Gat, still without saying a word. In her eyes, Gat could see that her decision was made and that now it was only very hard for her to do what had to be done.
'We'll hold things up until you can find a successor. It is all right.' He said to make things easier for her and skip a farewell speech.
'Gat…!' The Boss passed her arms around him, tears flowing as she finally allowed herself to tell the truth. 'My friend! Thank you Gat! Thanks. It's hard for me, but… I am so happy Gat, yes, I fucking want to give it a shot! So much, more than anything I've ever wanted in this fucking life, I do! I never thought something so good like this could happen to someone like me. I love him so much!'
It was happiness, the one you look for all along and that you fear will never be as good as you dreamed, but in fact it surpasses your wildest expectations. These days were, I can say it without fear, the best days of my entire life. In the most difficult moments (and you'll see just how fucked up things got), I've always remembered it as an oasis, a safe memory I could ran to and that worked just like a shelter or an anchor, carved in my brain to remind me that no matter what, everything was worth it.
A week went by, not a lot happened. I was actively considering someone else to put in my place, but finding the one capable to fill The Boss's shoes was hard. Apart from that, things were perfect.
It was like life was giving us a break from everything. All was easy, not a hint of cloud in the sky. Money was coming in pretty quickly and effortlessly, now that we had the Samedi down. Since the Masako attack on the Red Light District new members were coming off the walls. The Loa was selling itself at the University. I had enough money to spare, invest, indulge myself and the gang. I was glad to be able to reward all the members, from the people who just got canonized to Johnny.
I let Shaundi drag me to pretty much every party that was. I would sleep until noon, then go and hit the mall even if my closet (a new one that is) had a huge pile of brand new expensive store bags I never opened. Happiness is never a time to be counting. The last Ronins were down, so were the Samedi. There was only the Brotherhood left. I though that the news of our success spreading over Stilwater intimidated Maero into thinking twice about fucking with the Saints. What a mistake! If anything, that bitch Jessica was keeping her head down just to wait for the perfect opportunity to fuck me better and more painfully. Women can be real bitches, they will observe you for ages before making up their mind, but when they do, you are sure they would go for the things that you care the most.
But, like I said, these things were very far from my mind at the present moment.
When things go well and you are happy, you can't help but to feel safe – so you get the wrong idea that you are invulnerable to anything. Like been immortal or some sort of shit like that. The Saints were taking control over the city fast, my personal life was amazing too. So far only success was pilling up. There was little space to think about what could go wrong.
I was becoming a bit careless, would go out on the streets at risky places and on risky hours with no backup.
I would go out a lot with Carlos, to the movies, dancing , swimming at night at the beach. He was the most important thing in my life.
The more fulfilled you are, the more you throw precaution to the wind. I was tired from the lack of sleep so I wouldn't feel up to much the next day and probably felt my life was been messed up, but decided to close my eyes about it.
Been with him gave me a huge sensation of security and stability, nothing was ever constant in my life but the lack of this two elements.
He wasn't threatened by my brutal nature, only a real man could be like this, he always accepted me the exact way I was, 'all that is good and all that is bad' like he used to say. I was grateful for this, and also happy to discover better the wonderful and strong man he was beneath that shy appearance. He was getting more confident by the day, and I finally saw a real gangster starting to appear.
Nothing I could do, as brutal as it would, could disappoint him enough to threaten the love he had.
Sometimes I still would be overwhelmed when he spoke too much about the future at once. It was probably just fear of compromising that surfaced every time he tried to get closer. I knew I was probably been a bitch, but it couldn't help it. I couldn't live without some space, and have always been afraid that been too close to someone would bring suffering. Before I avoided it at all costs.
Besides, I think I didn't believe this kind of love existed before him, or better, that I deserved it.
And well, he didn't exactly take it slow when it came to our relationship, and was often pressing me.
If he was very open minded on some stuff, for others he was the typical old latino boyfriend. 'What did that guy want with you?' 'Don't you think this skirt is too short?' 'I texted you like 3 hours ago'. When you are busy leading a gang it's not always possible to take a break from shooting at some fucker running after you with a hammer or driving away with the fuzz on your tail just to text back 'miss you too'. He was frustrated by the time and energy our job could take and so was I at times. He was so important to me, and made me so happy, I had to let it all go.
His devotion and kindness gained my thrust. He understood I had a trusting problem and would act on it, rather than talk and make promises.
I know I have a shitty temper. Lots of people tell me that.
Now it bugged me that I just couldn't be really mad at him for long.
All he had to do was to give me that sweet innocent look and bam, all the anger was gone.
Even my gangster skills were been affected by that as i found myself been much less violent while doing my shit.
Of course in this business any hesitation can just as well mean a death sentence.
But it had it's good side, I was more able to focus, to look at things more directly. My decisions were more considered.
Gat was the first to see that, and of course to point that out to me immediately.
But fuck, I didn't care. I was calm, relaxed... Satisfied. Before I would be rushing from plan to plan, making my next move to overtake the city.
What a huge contrast! I was so comfortable I didn't feel the need to move forward from were I was.
Shaundi saw me dash towards the bathroom, interrupting suddenly the conversation we were having. We both were sitting in the couch of the living room, getting stoned while watching the boys play poker. She was telling me about this ex of hers, or better, about his weird crooked dick that according to her description was shaped as an 'S'. I couldn't help but laugh heartily every time she shared exotic details of her sex life like that. This time, however, I felt an unpleasant sensation on my throat and nausea.
I rushed to the bathroom. Without even having the time to close the door, poured my breakfast in the sink.
'What is it Boss? You're sick?'
'No. I am late.' I groaned, and panic started to form in my stomach. So much I wanted to puke again, and I did.
'Throwing up in the morning. You know what that could mean...' She started lowly.
'I know what that could mean Shaundi!' I lost my temper and hissed, even lower. The boys were playing cards right next.
'Shiiiit. What are you gonna do?'
'I have no…! Fucking idea…'
'You gotta go take a…' She articulated the word 'test' silently.
I asked her to go with me to the pharmacy and then to club Koi so we could speak and do the test in their WC. I didn't want anything concerning that conversation been talked any further at the Hideout.
My hands were sweaty over the wheel of the car as we drove to the club. I had my purchase from the pharmacy over my lap, and never before in my life I was so aware and worried of a simple plastic bag.
We went in and she ordered. For my part I just went straight to pee on that godamn stick.
Shaundi came closer and held my wrist anxiously from behind my shoulder.
I brought the test closer to my eyes too and squinted since the toilet in club Koi had this dim shitty, pink neon light.
'Great. False alarm, Boss!' She said with a laugh of relief, and lit a blunt.
'Oh.' I replied, stunned.
'God. That was close.'
'Yeah.'
'See?' She said in her zen way, letting smoke out her lungs. 'You've just been partying too much.'
As I dished the test on the trash realized that far from being relieved, I was disappointed.
I sighed and turned my back to Shaundi, so I could hide from her a sad little chuckle. We left the women's toilet and walked towards the bar. By then, I wasn't really able to be surprised of any other contradiction anymore.
I sat at the bar and she tapped on my shoulder friendly, I am pretty sure far from guessing my true emotions.
She ordered beers and handled me mine with a smile. As if to say 'phew, you can relax now.'
I grabbed it and smiled back mechanically, bringing the bottle to my lips as she sat there and kept me company. I heard a little 'tsss' from her bottle been opened as well, then decided to try and not think about it anymore.
'Thanks Shaundi.'
I reached for the phone in my purse and sent Carlos a message, to say that I would be out with Shaundi for a while.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Thanks for reading!
Please review :3