High Fidelity

32. showgirls

Sydney Bay Janes

I was more than pleased to have Chyna back with me. She didn't have a place to stay as I insisted she not spend money on a hotel in the city, but she couldn't stand Delaney or Tom.

Yeah, Tom's back.

Too much was happening that Chyna was filling me in on, I couldn't even let her know what I'd be through here since she left.

"Promise me, we can find a place here," Chyna pled, folding her clothes on the bed after a day of laundry.

"That was Will," I said after ending a phone call with him.

"I heard. What was that about, who's missing?"

"Will's friend, Wes," I let out.

"Damian's friend, too," she chimed in.

I dropped her blouse in my prezteled legs and looked at her with a stone face.

"I'm just saying," she drawled, popping her tongue.

"I went out with Wes and he tried to set me up for some orgy, there was this dirty girl who got facial'd and they were recording, saying they were going to take turns with me," I spit out. It was easier to say now that Wes was gone.

I didn't know where he was, how far, or for how long he'd be gone, but I relished in the fact he couldn't hurt me now.

I wondered who done it, the imaginative part of me wished it was secretly Will who defended my honor. . .

"He did what? Hell no, Sydney, we need to call the cops!" she exclaimed, lunging towards the dresser to grab her phone off the charger.

I snatched it before she could get to it.

"Sydney," she barked.

"Chyna!"

Her brown eyes were wide and almost in tears as she looked into mine.

"This is serious, Syd. Enough is enough, I'm tired of these men trying to take advantage of you. And now, with Tony, I can't," she broke down.

I sucked my lower lip into my mouth, warding off tears so I could be strong for her.

Her weight was more than mine so I fell onto the bed with her in my arms.

I rocked her and kissed her flesh.

"Chy," I cooed. "It's okay, look at me."

When she didn't, I repeated, "Look at me, it's okay."

She sniffled, sitting up.

"I just don't want him to hurt you," she sobbed.

"I know. He won't, he promised," I said, forcing myself to even believe that.

When Chyna called me before she arrived the other day -- when I was at the old frat house with Will-- she told me Tony found her and wanted to know where I was. She said he paid her handsomely but when she tried giving it back, feeling guilty as she didn't want to disclose my information, he scared her.

I guess he changed and no longer puts his hands on women, because he didn't hurt her, but she said she was scared.

Chyna let him know I was in Nevada, but she didn't know where. He said he'd follow her to the airport but she cancelled her flight and paid a lot for the earliest one, leaving him behind without a clue.

I hated she had to trick him and even be roped in this. I also wasn't mad she let it slip I was in another state. It's not like he'd show up at Delaney's door, no. Even if he did find me, he had another thing coming.