The Black Queen

Tenth Entry

January 23, 1984

I have a fucking massive shit of a fucking hangover. I am currently drinking a large glass of water and I just swallowed two painkillers. I came from a party Freddie threw last night. I'm still getting over what happened. Things got a little out of hand. The party was held at Freddie's home. It was just a random event, nothing special. The snow was beginning to die down a little. I took two buses to get to Freddie's place. I wore a light blue dress that really formed my figure. I wore modestly but with just a pinch of slutty. What can I say? I have a certain style, especially when it comes to Roger. He was there, of course with Dominique. I had arrived. The house practically had a party outside with how much music it had. I walked up the staircase to the front door and rang the doorbell. Freddie opened up laughing like a maniac.

"Dahlia, my darling. You're finally here!" he calmed down a little

"Here I am! How are you, Freddie?"

"Oh darling, I'm having a great time and you should too! You always work so hard you deserve a little break! What do you want to drink?"

"Wine"

"Oh no wine! Try something more extravagant and dangerous"

"Give me some whiskey then."

"The lady wants some whiskey, we'll give her some whiskey!" Freddie walked me over to the mini bar and poured me a glass of whiskey. "Oh darling, here, let me take that for you." He helped me take off my coat and hung it on the coat rack. I quickly drank the glass. "Wow, I've never seen you more exciting before!"

"Freddie please, it's only my first drink" I said. We both laughed. Freddie left to get more drinks. He never came back now that I look back at it. I found John wandering around, laughing with a large glass of beer in his hand. "John!" I called to him over the loud music. He turned and saw me. He smiled. He walked over to me and put his drink on the table.

"Dahlia, glad you could make it to one of Freddie's grand parties."

"I've never experienced a party like this, ever, and I thought my family partied hard!"

"Oh yes, Freddie always outdoes himself."

"And you John? You seem like you like to have fun sometimes."

"I do, miss. I do" We both laughed. We clinked our glasses and drank from them. For the next few hours, I continued to drink with him. He was a really fun guy. I tell you, once you get to know him, he's not the quiet little guy you read about in magazines. He left to somewhere in the house and left me. I walked around. I bumped into Brian who was alone.

"Why are you alone? It's a party, Brian!" I was already a little drunk.

"I wasn't alone. I was just talking to Chrissie but then she left to get more drinks. You seem to be enjoying yourself"

"Oh Brian, I am, I haven't so much fun like this for a while now."

"I'm glad you're enjoying yourself. It was actually Roger's idea in inviting you"

"Really? That is so sweet of him. Tell him that I said thank you. Wait, where is Roger, I haven't seen him all night?"

"He's around here somewhere. As always he gets himself completely drunk."

"I think I'm starting to get drunk myself." I giggled a little. I took another sip of my drink.

"I think you've had enough now, darling." Brian laughed. He slowly took the drink away from me as I was drinking it. I stumbled a little as I kept reaching for it, not wanting to let go. I landed on Brian who held onto me. "Are you alright there, dear?" He laughed a little. By this time I was already drunk, not completely drunk, but drunk enough to become charmed by his eyes. 

"You have really pretty eyes, Brian. You know that?" I said

"Thank you, darling." He started to lead me to somewhere I can sit.

"Yea, your wife is very lucky to have you." 

"That is very sweet of you, Dahlia."

"You are so handsome." I lent in to kiss him but he quickly refused. He looked down. Oh no.

"Dahlia..." He said. I came back to my senses.

"Oh my god"

"Dahlia, you're very sweet, but I don't like you in that way."

"I'm so sorry I didn't mean to do that" I got up from the couch. I looked up to see Chrissie was watching us the whole time. I stumbled all over the place to find the front door, but Roger found me first.

"Dahlia! Haha! Dahlia, darling! I didn't realize you were here!" He was absolutely, completely, fucking drunk. "Dahlia! Have you tried the scotch! It's Russian! Or German. I can't fucking remember but it's sure as hell good!" He came up from behind me and hugged me. "Did I ever tell you how beautiful you are! You are so fucking beautiful! Dominique! Isn't she gorgeous!" I turned over and saw Dominique staring right at us. I tried to break free from Roger but he was too strong.

"Roger" I mumbled to him "Dominique is right there"

"I know she's right there Im not a fucking idiot!!" Brian came along with John. They tried to get Roger off of me.

"Come on, Roger. You're drunk" Brian said

"I am not drunk! I'm just having a goof time!"  he slurred. They finally got him off me. I stumbled forward. I realized that everyone was watching us. Everyone. Stumbled more to the front door. Everything was tipsy.

"Hey Dahlia!" Roger called me one last time. I turned around after I opened the door. "I love you, darling!" Everyone remained in silence at that point. Shit. Now he really did it. Dominique looked even more furious as before. I got out of the house and started walking down the street. About five minutes later, a car pulled up from behind me. 

"Dahlia" I heard someone call me "Dahlia" I heard them again. But I refused to answer. "Come on Dahlia, you're not going to walk all the way home. You're drunk, and you live at least fifty miles from here." I turned and saw Paul Prenter was driving the car. He was right. There was no way I was going to make it home like that. I got into his car. He started to drive.

"Well, I'm glad I can finally meet you, but I'm not too glad it has to be this way." He chuckled

"Didn't we meet at the meeting you and Jim had?"

"We did? Ah yes, I am so sorry, I had forgotten. Forgive me, I am so humiliated now."

"No it's ok, you just forgot." My head rested on the window. My head started to hurt a little.  

"Quite the show Roger put up, huh?"

"Please, I don't really want to talk about it."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bother you. I just thought it was weird that he did all that, that's all." I ignored him. About an hour later we arrived at my apartment. "I'll walk you up." he offered.

"No, it's alright I'll do it myself."

"Darling, you couldn't even get to Freddie's front door tonight. You have to get through stairs here. Let me assist." He helped me get up to my apartment. I thanked him and he left. I slumped on the couch, not even bothering taking off my dress. This morning I woke up with the most motherfucking painful headache I have ever endured. I am writing to you now at one in the afternoon. Thank god we didn't have work today or else I would have been screwed. Last night was not one of my best nights. It couldn't hav-...

Sorry, I just got a phone call. A phone call from who? Why Dominique Beyrand, of course! Oh god and she didn't sound too happy either. She called telling me how concerned she was of me this morning. I told here I was fine. I also told her how sorry I was for last night. She accepted my apology but she didn't sound very sincere. I think she might be suspecting something now.

-Dahlia