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This chapter's song
Perfect for You by Kady Z
"You nothing but trouble a fire burning every part of me. But something about you it holds and holds down my gravity. Pretend you live in another world. Where you think you burn this girl. A place that good enough for you. (It be perfect, so perfect) Now it's complicated tired of this waiting. I just wanna be perfect for you."
***
Aaleiyah, unlike what Anna could expect, just glances softly at her, before smiling. "Welcome to Bellmore Point, Anna. I hope you like this place. And, naturally, this party."
Anna replies back with a grin. "Well, I guess first impressions count," she says, which causes Alyzza to clear her throat nervously. "I mean, they do count, but only to a certain extent."
Alyzza can't repress a nervous smile, probably displaying a diffident attitude towards the new girl; still, she remembers that it's her who made her life hard several hours ago, so she promises she won't be so harsh to her anymore, unless she has a clear reason to be.
"I guess you already know Alyzza and Alanis a little bit." As Aaleiyah restarts talking, the two girls are annoyed at her possibly saying shit about them in order to please Anna. Or this is probably what either Alanis or Alyzza may be thinking.
Anna just nods. Alanis tries hard to smile and repress all the negative feelings, but the same couldn't be said about Alyzza, who rolls her eyes very disdainfully. This prompts Anna to leave and reach the center of the dancefloor, which causes Aaleiyah to glare at her friends; still, she's unable to conceal her distress.
"Why can't you just be nice, Alyzza?" Aaleiyah's question seriously triggers Alyzza, causing her to throw her hands back in frustration and leave her behind. Alanis can't stand this situation, so she chases after her.
This means that Aaleiyah is alone, at least for now, and can focus on just having fun at the party. In spite of all the tension, this seems to be easier than thought. After all, it's all about just hanging around and swaying at the rhythm of music.
***
Hours are passing slowly and, for now, no sign of Tracy Adair. Most of the invitees have come to the party just to meet her, hear her singing and possibly take a selfie with her to post on Instagram. Aaleiyah doesn't care about her, but she's perfectly aware that many other people at the club do. So, she needs a solution.
She reaches the stage at the center of the club, plugs the microphone and starts talking, disrupting the party atmosphere. "Okay, people, listen please. Just a couple of things." Everyone turns to her, except for Ainsley and the guy she's been making out with for one hour and a half as of now.
"I know most of you are here just for a reason." For a while, Alyzza and Alanis, who are getting increasingly more worried by their friend's words, believe she's referring to Tracy. However, Aaleiyah's words wash away all the doubt. "We're here for partying!"
Everyone sighs out of relief, before dispersing again in every corner of the club, dancing and drinking like this is the last time. However, Aaleiyah feels guilty for not telling the complete truth at least to her friends. She knows that Tracy is unlikely to come, since now it's already 11pm.
But how is she supposed to tell her friends the truth? And what about what that grumpy asshole of Peter told her before? Everything must work perfectly, or else all the youths in town will be banished from this club forever. Does he really want to turn it into a posh, high-end country club where only his snob friends and their snooty kids can have access to its events?
She decides to wash her frustrations away with a drink; this is why she's pouring herself a whiskey and Pepsi Lemon. She sips it out without looking back, before returning the glass to the bartender and getting back to the dancefloor, where Alyzza is waiting for her, a feeling of eager expectation in her eyes.
"I guess you haven't told us the entire truth," she pouts, making Aaleiyah sweat and shiver. Alyzza's glare is making her want to run away, far from these accusations and her unwelcoming attitude towards Anna. Aaleiyah's had enough. Alyzza must change her manners, or there'll be serious consequences.
"Do you really want to know the fucking truth?" Now, Aaleiyah is literally exploding. Her cheeks are turning red in contrast to her chocolate skin, her veins are pulsing and she's visibly shaking. "Yeah, I received a text from Tracy Adair. She ditched us!" She is shouting the last three words in frustration, both at Tracy not coming and at Alyzza for being nitpicky to such an extent.
Still, Alyzza at first just shrugs, wanting to keep her composure and believing that her friend is overreacting in such a pathetic way that she sounds annoying and whiney. However, Alyzza herself can't be the one to judge Aaleiyah for a single outburst, since she tends to have those on a regular basis.
As Aaleiyah grabs her left arm to get some attention, Alyzza turns at her and screeches, "What the fuck do you want now?" She can't believe that she snapped at a friend of hers. Worse still, Aaleiyah isn't either giving her the silent treatment or yelling at her.
The only thing she's certain about is that tonight's party is an utter failure.
***
The following day, Allene is ready to get back to work. She knows that she did the right thing - after all, Alyzza has been disrespectful to her and the only way to put her in her place was dismissing her. However, her decision to promote Aubrea to replace Alyzza didn't sit well with any of the other employees.
Aubrea is indeed known as one of the most disrespectful, arrogant and vain girls Alyzza and anyone else have ever dealt with, even though there are far worse people in the surroundings.
However, this is not Allene's matter anymore. She needs to make a profit, to prove that she can run a business and be a leader, in spite of her mother's lack of belief in her.
As soon as she enters the shop, she already finds Aubrea inside, folding clothes and unboxing items. 'Wow. She is a serious worker. I like her attitude. If only Alyzza could learn from her.' Allene's thoughts are confirmed by the fact that the floor is already clean and nothing has been moved out of its place.
She wants to find a way to reward Aubrea for her hard work, but she doesn't want to get into anyone else's bad grace anymore. This is why the two girls are heading to Allene's office, far from indiscrete eyes. The Asian girl closes the door behind her and looks around, checking that all cameras are off.
"Don't worry," says Aubrea. "We're safe here. The cameras have been turned off last night, I think."
Allene sighs in relief. She knows she has found the perfect employee inside the shop, without having to look for anyone else, and wants to make sure to have made the right choice. The two girls lock their eyes into each other's, not wanting to get their intentions unraveled beforehand.
