“Do you need a ride home?” London asked when they were inside.

  “No, it’s okay. I drove. I have to find Stacy though. I’m her ride.”

  There were still people there, but for the most part everyone had filed out. Kiesha surveyed the crowd but didn’t see Stacy. However, she did see Myra and her puppets.

  “Hey, do you know where Stace is? I’m about to leave,” she asked when she approached them.

  “Stace?” Myra asked and turned around. When she saw who was asking, a sly smile came to her face. “Oh, Stace. I think she’s still upstairs in one of the rooms.”

  “Okay.” Kiesha rolled her eyes.

  “I’ll come with you,” London offered before shooting daggers with her eyes at Myra.

  “No, you get home. I’ll be fine.”

  “It’s not an issue, girl. My dad’s out of town anyway for business. No curfew.”

  The two of them found their way to a winding staircase. Kiesha kicked cups and plates out of the way as she made her way upstairs. There were still a few people up there, but none of them were Stacy. She peeked inside each room but found nothing. It wasn’t until she passed a room with a closed door that she heard the familiar sound of Stacy’s voice. She was giggling at something.

  “Here, I’ll get her. You go bring the car around,” London said and tried to step in front of her.

  “She’s my best friend. I’ll get her,” Kiesha said and gave London a look. She pushed her out of the way and opened the door. “Stace, I’ve been looking for you everywh—”

  She stopped talking midsentence. Kiesha had indeed found her best friend. Stacy was in the middle of planting a wet kiss on someone while pulling her dress down over her exposed bottom. The room was hot, and both Stacy’s hair and the bed behind her were disheveled. Kiesha didn’t need three guesses of what had taken place in the room. Upon seeing Kiesha standing there, Stacy jumped back, and the someone she had been kissing spun around. It was Malcom.

  “Kiesha, what . . . what are you doing in here?” Stacy asked nervously.

  Kiesha was still stuck in her shock. Her eyes kept going from the bed and back to them, and each time, she saw something new. Like the condom wrapper on the floor and Stacy’s thong resting on one of the bed pillows. It was like someone had punched her in the chest.

  “How long?” she was able to get out.

  “What?”

  “How long have you been fucking him?” Kiesha asked louder.

  She couldn’t tell if her heartbeat had slowed down or sped up. Stunned wasn’t even the word to describe what she felt inside. Malcom looked like a deer caught in headlights as he looked back and forth between the girls. Slowly but surely, the shocked look on Stacy’s face subsided only to be replaced with a smug one.

  “I guess since the cat is out of the bag, I might as well tell you I’ve been fuckin’ him since December.”

  “But—”

  “I knew you liked him? So?” Stacy rolled her eyes dismissively. “It made doin’ it more exciting. Especially since you always felt like you were better than me.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You know exactly what I’m talking about. You think just because you live in a nice house and your mom can afford to give you whatever you want, you’re better than me. Well, I got something you wanted and couldn’t have. And the dick is good as fuck. But you wouldn’t have been able to handle it with your virgin ass.”

  “Kiesh, she’s drunk. Let’s go.” London tugged at Kiesha’s arm, but she snatched away.

  “You’re supposed to be my best friend, Stacy. Best friends don’t do this kind of shit to each other.”

  “You’re so fucking sentimental! Malcom, isn’t she so sentimental?” She laughed loudly, but Malcom just looked uncomfortable.

  “And you,” Kiesha addressed him. “Why would you try to get me to come to a room with you if you were fucking her?”

  “You did what?” That was news to Stacy. She looked incredulously at him.

  “You said she had a big crush on me, and when you told me she was a virgin, I couldn’t resist,” Malcom told her sheepishly. “And what guy doesn’t want to smash two best friends?”

  “Asshole!” Stacy said and hit him on the arm.

  “Ay look, I’ma let y’all sort this out. I’m about to go holler at my man G Money.”

  He left the two of them to glare at each other. Kiesha felt like she was looking into the face of a stranger. She didn’t recognize the person standing in front of her one bit.

  “I can’t believe you, Stacy. I don’t even know what to say.”

  “I don’t care. You know why? Because pretending to be your friend has been the hardest thing for me to do for a while now. I faked it. I mean, we’re cool and everything. But the only reason I’ve kept you around for so long is because my mom wouldn’t let me leave the house unless I was going somewhere with you. You became like a pet to me. A pet with a car and money.”

  “Why would you hype up me and Malcom though? That’s a stupid game to play with someone.”

  “Don’t people throw their dogs bones all the time?”

  Her words stung, and the fact that she meant them hurt even more. Kiesha sucked in her breath to keep from letting the tears fall. Maybe Stacy was right. Maybe she was too sentimental. Or maybe she just really thought Stacy had her back. She felt a soft touch on her shoulder and whipped around to glare at London.

  “You knew, didn’t you?” she asked.

  “I . . . I saw them at a party a few weeks ago,” London admitted. “That’s why when I heard him say he wanted you to go to a room with him, I butted in. Losing your virginity to him would have been a total mistake.”

  It was all too much. Kiesha had to get out of there. She pushed past London and ignored her calls. All she wanted to do was rush home and curl up under her covers. What a great way to end her senior year.

  Chapter 5

  It was no secret that Kiesha had been quieter than usual. Her spirits had been killed after the party, and she shut everybody out. No matter how much she tried to block it out, she just kept replaying what had happened over and over. It was the darkest truth she’d ever encountered, and she couldn’t run away from it. Ever since she was little, people had told Kiesha that she was mature for her age, but her teenage heart felt every bit of it breaking.

  London tried calling several times, but Kiesha wouldn’t answer. The twins tried calling too. Kiesha was sure London had told them what had happened. She didn’t answer for them either. She just wanted to be left alone. So many thoughts were racing through her mind when it came to Stacy. Like, had she really ever truly come to Kiesha’s aid when the other girls would tease her, or did she just laugh right along with them when Kiesha was gone? She searched her brain for signs, but there were none. Stacy had played her role well, and now that school was over and she wouldn’t need her mother’s permission to do anything, her use for Kiesha was over.

  Kiesha sulked in the house for days all the way up until the day of her graduation. It felt like she was mourning a loved one because she was. The Stacy she knew and loved had died a long time ago and had been replaced with a shell of her. Kiesha’s mother noticed the sulking and let her daughter be, but she drew the line when she wasn’t even excited to put her cap and gown on.

  “All right now, what the hell is going on?” Miss Simmons asked, putting her hands on her hips. “You sleep all day, you won’t eat, and now this! What’s wrong, Kiesha?”

  The two of them were standing in the middle of Miss Simmons’s bedroom as she put the finishing touches on her daughter’s hair and makeup. Kiesha was as stunning as any mother hoped their daughter would be on an important day like that one. However, instead of a happy expression, Kiesha wore a sad one. All the makeup in the world couldn’t cover her frown. No mother liked seeing her child gloomy, especially not on a day as important as their high school graduation. Miss Simmons tried to put a hand to Kiesha’s cheek, but Kiesha moved it aside.

  “I’m fine, Mama,” she said and sat on Miss Simmons’s king-sized bed.

  “Did you forget I popped you out of my coochie? This one right here.” Miss Simmons pointed toward her crotch. “I know when something is wrong with my baby girl. Did something happen at that party?”

  Kiesha shrugged and let her eyes fall to the ground. Miss Simmons’s eyebrow shot up in a concerned manner. Kiesha knew that her mother’s mind had probably gone to some boy doing something to her. But Kiesha didn’t have the energy to clear it up. She didn’t even want to think about it. She’d already replayed the sight of Stacy kissing Malcom in her head more times than she would have liked to. It made her sick to her stomach, especially when she thought he had finally seen her. The whole time he was plotting.

  “Kiesha, I’m not going to drop it. So just tell me, please.”

  “Fine. Fine!” Kiesha finally gave in, knowing that her mom would keep her word to not drop it. She looked up from the ground and into her mother’s eyes. “Stacy and I got into a fight.”

  “Oh, is that all? You two will be back again in no time, just like when you were little.”

  “This isn’t like when we were little. I can’t stand that bitch!”

  “Oh, but you don’t mean that, ba—”

  “Yes, I do! She was just using me for my car and so her mom would say yes whenever she wanted to go somewhere. And she . . . she’s been having sex with the boy I liked this whole time! This whole time!”

  Kiesha burst into tears, and Miss Simmons rushed to comfort her. She wrapped her arms around her and rocked her back and forth, letting her get it all out. Kiesha sobbed into her mother’s neck and inhaled the coconut oil on her skin. When she was calm, she sniffled and sat up straight. Miss Simmons wiped the excess tears away and looked caringly at her.

  “I’m so sorry that happened to you, baby. I’m so sorry. Was it that Malcom boy?” Miss Simmons asked, and Kiesha nodded. “But how do you know she slept with him? You know kids spread nasty rumors all the time.”

  “This isn’t a nasty rumor. I walked in on them at the party.”

  “She slept with him at a party you were at? Wow. I’m going to have to talk to her mother.”

  “No! I just want it to be over. The things she said to me a person can never come back from. Let’s just drop it.”

  “The only way I’m going to drop it is if you cheer up. If you’ve already made your decision to cut Stacy out of your life for now, then walk in that decision. Don’t let the pain she caused rule you. You’re better than that.”

  It took a moment for the words to set in, but when they did, Kiesha felt loads better. There was something about a mother’s love that was healing. Maybe it was the hug. Or maybe it was that Miss Simmons’s words were exactly what Kiesha needed to hear. Because she was right. Kiesha was positive Stacy wasn’t sulking about losing her as a friend, so why was she?

  “Thanks, Mama.” She kissed Miss Simmons on the cheek and got up to fix her makeup. As she did, the doorbell rang. “Who’s that?”

  “Probably London,” Miss Simmons said and placed a hand on her hip. “I thought the two of you could ride together since she lives in the neighborhood. Is that okay?”

  “Yeah, it’s cool.”

  “Good. And I’m glad you told me what happened, because I planned on prying it out of London. I was going to figure out what was wrong with my baby one way or another.”

  “A mess!”

  “No, a mama. When you’re done, come on out here so I can get pictures of the two of you.”

  Her mother went and let London in while Kiesha finished getting ready. When she was done, she went out to the front room. London offered her a kind smile, a gesture that Kiesha didn’t return. They both were wearing their gold and black gowns over dresses. Kiesha slid into her mule heels, and they all went outside to take pictures in front of the house.

  When they were done, Miss Simmons promised that she would be right behind them. She just needed to finish getting dressed. Kiesha and London got into London’s car and drove toward the convention center where the ceremony was being held. The two girls had seen each other earlier that day at the graduation rehearsal but hadn’t spoken a word to one another. Kiesha couldn’t lie. She was still upset with her friend. How could she not tell her about Stacy and Malcom? The whole ordeal made her look like a joke.

  “I take it you’re still mad at me,” London said as she drove her Buick LaCrosse. Kiesha didn’t say anything. “Come on, Kiesh, you can’t ignore me forever.”

  “Why can’t I?”

  “Because you just can’t.”

  “Just like you just couldn’t tell me what was going on behind my back?”

  “I didn’t want to hurt your feelings. I also never thought that Malcom would try you.”

  “Gee, thanks.”

  “I’m just saying, like, you weren’t his type. He likes the easy girls. He’s not the type to want to work for anything, so I thought your crush on him would blow over eventually. But I guess Stacy telling him you’re a virgin still sparked his attention. I’m sorry, Kiesh.”

  Kiesha didn’t say anything. But after a few moments of staring out the window, she knew she couldn’t be mad at London. She didn’t know what she would have done if the shoe were on the other foot. Kiesha let out a long breath.

  “It’s okay. I’m still just processing it all, you know? Forget Malcom’s trifling ass. I can’t believe Stacy said all those things to me.”

  “You can’t? I could have told you a long time ago that girl wasn’t your friend. Any chance she could get, she ditched you. Popularity definitely got to her head. But fuck her too. You have me, and I’ll never fuck the nigga you like.”

  “Thanks.”

  It was all Kiesha could get out without getting choked up. She got herself together quickly. She wouldn’t let something like a disloyal bitch ruin one of the most important days of her life. And it wasn’t just about her. Her mother had worked too hard to get her there.

  When they got to the convention center, they went to where they’d been directed to meet the other graduates and helping staff. They were among the last to arrive and stood in the back. The principal was in the middle of giving a speech and telling them how proud of them she was. Kiesha could barely hear anything she was saying, however. From where she stood, she could see Stacy standing with Malcom. Not only that, but they were also holding hands.

  “You okay?” London whispered.

  “I’m good,” she answered and focused back on the principal.

  Shortly after, they were told to line up in alphabetical order according to last name because the ceremony was about to start. Kiesha and London hugged, promising to find each other when it was all over, and went their separate ways. Kiesha stood in her designated spot and almost rolled her eyes when she saw Myra come and stand directly behind her. Instead, she opted to ignore her. Myra, however, wouldn’t have any such thing.

  “You look like you picked yourself up out of the shitter finally,” she said in a low tone as the long line of students walked out to a hallway. Kiesha still didn’t say anything. “Did you run home and cry to Mommy that night?”

  “You must take pleasure in other people’s pain,” Kiesha finally responded.

  “No, not people. Just you.”

  “I would ask why, but if you’re as sick and twisted as Stacy, I don’t want to know.”

  “You really thought she was your friend, didn’t you? She was just using yo—”

  Kiesha stopped walking and whipped around to face her. She mustered the vilest look she could and glared into Myra’s eyes. The gloating expression faded quickly from her face, and she stepped back.

  “Good idea, because if you say one more thing to me, I’m going to do you worse than I did Kennedy.”

  Kiesha turned back around and continued walking. Shortly after, she heard feet moving behind her, letting her know that the line had resumed moving. Myra heeded the warning and didn’t say anything else to her.

  “Bitch,” Kiesha mouthed.

  The only sound Kiesha heard next was the deafening sound of cheering when the graduates entered the stage area. She saw her mother in one of the ground seats waving at her like a maniac. Kiesha had to admit, that sight made her smile.

  Ahead in the line of graduates, Stacy looked back, probably hoping that Myra was tormenting Kiesha. What her eyes were met with was a middle finger. Shocked, she turned back around.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, our Rose Hill graduates!” a voice said, flooding the space through the speakers.

  More cheers followed, and it hit Kiesha that it was her moment, one of the most important ones in her life. Stacy had made her choice, and now Kiesha was making hers by focusing on what really mattered. Her future.

  Chapter 6

  A Week Later

  The sound of sucking and slurping filled the air. Bright sunrays shone through the floor-to-ceiling windows inside the master bedroom of a high-rise condo. The rays fell on two naked bodies as they were entangled in lust.

  “Damn, girl, you’re sucking the fuck outta that dick,” Adrian Parks moaned.

  He gripped the back of the Latina woman’s head and forced her to gag on his thick penis. The feeling of the back of her throat on his tip made his eyes roll. She didn’t seem to miss a beat. Her lips wrapped around his shaft, and her tongue licked as she sucked up and down. The warmth and wetness of her mouth were too much for him. His breathing was labored as he felt his climax building up. She knew that he had reached the point of no return and mixed her suck with a two-hand twist combo. That was what did it.

  “Ahhhh!” Adrian jerked as he shot his cum down her throat.

  She kept swallowing until he was completely drained. She tried to snatch his soul by continuing to suck, but he pulled his dick out of her mouth and leaned back onto one of the big pillows on his king-sized bed. The woman looked very pleased with herself, and he had to admit he was impressed by her skills.

  “Was that good for you, daddy?” she asked.