Further on Down the Road

by ThumperE23

Eleven years have passed since Keith said goodbye to Izzy in Brooke's garden. What has happened in the small city between the river and the sea since then? Who has gotten older? Who has grown up? Who has reached their dreams? Who has had dreams fail? Who has moved away? Who has returned? What happened during the annus horribilis?

164. Chapter 164: NY - Havana

Chapter 164: NY - Havana

Thursday, January 12th, Evening

(Song Lyrics in Italics)

They arrived and got out of the UBER. She paid for the ride with the app and followed the big man she came with towards the club. She looked over the club and turned to him.

"Hardy, are you sure this is where they are?" Ainsley Wilcox asked.

Hardy nodded, "Yeah, Fin's father is involved with it," he said, and then held up his smartphone opened to Finley's Instagram, "Also Fin has updated here."

Ainsley looked at the pictures and saw the picture of Finley and Libby, which Finley tagged Libby in. "So, what is going on?" Ainsley asked.

"A soft opening, I guess," Hardy said as they got into line.

They had no problem getting in. Ainsley looked around and saw the place was quite lively. She smiled and bathed in the blue and pink neon light. She liked this; it was time and place, 1980's Miami, where she belonged, where she wanted to live.

"So, everyone is here?" Ainsley asked.

"Yeah," Hardy said, looking down at his smartphone, "Fin, tagged mostly everyone."

Hey

Havana, ooh na-na (Ayy)
Half of my heart is in Havana, ooh na-na (Ayy, ayy)
He took me back to East Atlanta, na-na-na, ah
Oh, but my heart is in Havana (Ayy)
There's somethin' 'bout his manners (Uh-huh)
Havana, ooh na-na (Uh)

Ainsley nodded; hopefully, she was with them. Well, she knows she's here since Finley tagged her in an update from here. After they last went out as a group, Ainsley had made a move on Libby. Libby didn't take it well, and since then, she's been ghosting Ainsley. Hardy told Ainsley that Libby had gone out with Finley and Jade the other night. They went to a wine bar. So, Ainsley concluded, Libby was only ghosting her and not the group as a whole. Ainsley wanted to get to the bottom of this.

"What do you think of this place?" Hardy asked.

"I like it," Ainsley said, "Very South Beach Nineteen Eighties, it's my kind of vibe."

"That descendant nineteen-eighties vibes you mean?" Hardy asked.

"Oh, just to go back and enjoy it all," Ainsley said, with dreamy sound in her voice.

Hardy shook his head, "No, thanks," he said.

"Why not? The music, the food, and the fashions were just awesome," Ainsley said.

"Raegan and Gecko? No way," Hardy said, "Anyways, I have more options today, then back then."

He didn't walk up with that "how you doin'?" (Uh)
When he came in the room
He said there's a lot of girls I can do with (Uh)
But I can't without you
I knew him forever in a minute (Hey)
That summer night in June
And papa says he got malo in him (Uh)
He got me feelin' like...

Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh (Ayy)
I knew it when I met him (Ayy), I loved him when I left him
Got me feelin' like, ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
And then I had to tell him, I had to go
Oh na-na-na-na-na (Woo)

Ainsley nodded and smiled, "Well then, let's get some drinks, and see what is out there to play with," she said.

"Always the rake, aren't you, Ains?" Hardy asked.

"It's a difficult job, but someone has to do it," Ainsley said.

"Right," Hardy said, as they came to the bar and found Jared and Justin standing there drinking and talking.

"Hey guys," Ainsley said and came over to Jared and Justin.

"Ains," Justin said, a bit tense.

"Ainsley, what are you doing here?" Jared asked, no subtlety in Jared.

"Hardy, invited me," Ainsley said, "I couldn't believe you forgot to include me."

"I don't know," Jared said.

"So, where's Fin, and Jade?" Hardy asked.

"They're doing the rounds since Fin is technically working," Jared said.

"So, what does Jade have to do with that?" Ainsley asked.

"Someone has to hold her bag," Jared said.

Hardy chuckled, "That's something Jade could do," he said.

Jared gave Hardy a look. "It's nice to see you here," he said, with uneasy tones.

"So, where's Libby?" Ainsley asked.

Justin made a face and nodded, "I'm going to make a deposit," he said and slipped off.

Havana, ooh na-na (Ayy, hey)
Half of my heart is in Havana, ooh na-na (Ayy, ayy, uh-huh)
He took me back to East Atlanta, na-na-na
Oh, but my heart is in Havana (Huh)
My heart is in Havana (Ayy)
Havana, ooh na-na

(Jeffery)
Just graduated, fresh on campus, mmm
Fresh out East Atlanta with no manners, damn (Fresh out East Atlanta)
Bump on her bumper like a traffic jam
Hey, I was quick to pay that girl like Uncle Sam (Here you go, ayy)
Back it on me (Back it up)
Shawty cravin' on me, get to eatin' on me (On me)
She waited on me (And what?)
Shawty cakin' on me, got the bacon on me (Wait up)
This is history in the makin', homie (Homie)
Point blank, close range, that B (Tah, tah)
If it cost a million, that's me (That's me)
I was gettin' mula, baby

Hardy smirked, "It's great Fin invited me," he said, implying he too didn't get an invite.

"I don't know, Fin sent my invite through Jade," Jared said.

"But somehow Ains gets left off the list," Hardy said, trying to nail Jared down.

Havana, ooh na-na (Ayy, ayy)
Half of my heart is in Havana, ooh na-na (Oh, ayy, ayy, uh-huh)
He took me back to East Atlanta, na-na-na (Oh, no)
Oh, but my heart is in Havana (Huh)
My heart is in Havana (Ayy)
Havana, ooh na-na

Ooh na-na, oh, na-na-na (Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
Take me back, back, back like...
Ooh na-na, oh, na-na-na (Yeah, babe)
Take me back, back, back like...
Ooh na-na, oh, na-na-na (Yeah, yeah)
Take me back, back, back like...
Ooh na-na, oh, na-na-na (Yeah, babe)
Take me back, back, back
Hey, hey...
Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh (Hey)
Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh (Hey)
Take me back to my Havana...

Jared shrugged and took a deep pull of his drink. "I didn't have any hand in planning this night out," he said.

"But your sister has her fingerprints all over it," Ainsley said.

"I don't know," Jared said.

"Bullshit, Jared, you live with her and share everything," Ainsley said.

"We don't share everything," Jared said.

Ainsley turned to Hardy, "Hardy, dear, I need a drink," she said.

Hardy nodded and turned to the bar. Ainsley looked at Jared and nodded.

"So, is Libby here?" Ainsley asked.

"Didn't you already ask that?" Jared asked.

"You didn't answer," Ainsley said.

"I don't know what to say," Jared said.

"What are you not sharing, Jared?" Ainsley asked.

"Nothing that I'm aware of," Jared said.

"You lie horribly, Jared," Ainsley said.

Havana, ooh na-na
Half of my heart is in Havana, ooh na-na (Oh, yeah)
He took me back to East Atlanta, na-na-na (Ayy, ayy)
Oh, but my heart is in Havana
My heart is in Havana (Ayy)
Havana, ooh na-na (Uh-huh)

Oh, na-na-na (Oh, na, yeah)
Oh, na-na-na
Oh, na-na-na (No, no, no, take me back)
Oh, na-na-na
Havana, ooh na-na

Hardy returned and handed Ainsley her drink. She took a deep pull of her drink. Before she could say something, Jared turned to Hardy.

"So, what do you think of this place?" Jared asked.

"It's interesting," Hardy said.

"Yeah, has a good sound system," Jared said.

"I've heard better," Hardy said.

"You've also heard worse," Jared said.

"Why are you dancing around the subject?" Hardy asked.

"What subject?" Jared asked back.

Ainsley didn't like being cut out of the conversation. What was Jared getting at? He's dishonest about what was going on tonight. Just then, she saw Libby come through the crowd. Ainsley and Libby locked eyes.

We can never be friends

I hate that I saw you again last night
You were with somebody and so was I
Met you in the bathroom at 12:05
And I fucked you again, we can never be friends, yeah, yeah, yeah

I'm not myself
I'm not myself when you're around, no
Can't be helped
We are insane, that's just the way it goes

I'm a demon in the night, she's an angel with the white
Told me, "Keep on all the lights, I'ma show you what you like"
Help you put back on your clothes, make sure nothing's on your nose
Ain't even tell my closest homies, nobody knows

I hate that I saw you again last night
You were with somebody and so was I
Met you in the bathroom at 12:05
And I fucked you again, we can never be friends, yeah, yeah, yeah

"Oh, Libby, you did show," Ainsley said.

"Yeah, Fin invited me," Libby said, with a defiant tone.

"I wasn't sure since I wasn't," Ainsley said.

"Well, that I don't know about," Libby said.

"I'm not sure if I should be you since you've been ghosting me all week," Ainsley said.

"Look, Ains, I told you, I needed time, space, and to let me think about things," Libby said, there seemed to be steel hidden behind her sweet southern accent.

"So, you just leave me out in the cold?" Ainsley asked.

"How did you know I was here, anyway?" Libby asked.

"Fin's Instagram feed," Ainsley said.

"I see," Libby said.

"So, you just leave me out in the cold?" Ainsley asked again, starting to sound like a wronged girlfriend.

"I wasn't the one that kissed someone without permission. I asked for space, and you couldn't even give me that," Libby said, the steel was becoming more apparent in her voice, as the sweetness drifted away.

"Libby, I was worried about you," Ainsley said.

"You're smothering me," Libby said, the sweetness now is gone, and the steel was now bare.

I couldn't cry (Couldn't cry)
I need to smoke, I'm feelin' sick inside (Sick inside)
From seein' you next to a friend of mine
We didn't speak, but I read your mind
Both tellin' lies, our alibis didn't work this time (Didn't work this time)

I'm a demon in the night, she's an angel with the white
Told her, "Keep on all the lights, you can show me what you like"
Help me put back on my clothes, make sure nothing's on my nose
Can't even tell my closest homies, nobody knows

I hate that I saw you again last night
You were with somebody and so was I
Met you in the bathroom at 12:05
And I fucked you again, we can never be friends, yeah, yeah, yeah

Ainsley walked over to Libby and touched her on the skin of her exposed shoulder. Ainsley felt the familiar spark in her. Libby violently jerked away and turned to Ainsley. Libby looked deep into Ainsley's eyes, locking her in place. Ainsley was anticipating one thing; she got the complete opposite. For the first time since knowing Libby, Ainsley saw Libby's temper come to the surface. Libby's blue eyes took the cold look of frozen steel. Ainsley felt a chill run down her spine as she looked into Libby's cold dead eyes.

"Don't touch me," Libby said, her voice hard, loud, and cold. Ainsley, for the first time in her life, she could say she felt fear for another woman.

Around the area, anyone that could hear what was going on stopped what they were doing. Every one of those sets of eyes turned and stared at them. Ainsley wasn't sure how to react, or what was going to happen next. Libby stood there defiant, not having a care in the world, and looking ready to murder someone, namely Ainsley.

"What Libby?" Ainsley asked, her usual confidence melting away.

We can never be friends, yeah, yeah, yeah
We can never be friends, yeah, yeah, yeah
We can never be friends, we can never be friends, yeah, yeah, yeah

Yeah, I know that I said I was at home
Okay, yeah, you caught me (Caught me)
I thought that you said you were all alone
Look at you lying

I hate that I saw you again last night (I hate that I saw you again)
You were with somebody and so was I
Met you in the bathroom at 12:05
And I fucked you again (And I), we can never be friends, yeah, yeah, yeah

"Leave me alone, and don't talk to me," Libby said, her voice was just the steel, nothing of the woman Ainsley had known. Libby just dropped her arms, and slowly, defiantly walked away.

Oh, we can never be friends, yeah, yeah, yeah (Yeah)
We can never be friends, yeah, yeah, yeah (Yeah, yeah)
We can never be friends, we can never be friends, yeah, yeah, yeah

Jared looked at Hardy. He shrugged, and both men turned to look at Ainsley. Ainsley looked shattered, her shoulders slumped, and her eyes were downcast. Tears were welling up in those same eyes.

Jade came back to the group and looked at Jared and Hardy, "What the hell is going on here? Can't I leave you alone for a few minutes? Hi, Hardy, when did you get here?" Jade asked.

"Hardy showed up with Ainsley," Jared said.

"And?" Jade asked her brother, not making the connection.

"They had it out," Jared said.

"Hardy and Ainsley?" Jade asked.

"No," Jared said.

"Oh, my fucking god, then who?" Jade asked.

"Libby and Ainsley," Jared said.

Jade turned to see Ainsley standing there, in a state. Before Jade could say anything, Ainsley suddenly turned and ran off. Ainsley had put her hand on her face and was trying to cover her tears as she ran off.

"Well, fuck," Jade said.

"I didn't know," Hardy said.

Jade turned to Jared, "Tell Fin what the fuck just happened here," she said.

"Okay, what do I say?" Jared asked.

"The truth for a change," Jade said, and turned to Hardy, "Don't go anywhere, we'll have this out fucking later."

Jade turned away from the two guys and went after Ainsley. Jared just looked at Hardy and shook his head. Only then to be joined by a smiling Bietio, who came up to them from the crowd.

"What happened?" Bietio asked.

"Hardy showed up with Ainsley," Jared said, "And well, Ainsley and Libby got into a fight," he finished and had an accusing tone as he looked at Hardy.

"Not my fault, neither of them told us they were fighting," Hardy said.

"What happened?" Bietio asked.

"They fought and headed off," Jared said.

"Ainsley went to the lady's room," Hardy said.

"More like ran," Jared said, "Jade followed her."

"Where's Libby?" Bietio asked.

Hardy shook his head, "I don't know," he said, which made Bietio pout.