by Coffy Paige
Maizy laughs nervously and tightens the sheet. She can tell that he knows what’s going on but tries to play it cool. “What do you want to do now?”
He half shrugs as he gets back on the bed tugging at her sheet that she has in a death grip, “I don’t know. You want to eat something?”
She suddenly jerks the sheet away from him and narrows her eyes, “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Mallory is stunned to bewildered silence, “Um…I just wondered if you wanted to finally eat that dinner you worked so hard on.” He tilts his head to the side as he considers her abrupt change in attitude.
Maizy relaxes but only by a bit, “No, I don’t want to do that.” She crosses he arms protectively over her torso.
The act pushes her bosom up for his tasty view causing him to scoot closer. He trails a finger over her cleavage and says, “Then why don’t we go take a shower?” Maizy tenses up at those words and Mallory simply can’t take it anymore. “Maizah what is this shit.” Maizy is taken aback by his harsh words but he doesn’t back down. “Why are you being so distant now? Do you regret this or something?” Just saying the words almost makes he want to break something.
“No! Of course not!” Maizy leaps from the bed making sure the sheet doesn’t fall.
“Then what’s going on here?” At this point he’s up off the bed as well. They are going to settle this tonight no matter what.
Maizy is pacing, trying to find the words. “I…get nervous around you sometimes. The way I look and the way you look…it’s so ironic to be with you.”
At this point Mallory’s feelings are too hurt to hear her sincere answer. All he can think about is her revealing clothes she flashes at the gym, the men, and Alex. “Bullshit Maizah and you know it! You’re just being a coward!” He almost falters when she gasps and turns away from him. Even the hurt flickering through those soft sable eyes doesn’t stop him. “Were you nervous when you were flashing your shit all over the gym? Or maybe it was the pole dance you gave everyone yesterday! Or maybe when you went on one of the two dates you had with Alex Huerta huh Maizah?”
“Wait…what?” Maizy turns back around to face him.
Mal’s on a roll now and doesn’t notice his slip until after he says, “Oh and now you want be a certified pole instructor but for some odd strange reason, you’re still nervous to be around me?” He finally notices the horrified look on her face and silently registers he fucked up. He thinks fast, “Jenny told me.”
“I never told Jenny about being an instructor or the second date with Alex. How do you know all this?” Her ire is rising as she moves forward on him. Realization dawns on her and she falls to her bed with a trembling lip. “How do you know Char?”
He kneels next to her, “Baby.”
“Don’t!” She holds up a hand and looks at him with a cold stare and tears brimming in her eyes, “Is she an ex you paid to get me all hot and sexy for you? What? You thought we’d like each other enough to what?” She pauses to laugh cruelly, “Maybe we’d all like to hook up?”
He swallows hard at the gravity of the truth, “She’s my sister and I didn’t pay her to do anything Maizy I swear. And it wasn’t for me.”
“Bullshit!” she mocks.
He surges up with his own irritation, “I’m serious Maizah! You’re a beautiful woman that has too much going for her to just roll over and accept some pity fuck from a guy named Teddy.” He ends with a bit of disgust.
“Oh but it’s okay to be lied to and manipulated by a guy named ‘Neanderthal’? Your sister lied and you used me Mal!” At that time she let the tears fall freely.
“I’m not using you. I just needed to get through your defenses.”
“Then why couldn’t you have been a man and just tried a little harder? Why the games? Then you have the balls to call me a coward? ” She had him there and he couldn’t answer.
When she tries to stand he places his hands in her lap to keep her sitting, “Maizah, I know I messed up and I didn’t come forward with information like I should have but please don’t punish us. We love each other.”
Taking a deep sigh, Maizah stands and moves towards the door, “I don’t want to be here right now. I need to think and just not be here.” She moves to her closet to find clothes.
He tries to stand but she stops him again and he sits on the bed with an incredulous look, “but this is your place baby. Please let’s just talk.” When she emerges she’s wearing a simple hunter green tube dress and her hair in a ponytail. “Ah c’mon Maizah. Where are you going?”
Maizy moves around him as if he’s not there. Withdrawing from him again and he can’t stand it. “The key is in the bird feeder. I don’t want to see you here when I get back.” With that she’s out of the room, moving with haste when she sees him moving to the other room for his clothes.
He’s too slow and can only hear the rev of her car outside of the condo. He’s at the door in his unbuckled pants in time to see her headlights disappear and her hand going up to her face to wipe away tears. He hits her doorframe as he goes back in the house. He moves to his phone to try and get Maizy or at least Charmaine to help him find her. He already has a text from Jenny that reads what is going on? Why is she on her way here? With a relieved sigh he kisses the screen, “Oh thank god!” He immediately calls Jenny and gives her a quick version of what’s going on then he calls his sister who finally picks up. They all agree to try to keep Maizy at Jenny’s until they can talk to her all at once. They all understand they have to take responsibility of what they’ve done. They also hope beyond all hopes that the special person whose best interest was always at heart will understand as well.
Maizy couldn’t believe how stupid she was for all of this. Now that she put everything together she can see the resemblance between Mallory and Charmaine in her minds eye. The thought makes her shudder with repugnance. But she still can’t understand why Char would take part in this. She thought that she was her friend. She opened up a lot about her detachment and need for acceptance from her half sister and stepmother, as she barely knew her birth mother. The thought that possibly Char and Mallory were just laughing behind her back takes her back to a time less desired. Her thoughts go back to her adolescent years when the taunting and pranks were really bad, not just from classmates but her so called family. The only other person she has at this point is Jenny. Thank God she hadn’t left for Alex’s party yet.
Chapter 8
Once at Jenny’s, she wraps her arms around Maizy from the sight of her puffy face and red swollen eyes. “What happened honey?”
“He used me Jen.” Maizy starts to cry anew but Jenny calms her back down.
“Oh no honey. It must be some big misunderstanding. That doesn’t sound like Mallory at all.”
“No it’s true. Char is his sister. I confided in her and she just ran back to him with everything I said.” Maizy is wiping her nose and doesn’t notice the nonexistent surprise on Jenny’s face. She only stares off with puzzlement. “It all started with that damn flyer for her studio. How did he know?”
Jenny stands and starts to pace and wring her hands, “Uh, yeah. The flyer…about that…”
“About what?”
“What if there was one more person that was involved?” Jenny scrunches her face waiting for the onslaught.
“What? Jenny what are you saying?”
“I’m saying that I did put the flyer in your locker after all.”
“Jenny!” Maizy shoots up in fury.
“Maizy wait please! Just listen!” Maizah fumes but holds to wait for an answer.
~*~*~
“What did I tell you Mallory?” Char is doing a bit of fuming herself. She knows she’s just as bad as him if not worse since she did most of the lying but if feels good to vent on him. “I told you not to start this relationship with lies! Now that poor girl is out there probably crying her eyes out because of us!”
“Don’t you think I know that? I want her safe and sound just like you.”
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“You don’t understand Mal’…” Char trails off as she stares at her phone screen. She’s been trying to get a hold of Maizy herself but at this point she can’t blame if she’s not answering.
“What don’t I understand? She feels betrayed.”
“No Mal’ there’s more but-” She stops herself. She doesn’t know if she should betray her friend’s trust anymore. Yeah Mallory is her blood but from all the things that Maizy has went through from family to so-called friends in the past, Char doesn’t know if she can continue to be one of those people.
“You can’t just leave it open like that Charmaine. I care about her too. I-I love her.” With that revelation Charmaine’s neck nearly snaps in shock to look at him. “I didn’t grow antlers or anything.” Mallory knows this is a shock to his sister but damn.
“I won’t tell you everything. That’s what has gotten us in trouble now.” She takes a breath, “Her stepmom and half sister really did a number on her Mal’. Like a long the lines of Cinderella with that book A Child Called It. And that was just her home life Mallory. You of all people know how mean people can be.”
That he did. With a name like Mallory he usually had to fight to prove that he wasn’t the girl they wanted to make him out to be. Once at a light Mallory grimaces and shakes his head, “God, my poor baby.”
His comment is quiet and more to himself but it echoes in Char’s head. Her brother never had any more energy for a woman than what she could offer in bed. It was a quality she hated about him but was glad he had with the company he kept at the time. Getting to know Maizy ate her up inside not only because of her part in the farce but because she genuinely knew they were good for one another. She’s the soft to his hard and he’s the strong to her weak in such a complementary way that she didn’t want to see it not happen. She loved her brother and just wanted to see him happy and settled. He needed a family of his own to keep him grounded. He’d never admit it but she sensed for years now that he was jealous of her Will’s marriage. “You really love her don’t you?”
Just before the light turns green he sets his sister with a serious glare, “Of course. How can I not.” He pulls into Jenny’s apartment lot and jumps out. Before Charmaine gets out she’s staring at her brother’s retreating back, too stunned to move momentarily.
Mallory races up the stairs and he’s at Jenny’s door right as she’s walking out. He’s a bit confused, “What’s happening? Where’s Maizy?”
“You didn’t get my text? She escaped! I started to tell her about my involvement with the whole situation and she freaked. I calmed her down enough to explain our side then she starts coughing. When I go to get her some water and come back, she’s gone. I can’t even get her on the phone because she left it here.”
“Fuck! Where do you think she’s gone?”
“I don’t know but my guess is to Alex’s party. I was about to go ”
“No I’ll go. I just want to get her home so we can talk.” Just then, Char walks up wanting to know the score. “Char stay here.”
“No I want to go with you to find her. I have to explain.”
“It’s getting late and I’m sorry for even getting you out of the house. Will is probably pissed as it is.”
“Char I’ll take you home, but Mallory you have to call us to let us know everything is alright okay?” Jenny chimes in.
“No I’m the only one that hasn’t said my side to her yet and I need to do that before my head hits the pillow.” Her conviction is too strong for any on them to deny. They all agree on the new plan and move on. Mallory is worried sick over Maizy that he doesn’t want to argue with his sister. His mind races at the thought of her with Alex. He’s heard things about that guy, like how a lot of his dates really can’t remember the night before. If anything is happening right now he hopes he doesn’t walk in on it because he’s afraid of what may go down.
Like divine intervention, a text from Cyril confirms his latest fear with, Yo, Maizy’s here gettin’ jocked hard! U parkin’ tha car or sumtpin’? Without telling everything, Mallory says he’s meeting her there and to watch out for Maizy. Cyril’s reply makes Mallory floor the gas petal. Yep, on it. Alex is already on the hunt…
~*~*~
Truth be told, Cyril could tell something was off with Maizy as soon as she walked out. She was out of sorts and looking around like a deer in headlights. When a guy would approach her to dance she’d shy away and hold herself tightly. He sent a text to Mal’ as a courtesy before he went to investigate more. His response was passable so Cyril decided to hold off on talking to her until Mallory got there. As soon as Alex sets a drink in from of her he knew tonight wasn’t going to end well. He saw him earlier with his drug dealer friend and before Mallory could say it, he knew to keep a watchful eye.
~*~*~
Maizy is playing with her necklace as she trying to focus on what Alex is going on about. He’s bragging about being a silent partner at this cheaply adorned club that his party is hosted by tonight. Her mind keeps wandering back to Mallory, Char, and Jenny. A lot of her anger has subsided but the hurt is still there. Honestly she knows now they probably weren’t making fun of her behind her back. That is evident by the amount of missed calls from them all. Matter of fact… she goes to check her phone but she can’t find it in her purse. A long sigh shakes her body as she realizes she left it at Jenny’s house.
She feels like an addict that has just went through an intervention. The shit she was raised with on top of her lack of self-confidence is really doing a number on her. Maybe she needs to try therapy as well? She looks around and the room starts to spin a bit. She smiles at something he thinks is funny and asks to be excused.
“C’mon mama. You barely touched your drink. Have one more sip.”
“Actually I’m fine.” She wants to be polite but something is telling her that this isn’t an ordinary drink. She barely took the one sip that he’s referring to yet she’s feeling more lightheaded by the minute, “I just need a bathroom.” He has a devilish glint in his eye as he points it out.
As she’s making her way over to the restrooms Alex sizes up his prey. She isn’t wearing a bra. The evidence provided by her tight tube dress and her acorn size nipples straining against the fabric. Her round and luscious ass makes the skirt of the dress rise up. She’s constantly pulling it down, not realizing that she’s only drawing more attention to the area. “Mmm Maizah, you’re finally gonna see what a real man’s about tonight.” He knocks back a shot as he’s bides his time. He looks over to her glass and hopes he didn’t put too much GHB. Thank God she wasn’t a heavy drinker or she’d know that a margarita isn’t that salty. Still she hasn’t ingested enough to make a big difference. She’ll only stumble around for a bit. He needs her totally out of it, to the point that he has to carry her out of the club. His plan is to take her to his car, have his fun then leave her in the alley. He looks at his watch and thinks it’s time to go check on Princess Pollyanna.
Maizah splashes cold water on her face one more time. She knows now that Alex has spiked her drink. She starts to tear up, now in fear than anger or sadness. All she wants now is to be in Mallory’s arms and forgetting that any of this bad stuff is happening to her. Now her phone is lost and she doesn’t know anyone but her attacker out there in the club. She can’t believe she let her emotions get so out of control on her. Felling a little better she wipes her face and tries to muster enough strength to get somewhere safely to call a cab. Maybe, just maybe Mallory will still be at her house waiting for her. Looking at herself in the mirror she throws the napkin at her reflection, “Fat chance fat ass,” She mocks her stepmother’s motto for her. She turns and almost loses her footing. There’s a knock on the door and she looks up to see Alex leering at her.
“You okay mama?” He comes closer and tries to touch her cheek.
She swats him away and stumbles again, “What did you put in my drink?”
Alex’s eyes widen then go casual, “What the hell are you talking a
bout?”
“I was fine before I got here and I take one sip of the drink you brought me and now I’m stumbling.”
Alex grabs her by the hips, “I don’t know what to tell you baby. Maybe you can’t hold you liquor huh?” He begins to try to kiss her as she struggles against him. “Stop fighting me you bitch! Tired of this shit!” He tries to drag her to a nearby stall so he can quiet her down. He needs to know that she won’t go to the cops spouting off about his drink tampering. She can’t prove it but he plans on doing some things with the CFC and really didn’t need another mark on his permanent record with them. He gets really mad when she lands a kick in his belly. Enraged, he slaps her across the face a couple of times until she’s just whimpering next to the toilet bowl. “Took some wind outta your sails didn’t it?” Alex chuckles as he rubs his stomach absentmindedly.
