“Let’s go up to the VIP section!” Lara says while gesturing towards a set of stairs hidden between the bar and a dimly lit lounge.
The girls head to the VIP pass area. A guy checking ID’s greets Lara with a wide grin plastered on his face. They start dancing wildly as a handsome dark-skinned bartender brings a round of drinks for them.
“Hey, what’s up?”
A guy dressed in a suit comes up to Lara. He’s wearing a tie and looks like he’s in his late 20’s.
“Not much.” Lara says while looking pensive. “Just hanging out with my girls. What about you?”
“Just hanging out with my boys”. The guy says with a charming smile. He points over to a booth where a bunch of guys are hanging out. “Care to join?”
Lara winks at him and without saying anything he grabs her by the arm and walks her to the booth.
In the meantime, Evan, Nikki, and Aya have been dancing like there’s no tomorrow. As some guys start to grind on Evan left and right, Nikki and Aya decide to take a break and grab a cup of water by the bar.
“How are you liking Vista High, hun?”
Nikki asks with a sullen look.
“It’s alright.”
Aya carefully replies. She was torn on what had transpired during her first day of school. Part of her was relieved to not be labeled as an outcast. Another part of her felt a crushing wave of anxiety for being in Lara’s clique.
“Just alright? Look where we are!”
Nikki screams. Her voice was tired and devoid of energy. However, that doesn’t keep her from doing a few of her signature spins.
“That’s true.”
Aya laughs.
“What’s your take on the girls so far?”
Nikki asks. She was intrigued on what Aya thought of her. She hoped to make a good first impression.
“They all seem nice.”
Aya says. She was having a hard time staying neutral.
“You don’t have to lie.” Nikki says while letting out a sigh of relief. She hoped Aya would be a bit more forthcoming. “Lara can be a bitch sometimes.”
“Sometimes.” Aya laughs off. “I’ve actually been wondering about something…”
“Tell me.” Nikki’s face turns serious.
“I was talking to Evan and she mentioned that over summer break…”
“Stop”
Nikki abruptly cuts her off.
“Stop it.”
“What’s wrong?” Aya says with concern. She didn’t know what caused Nikki to set off but she felt guilty.
“Drop it. Don’t talk about it.”
“What? What’s going on?” Aya asks. She felt like she had inadvertently passed the match to a ticking time bomb.
“Someone DIED, ok?”
Nikki’s hands start shaking as a look of distress strikes her face. She starts sweating and hyperventilating relentlessly.
“I’m sorry!” Aya cries out in desperation. “I didn’t know. I was actually trying to-“
Nikki temporarily loses her balance and grabs on to a bar stool in order to keep herself from falling to the ground.
“Oh my god.” Aya gasps in shock. “Do you need anything Nikki?”
Nikki remains unresponsive.
“Here. Have some more water.”
Nikki proceeds to sit on the floor. She feels like the whole world is about to collapse on itself. Other patrons start noticing her bizarre behavior and throw judgmental looks their way.
“Check that out.” One of them comments to another. “Looks like Miss Piggy’s tripping out!”
A few of the customers erupt into a riot of disinhibited laughter. Others keep pointing their finger at Nikki’s spontaneous combustion.
“Don’t pay them any attention.” Aya says with a concerned expression. She wanted to punch those fools, to give them a taste of their own medicine. “Let’s go outside.”
Aya grabs Nikki by the hand and leads her through the crowded dance floor in order to make a swift exit from the club.
As they do so, they walk past Evan who’s dancing on top of a podium while two guys shoot dollar bills at her from out of their own hands. They’re “making it rain.”
In the meantime, Lara can be spotted making out with the elegant gentleman in a suit and tie. His friends have vacated the booth in order to let them have some private time.
Chapter 25
Elena Fleming
Elena walks down the majestic snail staircase that takes everyone’s breaths away as soon as they venture inside the Lagowski household. She’s carrying two large trash bags with her when a light by the main entrance flickers back to life.
“Lara?” A timid voice asks.
Elena’s walk comes to a halt. Her face is paralyzed with fear.
“Who is there?” The voice requests. This time it’s louder and more confident.
Elena is about to run up the stairs when she spots Rosa out of the corner of her eyes. She sighs a breath of relief.
“It’s me, Rosa.”
“Oh.” Rosa replies. She looks confused. “I thought that you left.”
“I’m on my way out.”
Elena says while subtly flashing a smile.
“What you carry, sweetheart?”
“Just some stuff for an art project.”
“I come help.”
“No worries! I’ve got this!”
Elena waves goodbye at Rosa as she opens the entrance door and heads outside.
The street is quiet and dark. As it tends to be this late into the night. The stars are lightly pulsating in the sky and a balmy breeze keeps the branches of the palm trees slowly dancing to a constant rhythm.
Elena drags the two trash bags down Eden Isle and stops when she reaches one of the neighborhood’s sparely placed community dumpsters. She drops the trash bags on the floor and opens them up. The bags are stashed with tons of clothes.
Elena digs her hand inside one of the bags and brings out a pair of scissors. She then proceeds to tear the clothes apart before throwing them into the dumpster.
“Good riddance.”
A look of contempt lights up her face as the faint glow of the moon illuminates the serene street of Eden Isle. It won’t be long before dawn presents itself with the promise of a new day.
END OF BOOKE ONE
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The Beehive Book One Page 8