She cast her eyes downward as she strutted up towards the door, she couldn't stop thinking about how surreal her night had been. From actually being attacked to being rescued by an extremely hot guy. It was like some weird Hollywood picture, not real life. She reached forward to open the door to the main house when she was hindered by someone calling her name. She turned around to see Jay making his way toward her. She shot him a glare that could freeze hell over.
"Ebony, listen we need to talk..." He said with a mix of concern and jealousy in his voice.
"Jay, we aren't dating anymore. You don't need to talk to me about anything. If you have a problem go tell Amber...I'm busy." Ebony spat back at him, the venomous words spewing naturally from her tongue.
"I don't want to fight with you Ebony, but when you show up on the back of a motorcycle of some strange guy I'm not going to pretend to not care." He explained. Jay always did care for her, she had to give him that. He not only cared for her, he cared for everyone...that was his problem.
"Look, I don't need you to watch out for me Jay...I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself." She said softening her tone slightly before going inside the house.
The first thing she noticed about Gel's house was that it was jam packed with people and rather loud. Between roughly 200 teenagers shouting, and the DJ in the living room, she wasn't sure if she'd ever be able to hear anything again. She brushed past several people most she didn't care for as she slipped into the kitchen where the alcohol was. If she knew May at all, she would be were the drinks were and she was right.
May stood next to the island, a colorful plastic cup in her hand and Lex at her side. Lex was trying his best to flirt with her, but was coming up short. She didn't exactly hate Lex, he just was the opposite of everything May found attractive about a guy.
"Hey!" Ebony shouted getting both May and Lex's attention. Lex's eyes wandered over her body before meeting her own once more.
"Eb, I thought you were going home. What are you doing here?" May said, raising her voice so she could be heard over the techno beat.
"Long story..." Ebony pointed to the back porch, and May followed her. They stepped outside, into the frigid air where it was slightly less noisy and far more private then the watering hole in the kitchen.
"So, what's up?" May said wondering what Ebony's so called story was. As Ebony explained all that happened from the time she left May's company up until now, May's look became more and more serious. By the time she finished, May was practically blaming herself for the incident stating that "she should have been there."
"Look, it's not your fault. Don't worry I'm fine. Hardly a scratch on me." Ebony said cheerfully. Then she remembered the feeling of being thrown against a wall, and the cold steel of a blade on her neck. She reckoned her back would be bruised up in the morning from that but it was nothing compared to what could have happened.
"So...this Slade guy. He's Mega's brother?" May said changing the topic.
"Yeah...I don't know...he's just so. How do I put this? I think I have found my next rebound guy..." Ebony said smirking.
"Well, just make sure he isn't a creep. I mean yeah he saved you and all but he is Mega's brother and that makes him trouble." May warned.
Ebony however could careless who Slade was related to. She just cared if she could figure out a way to see him again.
The rest of the night went by in an incomprehensible blur. She had drank too much after her conversation with May and had passed out in one of the guest rooms. Gel had found her and given her over to Lex for safekeeping. Ebony would have never allowed Lex to take her home when she was drunk under normal circumstances, but considering she was out for the count she couldn't protest.
Lex picked her up and carried her out to his car, setting her down in the front seat and buckling her in, before he drove off towards her house. He had spent quite a bit of time when they were younger, sneaking into Ebony's room. They dated for a while back during Sophomore year, then Bray happened and Lex and Ebony were history. Since then he had scarcely set foot in that house. Luckily he remembered where the spare-key was kept, and managed to set Ebony down on her bed. He contemplated changing her out of her clothes for a moment, then realized Ebony would slaughter him if he did so. Closing her door behind him, he snuck back out the way he'd came and replaced the key under the statue of a cherub before going home.
Ebony awoke with a pounding headache. Her back was unbelievably sore and she felt nauseous. She struggled to get out of her bed, her legs had become tangled in the sheets as she slept. She staggered to her bathroom, and threw up. She had really overdone it last night, that was for sure. She ran her hand under the water and washed her face, removing her smeared make-up. She watched the trail of black eyeliner make its way down the drain before dabbing at her face with one of her towels. Ebony couldn't remember how she got home last night, but she assumed May must have driven her and she'd stumbled up to her bed somehow. She stretched and stripped away her old clothes, casting them into the hamper. As she passed by the mirror she could see a large purple bruise on her lower back, and even more disturbing was the thin line of dried blood on the side of her neck.
She pushed the memory of last night out of her mind, and slipped into the shower. The warm water felt relaxing as it washed over her body. Especially since, she was convinced that the layers of filth from that man touching her would never dissipate. She slipped on her robe and went to her closet to pick out something to wear. She didn't have school that day for which Ebony was utterly thankful. She was sure she couldn't concentrate on Calculus with a hangover. She settled on a simple pair of green cargo pants and a tight black t-shirt.
She took her braids down, letting them fall over her shoulders as they may and didn't bother with any make-up. She wasn't trying to impress anyone, she was pretty sure no one was even home. Siva and Java were away at University and her parents were most likely off in Europe or some place equally as extravagant. She pulled open her fridge and took out the milk pouring herself some cereal. She managed to force down a few spoonfuls of her cornflakes before her phone rang.
"Who the hell calls this early?" She said to herself as she walked over to the counter and picked up her cordless phone.
"Hello?" She said trying to sound somewhat professional, lest it be one of her parents friends. But that wasn't the case.
"Hey, it's me, May. I just wanted to make sure you got home alright last night. I couldn't believe that Lex drove you home, I hope he didn't try anything. I would have taken you home except I was too trashed to drive." Came May's drawl over the receiver.
"Lex drove me home?! That's...just... I don't want to even think about what could have happened. Anyway, so do you want to go out for coffee or something?" Ebony said with a yawn. Coffee would do good to help sober her up she thought.
"Yeah, sure. I'll meet you at Starbucks in like... twenty minutes. I have to do something first." May said quickly, her voice muffled due to the fact she just shoved a bagel into her mouth.
"Ok... well I'll see you then." Ebony said before clicking the receiver down. She rummaged through her purse searching for keys, and went out through the garage. Opening the garage door, she got into her BMW and backed out of her driveway.
Starbucks was only ten minutes from Ebony's house but she just wanted to get out. She flipped through the radio stations before settling on a hip-hop song that she had danced to last night. She opened the window slightly so she could get a nice breeze on her face. As the wind graced her cheek, she thought about being on the motorcycle last night. She drifted out of her dream like state when she found herself in the Starbucks parking lot.
She saw some people she knew heading inside, then she looked more closely at the group heading out and saw someone who could be most helpful in her finding Slade. Josh! She had practically flung herself out of her car and run up to him. Josh was utterly surprised that Ebony was coming towards him, let alone at a breakneck speed.
"Hey Mega." She said sounding rather chipper. Mega however was looking totally phased by the entire incident.
"Uh..Hi, Ebony." He said slowly.
"Listen, do you know where I can find your brother?" She said not even making an attempt to beat around the bush.
"Slade? You know my brother...umm. Well, he's probably at his apartment with his girlfriend. Honestly, I don't really see him that much.. But if you really need to get a message to him I suppose I could give him one." Mega said rolling his shoulders inward so he could stick his hands in his pockets. Ebony's heart sunk, girlfriend? That explains why Slade didn't want to do anything at all with her last night.
"No that's ok. I'll tell him myself." Ebony nodded reassuringly then headed into the coffee shop. Mae joined her in a few minutes, looking rather disheveled .
"May what's the matter?" Ebony said. May looked like she had been crying profusely, as her cheeks were reddened and her make-up was splotchy.
"Pride... Well I knew he liked Salene, I mean I've known for a while. But there was hope you know? Well, this morning he calls me to tell me that he thinks he loves her and that he's going to tell her. God, why am I so stupid?" May said as fresh tears erupted from the wells of her eyes.
"Listen, you aren't stupid May. You can't change the way he feels about Salene anymore than I could change the way Jay felt about Amber. It will be ok.." Ebony said trying to be comforting. But Ebony never played the comforting mother it wasn't in her character.
"No it won't be ok. I love Pride... I can't just get over that and accept that he's in love with someone else. I'm not like you...I can't throw myself at another guy without waiting to get over the first one." May responded. Then she realized what she said had come out more harsh then she had intended.
"I'm glad to know that's how you think of me... So I try and find someone new, not to be stuck dwelling in my own grief. What's so wrong with that? Does that make me a slut if I want to move on and not be stuck moping about forever like some stupid..." Ebony responded violently.
But she didn't finish speaking, she simply took her coffee and left May there sitting at the table. Still fuming from their debate she leant against the hood of car and sipped her french-vanilla beverage.
"I'm not some slut... why does May think that?" She said to herself. But her comment was overheard by none other than Lex.
"Maybe because you go through men like most people go through kleenex?" He offered up with a joking tone.
"Go away Lex..." Ebony snapped as she continued to look down at the asphalt.
"Is this how you treat a guy who drove you home last night and put you in bed?" He smirked, he knew that last part would send her flying over the edge.
"...Look thanks for bringing me home, thanks for feeling me up. Just please leave me alone." Ebony gave him a reproachful look.
"Fine, just thought I should tell you... That guy you came in with last night, Slade.. he's got a reputation. If you go out with him, a lot of people at Manchester aren't going to be happy." Lex stated as if it was a matter of fact.
"Lex, in all the years you've known me, have I ever cared what other people thought?" Ebony said standing up from her leaning position so she could face him directly.
"Nope, and that's why I went out with you. But seriously, watch your back. Slade isn't someone you want to get caught up with." Lex said smiling before heading off to his car. Ebony took what he said to heart. It was funny, of all the people in the world, Lex was the last one she thought she'd be taking advice from. But Lex knew a lot more than he let on, and even though she broke up with him, she could tell when he was being genuine. This was one of those rare occasions.