Caught Up

Chapter 4

Taj and Laynaa pulled into the parking lot of Phoenix Nightclub and found a spot near the middle of the parking lot. Music still blasting through the speakers, Taj sat and watched as Laynaa pulled down the mirror and began putting on her finishing touches of her makeup.

Taj turned the music down just enough so that the music could be heard and she didn’t have to yell. They had been yelling over the music the whole ride over. It irritated Taj but Laynaa loved the music blasting on her way to the club.

“You always taking 50 years to put on some damn make up” Taj over exaggerated with a smile.

“Please, you can’t rush perfection” Laynaa said cockily. “Shit, gone head and pregame while you waiting, I got some tequila in my purse” She motioned toward the backseat where she had rested her purse and Taj reached for the small bottle.

“Don’t mind if I do!” Taj said zealously. She cracked open the brand new 750 ML bottle of 1800 Silver and poured her a shot using the top. She downed it instantly and poured another shot.

“My best friend, the alcoholic.” Laynaa smirked while still applying eyeliner flawlessly.

“Alcoholics go to meetings, and my mama, God rest her soul, told me never to quit.” Taj said with a smile.”

“Yea, but I don’t think that’s what mama Thomas meant when she said that” Laynaa said with a chuckle. They both laughed and almost instantly began to share a moment of silence for Taj’s deceased mother. She was just an amazing woman, everyone loved and enjoyed her. Even when she was diagnosed with breast cancer it didn’t kill her spirit. You would never know she was sick unless she told you. Even when the chemo made her start losing hair, she threw on a wig and went on the town. She truly enjoyed life and it showed.  She was such a real genuine person and her personality attracted everyone. People just wanted to be around her. She always told it like it was and had no cut cards for anyone. She had fought her battle with breast cancer for years and when God called her home, she was at peace. It hit everyone hard that she was gone but even in death, her radiant personality shined. The memories alone would always put a smile on people’s faces when thinking of her.

A single tear escaped Laynaa’s eye as she thought about her best friend’s mother. Ariel Thomas was really the only mother figure she had in her life. Laynaa’s mother left her and her father at the tender age of 6 so Laynaa barely knew her. All she could remember about when her mother was around was fighting and yelling. Laynaa’s mother was on crack and it tore their family apart. Laynaa would jump out of her bedroom window and run to Taj’s house in the middle of the night, just to escape the harsh reality of her family falling apart. Ms. Thomas would always make her a late night snack and welcome her with open arms. Sometimes Taj would wake up and they’d all sit in silence watching TV till they all fell asleep on the couch. Other times, Laynaa would just enjoy the comfort of just laying beside such a warm gentle person who genuinely cared for her. Even in the silence, with no words being said, Laynaa had always felt loved at Taj’s house.

“Stiffen up that upper lip soldier” Taj said jokingly, interrupting Laynaa’s thoughts.

Laynaa wiped her face and smiled. “I’m ok, you know I get emotional when it comes to your mom”

Taj reached over and wrapped her arm around Laynaa with a strong embrace. “I know. We all love and miss her, but you know she wouldn’t want to see you crying. If anything she’d tell you to go have fun and you know it.” Taj tapped Laynaa’s chin with her index finger, gently lifting her face up. Taj’s warm smile slowly brought out Laynaa’s.

“You right,” Laynaa started, as she grabbed the shot out of Taj’s other hand “This one’s for you mama Thomas.” She downed the large shot in one gulp. With a clearly forced, straight face she handed Taj the shot top.

“Aight miss thugnificent. I see you!” Taj said laughing at yet another made up word of hers.

Laynaa let out the expression that had been boiling inside her from the shot. “WHOOOOOOOOOOO!!! DAMN! That shit burned” She burst out into a fit of laughter and so did Taj.

“See, I knew u wasn’t no real G.” Taj said pouring another shot for herself. Laynaa continued to fix her make-up, while talking about some new song she heard while Taj downed 4 more shots. Taj was feeling pretty loose at this point and was eager to go in and dance on the first beautiful creature that walked near her.

“Perfection completed” Laynaa said while smacking her lips together with her freshly applied red lipstick.

You right about that, Taj thought to herself. “So we ready now?” She asked Laynaa.

“Man, you had all the shots. Let me get 2 more before we walk in” Laynaa said, half whining. Taj poured the shots, Laynaa quickly downed them and they headed towards the club.

Walking towards the door, Taj and Laynaa were both feeling the effect of the tequila. Smiles on their faces and random conversation with bursts of laughter took up there short 2 min walk to the growing line at the front door. Taj had already forgotten about what happened with Kerri earlier that day and with all the women of different shapes and sizes, all dressed to impress, around her she wouldn’t think about her for the rest of the night and that was good enough for her.

As they stood in line, Taj pulled out her pack of Newports and sparked one. She pulled hard on the cigarette and enjoyed every moment of that first hit.

“LAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!” A very feminine, yet male, voice screeched from the other side of the parking lot. A 5’9, dark chocolate, skinny man ran towards Laynaa and Taj in the line. He had on purple cheetah print leggings and platforms. A white half shirt, cut with a wide neck, hung off one shoulder with the words ‘BOSS BITCH’ written on it. A long purse hung off his shoulder and his face was heavily decorated with makeup.

Laynaa turned to see who was calling her name. “DONTAEEEEEEEE!!” she squealed.

The sound of the name made Taj cringe. She looked up from her cigarette only to realize the exact reason why it did. Standing before her, as flamboyant as ever, was Dontae, Kerri’s ex boyfriend.