Astray (See No Evil Book Two)

Chapter Ten

I stirred a little in my sleep and felt a hand on my arm, making me bolt straight up. I realized shortly that I was at home in Essence's room instead of mine. I laid back on the bed and turned my head and made eye contact with her big pools of brown. She looked concerned, damn near terrified. I caressed her face gently.

"What's wrong, Ess?"

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine".

I turned on my side and got a small pain in my pelvic area. Then I realized I had on a pair of my period underwear and a pad.

"Did my period come on or something?" I asked.

"Simmy ... what do you remember from last night?"

"I remember looking bad as fuck in that dress and getting fucked up at the club. I must've gotten real fucked up to not even realize my period on. Did you put the pad on me?"

"You were bleeding ... I didn't want you to mess up your clothes".

I leaned in and kissed her forehead.

"You really are a good little shit. I don't know what I would do without you".

I crawled out of her bed and grabbed another pad off of he dresser before going into her bathroom. I sat down on the toilet and felt a little pressure as the pee started coming out. I never bled this heavy before. Must be the new environment.

"Simmy, I have to talk to you".

"Can it wait until I'm out of the bathroom? Like what's up with you intruding on me taking a piss?"

"Simone, it's important".

"That it can't wait until I'm done?"

"It's about last night, while you were drunk".

"What? Did I try to do the dirty dancing jump with an old white guy?"

"No ... it's about Jaivon".

"What about him?"

At this point, I was starting to get annoyed. Essence always talked in circles when she's nervous.

"He ... I saw him putting things in all your drinks".

"What?"

"He was putting some powder shit in your drinks".

"Well, whatever is was let me have a good time so, what exactly is the problem?"

"Whatever it was, I'm guessing it took a while to kick in. One moment I saw you, then the next you were gone".

"So what, Essence? What the fuck are you trying to say?"

"I didn't think anything of it at first, you know? Thought maybe you were in the bathroom puking or some shit. So, I went to check but you weren't there. I passed by a room and I heard a lot of moaning and shit. So ... I went inside and ..."

"And what?"

"Simone, I don't know how you're going to take this".

"Just fucking say it!"

"I walked in on Jaivon and some chick raping you".

At this point I was up from the toilet, just staring at her. Jaivon wouldn't do anything like that to me. He told me he had a thing for me and he wanted me. I felt my nose flare and all I wanted to do was slap Essence.

"You're really that jealous of me?" I asked.

"Excuse me?"

"You've had this big crush on Jaivon and when you realize he wants me instead of you, you go and start lying and shit to make me not like him".

"I'm not lying!"

"Whatever Essence, grow up".

I shook my head and pushed passed her. I was almost to her door when I felt her hand jerk me around and the other slapped me across the face.

"You got me fucked up, Simone! I love you like a sister, and I would never lie to you about something like this. And I'm damn sure not jealous of you! You ain't shit just like I ain't shit. We just some poor bitches from New York that our parents didn't give two shits about! But I'm fine with that! You, on the other hand, think somebody owe you some shit but don't nobody owe you jack!"

She pushed me out of her room and slammed the door in my face. I rolled my eyes, not having the energy to tolerate her bull shit yet again.

I jogged down the steps, thinking maybe some breakfast would make me feel better. I smelled the familiar scent of jasmine and slowed my steps. I turned the corner into the kitchen and saw Jaivon and Chavonne leaning against one of the counters. They both noticed me at the same time, giving me evil smiles.

"Good morning, love".

Jaivon came over and kissed my cheek. He escorted me to the dining room, but my eyes never left Chavonne, nor her's mine. Jaivon pulled a chair out for me and I slowly sat down. Chavonne came in, sat across from me and smirked. Jaivon handed me an apple and I bit into it.

"Taste good, doesn't it?"

When Chavonne spoke those words, the memories flooded back in my mind. I remembered Jaivon's voice as he forced himself onto me. I remember Chavonne's scent lingering in my nose as she violated me. I remembered everything, and I felt my body starting to convulse. I didn't want them to see my sweat, so I took several deep breaths to calm myself.

"Did you sleep good?" Jaivon asked.

I nodded, setting the apple down on the table.

"Not hungry?" Chavonne asked.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" I asked her.

"Oh love, I didn't tell you? Cha is my sister".

Sister? My leg started shaking under the table. Everything I've been involved in was a set up. Chavonne set all of this shit up. Liz was probably in on it too.

"I'm opening up my own club, love. You inspired it", Jaivon said, touching my leg. I jumped at his touch and moved my leg out of his reach.

"I need you to dance in the club".

I snapped my head at him. "Excuse me?"

"Don't get uppity now. You ain't been off the poles that long", Chavonne said, picking up my apple.

"So, what do you say?" Jaivon asked.

"I say hell no!"

He chuckled. "What?"

"I said I'm not doing-"

Before I could finish, Jaivon had a tight grip around my neck. He squeezed slightly, letting me know he could end my life easily.

"I think you misunderstood me, love. You don't have a choice. So, be a good girl and head upstairs and find some costumes. Opening night is tonight".

He pulled me closer and put his mouth to my ear.

"Maybe if you're good, I'll finish what I started last night".

He finally let me go, and I quickly dashed out of the dinning area and kitchen to the stairs. I heard Chavonne laughing behind me but I didn't care. I ran to my room and went into my closet, closing the door behind me. I pulled out the phone Jaivon bought me and dialed Liz number. She answered on the first ring.

"Simone?"

"Liz!"

"Girl, you good? I haven't heard from you".

"Liz ... Jaivon wants me to work the poles again".

"I ... well-"

"And he had me selling drugs for him. Did you know Chavonne was his sister?"

"No".

"And ... Liz he raped me". The tears started quickly falling once I sat in the realization that my life was over. I feared for my life so much, I don't want to even step out of line a little bit. The line was quiet for a while, and I had to check Liz didn't hang up.

"Liz?"

"Just hang tight for me. I know you don't want to strip but just do it for a while-"

"Liz-"

"Listen to me! You are my family and I love you and I won't let this nigga get away with this. But you know Jaivon is a protected OG. I need a plan and I need a good one. Just hold tight".

"Okay".

I hung up the phone and hugged my legs. What the hell am I gonna do now?