Fireworks 1 and 2

Chapter Thirteen

    Is she right about him? Mia replayed the night's events in her mind. She hadn't gotten any vibes that he was a player of any kind. He'd been affectionate, and kind, and engaging.

    "Please tell me you're not listening to anything that bitch had to say," Bri demanded, frowning.

    Mia shook her head, thoughtfully staring at her reflection in the bathroom mirror.

    "You know what she's doing, right?" Desirae asked softly. "She's trying to put distance between you and Drake. She saw that you two were...getting along, and she's jealous. So she's trying to keep you two from being happy."

    "What if she's right?" Mia asked.

    Bri smacked her forehead. "What if she's wrong?" she countered. "What if you listen to her, and you stop talking to Drake, and miss out on this amazing life that you could have with him?"

    Mia shook her head and turned away from the mirror, putting her face in her hands. "How can I go back up there and act like nothing's wrong?"

    "You have to tell him about what she told you," Bri said. "You can't just pretend it never happened."

    "You have to be up front with him," Desirae agreed.

    Mia tried to sort through her thoughts, but couldn't. They were all over the place. "I can't go back up there," she said miserably.

    Bri frowned. "What are you talking about? Just leaving?"

    "I need time to think through this."

    "You are not going to just disappear on Drake, bitch," Bri said, shaking her head firmly. "I refuse to stand by and let you. If I have to drag you up those stairs, you are going up there and you're going to talk to him."

    Mia stared at Bri long and hard. "Forget about me and my problems, are you all right?"

    Bri shrugged. "I don't know. I'll get checked out when we get back home."

    "I'm starting to think you're really pr-"

    "If you say the P-word, I swear to God, Mia," Bri threatened. She raised a balled fist. "I have a killer uppercut and I'm not afraid to use it on you, friends or not. I don't discriminate." She kissed her fist while Desirae and Mia collapsed into laughter.

    The three friends left the bathroom. Drake and his crew were no longer on the upper level; they stood beside the dance floor. Drake was squinting as he surveyed the dancers. He was looking for someone in particular.

    Probably me, Mia thought as they approached him.

    He turned and relief filled his face when he saw her. "I thought you bailed out on me," he said, his right arm sliding around her waist as he kissed the top of her head. She went stiff in his arms, but he didn't seem to notice.

    Bri gave her an "I told you so" look. "Mia wouldn't dare do something as inconsiderate as that," she informed him, while keeping her eyes on her best friend.

    "I'd hope not," Drake said, smiling at Bri. "We're headed out of here and back to the hotel."

    "Is that an invitation?" Desirae chirped with one hand on her hip.

    Drake laughed. "It's been a long day, and the boys are pretty exhausted. I don't think we're up to entertaining tonight. Maybe when Mia comes out to the YOLO estate, she can bring you with her."

    If he'd made the statement just an hour ago, Bri and Desirae would have squealed in excitement, but now both girls knew better. They nodded while smiling, but Mia could tell that they were wondering if she'd still be accepting his offer. They were right to wonder, because even she didn't know whether or not she would still join him at YOLO estate.

    "The cars are waiting for us out back," Drake informed her friends. "My crew will show you which car you're riding in. Mia, come with me." He guided her away from her friends.

    She twisted around, throwing them one last desperate glance before he whisked her towards a dark corner. He placed his palms flat on the wall, braced on either side of her face. Her eyes grew round with surprise.

    "What's wrong?" he asked her.

    "What..." She frowned in confusion. Had she been that easy to read?

    "You're not talking to me, and when I hugged you, you didn't hug me back. I know something is wrong. Just tell me."

    She couldn't help but be impressed at the attention he paid to detail. She was so surprised, she couldn't begin to find the words to coherently express her thoughts.

    He looked at her expectantly. "Did something happen? When I couldn't find you, where were you?"

    "The bathroom." She could manage to say that much.

    "Did something happen in the bathroom?"

    "Bri was feeling sick. She might be pregnant," she admitted.

    He nodded. "Did anything else happen in the bathroom?"

    This is when you're supposed to tell him, she mused, starting to open her mouth.

    A tall, middle-aged, dark-skinned man clapped Drake on the back. "Drake, my man!" the man exclaimed. "I've been listening to your music since forever, man. It's great to finally be able to meet you."

    The briefest flash of anger flamed and then died out in Drake's eyes. He turned and awkwardly accepted the man's handshake. "Do you always walk up to someone and slap them on the back like that, though?" he questioned.

    "Sorry man," the man apologized, chuckling. "It's the way I greet people."

    "You need to find another way, because that's not it," Drake suggested, pulling his hand back. "How are you, man?"

    "I'm good, man, I'm good. Just living life, you know?"

    Drake nodded. "I hear you, man. I'm on my way out, but it was good to be able to talk to you for a minute, all right?" He grabbed Mia's hand and ushered her out the nearest exit.

    The breezy night air rolled over them as they walked out of the club. Chubbs was waiting for them just outside of the club's doors. Drake turned his head, searching out the cars that should have been waiting for them. Four cars were parked to the left, at the sidewalk. A limousine was at the head of the line of vehicles. Chubbs escorted them to the limousine and opened the back door. Drake guided Mia inside, then ducked down into the car. Chubbs closed the door for him.

    Drake stared at her for a long time. "You don't want to tell me what's going on with you?" he asked softly.

    "We were interrupted before."

    "We're alone now. So tell me."

    She licked her lips and glanced out of the limousine window. The limo pulled away from the curb, and the cars lined up behind the limo followed suit. "While I was in the bathroom helping Bri, the girl...the one Chubbs warned you about, came in."

    Drake leaned forward in his seat and braced his elbows on his knees. "Go on."

    She took a deep breath. "She said that I was the flavor of the month. I wasn't special. You were a user, and would use me for one, maybe two songs. Then you'd toss me away. She said you weren't looking to fall in love now, and that you couldn't fall in love because then you wouldn't have anything to write about."

    Drake pinched the bridge of his nose, but otherwise held his composure. "Do you believe her?" he asked calmly.

    I don't know what to believe, she thought, not knowing how to answer his question.