Coming Out

Chapter Seven

Media: Grandma's Farmhouse

Rayla POV

I was sitting on my bed at my brothers apartment with my legs slightly spread and Ashley straddling me. Smoke forming around us and the smell of weed clogging my nostrils.

Me and Ashley are just alike, could be twins.

We'd been listening to music and talking for an hour. We had so much in common. She was so much fun to be around.

But before I knew what was happening, Ashley was unbuttoning my shirt and leaning in to kiss my neck.

I was feeling Ashleys vibe, enough to put it down. She was moving too quickly, I could barely keep up, yet I was high and down for whatever.

"This is what I was waiting-" I was cut off by my phone ringing and groaned.

Ashley got to it before I could. "Ew, it's that 'friend' of yours." Ashley was still straddling my lap.

"Hello?" I snatched it from her.

"Come get me." Was all that Carmen responded with before hanging up. I knew exactly what that meant.

Things with her mom didn't go well.

...

When I opened the door to Carmens apartment, she was laying on the floor in front of her moms bed.

"What are YOU doing in my house?" Mary asked as she stood up from the kitchen table, tequila bottle in her hand. I had never seen her this wasted before. "You are no longer welcome here Rayla." She spat my name.

I ignored Carmens mom and lifted Carmen to her feet. "C'mon love." I put her arm over my shoulder and slammed the door as we left.

When we got to the car Ashley was fiddling with her hands in the passenger seat. "Get in the back." I told her.

"What? Are you serious?" She looked at me in disbelief. "That is ridiculous! I'm your date. What is she doing with us? We were perfectly fine having our alone time."

I rolled my eyes and opened the door for Carmen.

Ashley stood there and I got into the drivers side.

Ashley huffed and got in. "You always open doors for her. You never do that for me and it isn't fair."

"Ashley do you ever shutup?" I started towards Ashleys house. She was seriously irritating me. My outburst kept her mouth shut the rest of the ride. I dont even know why I brought her.

At Ashleys house she got out in silence and I pulled away. "You okay?" I looked at Carmen from the corner of my eye.

Carmen didn't reply. She just looked out the window. "Give me your phone." I held out my hand.

She raised her eyebrows and reluctantly still passed me her flip phone.

I pulled into my grandmas farmhouse. "Hello." I dialed up a number from Carmens phone.

She took off her seatbelt and turned fully to me, wide eyed.

"Hey Aunt Mariah, how are you?" I spoke.

"Fine. What's up?" She replied.

"Rayla, what the hell are you doing?" Carmen whispered.

"I was wondering if you were still able to pick up Carmen for the wedding tommorrow?"

"Of course. I'm glad her and her mother worked it out. I'll be at the apartment by 10 in the morning." I could hear the excitement in her voice.

"Perfect! but things didn't quite work out actually. Only Carmen is going. Can you pick her up from my grandmas?" I looked at Carmen.

"Aw, that's a shame! Of course I will. Could you come too? It's only a week. Please Rayla?" She pleaded.

"Sure. See you tomorrow. Thank you so much Aunt Mariah." I didn't think this was a good idea to leave Mary alone but Carmen needed me more. I could see in her eyes how broken she was by her mothers words and the entire situation was overwhelming her.

"No problem hun. That's what family is for." Mariah replied. I couldn't have said it better myself. I always have Carmens back and I'm 100% sure that she has mine. We're family.