Guns and Numbers

chapter six

It’s a Friday and I am ready to face Miranda and friends. I wore my new grey adidas bottoms and grey sports bra and a see through one shoulder off blouse and my black adidas sneakers. I got my gym bag that had some of my toiletries, my change of clothes, a towel and my purse. I got my car keys and went outside. The movers will be here tomorrow and I have Sunday to settle down and Monday I start my new job. I drove to the dance studio. I parked my car and I saw Miranda and her goons outside.
‘whose car is that?’ Miranda asked.
‘probably some new person staring today.’ Leah said.
‘well I pick dibs if the person is rich.’ Miranda said.
I got out of the car and their faces were so priceless. I will cherish this moment forever. It gave me some sort of self relief.
‘what the actual fuck?’ Miranda asked looking at me with utter disbelief.
‘hie miranda’ I said.
I passed her and went inside. I went straight to the dressing area and put my gym back inside my locker and I know how Miranda opens up my locker to jeorpadise me so I took my carkeys and purse and hid them someplace else.
I approached the kids I teach. I have ten kids having the age range from seven to thirteen. Its not easy but its fun.
‘hey guys.’ I said.
‘hie Aqua’ they chorused.
‘donna what did we agree on last time we had a lesson? What are we learning today?’ I asked’
‘today we are learning how to salsa.’ Donna said.
‘yes! So line up and we learn the basics today.’ I said.
‘don’t we need the salsa shoes?’ Daniel asked.
Donna and Daniel are twins. Both have freckles and have doe brown eyes and button noses and small lips. They are almost identical.
‘well we do but they are at the repairs at the moment so we will have to do the lesson without them.’ I said.
I got into position which is just in front of them.
‘now, lets begin. You sway your hips and go two steps in front and two backwards.’ I said and demonstrated.
The lesson started. Miranda was busy trying to come up with ways on how I got the brand new car. She was also fuming with jealousy because the guys were looking at my hips sway and the attention wasn’t on her.
I taught the kids the basics of salsa and some seem to get it and some had some trouble but still more at the end of the lesson some could dance with partners without stepping on each other’s toes.
‘okay kids. That’s it for the day. See you on Monday. Don’t miss me too much.’ I said with a smile. The kids got their bags and I saw them all off. Some got picked up and some I escorted to the bus stop.
I went to the dressing room after getting the purse and car keys from their hiding spot and I found Miranda going through my gym bag.
‘I might have to report you to the police.’ I said.
She got startled.
‘I-I…what are you doing here?’ she asked
‘well I was coming to get my bag.’ I said.
‘how did you get the car?’ she asked
I snatched the bag from her hands and closed the locker. I looked into the bag and found my belongings as they were. I went out of the dressing room.
‘well I asked you a question.’ She said.
‘well its non of your business.’ I said
‘if you are going to whore around to get a car at least be proud of it.’ she said out loud. Everybody looked at us and she had her smirk off her face.
‘sure thing Miranda. I fucked your boyfriend to get the car. Oh wait you don’t have one. You fuck around for stupid shit like make up. Must have been my degree then. You know that thing that you receive when you actually graduate college and not high school.’ I said.
That wiped the smirk off her face.
‘bye babe.’ I said and winked.
I went out of the building and actually went home.
There are some moments that I actually can stand up for myself when it comes to Miranda and there are a lot of moments when I can't and she triumphs in those moments because she eats up on what's left of my poor soul.

I woke up and got the last shower in my apartment and wore sweatpants and an oversized sweater and socks with slides. I packed up the last stuff and had a packet of  Good Morning biscuits.
The movers came and I helped moving the boxes and soon enough they were done. I drove to the new apartment but I stopped at the grocery store and got some groceries.
I reached the apartment and I found the movers still loading up the furniture into the new apartment.
‘you can leave the kitchen to me. Plus am making y’all some lunch. Any allergies?’ I asked
A bunch of no’s came up and I smiled and went to the kitchen.
I made some fried vegetable rice with some beef stew and I also made some chicken stir fry noodles if they were some health freaks and I made some cookies and greek salad.
I set the table and I was lucky. They were six movers and the kitchen had a breakfast bar so I could eat there.
‘okay guys. Lunch is served.’ I said.
‘smells great in here.’ I heard Carlos say.
‘oh hie Carlos. I made lunch. Come here.’ I said.
‘don’t mind if I do.’ He said.
The guys all sat down and I said a quiet grace. I had to add a chair for Carlos. They table was lively with chatter.
‘damn, what do you do for a living ma’am?’ brock asked.
‘am an accountant. Why do you ask?’ I said
‘you should open a restaurant. Your cooking is amazing.’ He said.
‘thank you’ I said
‘if only all our customers were this nice. Its been so long since I had a nice home cooked meal that’s not spaghetti.’ Luke said.
My cheeks burnt up and that cause a round of laughter. Curse my light skin.
I cleared the table and the guys went back to work.
‘what brings you here Carlos?’ I asked with a smile.
‘this smile is different with that one in the parking lot.’ he said.
I simply smiled and shrugged.
‘anyway, I came to see how everything is going and ask if you want any changes.’ He said.
‘everything is perfect.’ I said
‘then I better be on my way.’ He said.
‘wait.’ I said.
I took a Tupperware container and put some cookies in it. I gave it to him.
‘freshly baked. There is choc chip, raisin and dried fruit.’ I said.
‘you are very nice. Way too nice.’ He said.
‘am not. i was told to treat your guests nicely until they think you have a motive. I guess it just stuck. And I rarely get guests so yah.’ I said.
‘don’t you have friends?’ he asked.
I shook my head.
‘why not?’ he asked.
‘I don’t really know. Never fit in with any group.’ I said.
He simply nodded.
‘well I better get going. See ya on Monday. Don’t forget to wear heels. It’s a must.’ He said.
‘really?’ I asked.
‘sort of.’ He said.
He left and I washed the plates and put them on the rack to dry. I unpacked some of the plates, pots, cups and other utensils from the cartons. Soon enough the movers were done and I gave them the cookies in a box. They also went on their merry way after giving me their numbers and making sure they all had my number as well. I think I just made some friends.
I continued unpacking some stuff until I was dead tired and I slept. I was woken up by the sound of a knock. I looked at the time and saw that it was just after nine and I went to open the door. I was surprised to find Carlos, Brock, Luke and some girl I don’t know.
‘hey guys. Come in.’ I said.
I opened the door wider and they came in.
‘were you still sleeping?’ the girl asked.
‘uh yah I was. Hard a long night. Hey am Aqua, what’s your name?’ I said.
‘Candace. Am Luke’s sister.’ She said.
‘I actually thought I would find breakfast.’ Carlos said.
I simply smiled.
‘well we are here to help you with unpacking.’ Brock said.
My skin reddened.
‘am guessing you are not used to being helped.’ She said.
‘uhm…Is it that obvious.?’ I asked.
They all nodded.
I blushed again.
We all got to work with them asking me frequently where things should go. I made brunch since it was a bit late to actually have breakfast and am glad people actually enjoyed it. it was simple really. I made egg muffins and also egg rolls. I made bacon and eggs. The bacon was put like in a pattern and the bacon overlapped each other and it had some empty squares which I filled with eggs and fried it up. I made bacon and chicken burgers and chips. I only had juice and water and no alcohol yet so we downed it all down with juice and some water. Carlos and Luke wanted coffee though.
By mid-afternoon we were all done and we settled for a movie. Honestly I can say this was the best weekend ever.
‘I actually thought you watched romantic movies or chick flic.’ Brock said.
‘that’s the most cliché thing I have heard.’ I said.
Luke was flicking through some videos and he came upon a video of me dancing. I tried to make him pass it but it was too late.
‘whoa, is that you?’ he asked.
Great. Now comes the teasing. Bet they will say how I look like jelly or a pig when am dancing. I was actually having a great time until the stupid video. I took the video when I was contesting for some competition. I lost it anyway. Miranda won the damn thing.
‘that’s amazing.’ Candy said. Yes she told me to call her candy.
‘wait what?’ I asked.
‘you are an amazing dancer.’ She said.
‘uh thanks I guess.’ I said.
Now am confused. Will they make me feel good about myself then crush it all? Or maybe it’s a prank.
Another video came up. It was a video of the crew dancing to LEMON by Rihanna and NERD. We had the same dance moves but we did it in groups and uploaded it on YouTube. We usually do that to the trending songs and I usually dance alone or sometimes with Wendy.
The guys watched the video and when my part came up I was conscious.
‘look at your ass jiggle.’ Candy said.
‘am pretty sure she is straight candy.’ Luke said.
‘yah I am.’ I said.
‘you don’t seem surprised to find out she aint straight.’ Luke said
‘that’s cause I know.’ I said
‘how?’ she asked.
Everybody seemed fascinated.
‘well for one, she couldn’t stop staring at my ass or boobs. She found a reason to brush against me plus, every sane girl would be drooling over you guys and she was not.’  
‘meaning you are drooling over us?’ Carlos asked with a smirk.
‘y’all good looking and all but if you haven’t noticed y’all are not my type and y’all friend zoned. its like am with my brothers and sister.’ I said with a nostalgic smile.
I have two brothers and two sisters. Well step siblings. They are alive but they don’t want to have anything to do with me. Same goes with my parents. Well, they think am dead. That’s why I say they are dead and I don’t have any family.
I had to pay someone to change things incase someone does a report on me.
My family are bad people. Very bad people.
‘damn. We got friend zoned and bro zoned in the same sentence.’ Brock said.
‘well shoot.’ Candy said.
We finished watching the videos.
‘Aqua, I couldn’t help it but notice that you don’t have any family related pictures nor yours either.’ Carlos said.
‘oh. I lost most of the pictures and the family. And I don’t really have any family left anyway.’ I said
‘oh am so—‘
‘so what movie should we watch next? Or maybe y’all want to go?’ I asked.
‘oh I need to get back home. Got work tomorrow.’ Carlos said.
‘don’t we all.’ Brock said.
‘I don’t. am a freelance writer.’ Candy said.
‘oh shut it. you aint staying though.’ Luke said.
Soon enough they all left. I went to my bedroom. The apartment is huge. It has three bedrooms, all with a walk in closet, two are en-suite and it has one and a half bath excluding the en-suite baths and a kitchen, dining room and living room. It also has a study which will be used as my office and it has a huge balcony and the living room has floor to ceiling windows with a great view of the park a few blocks down the street. My room is perfect and it’s the master en-suite.
It has a grey soft plush carpet and a huge black wooden bed with two bedside tables that each have white lamps. The walls are painted white and have grey and black patterns. I have a shelf and a tv stand and also vanity table. My closet is half full of course. I went to the closet and I looked for my outfit for tomorrow. I went to my bathroom and took a quick shower and wore my pyjamas and went to bed after brushing my teeth.