BLACK ROSE

The forbidden fruit

Alex.

No matter what, I'm always reminded of the relationship between us. She's my client, and I'm her dealer.

A forbidden relationship. A forbidden desire. That's what she is.

Even if for just a split second do I allow myself to daydream, to wonder and desire, a little voice in the back of my mind reminds me of my most central rule – to never get involved with a client or anymore from this dark world. It's a sad truth that I've been dealing with for many years now and never have I broken it. Have I had numerous possibilities? Yes. Yet I've always followed it, always. And then... and then Ashley shows up, connected to the person I hate the most, and I'm suddenly thinking about breaking it.

Don't play her, Mae's words echo in my mind. After a failed relationship with Leo filled with lies and trust issues, she doesn't deserve to be played by someone who's not much better than him. But when has a little fun ever hurt anyone?

I keep a close eye on her the whole time. Excluding herself at every attempt Mae makes to include her in a conversation with the girls. She should never have met the others at the club. I can't and I don't blame Mae for bringing her with her that night, but she never should've done it. That was far from the proper first meeting she should've experienced.

Ace's eyes keep on travelling from Ashley to me. A playful smirk rests on his face accompanied by raised eyebrows.

I shake my head. In the corner of my eye I notice Mae finally succeeding. Ashley joins a conversation with Mae, Sophie and a cheerful Violet. Seeing Violet excited to have Ashley here, calm an anxious part of me down. I can see the worry on Ashley's face and Mae's wary eyes, though she's not letting any signs of anxiety show. Violet seems to have forgotten the circumstances they've met under and just accepted her as a new friend.

"Are you still going to tell me nothing is going on between you two?" Ace mocks me, grinning from ear to ear.

"Yes."

River leans over my shoulder, eavesdropping. Parker copies his action. "Between whom?"

"No one," I snap at him. "Ace's having delusions again."

"As far as I know I'm not the delusional one," he says in his defence. River stares at him disappointed but not surprised, Parker laughs and I just ignore his comment. The alcohol is already starting to loosen up his tongue. Not that there's anything he can say that we don't already know about.

Just in time, like on a silent mental call, Ciara, Heather, Ray and Francis announce their presence by calling at us. Two small bags from small corner convenience stores near their homes inform us all about the content of them. The closer they get the louder the high pitched hitting sound of the glass bottles against each other gets.

Ciara smiles kindly at Ashley, who just nervously returns the smile. She flashes the rest of us the same smile, and places one of the bags on the table. Francis automatically heads over to the bonfire, taking one of the marshmallow packs and opening it, wasting no time VERB his marshmallows over the low fire.

Ciara mashes herself next to River, blowing Parker, Ace and I a kiss. We blow her one back and hand her the apple cider she asks for.

"Shut up, River." He just nods, apologetically. "Some of us are having an existential crisis at the moment."

"You look very good for an existential crisis," Ace points out.

"Perfection, honey, perfection," she winks at him, taking a big sip of the apple cider. "And it's curse of always seeking it." 

********

"Are they annoying you?"

I take the last step closer to her, leaning against the railing. We're not up high, still the city below looks strangely small from here above.