𝐈 𝐑 𝐎 𝐍 𝐘

-/10/-

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——
EVERYTHING WAS a little too easy. The whole 'I need to pay drug dealers, a lot, a lot of money' and the 'Hey! Come to a speakeasy with a stranger and more strangers in a stranger city tonight!' is starting to get to me. How did I make TWO new friends ? This never happened to me and it's starting to make a bubbly feeling rise in my tummy.

Things aren't supposed to go this well for me. What the fuck does life have in store for me now?

——
We exchanged numbers with Frankie and he immediately put us all in a group chat. Weaving through the city I spoke up. "So, Phoebe, is it okay that I ask you what was wrong earlier?", she didn't speak. I glanced over, her gaze was fixed outside of the car. She looked as if she was in thought.

"It's okay... if you don't wanna talk about it, it's coo," I reassure her. I was curious but I wasn't going to force the information out of her. "How'd your dad get to work if you have his car?", Phoebe changed the subject, adding noise to the once cold quiet. "Uh, the friend that helped him get the job, offered to take him on his first day," I answered. I assume she's forgotten that I already told her. Phoebe nodded her head. I don't know what else to say. "And my dad thought it was a good idea to leave the car at home for V and me."

"Are we going to The Velvety Sweet Spot?" Phoebe started another conversation. "We?-" I let out a light chuckle- "Why 'we'?" I looked over to Phoebe at the red light. "Yes, 'We'! Are you stupid? We've had enough bonding time to make us 'one' now," she crossed her arms and stated matter-of-factly. She likes me that much? Why would she even wanna be 'one' with me? I'm boring and... everything else. This made me feel... happy? I never once met a person that thought of me like this. "Well... I guess we could go...", I trail off. I'm pretty sure I have absolutely nothing to wear and my body doesn't look good in anything. Oh, God. I'm starting to think of everything I hate about myself. Thanks, brain!

"Really!?" Phoebe jumped over and gave me a tight hug. The car swerved a bit. I mean this is the least I could do. Mere seconds later the both of our phones dinged. There was a message from the GC. Phoebe read aloud "I have NOTHING to wear. Shopping?" I could already hear the gear in Phoebes' head turn. In the corner of my eye, I saw her devilish smile. "Ask him when," I sighed. Phoebe's burgundy-painted fingers typed rapidly. We waited and quickly the phones dinged. She read it aloud again "Five sound good?" Phoebes looked at me for a response. I shook my head. With a final happy giggle, she texted the GC back.
— —

After taking Phoebe home I went straight back to the house. Jeez, I'm tired. A lil nap before leaving should do me good. In mid-thought, I was caught off guard by the yelling from Xander's house. The three cars were still outside. The bow had been ripped off sloppily. As soon as I realized I was sorta just looking at Xander and I assume his parents, I just kept walking. It's not my business.

I made it up to the house and walked in. The refreshing air that I wasn't quite used to yet, hit me. It felt so good. Looking over to the island I saw that the water and Advil were gone. He must be up. "Vincent!", I tossed the keys on the counter. I walked up the stairs and towards his room. At the tops of the stairs I glanced in my room, he wasn't in there.

I walked over to his. He sat on the bed looking at his phone in silence. He was reading something that made him confused. "Are you telling me... that w-we were involved with drug dealers and money and, and-" I cut him off before he started to get worried. -"And. They said they took care of it and that everything is fine." I sat on his bed and threw a comforting arm around him."Val, you can't just pay your way out of these things! This don't feel right. What story have you ever heard of that, the people who owe money, juts pays it and gets away scratch-free?" Vincent's face was washed in doubt.

I've never seen my brother so... confused and... I wanna say scared. He's right. But is it really a good thing to have us BOTH freaking the hell out? "V, listen. I'm not gonna lie to you and say you sound crazy and that you shouldn't worry about it. But also... I don't know what to say... Or do for that matter... they paid those people off and that's what the dealers really wanted." I looked him in eyes his eyes and gave him all of my sincerity.

Vincent's head turned to his cold dark wooden floor. For a few seconds, his mind vanished in thought. With a deep sigh, he turned his head to me. "You're right about the money thing. But my gut tells me this isn't over. So, promise me you'll be careful." I shook my head and bear-hugged him.

"Okay you strong ass young man," he fake gasped for air. "You can get off of me," and with that, he pushed me off of him. I stood up in fake shock. I looked around his bed for anything to hit him. I grabbed the nearest pillow. "You stinky bitch," I smacked right across his face and ran to my room. Once I closed and locked the door, I heard his muffled yell. "YEAH, YOU OUTTA RUN TUNA FISH! YOU BETTA BE GLAD I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE CHASIN YOU, NAPPY-HEADED ASS GIRL!" That mothafucka betta count his days.

——
The time for Frankie, Phoebe, and I to go shopping for our 'costumes' for the speakeasy. How the hell did I end up making TWO trips to the MALL within a few days of each other? I feel like I might have to get use to this.

Walking through the mall, my eyes wandered to every shiny thing in there. I wasn't use to big malls. The mall I went to back home only had on floor and a few basic stores. While at this one, it had every name brand store in here. Stores I never knew existed were here as well.

"So, who's gonna be what?" Frankie asked. I was thinking of what I wanted to be but I was still silent and distracted. "I definitely want to be a angel!" Phoebe piped up. Her energy was exciting and you could feel the good vibes stretch from her. Phoebes hair was also done differently today. Instead of her box braids, Phoebe had a straighten but curly at ends wig on. It really did suit her face.

Frankies outfit was brighter than his outfit he had on at his café. He also seemed to paint his nails a dark purple color. Standing between them too made me feel a bit self-conscious. They were both stunning people with absolutely amazing styles.

"Well I'm definitely a handsome devil," Frankie brushed away no existing hair. Him and Phoebe giggled. Suddenly they both nudged me. I snapped right out of my trance. "Huh?" They giggled. I smile.

"How about you? Devil or angel,?" Frankie tilted his head. "Don't be mad at me... but I don't really know," They both acted dramatically exhausted. We continued our walk. Both of them would point at things in some of the stores and talk about what they wanted for their fits. But the question, for some odd reason, lingered in my head. Devil or angel?

Since the party the other night I was acting more extroverted and free. It started to feel good. I'm doing things I never thought I would. It was a bit risky but it did help what I do and do not like about me and the things around me. I can't keep living in my head forever. I'm so jealous of them and anyone who just wears what they want and feel good. I've never felt good in my own skin and now is the time for that to stop.

"Y'all, I think I came up with a decision," They stopped in their tracks. Phoebe looked interested and Frankie felt intrigued. "I wanna be a devil," grins grew across their faces. "It's final! We'll be the three little devils!" Phoebe exaggerated. "What changed your mind?" I ask. "I think it would be appropriate for me to fall in line and be the devil I really am," She put on her most menacing voice.

"God, we're gonna mop the FLOOR with these bitches tonight!" Frankie traded the middle spot with me and intertwined his arms and Phoebes and I. All three of us stuck together, off to a store that was a few feet in front of us. This store was dark and alluring.

—
Two hours pass by quick. This shopping spree felt short in the long time span. We did nothing but laugh and bond with each other closer. Once again Phoebe didn't let me pay and Frankie insisted as well. But, who am I to decline free things?

Dawington: 2
Valentine: 2