Rebel & Her Beast

by Queen Pen

  I’d forgotten that Queen Eatz owned the restaurant in here and it made me even more excited to dig in. Briella could throw down in the kitchen and I never turned down a plate of her food. I bit into the steak slider and sighed as I leaned back in my chair. The steak melted in my mouth and the cheese was melted perfectly. The horseradish mayo married everything together perfectly.

  I hadn’t realized my eyes were closed in satisfaction until Maddey spoke, “shit, do you always appreciate food like that?”

  My eyes popped open at his deep, raspy voice and I blushed. “Only when I’m high.”

  He smirked at me again before the scowl found its place back in his features, “yeah. You like smoking with my brother.”

  It didn’t sound like a question, so I wasn’t sure how to respond. I simply nodded my head and noticed that his fists clenched, and his jaw started ticking. Noella had warned me that Maddey didn’t have that name for the hell of it. His temper earned him that nickname and it only fit that his real name was Madden. He continued to stare at me, so I awkwardly picked up a croquette and bit into it. When I was finished chewing, I side eyed Maddey to see if he was still looking at me and I cringed inwardly when I noticed that he was, so I turned to him fully again and asked, “what do you guys have planned for the week? Is today your actual birthday?”

  “Yes, it is, and I don’t fuckin know,” Maddey grunted. “Doc planned all this shit out. I have other things that need my attention, but he wanted us to celebrate our thirty fifth birthday together, regardless of what I had going on.”

  He shook his head and finally turned his attention to the food, angrily snatching up a mini beef wellington and stuffing it in his mouth. I took the opportunity to focus on my own food. Maddey made me nervous because he was so unpredictable, so my anxiety was on ten right now. I needed to smoke, as soon as possible.

  Luckily, the entrees came out a few moments later and nobody, but God himself could ruin the happiness that overcame me at seeing the juicy steak, whipped potatoes, and green beans that were on my plate. I could feel Maddey staring at me again, but I didn’t care. I was in heaven. I ignored him as I idly wondered if his foster mother had ever taught him manners. Then, I remembered that Noella was raised by the same woman and she knew how to conduct herself in a social situation.

  I continued to eat as I made small talk with Briella who was sitting next to me with Farrah in her arms. When I was finished eating, I reached out for Farrah so poor Prince and Briella could eat. Farrah was a handful as she wiggled around and reached for everything that sat on the table. I turned sideways in my chair so I was facing more towards Maddey, so that Farrah wouldn’t be distracted by her mother. I bounced her on my knee, and she squealed happily while Maddey side eyed me.

  “Why you bouncing her like that? Ain’t she gonna get shaken baby syndrome or some shit?” Maddey scowled at me.

  “No, but you should watch your language,” I said quietly.

  “Why? It ain’t like she understands me,” he huffed.

  “She is at an age where she is starting to talk,” I said, avoiding his eyes. I hated confrontation.

  “She’ll be aight,” he waved me off and glared at Farrah which made me mad.

  Before I could stop myself, I asked, “is that the only expression you know how to make? You’re scaring her!”

  My cheeks burned once I realized how I’d spoken to him and I hugged Farrah who was whining. I patted her back and avoided his eyes. I turned back around in my seat so that I wouldn’t have to talk to him anymore and Briella grabbed her from me since she was finished eating.

  I side eyed Maddey and I saw him open his mouth to cuss me out, by the look on his face, but I was saved when Ryder blurted out, “I’m pregnant!”

  She shouted it so loud that all noise in the room came to a halt. Everyone stared at her and my jaw dropped. When we suggested that she tell Kobra about her pregnancy, we didn’t necessarily mean to do it in front of everyone like this. Kobra stared at her with his mouth open. Ryder began to cry, and I jumped up so I could go to her and comfort her, but Kobra held his hand up to me, causing me to sit back down.

  He stood up and reached his hand out for Ryder. She hesitated before grabbing his hand and allowing him to pull her up from the table. They walked out of the room, hand in hand, as everyone’s eyes followed them until they disappeared.

  It was silent for a moment before Doc said, “who want’s dessert?”

  “I know I do!” Noella said greedily as she rubbed her small baby bump. Everyone chuckled and the tension in the room broke.

  I made eye contact with Dopey and nodded my head. He nodded back at me and stood up. I got out of my chair and when I did, Maddey got up too, startling me. “You aren’t eating any fucking dessert?”

  I cringed at the harshness of his words. I didn’t know whether to cry under his gaze or laugh. It was beyond me how someone could talk about dessert and sound that mad. “I’m going to take a smoke break. I’ll be back,” I said, looking down at my hands.

  Maddey grunted and then sat back down, clenching his fists again. I scurried out of the room as fast as I could. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could take being around him.

  five

  I

  followed Dopey out into the club area and we sat down at the closest booth. There were only a few people in the club, preparing to open the doors. I watched them scurry around, making sure everything was in place for the night, while Dopey took a drag from the bong.

  “Why don’t you just get a vape pen?” I asked. I felt as though it would be easier to carry around than a handful of joints you had to worry about not crushing and a big bong.

  A lazy grin spread across his as if a lightbulb had just gone off in his head, “I have one! Shit, why didn’t I bring it?” He scratched his head in deep thought.

  I laughed and shook my head as he handed me the bong. He sparked up a joint and took a drag from that as I took one from the bong. We blew the smoke out together and I felt the tension leave my shoulders as I relaxed.

  I looked over at Dopey who was leaned back in the booth, smiling dumbly to himself. I enjoyed smoking with him, but there wasn’t much else I enjoyed about Dopey. Don’t get me wrong, he is a real cool person, but he was as dumb as a bag of rocks. It was hard to have a conversation with him unless it had to do with weed and I could only talk about that so much. I needed someone to stimulate my mind and he couldn’t do that, so I was happy that when we were done smoking, the rest of the crew was coming out of the restaurant.

  I noticed that Noella and Amir were heading towards the elevators with Farrah and figured that Noella was worn out and wanted to turn in early. I smiled to myself. My girl’s life was changing. If this had been a few months ago, she would have been the first one out here demanding shots, right along with Ryder.

  “The fuck you smiling for?” I jumped at the booming voice and turned to see Maddey frowning down at me.

  “You scared me!” I yelled before I could stop myself.

  His face hardened and I flinched a bit at the look he was giving me. “I was just smiling at Noella,” I softened my voice.

  He looked at me for another moment and then seemed to accept what I said because he walked off and started talking to Doc and the staff. Briella and August came up to me with big grins on their faces.

  “You ready to turn up?” Briella grinned.

  “I’m high as hell, so if that counts, then I’m already there,” I laughed.

  August shook her head, “Oh no you don’t. You’re taking some shots with us.”

  I stiffened. As crazy as it sounded, I had never had a drop of liquor before. I loved my weed because I knew how it affected me, but alcohol was something else entirely. I was afraid of losing control of my mind, body and emotions. Lord knew that I had felt that one too many times in that dark, creepy room at Madame’s.

  Briella seemed to sense the reason for my hesitation. She grabbed my hand and smiled at me, “hey, trust us. Having a few
shots in your system will feel good. Now if you were Rori or Careena, I wouldn’t even allow you to take a drink, but you aren’t. You’re different.”

  I was surprised that she understood where my hesitation was coming from, but I had to remind myself that she was Madame’s step daughter. She had grown up with that bitch, so I was sure she recognized the demons inside of me, as some of her own. Her comment about Rori and Careena also made sense. They had a harder time with the drug addiction than I had. I was able to quit cold turkey and never look back. I never craved it and smoking weed was never a gateway for me. I hated the way the heroine made me feel and the things it allowed me to be okay with. Rori and Careena on the other hand, they had each relapsed a couple of times since we were rescued. It wasn’t easy for them and they wouldn’t be able to handle smoking every once in a while, or having a few shots.

  I thought about what Briella said and I decided to loosen up a little bit. It was a party, after all, and a couple of shots wouldn’t make me drunk. I’d seen Briella, Noella, Ryder and August take way more than just a few, so I knew I could handle it.

  I nodded my head at Briella and she clapped as she jumped up and down while August went to get a bottle. “Noella always hogs you but it’s my turn tonight, Bel,” Briella stopped hopping up and down long enough to grin at me devilishly.

  “I’m not getting drunk. I just want a couple of shots. Enough to enjoy the party and go back to my suit so I can read a book,” I laughed.

  “I love reading too, boo, but tonight ain’t the time. It’s a party!” Briella giggled.

  I laughed with her. I told myself I would do my best to relax and enjoy the party. People started to file into the club from outside and the music cranked all the way up. We were up in the VIP section right in front of the restaurant and everyone else was on the first level. “General access for everyone, but us tonight,” August sang as she appeared with a bottle. “My baby closed down all of VIP for the week for his birthday.”

  It was weird to have the whole second floor to ourselves, but it was also nice because we could spread out. I already knew I was going to stay glued to Briella and August for the night and maybe Dopey when it was time for another smoke break. I didn’t know anyone else too well.

  Before I knew it, August was handing me a shot glass with dark liquor in it. I took a whiff of it and scrunched my nose up at the strong scent.

  “What is it?” I asked August.

  “Henny, baby! Drink up!” She yelled in my ear.

  Before I could hesitate, I took the shot. I almost spit it right back out, but I managed to choke it down with tears in my eyes. “Ughk! That is so nasty!”

  August laughed, but otherwise ignored my statement as she filled my shot glass up again, this time to the brim. Briella giggled, but I didn’t see anything funny. I wasn’t sure I could take another shot like that. It was terrible and my chest was still burning from the other one. Just as I was about to hand my glass over to Briella, she caught my eye and shook her head devilishly. I sighed and once again, before I could think about it. I drank the shot. This one went down slightly better because I knew what to expect this time and I was pleasantly surprised when Bliss appeared with glasses of Coke to drink, just in time.

  “Y’all are crazy for taking shots of Henny straight! Here, mix it with some Coke next time,” She handed me a glass of Coke and I took a deep gulp. It instantly took away the burning and I liked the after taste it gave.

  “I think August was trying to kill me,” I quipped.

  Bliss glared at August, “why you trying to kill my girl, Gus?”

  “Oh, shut up, Bliss. Bel doesn’t even swing your way. Besides, I wasn’t trying to kill her, I’m trying to turn her up.” August rolled her eyes to the ceiling and then as if it was an afterthought she added, “and stop fuckin calling me Gus!”

  A giggle slipped out of me and before I knew it, I couldn’t stop laughing. Briella giggled with me after she took her third shot. My head started swarming and for a quick second, I panicked. Briella grabbed my hand and smiled at me and the panic melted away as I let the alcohol warm me. The beat from the music thudded in my chest and a smile spread over my face.

  Still holding Briella’s hand, I pulled her to the railing and began to dance as I looked down at all the people. The mixture of my Mary Jane and the liquor had me feeling like I was on cloud nine as all worries melted away and it was just me and the music. I felt Briella and August next to me, but I didn’t pay them much attention as I closed my eyes and let my body do the talking. I was in an element I never knew I had. Briella was right, I liked the feeling of being drunk.

  After a few songs, my tongue felt dry, so I stopped dancing and opened my eyes for the first time in five minutes and the first thing I saw was Maddey. The VIP section of the club was a full circle on the second level of the club, overlooking the bottom floor. He was leaning on the railing directly across from me with a drink in his hand, staring at me intensely.

  I quickly diverted my gaze and pulled on August’s hand since she was closest to me. “I need water.”

  “You’re learning the basics of drinking already! Rule number one, stay hydrated!” August yelled in my ear and then tapped Briella and motioned for her to follow us.

  Dread filled my stomach as I noticed that the only bar up here was directly next to Maddey. August let go of my hand as we neared because she spotted Doc and leapt into his arms. Briella grabbed my hand as she brushed past them and Maddey so we could get to the bar. My shoulder rubbed across his chest as we went past him, and I could feel him tense up. I turned to say sorry, but Briella pulled me before I could. Instead, I left him standing there seeming angry.

  When we got to the bar, Briella ordered two waters and two more shots. I decided I would take this last one, but I would be done after that. I was feeling good right now, but I didn’t want to get too drunk and lose control of myself. I gulped down my water and then asked the bartender for a glass of Coke to wash my shot down. While we waited for our soda, Briella asked, “are you enjoying yourself?”

  I nodded, “yeah. Thank you. I know that we haven’t always been as close as Noella and I, but tonight I realized that we have a lot in common.”

  Briella nudged me, “yeah, we do,” she smiled. “I grew up under Madame’s tyranny. I worked those same rooms in the basement that you did. If it wasn’t for August and…” She let her sentence drop off.

  I rubbed her back as tears welled in her eyes. I knew she was thinking about Jakiah and I felt terrible that there was nothing I could do to comfort her. I’d never lost anyone close to me. I didn’t count my mother because I never knew her, so I didn’t know what to say to make her feel better. Besides, I got anxiety any time I thought back to that day that’s she lost her cousin, and the things I’d done.

  Thankfully, the bartender brought us our Coke’s and it gave me something to do. “Come on, no sadness tonight. It’s a party, remember?”

  Briella wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled. “You’re right. Cheers to Doc and Maddey!”

  As if he’d heard his name, Maddey appeared next to me, startling me. “Aye! Pour me up some of that Henny,” he yelled at the bartender who scurried to do as he was told.

  Doc and August came over a moment later and ordered a shot as well. Briella and I waited for everyone to get their drinks before we took our shots. Once Doc and August had their shots in hand, August raised her glass and said, “to Maddoc and Madden! Happy birthday week! Let’s turn up!”

  I giggled at August because her words were slurring before taking the shot. It went down much easier than the first two. I was starting to get the hang of this whole drinking scene. I giggled to myself after burping from the Coke I just drank as a chaser. I glanced around me and saw Maddey eying me. I blushed and was about to apologize, when Dopey came out of nowhere.

  “Smoke break?” He asked with a grin on his face. I giggled again and nodded my head.

  I went to follow him when Maddey stopped me and Dop
ey in our tracks. “I’ll take her, bro.”

  Dopey looked like he wanted to say something, but I think he knew his brother too well and didn’t want to challenge him. Instead, he shrugged his shoulders and disappeared into the growing crowd of people. It appeared that the brothers had invited some women up into the VIP section because it was more packed than it had been a half an hour ago.

  Maddey grabbed my arm and pulled me towards the back of the VIP area and through a door. The noise from the club faded away as I realized we were in a staircase. I was surprised when Maddey pulled me up the stairs instead of down. I stumbled along with him too afraid to ask him where we were going.

  We only went up one flight and through another door that led out onto a balcony. We weren’t on the top of the building, but we were still extremely high up and the cool night air felt heavenly on my warm tipsy body.

  I noticed a table and some chairs at the end of the private balcony, so I headed towards them, tripping over my four-inch heels. I plopped down on the chair closest to me and looked out at the view. It was beautiful. I was used to the quiet calm of the woods in Colorado, but this was something different. It was almost midnight but the lights from the strip lit everything up. I got caught up in the twinkling lights and forgot why I was outside and who I was with.

  Maddey sat down next to me and it brought me back to the moment. He didn’t say anything as he took out a pint of dark liquid and a vape pen. I squinted at the bottle and saw that it was Hennessey. I looked up and caught Maddey’s eye for the millionth time tonight. He was holding out the vape pen to me, so I took it from him and took a drag. I could feel Maddey staring at me still and the mixture of the alcohol and weed had me feeling bold. I blew the smoke out of my lungs and looked directly in his eyes. “Why do you keep staring at me?”

  Maddey stiffened and I noticed his hands balling up again, “because I can.”