«No, no, she didn't deserve to win that round, come on!» Cecily exclaimed, while eating a slice of pizza.
We were talking about RuPaul's Drag Race while building my new furniture, eating pizza and drinking a glass of wine every once in a while. Cecily was enjoying the show from a corner, with a pizza box in front of her and a glass of cola in her hand.
«I feel useless, by the way. Just because I'm pregnant, doesn't mean I can't help.»
«It's better this way. We don't want you getting hurt» Aidy explained.
«Jack would kill me if I'd let anything happen to you, I'm not taking the risk» I added.
She huffed and puffed, with a big frown on her face.
«See, that's why I should have kept this to myself.»
I rolled my eyes and went back to building the coffee table.
«So, Aidy... are you ready for the wedding?»
«Yeah, when's it gonna be? You haven't said anything about it.»
«It's gonna be this April, and of course you're gonna be my bridesmaids.»
«I'm gonna be a whale by then» Cecily complained.
«If you don't quit being grumpy, I'm gonna destroy you» Kate jumped in, jokingly.
Cecily sticked her tongue out, but then smiled.
«I don't care, you'll still be as beautiful.»
«It'll be in Brooklyn, and we'll just party like wild animals two days before. I don't wanna show up to my own wedding still hangover, you know what I mean.»
We chuckled at the memory of a wasted Aidy passing out in the hallways at SNL, then vomiting the whole day after, while trying to get through the table-read.
«Imagine saying "I do" and then puking on his shoes» Cecily chuckled, under her breath.
«"I'm really, really, sorry, I just need a little bit of painkillers, then we can dance"» Kate laughed out loud, falling on her back.
«Okay, if you're done mocking me for something that only happened once, we can talk about Cecily.»
«Hey!» the mentioned actress protested.
«It was more four times, but sure» Kate giggled, putting up four fingers. «What about Cecily? Does she have any more secrets?»
Cecily shook her head, but Aidy wouldn't back down.
«Now that you're expecting a child with Jack, have you talked about your future? Like, are you gonna get married or something?»
«It's way too soon to be thinking about marriage. We've got a lot on our plates, let me deliver this baby first and then we can discuss it.»
My phone chimed and I saw a text from Lauren.
«Sorry, I've got to call a friend. It'll be a minute.»
I called her, and immediately heard her shaken voice.
«What happened?» I asked her, worried about her.
«A- A man. He- He tried to kiss me, but I told him to stay back and he hit me.»
«Where are you?»
«I'm on 7th avenue. Please, pick me up, I'm scared.»
«I'm on my way, just please stay on the phone. I'm coming.»
I went back to the living room, where everyone turned to me.
«Stay here, my... friend Lauren has been assaulted. I'll pick her up and bring her here.»
Cecily's eyes widened, as her eyes moved swiftly between me and Kate.
«I'll be right back.»
Lauren couldn't stop crying, with a pack of ice in one hand and the other one holding mine.
«What happened, dear?» Cecily asked her, in the kindest way. «We can help you, and we won't judge.»
«I- I tried to explain to him that I wasn't interested, but he just kept going, and then he put one arm around me and slapped me with the other one» she sobbed, showing us her red cheek.
My first instinct was to hold her on my chest until she fell asleep, but I couldn't do it in front of Kate. Us holding hands was already weird enough, I didn't want it to seem too much.
«Do you know who did this?»
«No. I remember his face, though.»
«Okay, describe it to us and we'll try to draw him, so that tomorrow morning, when we go to the police station, we can tell them.»
Lauren nodded and described her aggressor to Cecily, then resumed crying on my shoulder.
«I think she should get some rest» the pregnant actress smiled, trying to be encouraging. «We'll be here tomorrow at eight to go to the police station.»
I helped Lauren get settled in my bedroom, then said goodbye to the girls.
«Thanks for everything, bye.»
Kate, though, didn't leave right away. She stayed, and looked at me in the eyes.
«If she's your girlfriend, you can just tell me.»
«She's not. She's just a friend.»
«Brookie, I...»
Her eyes sparkled for a second, and she tried to get the words out, but then shook her head instead and smiled.
«Never mind. Goodnight, see you tomorrow.»
The following day we all helped Lauren report her aggressor to the police station, then headed to a coffee shop to get something for breakfast.
«Thank you so much for helping me out» she said, more relaxingly. «It was really scary.»
«No problem at all, we're just thankful that you're okay» Aidy reassured her, sipping from her cup of coffee.
We all chatted with her, but sometimes my eyes would drift to Kate, who really seemed off and sad. Lauren was being really lovely, especially with me: she would often take my hand, or stare at me the way I used to stare at Kate. I knew she didn't want anything more than sex and that she only wanted to feel loved and protected after that night, so I let her.
«I'm gonna go, now, or I'll miss my shift at work. Great to meet you all.»
She left, while the rest of us stayed seated and gossiped about our co-workers.
«Sorry, it's Jack. I'm gonna meet his parents tonight. For the first time. Ever. And I'm pregnant» Cecily nervously chuckled, putting down her phone after a minute of chatting with her boyfriend.
«You're gonna do great. It's hard not to like you» I reassured her.
We all tried to include Kate in the conversation, but she wouldn't pay attention to us. She was really sad and melancholic, which was killing me. I knew I had to do something about it, but I also knew that she would have never told me what was wrong.
«Hey, are you okay?» I tried to ask her, while the other girls were in the bathroom.
«Yes» she answered, irritated.
«I'm just trying to look out for you.»
«I know, and I thank you for that, but nothing is wrong and I'm fine» she hissed. «Actually, I have to run some errands, see ya.»
She took her jacket and left, as Cecily and Aidy came back.
«What's her problem?»
«She won't tell me.»
Aidy gave Cecily a quick look, and immediately understood that they knew.
«We would tell you, but it's not our place» they explained.
«I understand. Anyway, I'm off. I've got to buy some more furniture, because Brian and the kids are gonna come visit me during winter break.»
I waved them goodbye, but I still couldn't shake away the feeling that the thing they weren't telling me was actually more important than I could imagine.
YOU ARE READING
SHATTERED GLASS: love always finds a way
Hayran KurguSEQUEL OF "SHATTERED GLASS". After the troubled end of their relationship, Brooklyn and Kate have to learn how to work around each other and be friends towards one another. They embark on new journeys and start new relationships, but a feeling keeps...
