CHAPTER 3. Dirty Martini

AELLA

I wake up exhausted, the curtains are up, and the lighting is blinding. My head feels like it could crack open anytime.

Mama is dead.

I rise to my feet instantly with a smile on my face. what does one do to celebrate one's freedom?

lazily, I drag my feet to the fridge, grabbing a bottle of water and aspirin. I drink greedily from the bottle.

"Let's do some cleaning shall we".

An hour later I moved to my room. I grab my phone from the nightstand, scrolling through my messages. There are a bunch of condolence messages and missed calls from John. I met him last semester, he is a very cute guy with a nice smile. I know he sort of has a thing for me, Mama would have had my heart for dinner if I as much as entertained thoughts of a guy.

I called John back. My revenge on Mama would start by losing my virginity, I have never liked John in that sort of way, but I know he is a nice guy. He picks on the first ring.

"Aella?" he sounds panicked. "Fuck girl! I almost lost my mind trying to reach you, are you okay?". I laugh, I don't know how I manage to with my pounding head, but John always has a way of cracking me up.

"I am fine, unravel your knickers, young man. I never told anyone about my mother's death, how did you find out?"

He sighs. "Eva told everyone". Trust my best friend to sound the alarm when I don't. I am not upset; I know she felt I would feel better if I had more people checking up on me.

I have never fancied a guy or even... what is that word? arranged to have sex with one. I need to speak to Eva she is everything I am not; She has had a lot of boyfriends. how do you ask a guy for sex?

"I... am home you know, you co..." No that sounded too desperate. "You could visit if you want, not that I need you to, I mean, I won't be in school for a while." That sounded so much better. I almost jump out of my body when I hear a knock on the door. My cheeks are so red, it is like I have just been caught stealing.

"Of course, Aella, I will be there on Monday if that's fine with you." The polite knocking on the door becomes more aggressive. I say my goodbyes to John running downstairs. I swear if it is Grace or worse one of those beggars, I will drag them out by the hair.

I open the door ready to scream my lungs out, but I am faced with Eva.

"Stupid! I swear I was ready to put a bullet through your head right now?"

She ignores me and moves inside, turning around like it is a fashion show.

"This is my first time in your house babe, give me a break." She pulls me towards her and hugs me. I fought hard at first, but knowing Eva, she never gives up easily. After what feels like forever I give up and place my face on her chest. Eva is taller than I am, and she is slim but thick in the right places, I swear before we became close, I was convinced she had surgery for her backside and boobs.

"I know you didn't love her, and I understand you have mixed feelings right now. but she was your mother and you have known her all your life."

I sigh. "I don't feel particularly sad that she is dead, I don't miss her, but I am somewhat glad that she isn't here to control me anymore. I just feel sad for me."

I pull away from her warm embrace and face her. "I am barely twenty. How is one supposed to survive alone?" I look at her and ask the first question bugging me since I woke up. "How does one celebrate being alone?" Knowing Eva, she always has an answer.

"Let's start by taking one day at a time." Let's? I don't miss the fact that she wants me to know that I am not alone. "I am sorry Aella, but I am glad she is gone, those things she did to you, the things..." I shake my head signalling her to stop, I don't want to remember.

"One celebrates freedom by doing things they never got to do before. what would you like to do? you can make these decisions now."

"Dance, drink, laugh. because she hated those things." Have sex, I don't say it out loud.

She claps her hands startling me. "That, I can make happen right now." She grins. "Let's go shopping shall we".

**********

We finally arrived at the club after hours of shopping. I opened up to Eva about my money situation and she got upset that I would think she expected me to pay even if I did have a truckload of money. I am dressed in a black tight-fitted gown, I almost had a heart attack seeing the scandalous dress. My curly red hair was straightened and wrapped into a bun. This dress has Mama turning and screaming in hell, it clings to my every curve and the neckline plunges modestly to reveal just a tantalising glimpse of decolletage, and the hemline reveals a tantalizing expanse of my toned legs. the back... starts at my waist showing an enormous amount of skin.

I am almost alarmed when we are stopped at the gate, but Eva always has her ways."

"Hi, cutie" The bald scary man smiles at Eva and lets us in.

"How do you know him?".

"He is my brother's friend" she replies smiling. "Drink?" She pushes me to a stool. "Wait here"

Like I have anywhere else to go. She arrives almost immediately with a drink. "What is this?" I ask her curiously.

"Drink first"

I savour the first sip, the taste is a tantalising tango of saltiness and bitterness, with a whisper of robust olive flavour lingering in every drop. "Fuck can I have another?"

Eva laughs loudly. "It's a dirty martini, and yes, you can."

I do just that, glass after glass until I feel tipsy. The room feels like a slow waltz, the floor surprisingly shifting. In my blissful tipsy haze, I move to the dance floor dragging Eva with me.

I begin to sway my hips laughing loudly. I dance, with my body, and my hands in the air. A cute guy signals Eva she looks at me, and I nod my head in approval. I want her to have fun, not babysit me. I don't complain when a fat guy starts to rock me, placing his hands on my hips. I smile when another cute guy who looks like John places himself in front of me.

One at my back, one at my front. the cute guy places his lips on my ear, I feel something wet, and I know it is his tongue. I am fully immersed in my intoxicating dance of indulgence.