Chapter Eleven

Primping and Pregaming

Elsewhere, Emma and Manny are busy getting ready for the evening out primping in front of the bathroom vanity as Manny is curling Emma's long hair, "So you guys play twenty-one questions, then what?"

"And then he kissed me." Emma said as her cheeks began to pink not from the blush she had already applied.

"Cute." Manny said taking another piece of hair as she sighed, "I don't know if I can break up with him tonight. It's like hey babe I'm in town let's break up."

Emma laughed but then quickly saw the look on Manny's face and changed her expression smiled at her sympathetically, spinning the chair around to face her friend taking both hands into hers, "I mean it's the right thing to do."

"I just –" Manny bit her lip, "I don't want him to – what if he starts crying or something?"

"You don't have to but you at least have to talk to him. The longer you prolong it the worse it's going to be."

Manny sighed as Emma turned around, she wrapped the piece of hair into the curling iron, "It's just . . . it's not like I don't care about him I just feel really guilty. I feel like we're just in two different places literally and figuratively."

"What's wrong with saying that?" Emma asked hopeful that Manny could just get her story straight. Sometimes she wonders if they are still in high school with the trivial worries that have been happening lately in their friendship. First there was the freakout over Sean and now her sudden change of heart over her five-year relationship with Jay. Enough was enough, Emma had lived a relatively calm life and even in the worst part of her divorce proceedings things were never as dramatic as they are tonight.

"It's simply not the truth. Rather, the whole truth. I want to do this right, if I do."

"Yeah but I think it'd be better off if you just told him the obvious and then maybe later explain the other, it's like ripping a band-aid. I'm feeling guilty by telling you how to dump my best friend."

Manny gingerly raked her hands through her friend's hair making sure all the curls had body. "You're right, and your hair is complete."

"Manny you're a Godsend." Emma beamed getting off the stool and admiring her 'do, she looked to Manny, "You think Sean will like it?"

"He'd be dumb not to but guys don't typically give a damn about stuff like that."

"I just really want to impress him."

"And you will. Come on 'em, it's Sean we're talking about. You could come out in a towel and he'd fawn over you." Manny answered calmly, "not to mention when you'll be wearing this." She pulled out a black casual looking dress; it had a short body con bottom that is designed to hug curves.

Emma quickly exclaimed dropping her jaw, "Manny!" Holding the dress by the hanger to her body in the mirror, "I can't wear that, it's too expensive."

Manny just chuckled, "Well yeah it's expensive but . . . he'll never have to know. My closet is your closet. "

"I think that only works when I'm in your house." However Emma was already in love with the dress. It was absolutely perfect. It was sexy, it was lovely and it would be just what she needs to seal the deal with Sean. Not that she'd need any extra help from the dress. Sean was absolutely without a doubt smitten with her.

Emma quickly peeled off her top and sweatpants and pulled the dress onto herself, it really made her instantly feel more confident about the first time she'll be seeing Sean since the night before. A lot of things had been said. They already covered a lot of bases so tonight is essentially about blowing off some steam, having a good time and hopefully getting to do some more of the same thing as last night. She admired herself in the mirror.

Manny wore an off the shoulder magenta dress that had a deep v-neck showing a fair amount of cleavage it was some what of a show stopper but Emma dare not make a comment unless she asked her to.

As Emma attempted to clean up the bathroom, putting away the make up and collecting her dirty clothes before the boys arrived, Manny got the different liquor out of the liquor cabinet and took out four cups and the mixers out of the fridge. With her heels on she was better able to get access to the napkins and the stereo for some mood music.

The blond adjusted everything feeling satisfied in the mirror before she looked back at Manny who she heard shuffling about, "Ready?"

A few moments later they heard the doorbell ring, Emma walked up to the door and saw Sean and Jay standing there dressed in dress shirts with jeans, Emma could smell Sean's cologne from the hall. Emma wrapped her arms around Sean and Jay and let them in.

Manny walked up to Jay feigning excitement and hugged him close, "Hey babe. Sorry I didn't come by your place I just wanted to drop in and surprise Em." Emma made a face they couldn't see but she interrupted so that there could be a way they all can just drop the loaded subject.

"We got a couple different mixers. A bunch of different liquors so free game." Emma announced to her friends as she poured herself a cup of Captain Morgan and Coke. At the rate she was going, she was really going to need the drink.

When Manny let go of Jay finally, Emma leaned in and gave her friend Jay a kiss on the cheek and a hug, and greeted Sean with a sweet kiss on the lips. Afterward she sipped her drink and took notice to Sean as he impatiently held a red cup and stood next to Emma she turned and smiled, "What do you want to drink, Sean?"

Sean whispered sweetly in Emma's ear, "You look great by the way." Emma looked at him and just smiled happily, "and I'll have what you are having."

"You do too." Emma replied adding afterwards, "I hope you like 'em strong."

After Sean's drink was finished she passed it to him as they both sipped their drinks simultaneously, Emma was used to the taste, "You weren't kidding they are strong." He snickered as he recovered from the sip with a bitter expression he continued, "but they're good."

Emma pat Sean on the back, before they both turned their attention to Jay and Manny talking and hugging silently on the other side of the room. Both of them were looking as if there wasn't a thing wrong with their relationship and making Emma and Sean feel like they've been played for fools. Emma surmised that perhaps Manny was just waiting for a good time like she had mentioned earlier she didn't want him to walk into Manny breaking up with him or maybe she was right earlier, and that there was nothing to worry about.

Emma hopelessly looked at Sean hoping he can offer any kind of insight before he spoke suddenly softly, "He didn't even know she was coming to town." Observing Manny talk about they could only assume the usual. Tip toeing around the obvious. Jay was obviously thrilled but Emma and Sean both knew there was something all too sinister about it.

Emma replied back just as soft so they don't get some wild idea they were talking about them negatively, "It's just not like her."

Jay quickly pulled Emma aside, "So I'm pressing you for deets, Em. I want to know everything."

This gave Emma somewhat of a guilty complex, which immediately she wanted to bury any outward appearance of it. To be fair, she was feeling guilty but only because she feared his reaction of Manny's deceit. Jay had a tendency to react either violently, big or almost stalker-like scary behavior when Manny broke it off with him in the past. In her way of not telling him anything it's to protect him because it's Manny's secret to tell. It's times like these she wonders why she used to bother and meddle so much because it only makes trouble for everyone. Before she spoke hesitated, "Are you sure?"

"Not everyday you reconnect with an old love." Jay revealed matter of factly stepping in front of Emma, "You act like I don't know how you feel about Cameron over there. You only told me a thousand times. I aint stupid." Jay asked Emma looking at Manny and Sean talk somewhat distracted. How could she revel in her own personal things when she has Jay to worry about. On the outside he's an adult and surely could take care of himself, but with him her protective nature comes out when his picture perfect relationship goes down the tubes, what then? Emma chalked up Manny's behavior up to nerve she was just relieved to find that Jay just was only pressing Emma about the night before.

"I guess Sean doesn't kiss and tell." Emma looked back up at her friend with a smile.

"I'm hoping you'll at least tell your friends. Namely me, surrogate Manny tells no tales."

"Later." Emma answered happily putting her arm around her friend after she finished pouring him a drink, "When I get enough drinks in me sure."

"I'll be waiting. I've just never been so surprised that Manny managed to keep a secret like that from everyone." Emma didn't look at him pretending and thinking hard to concentrate on what exactly went in his drink of choice but also because of his inconspicuous way of wording Manny's surprise drop in, "No one knew she was coming to town. You didn't know right?"

"Right." Emma answered stirring a drink absent-mindedly before finally making contact with him, "so what were you two giggling about over there?"

Emma got a sluggish feeling in her stomach the one she used to get when she would see Alex Nunez in the hall until she finally graduated, she'd never know that Emma had helped her boyfriend cheat on her. Even when the rumors were abound that she had no interest in guys and identified as gay she still dare not let that secret escape from her lips. Emma wasn't afraid of Alex. She felt guilty because of Alex. Although tonight that wasn't going to be on her mind, she had no wish to take that trip to memory lane and think of a girl she hadn't seen or heard from in nearly a decade.

"Oh you know, Manny. She told me about everything she did in LA, the pilot she got, the tv movie went fine. She's doing great Emma, isn't that great?" Emma surmised there was no mention of Craig, which means tonight was not the night. However she worried for her friend mostly on the matter of the heart, both of them.

That lingering thoughts about that and tonight was just going to be awkward. Awkward to please Sean, awkward to spare Jay's feelings and keep Manny's playing-along agenda overall it just seems like tonight is going to be about everyone else much to all who know the truth's discontent.

. . .

Alex Nunez briskly walking scantily clad in a short black body-con dress holding a medium-sized duffel bag with her shoulder. Into the gritty dressing room she goes. The desolate wasteland of the backside of "Paradise" Cove covered with out dated posters, six to seven vanities all with a few missing lights each, dimly lit and most of all empty. She chuckled to herself at the idea on countless nights like this, You'd think with all the money the dancers earn and they get for the dancers they'd fix the freakin' lights already.

Catching her breath she found herself filled with a sigh or relief. She was early but she had always feared being late and being put on the chopping block. She works two jobs here by day she's a cocktail waitress but by night she's another person. Sometimes she'll pile a third shift on but sometimes she needs the sleep more than the money, but when she really needs the money because her crusty landlord wants it early to blow his full on some Chad-like bull shit she has to shell it out early. It's not exactly uncommon for her to work out a deal with him even if she's not exactly first choice for a guy. She's no angel, she had plenty of rough, straight sex before she identified as gay. Even though she struggles, at the end of the day she has managed some relationships since her ill-fated first run-ins with Paige. Her last serious relationship also ended pretty badly, the girl was a transient traveler who never would be able to stay in the same place at the same time. She would have been ideal years ago but while Alex searched for stability the girl would often stray and wander, she walked in on her using her stash and with her shirt off with the other girl. Alex drew the conclusion and she never saw her again. She's hooked up before with another girl, it just was easier if she took emotions and feelings out of the equation and did whatever. Money is initially the most important thing to Alex, it gets her what she needs. Oh, one other thing the parting gift her ex girlfriend left her with was an addiction she can't seem to squash.

No longer did Alex look like herself though she was slender and built like rail with legs for miles clad in black stilettos with her vice in her hands.

She impatiently threw her bag down and saw her stage name 'Lexxtacy' emblazoned on the sign above her. She had gotten spotty sleep the night before at a guy's hotel room. Unfortunately she didn't get much sleep because he wanted to drink and she wanted to sleep. His neighbors were loud and boisterous and she found herself waking up several times that night. She had stayed with a few girls who dance with her but they don't exactly approve of her drug habit. A few that she's close to have young children and already have had some issues with letting Alex in their home knowing that. She's not proud of it but she understands. She pulled out her wrinkled and worn costume pulling it over her head adjusting it in front of the mirror. The next crisis came when struggled to find her hairbrush to fix her hair muttering, "Shit" in a mad dash to get ready she had lost her brush somewhere. Someone probably swiped it. Makeup and hair supplies are pretty easy to steal if someone is on stage it's the prime opportunity for theft. Alex had always been sort of vigilant about it and on the look out for her own things because she doesn't have a home to put her stuff she just carries everything with her at all times but she'd be shit out of luck if someone went into her bag while on stage.

From the looks of it she looks worse for the wear dead broke and feeling pretty hopeless now. Dark circles had formed under her eyes. Her once luminous skin's color fading fast her body starved from an improper diet her long hair tied up in a pony. Last night's makeup still on her face she couldn't even be bothered to change it or was it off.

She took the small vanity mirror from her duffel bag and quietly thankful no one is with her at the moment and that no one saw her come in.

She carefully spilled the white powder from the tiny baggy on the mirror, rolled her bottom dollar sniffed the powder substance touching her nose, squinting her heavily made up eyes. She yawned. The drugs are the only things that keep her working through the night. The money is the most important thing and she knows tonight she'd make good money.

Stripping to make ends meet she always silently prays that someone she know never stumbles into the club. Everyone she had ever known had given up on her. She just doesn't want to hear anyone's disappointment including her own within herself. The job although degrading, paid good enough and since she didn't have friends to speak of it made it easier. In the years that passed high school she skipped town to live with her aunt who got back on the drugs and took her down with her leaving Alex homeless and addicted to drugs and whizzed her back where she came from only with her parent to speak of nowhere to be found.

Her mother, bless her soul is still with Chad who still beats up on her as far as she knows. Alex had always sworn she'd never wind up like her and she's better off alone than with somebody like him. She liked it that way. At least she knew she was safe.

Chad and her mom left town around the time Alex left their home for Paige's and never looked back they were thoughtful enough to call her and let her know. Home she scoffed at the thought, if you could even call it that. So she had to do what she had to do with what she had, namely her assets.

A few of the girls passed Alex by getting ready for their shift, they completely side eyed the remaining powder on her compact one girl had the nerve to ask, "Are you going to finish that?"

Alex shot back with a glare. It takes everything in her not to cry over her circumstances. She was used to that whole thing, holding it in, not talking about her feelings. It makes it easier when she doesn't have friends although she contemplated that it would be nice to have that despite having to make the efforts.

Obviously, her life had never been easy but on the other hand her life had also never been this hard.

The girl simply snickered putting on her more extravagant looking costume and applied her make up. She had raven hair like Alex but she was much younger and her hair was much longer and better taken care of. Alex's hair riddled with split ends. Fed up and frustrated, Alex went to the bathroom and took her compact with her; it was there where she finished her baggies worth she didn't want to give the girl the satisfaction. That's the thing about doing drugs in that industry, nobody is going to tell on you but it wouldn't stop them from looking down on you for doing it in the first place. She already had a warning from her boss so she keeps in on the down low, and it's an honor system, no one is going to test you but clients and girls who want more hours will tattle if they suspect a dancer is using.