The Night Orchid

by M. G. Hernandez

  He laughs as he gets off my bed. “In a Maleficent way.”

  I chuckle. “I have to agree with you on that one.”

  He picks up his backpack and turns to me. “You gonna be ok?”

  I nod. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  He walks over to my door, then he pauses at the doorway. “I tried breaking up with Bianca today.”

  My heart stops, and I stare at him.

  He gazes at me. “She wants to see me tonight, but I’m done. So, yeah… anyway, see you tomorrow.” He turns and exits my room. A few seconds later, I hear the front door open and close.

  I continue staring at the open door with my mouth hanging open.

  Chapter 39

  Julian

  My car chills my back as I lean against it while waiting for Bianca. Zipping my jacket, I brace for the cold. I contemplate chilling inside my Camaro, but I’m too antsy, and I’ll just fidget until she arrives.

  “Yo, Taylor!”

  I turn and see Wayne crossing the street. I forgot that she and my girlfriend are neighbors. Dressed in a thick pea coat, trousers and dress shoes, he always dresses as if he’s going for an interview. He jogs towards me, and I stick out my hand for a fist bump.

  “Wassup, man?” I ask.

  “Whatcha doin’ out here? Stakin’ out?” He chuckles.

  “Nah. That’s your job.”

  “True,” he says. “Your girl keep you waiting, bro?”

  “She’s on her way. She said five minutes.”

  “So, another twenty in girl speak.”

  I laugh. “So, what did I miss today? I left after lunch.”

  He rubs his neck. “Uh, the school newspaper came out this afternoon.”

  I purse my lips and cross my arms. “And?”

  “And everyone’s cautious around each other while Brandon glares at me.”

  I scowl. “Why do this, man? Create paranoia among the student body?”

  He puts his hands in his pockets. “I wrote nothing in there that could incriminate anybody—at least, not intentionally. We want our peers to talk to authorities if they have information about Alexa. Everyone’s walking around like a classmate hasn’t been missing for two weeks. It’s sad.”

  I keep quiet because it’s true. No one talks about her anymore, as if life moved on without her.

  “And I think it’s working. Someone shared something to me that was interesting.”

  I look at him, waiting for him to share.

  “She said that last year, she saw Alexa, Brandon and Bianca, talking behind the gym. Anyway, she couldn’t hear them, but she could see what was going on. The three of them were speaking animatedly, and Alexa looked pretty mad. Suddenly, she burst out crying and ran away from them. Brandon chased after her, leaving Bianca behind. Your girl, in the meantime, watched them, looking distressed.

  I purse my lips. I’m not aware of that incident, but it’s irritating that drama happened without my knowledge. It’s another secret between those three that they don’t share with me. It confirms my suspicion that even though I’m part of the crew, I’m never completely in the inner circle. I guess that’s expected. They were best friends before I came in the picture. Although now, Brandon is aloof towards Bianca.

  “If you’re asking me to provide insight on that, I can’t help you.”

  “I’m not asking, because I know you’re loyal to them.”

  I chuckle. “Loyalty has nothing to do with it. I’m just out of the loop.”

  “Let me ask you something, man,” he said. “Why are you in that group? You’re too good for their drama and bullshit. Plus, half of the time you’re with them, you look out of it.”

  “You see all that?”

  “I’m not the only one, bro. People have noticed that you don’t seem to give a shit about your crew anymore.”

  I place my hands in my pockets and lean against my car. “I used to belong somewhere, but that ended.”

  “Are you talking about Josephine?”

  I snap my head at him. “Is my life an open book?”

  He laughs. “I went to school with you guys. Come on, you two were inseparable. What happened?”

  I shrug. “Beats me. Use your investigative skills and figure that one for me.”

  “Just say the word, bud. Well, looks like your girlfriend’s here.” He gives me a fist bump and leaves.

  I watch him walk away. Wayne’s a good guy, but he’s a strange kid. But something he said doesn’t sit right with me. How was I so oblivious to miss what’s happening under my nose? Suddenly, I don’t trust my friends anymore.

  Bianca’s black Audi pulls up the driveway. It’s showtime.

  ***

  Bianca is in her element. I’m on her bed, and she’s straddling me while her lips make love to my neck.

  When she emerged from her car fifteen minutes ago, she grabbed me, took me inside her house and pushed me straight into the mattress. If this happened weeks before, this would’ve been the sexiest we’ve done in a year. But tonight, I prefer her off me.

  Well, right now, it’s hard to stop her because her mouth is sucking my earlobe. My resolve weakens, and I groan. Damn it!

  She’s distracting me with sex, and I don’t want to fall into her trap. I wrap my legs around her and roll her under me, so I end up straddling her. I grab both her wrists and pin them above her head, to make sure she has no access to my body. She giggles.

  “Oh, you’re into that, baby?” she asks seductively.

  “No, Bianca. I didn’t have this in mind. I want to talk.”

  She smiles, then curls herself up and tries to reach for my lips, but I move my head away. “Bianca, no. I’m releasing you. We need to finish our conversation.”

  She sneers at me. “What the fuck is wrong with you? You whine all year because I’m not paying attention to you, and now you’re whining because I’m trying to get you to bed with me.”

  “You’re only doing this, so I don’t break up with you.” I leap off her.

  “Well, dammit, because I don’t want us to break up!” she yells as she gets up to face me.

  “That’s not your choice. I want out!”

  She stops. Then, her lips quiver as she cries. I sigh. Typical Bianca. “Don’t do this. I know those tears aren’t for me.”

  “Yes, they are.” She puts her arms around my neck, sobbing. “Don’t leave me, baby. I’m too distraught with everything going on in my life, especially, since Lexie disappeared. And that newspaper article today triggered me. I need you right now.”

  My headache returns as she gives me a litany of her problems. I exhale. In another time, her tears would’ve moved me, but not tonight. “Bianca, I can be there for you. But I don’t need to be your boyfriend to support you. A friend can do that, too. I just want us to be friends.”

  She stops sobbing. Then she releases me. “It’s Josephine, isn’t it?” Her green eyes flash as she glares at me. “That bitch who was trying to steal Brandon from Lexie.”

  I clench my jaw, and I’m turning red. “She wasn’t doing that. I’d appreciate it if you leave her out of this.”

  “Oh, yeah,” she said, nodding her head. “You’re still in love with her. She was your best friend, after all. You guys rekindled.

  “Bianca, this is between you and me,” I tell her, putting my hands on her arms. “You don’t love me. We barely have a relationship now.” Then, I add, “And besides, it’s only January. You’ll have a boyfriend by the end of tomorrow, and before you know it, they will vote you guys as this year’s prom king and queen.”

  She slaps me, the sting of her palm stretches to my ears. “Get the hell out of my room.”

  My face heats from her slap, and I bare my teeth. But this anger is my escape, so I oblige her. Before I step out, I turn to her one more time. “I’m sorry.”

  She avoids my gaze. “You’re going to regret this.”

  I shake my head, because I don’t agree. I’m free from her clutches. When I walk out of her room, I
smile. Freedom never felt so good.

  Chapter 40

  Josephine

  I’m walking to my first period class with a knot in my stomach. I’m in school early to catch up on assignments I missed from my absence. But my nervousness is not from the anxiety of dealing with my teachers.

  Ping!

  Fartface: Can we talk? Meet me at your locker?

  And that’s the other source of my nerves. I’m not ready and my increased heart rate is agreeing with me. But I wonder if he went through with the breakup. Am I hoping that he will choose me and elevate our friendship to the next level? I imagine holding hands with Julian in the hallway and sharing kisses in the dark. Not gonna lie. It looks pretty dreamy. Shaking my head, I set the silly fantasy flying to the sky, and I take my phone out of my backpack.

  Me: Sorry, dude. I have to meet up with my teachers to get the assignments I missed.

  Fartface: Ok. Lunch time then?

  I exhale and contemplate whether ignoring this message is a brilliant idea. But my fingers decided to make independent actions and texted him back.

  Me: Fine.

  I drop my phone in my pocket and vow to leave it there. The walk to Mrs. Shay’s class feels long, but before I reach the door, I hear someone call my name. I turn around and see Jordan walking towards me with a big grin on his face.

  “Hey, baby girl. Can I talk to you for a sec?”

  I sigh. What is it with everybody wanting to chat with me today? Do I have a sign on my forehead saying, “come one, come all?”

  “What’s up?” I ask.

  “What are you doing tonight?”

  “Homework?” I furrow my brows. “Oh, and I’m taking an MMA class.”

  He frowns. “What time is that?”

  “Six. It’s an hour session.”

  “Dope,” he said. “Wanna have dinner with me afterwards?”

  My eyes widen. Didn’t know that was coming. I glance at Jordan in his plaid shirt, skinny jeans and that gorgeous smile. How can anyone resist? But Julian’s face appears in my head, making it difficult for me to accept Jordan’s invitation. Damn. I’m so pathetic.

  “Uh..wow,” I said while fidgeting with my leather bracelet. I’m nervous, so I’m stalling. “Tonight?”

  Jordan reaches forward and tugs the strings of my black hoodie. “You don’t have to answer now. Text me later.” He takes a pen out of his jeans pocket and pops the cap off with his mouth. He writes his name and number on my arm, and I gulp.

  “See ya, baby girl.” He flashes me a grin that’s raising my pulse rate. As if knowing the reaction he’s getting from me, he winks before turning around, leaving me flustered.

  I shake my head as I watch him go. This day is going to be interesting.

  ***

  Though I slept well those two nights with Julian, the overall sleep deprivation was taking its toll on me. I’m sluggish as I walk to my next class, and I check my phone to gauge how many more hours I have left.

  Jesus Christ, it’s only 9 o’clock!

  I slap myself as I trudge up the stairs, trying to wake myself from the sludge. When I make it to the landing, I beeline to the girl’s bathroom to splash water on my face. I push the door with my butt because my arms are refusing to cooperate with me. “Pull through, Jo.”

  But when I enter, I find that I no longer needed help with regaining energy. Bianca and four of her friends are milling around, reapplying their already perfect makeup.

  Shit.

  I prefer to skip the drama, so I step back, quietly feeling for the doorknob to leave unnoticed. But one girl sees me and nudges the statuesque cheer captain. She snaps her head in my direction and sneers, making me ball my fist as my fight-or-flight reaction clicks. In a surprising plot twist, she relaxes and returns her attention to the mirror.

  “So, anyway.” She smacks her lips after reapplying her lipstick. “That’s why I couldn’t answer your call, Sonia. Ian and I were busy… studying.” Her friends erupt in raucous laughter at her innuendo.

  “Yeah, busy studying each other’s bodies!” Sonia yells and everyone shrieks.

  “I’m telling you. All night, ladies!” says Bianca. “That guy is a bull!” She laughs as her friends cover their mouths with shock and glee.

  My stomach churns at the idea of Julian having sex with Bianca, and now I’m queasy. I guess I have my answer. He didn’t go through with it, and I’m embarrassed to admit that I believed we had a chance. I study Bianca, her body on display, with her perky breasts, her hips, her firm butt and her toned thighs. Bianca is a woman — the perfect complement to Julian’s adult masculine body. I’m such an idiot.

  But I return to my senses. I stop myself from wallowing in my self-pity because I will not satisfy these girls with my tears. Though Alexa’s revelation broke the dam two nights ago, I only cry for compelling reasons. This pettiness is not one of them. I put my chin up and give myself the strength to walk forward.

  Bianca faces me while she wipes her hands with a paper towel. She discards it on the trash bin but keeps her gaze on me as I near her. Meanwhile, her friends line up, forming a V behind her. My palms clench, bracing for a fight.

  She puts a hand on her hip while running the other through her golden tresses. She is a thing of beauty, but she reminds me of a praying mantis, ready to bite my head in one fell swoop. I know someone else like her—my mother. I chuckle at the irony that the one person this blonde, green-eyed beauty reminds me of is my icy Filipina mother.

  She meets me halfway and keeps walking until our toes touch. Bianca towers over me, and I fix my gaze on her flawless face. She’s intimidating, evil, yet awe-inspiring. Her eyes penetrate, and I’m half-convinced she’s able to hypnotize. After a minute, she clicks her tongue. “Three years later, you’re still a loser. How sad.”

  Without warning, she leans and hovers her lips over my ear. She smells of vanilla and jasmine, making me heat with jealousy that this scent lingers on Julian when they make love. “You will never satisfy him. Your history is not enough.”

  As if bored with me, she straightens and composes herself. She snaps her fingers for her girls to follow her, bumping me in the shoulder as she passes. As soon as I’m left alone, I place my hand on the sink to support myself. I’m shaking with anger at myself for being foolish. I’m angry at Julian for making me hope for something that doesn’t exist, and I’m furious at Bianca for reminding me of my mother and driving me to believe that I’m inadequate.

  The bell rings, and I give myself one more cleansing breath. As I step out of the bathroom, I remind myself that my senior year finishes in a few months. After that I’m free—free from these kids, my parents, and this place.

  ***

  I’m walking like a sloth by the time lunch period arrives. Everything is in slow motion as everyone buzzes passed me. My phone vibrates inside my jeans pocket, and I know it’s Jordan responding to my text. I messaged him a few minutes ago, accepting his invitation for tonight. Reality sank in at the girl’s bathroom and told me to squash my fantasy.