It's A Hard Knock Life - Taylor's Story

Taylor's Story - #Chapter 2; A Change Is Gonna Come - WATTY AWARDS 2012

Chapter 2 – A Change Is Gonna Come...

As we sat in the car I got many a missed call from Rakeem but even though my heart told me to answer it and find out what exactly it was that he wanted, my head told me to stop being such an idiot and thinking such crazy things cause I knew exactly what he wanted and why it couldn’t happen. We finally got to this club and I could hear R Kelly Ignition Remix blasting out onto the street and I smiled.

‘Jheeeeze, this was my song! I never knew they played this type of music in these posh clubs, you did well!’ Theo just grinned and got out of the car and opened my door for me, helping me out because as beautiful as this dress was, it was riding up a bit too much for my liking. This club was clearly exclusive because the line to get in was ridiculous and full of people that didn't stand a chance in entering. I would have been one of those people if I wasn’t with Theo right about now, I thought to myself. But luckily I was so, I held onto to his hand as he led me into the purple light stairway down into the club. I could smell the Ciroc and Grey Goose in the air and I couldn’t help but grin a little at the gasps of girls clocking my dress, shoes and bag and also the fine arm candy I was holding onto. Also, for the first time in a good few years I actually appreciated the approving looks of the guys in the club, maybe because I felt unappreciated by Nate but quickly shook those thoughts off and remembered why I was here, to enjoy my birthday night with my best friend.

It was about 8:30pm and I turned off my phone because I didn't want any calls to disrupt my time with Theo. We got to a VIP booth in the corner of the club and I felt like flipping royalty! Drinks were flowing, these begs were tryna dance near the booth so we could let them in – the jokes me and Theo were having were just too much. Theo went to the bathroom and left me in the booth which was fine, I had my drink in my hand and was doing a cute little dougie to Drake – The Motto when I saw a girl in the middle of the club staring me down like I’d done something to her. At first I was so confused cause I did not know this girl from Adam so why the hell is she looking at me like that. I didn't want to get angry but the alcohol in my system was tryna gass me so I calmed myself down and realised why I’d been given these death stares. This girl was all over this guy in another booth, clutching on to him for dear life like she wouldn’t exist without him and as I looked more closely at his face I realised it was Rakeem. She must have been wanting me dead because he had been looking at me since I’d been there. I laughed to myself and shook my head at her foolishness – if that was his new girl, firstly, I thought to myself, she’s a definite downgrade on me (just saying) and secondly, I don't want Rakeem so there is no need for these ’if looks could kill’ glares she was giving me.  I looked away and poured myself another drink as I waited for Theo to come back. The DJ was killing his set and I was enjoying the music too much. He had switched it to bashment and I heard the intro to Ramping Shop blast through the speakers. I was vybzing by myself, clocking the looks of some cheap guys by the bar holding up empty bottles of Moet for the photographer, I felt someone behind me and they wrapped their arms around my waist. It felt so familiar and normal to me, so I assumed it was Theo but secretly hoped it was Nate surprising me and coming to apologise for earlier. The person pressed their face into my neck and whispered,

‘You did miss me then.’ My body went stiff and my blood ran cold. It was Rakeem and in my alcoholic state, I’d let my guard down and allowed him to get close to me. I turned to face him and tried to push him away but couldn’t move. He was looking at me intently, a sly smirk on his face, pressing me so tight to him I had to give up struggling cause there really was no use. I tried to look everywhere but his at his face because I knew in my heart that if I did, feelings and thoughts I’d kept under wraps for years would come back and I didn't want that to happen. Even knowing that he was touching me caused my body to tell me that this was right, I was meant to be in his arms and that I’d been waiting for this for like ever. But it wasn’t right and my body was living in a fairytale that needed to be snapped out of. I thought to myself, where the fuck is Theo and how damn long does it take to go to the bathroom! Rakeem’s hold loosened and he held my hand. I still refused to look at him but he sat me down next to him in the booth and turned my face towards him. I was facing him but hung my head, looking at the seats, our shoes, the floor, trying to escape the inevitable.