Friend-Zoned (8 page)

Chapter
Six
The White Rabbit

“
So what’s going on with
you two?”
Turning to look at Nat I answer, “We’re just friends.” She looks
sceptical.
She slyly shoots, “Sure didn’t look like that hug you gave him this
afternoon was between friends.”
I scoff, “Oh, c’mon, tell me he didn’t look like he needed a
hug!”
She mutters, “I wouldn’t have known because I wasn’t watching Nik
all day long. Unlike somebody I know.”
I try to change the subject. “Pass the blankie, hon.” She takes the
blankie off her feet and pulls it over both of ours.
We’re on my awesome soft cream colored sofa watching some singing
contest on TV.
After I gave Nik the hug he so terribly needed I started to feel
awkward. This was because every eye in the room was watching us
like the Hawks they are. Max, Trick, Mimi and Cecilia couldn’t
conceal their happiness. Lola, Nat and the sisters faces all held a
bit of shock. And Ghost was openly scowling at me. Not too long
after, I made excuses for us girls and we left in a hurry.
Work for the rest of the afternoon went quickly and on the way home
I asked Nat if we could get Chinese food for dinner. She was down
for that.
Now, here we are, on my sofa, watching crappy reality TV and eating
Chinese food out of the cartons.
Ahh,
this is the life.
I couldn’t have
asked for a better way to spend a weeknight. I’m loving that Nat’s
here to stay. I feel secure in knowing she’s close by.
Nat utters, “All I’m saying is that the only guy I’ve ever seen you
hug like that was The Moron.” Of course, she’s referring to
Jace.
Bear decides it’s time to find the most uncomfortable place to
sleep and jumps on the sofa to lie down on my feet. I pat his furry
little head and he purrs loudly.
I say, “I don’t know what to tell you, babe. I’ve only ever had a
few guy friends and I only knew them a short time before I moved to
New York. So, I guess I’m a little inexperienced in what is and
isn’t appropriate with a guy friend. I’m just treating him like I’d
treat you, Meems, and Lola.” I end on a shrug.
Picking at her food with her chopsticks, she casts me a side long
look and whispers, “I just don’t want you getting hurt.” She pats
my covered foot. “You’re a sensitive soul, my chickadee. I love you
more than anything. I’m just looking out for you.”
Under the blankie, I nudge her foot with mine. I mutter, “I know
doofus.” I furrow my brow and look right at her, “There’s just
something about him, isn’t there?”
She rolls her eyes and exclaims, “Uh,
yeah
! It’s called animal magnetism
and he has it in bucket loads. He’s also sexy and that neck
tattoo…
hawt
! I’m
also diggin’ the eyebrow scar…and the brother.”
Laughter bursts out of me. I say, “Wait a sec, I thought I caught
you staring at Ghost this afternoon and now you’re into Max?”
Making a thoughtful face, she replies, “I don’t know about the
Casper guy. He freaks me out. Too intense, ya know? I think if I
was looking for some fun I’d go with Max, he’s easy to get along
with.”
I raise an eyebrow at her and cry, “Max burst in on our one year
reunion with a gun! If that’s not intense, I don’t know what
is.”
Her body shakes with silent laughter. She chuckles, “That
was
so
freakin’
awesome.”
We look at each other and burst out
laughing.
Yeah, it was pretty
awesome
***

Nat and I arrive in to
work with a few minutes to spare. I put her to work immediately by
sending her over to Winnie’s to introduce herself to whoever is
working that morning and getting our morning fuel.
It’s Saturday so it’ll be a busy one for us.
Thank Heavens for that.
I have a bit of money. But like Nik said “I’d rather spend
someone else’s money, that way I make more profit”. Unfortunately
for me, I do not have
that
much money to spend on the store. When Mia was
born, my parents talked me into adding her to my life insurance, so
I did. When she died I received a substantial amount of money and
threw all of it into Safira. And when Mom died, I received a very
decent sized inheritance. I put that money into an interest earning
account and cannot touch it for another five years. So, yes, I have
quite a bit of money. None of which I can touch.
After paying the girl’s wages, I’m not left with a huge amount so
when we have a busy day of work, it makes me stupid happy.
I travel twice a year to scout out potential suppliers. This
doesn’t mean I don’t like my current suppliers, it just means I
like to broaden our clothing and accessory options.
The girls all get any clothing bought at Safira at wholesale price.
So, basically, I don’t get a cent from any clothing sold to them. I
do this because I love them and they are
so
good to me.
Nat walks into the studio holding two caramel lattes and places one
on the counter for me then goes about re-folding yesterdays messed
up clothes.
Rawr
Raaawr
“Yeesh babe, you gotta get
someone to fix that damn thing.” Max is standing behind the counter
holding a white parcel.
I sigh loudly and state, “God, I
know
! It’s just awful. I’m just so
busy I keep forgetting.” I make a point to stare at the parcel; I
narrow my eyes and ask suspiciously, “Whatcha got there?”
He smirks, “Well, I guess you can call it a gift. I’ve been told to
tell you not to open it until I’m gone,
though.”
What on
earth?
I’m stunned. I question, “Ahh,
okay?”
Max laughs and assures, “It’s nothin’ bad, toots. Just accept it
and say thank you.”
Still stunned, I take the parcel from him and say, “Thank you,
Max.”
He raises a brow, shrugs, and admits, “Well, technically, it’s from
Nik the Dick,” he winks and adds “but I’ll take any thank you you
wanna give.”
I blush and smack his shoulder with the parcel. I accuse, “You
dawg! I need to work so you can just
shoo
.”
He kneels before me, takes my hand and kisses it dramatically. He
replies seriously, “It’s always a pleasure, my lady.”
I giggle as he leaves, place the parcel on the counter and stare at
it.
What could it
be?
I’ve never been good at accepting
gifts. And the girls usually hound me for weeks before my birthday
til I crack and just tell them what I want.
I’m staring so intently that I haven’t heard Nat come up behind
me.
I jump when she speaks. “What’s in the box?”
I’m wide eyed and I answer slowly in a whisper, “I have no idea and
it’s freaking me out.”
Nat grabs the box from the counter and rips the tab off. We both
lean a little closer as she open it.
There in the box is a big yellow envelope with my name on it. Nat
opens the envelope and dumps the contents in to the now empty
box.
I’m a little confused at first. There are four laminated cards in
clear cases and a note.
I reach for the note first.
Take them and
use
them. I won’t take no for an
answer. Nik.
Nat takes a look at a laminated card
and whispers, “No shit?”
I look at her wide eyed and enquire, “What are they?”
Shocked, she marvels, “VIP passes to The White Rabbit.” She smiles
wickedly and states, “We’re going out tonight!”
I’m curious about these VIP passes so I turn on the computer and go
to The White Rabbit’s website.
No
shit?!
I loudly whisper, “No shit?!”
I’m stunned.
Nat looks at my shocked face and replies wide eyed, “No shit
what
?!”
I hold up a VIP pass and shout, “These babies are a hundred bucks a
pop! And you can only use them for one night. It gets you access to
the VIP lounge, a private booth, and unlimited drinks.”
Nat is giddy. Smiling and bouncing up and down. She yells, “NO
SHIT?”
I whisper, “No shit.”
Now I know why Nik told Max to tell me not to open it until he was
gone. He knew I’d refuse his gift. After reading his note, I
don’t
want
to
refuse these passes. I think he feels he owes me but I’m going to
tell him next time I see him that he absolutely doesn’t. Friends
help friends.
I call Mimi and she squeals so loud my ear throbs. Next I call Lola
and she’s stunned into silence.
We all agree that tonight we go to The White Rabbit.
***

All the girls meet up at
my apartment to get ready. My apartment is the biggest of all of
ours.
We spend two hours perfecting our outfits, doing our hair and
makeup.
Nat has been placed in charge of my makeup. She applies smoky black
shadow and eyeliner to my eyes, clear lip gloss on my lips, and
finishes my look with false lashes and mascara.
I look at myself in the mirror and can hardly recognize the person
staring back at me.
I look
good
.
No, I look sexy. I can’t believe it.
I take a look around at my girls. Lola’s hair is straightened and
down and is wearing a tight red tube dress which is thigh high and
black and red heels. Mimi’s hair is also straightened and she is
wearing black wide-legged hipster slacks, a turquoise off the
shoulder blouse, and black heels. Nat’s hair is lightly curled and
she is rocking a black pencil skirt with a charcoal tank tucked
into it, charcoal ankle boots, and a thick white belt high on her
waist. My hair is parted at the side and in its natural state of
wave; I’m wearing a tight black long sleeved dress which comes just
above the knee and bright purple suede
heels.
Goddamn, we look
good!
I kiss Bear
goodbye.
Time to get our dance on.
***

It’s 11pm and still no
sign of Tina or the girls.
Damn
it.
I really hoped she would use the
VIP passes I gave her. I owe her big for NT3 Advertising sponsoring
us and I hoped to share some of the fortune, which she helped me
get, with her and the girls.
I’m up in the security room scanning the monitors for any sign of
them out the front. I’m just about to go back in the club when I
spot Nat on the monitors. They’re lining up with the regular club
goers. I didn’t explain they could walk right
in.
I’m such a
putz.
If I don’t send someone to get
them they’ll be waiting there all night. I call Max on his cell and
tell him to get the girls so they can actually enjoy their night
rather than spend it lining up out the front of the club.
I’m actually looking forward to seeing Tina outside of her comfort
zone. She doesn’t look like the kind of girl who goes clubbing
regularly. I hope she’ll loosen up and have some fun tonight.
In fact, I’ll do anything to make sure she has a good time
tonight.
***

The girls and I are lining
up, waiting to get into The White Rabbit.
The line is long. And I mean
long
! It’s almost two blocks down
the street. I don’t think we’ll get in any time before
1am.
Well, that’s what you get for
trying to be ‘fashionably late’.
Shut
up, brain.
I have my back turned to the street, rubbing my arms for
warmth.
“Well, well, well. What do we have here?” I turn and Max is smiling
at us. He asks, “What do you chicas think you’re doing with all the
regular folk? You’re VIPs!” He offers his elbows to Nat and I, we
take them and the girls follow as he walks us to the front of the
line.
Some of the waiting club-goers groan and a smiling Natalie struts
passed them like a peacock and boasts, “Yeah, that’s coz we’re VIP,
bitches!”
As we approach the front of the line, we’re greeted by a huge
African American man. He’s bald and looks bad
ass
. Max fist bumps him and presents
us to him, “B-Rock, these ladies are personal guests of Nik’s.” I
hand him my VIP pass and he smirks at me, “You hold onto this,
mami. You’ll need it at the bar.”
Awesome!
B-Rock (cool nickname)
unhooks the red velvet rope and we follow Max just inside the hall.
We reach another set of double doors and Max clears his throat and
smirks at us, “Ladies, welcome to The White Rabbit.”
He pushes open the double doors and I almost pee.
My ears are assaulted by loud R-n-B music which fades into loud Pop
music.
My mouth hangs open as I follow Max into the first floor of the
club.
This place is
unbelievable
!
I always thought The White Rabbit was a strange name for a club
until now. It all makes sense.
Max takes my hand, I take Nat’s hand, she takes Mimi’s, and Mimi
takes Lola’s hand. We form a mini snake. He leads us into the main
club area. There are booths all around the edges of the
huge
room, there isn’t a
spare seat in sight. You have to walk down four or five steps to
get to the dance floor, which is packed full. The outer rim of the
room is higher than the dance floor. The dance floor is retro tiled
in black and white.
Max leads us to the bar and I’m actually dumbstruck by how awesome
this place is.
There are waitresses walking back and forth from booths to the bar
and they are all wearing costumes. They wear a short light blue and
white pinafore dress with puffy sleeves, thigh high white lace
stockings with garters, and four inch white maryjane heels. They
also wear long blonde wigs with a light blue bow tied atop their
head, false eyelashes, pale makeup, and bright red lips.
Get it??! The White Rabbit is an Alice in Wonderland themed club!!!
So freaking awesome!
I love this
place!
“I love this place!” I yell
this to Max who bursts out laughing.
Max offers, “Sweetheart, you haven’t even seen the VIP area
yet!”
I’m in awe.
There’s
more?!
I’m suddenly giddy. I take
another look around. All the walls are painted deep purple; this
has been done whimsically and the artist has mixed white through
the purple in a swirly pattern. There is a huge bronze Cheshire cat
statue by the bar, people are gathering around it and taking photos
with it. Some fantastic Alice in Wonderland prints and paintings
hang around the wall. There are even original cartoon
cells.
Oh Em Freakin’
Gee!
Max leads us to a staircase and
we climb up. As soon as we reach the top, an Asian Alice smiles at
us and says, “Good evening ladies, do you have a VIP booth
reserved?”
My hearts sinks. I sputter, “Uhh…”
Max interrupts me, “Yeah. It’s under Safira. These are Nik’s
guests.”
Asian Alice’s eyes widen slightly. She utters, “Of course, please
come through.”
We follow her to one of the bigger booths, it can seat at least ten
people and I’m confused as to why she would give us this one when
there are only four of us.
The girls, Max, and I take a seat. We order Cherry Bombs and I look
around while we wait.
Max was right, the VIP area is even better than downstairs. The
booths are black soft leather with bronze buttons down the sides.
Every booth has their own waitress and the music is not as loud up
here so you can talk to each other without yelling. More cells,
prints, and paintings line the walls.
Nik arrives at our booth and speaks, “Ladies, I’m so glad you could
make it.”
He’s smiling at us (dimple and all…yum!) and I know he’s genuinely
happy that we came. He looks delicious in grey slacks, Italian
dress shoes, and a light grey sweater which he’s pushed the sleeves
up to the elbows.
I shriek, “This place is
awesome
!” Nik laughs as takes a seat
beside me.
He begins, “I can’t believe you’ve never been here.” He feigns
being upset. “I was a little hurt actually.”
I laugh at his antics and respond, “Well, you lured us here and I
can tell you I’ve only been here twenty minutes and I already want
to come back!”
He leans in close to my ear and says, “I’m glad you like it.” He
leans away, winks, and adds, “Now to make sure you have a good
time.”
Swoon.
***