Becoming His Queen

I yawned as I stretched my arms over my head, watching the time tick down on the clock. It was Friday and I was waiting for the clock to strike five to end my shift for the week. I wanted to get home and stretch out on my bed with greasy noodles from Hibeki’s. I had about ten minutes left and the last patient in the office had left. I checked over all my work and made sure I had everything set come Monday. I worked at a small optical office with one doctor. I was the doctor’s technician, where I would take patients back and perform their pre-testing before their final exam. It was also my job to help people pick out glasses and learn how to wear contact lenses. It wasn’t a well-paying role, but I liked it especially since I get to work with immortal and mortal patients. You won’t believe how many hydras and gorgons we see daily, and let me tell you, working with them is an interesting set up of trying to cover so many eyes. And no, I nor the doctor have ever been turned to stone by looking in a gorgon’s eyes. The whole office is enchanted to protect us against magical defense mechanisms the immortals we see have. My phone vibrated on my desk, and I saw that I had gotten a text from one of my friends, Anala. I picked it up and read over the message, seeing that she was inviting me for a girls’ night out with our other friends. It’s been a while since we had all gotten together and I really missed them. As much as I wanted to stay in and chill, I wanted to spend time with everyone. Me: Any chance I could convince y’all for a night in. Anala: Depends. What are you offering? Me: Was planning on getting Hibeki’s after work. Anala: Hibeki’s? Sweet. At your house? Me: Could. Anala: Calling the others. Going to send money so you can pick up food. Me: Cool. I smiled as I locked my phone and leaned back in my chair. I was excited to see everyone, and I didn’t mind having extra folks at my house. I thought about grabbing a bottle of wine or something that we all could enjoy. I looked down and saw another text from her along with everyone else. Anala: Hangin’ at Layla’s tonight. Jazmyn: I was looking forward to going to the club and getting drunk. As always, Jazmyn wanted to party and get drunk. She would make any outing together a drunken one because she wanted to drink her weight in booze. There were times when I wondered if alcohol was like water to her because she could drink several bottles and feel fine in the morning, with no hangover in sight. Me: Well, I was ordering from Hibeki’s and getting some wine after I got off. Jazmyn: Hibeki’s!!!! Raquel: I’m in. Nicole: Count me in too. Luv me some Hibeki’s. Me: Cool. Send me what you want. Raq: Calling mine in. Autocorrect and I are on the outs. Nic: Let’s all just call in our orders. It’s much easier that way. Jaz: Cool by me. Nal: I already had mine called in. I snickered, quickly logged out of my computer, and gathered my things as I stood up to go out the door. Leave it to Nal to have her mind made up already and get things going. I waved goodbye to everyone in the office and walked out of the back door. My phone vibrated in my hand, and I saw that everyone had sent me money to pick up their orders. They were going to meet me at my house in twenty minutes. I already knew by the time I got home, they would be inside and had searched through every cabinet for any alcohol I had stashed. Me: There’s about half a bottle of vodka and a brand-new bottle of rum in the pantry by the stove. Jaz: On it. Raq: How about wine? Nic: Ooh. I could go for a good bottle of Moscato. Me: On the floor by the deep freezer. It’s half a bottle though. Nal: Any chance of getting more? Me: Going to get some while I’m still out. Nic: Sweet. I shook my head as I climbed into my car and started it, pulling out of the parking lot and onto the road. It was going to be a loud and fun night. ****** By the time I rounded the corner to my house, I could see all their cars parked on the curb out front. I pulled into my driveway and parked. I grabbed the bags of food and drinks sitting in the passenger seat before opening the door, struggling to get everything and myself out. I managed to get out and lock the door. They must have been waiting by the door because my front door opened as Nal stepped out. “Give me something,” she said, holding out her hands. I handed her a couple of bags, thankful that she took some of the load. She took the bags into the house, stepping around the others who were sitting in the floor around my coffee table with shot glasses and bottles sitting on it. I knew that Jaz had already had them taking shots as soon as she got there, and I knew she was going to make sure I caught up with the rest of them. Nal was already in the kitchen, ripping open bags and separating everyone’s food. She had divided up the sauces between the five of us. I noticed that she had taken her hair down and had put it into a thick, puffy ponytail with two red, braided strands of hair framing her face. “When did you take your braids out?” I asked. “This morning after I woke back up,” she shrugged. She was always changing her hair style on a whim. I think she had every hairstyle known to man. From braids to locs, to wigs to sewn ins, she was always trying something new. “How long are you going to wear it like that?” “I’m debating between goddess braids or crochet. Don’t know yet, but you can bet your ass it’s going to be fire.” I chuckled. She was always obsessed with red ever since we were kids, and funny thing was red was not her favorite color. Red was mine and hers was blue. Ever since she was able to, she’s been dying her head different shades of red as if she was trying to get to the color of fire. The only red on her head was the two strands in front because her job at the local hotel chain in town didn’t allow for bright and colorful hair. She had figured out ways around that rule by having her head black with something red blended in, hence her hairstyle now. Two red strands in front and the rest of her head was jet black. You could always count on her to find some type of loophole in every system. “What about you? Are you going to cut your hair again or just leave as it is?” “With how Virginia is right now, I’m going back to it being short. It’s too hot to keep dealing with this mess in this heat and it takes too long to do. I’m thinking about going shorter this time,” I said. “On the sides?” “Yeah, that way I’ll be able to upkeep it better. Less work when everything is short.” “True. In the meantime, let’s eat and have fun. I think Jaz has your shots already lined up for ya in there.” “s**t,” I mumbled, grabbing my food and heading back into the living room. “There she is!” Jaz said, holding up two shot glasses in the air. “Time to take your shots, Chica. Get over here.” I sighed as I sat down beside her and put my food on the table. I took the shots from her hands and quickly knocked them back. I choked back the cough as the shots of vodka burn their way down my throat, handing her back the glasses. “Nope, I ain’t done with you yet. Here’s two more and you’ll be almost caught up with the rest of ‘em.” “Jesus, Jaz. How many shots have y’all down since y’all been here?” “Seven shots for us two,” Nic said, pointing between her and Raq. “Jaz had already pre-gamed before coming here,” Raq said, getting up to go into the kitchen. “On a scale of one to ten, what is your pre-game level?” I asked, looking at Jaz. Her hazel eyes glittered with mischief as she smiled giddily. She held up one figure and I narrowed my eyes at her. “No way you’re at a one level. How many bottles have you gone through?” “No bottles. Just one shot,” she said. “I call bullshit,” Nal said, coming into the room. “There’s no way in hell that you took a shot before coming here.” “It’s true.” “How?” Raq said, leaning over the table. “Why?” Nic said, coming out with her food. “I need to be sober for what’s to come,” Jaz said mysteriously. I felt a chill run over my skin as her eyes practically glowed. I never liked it when she got like this. I wouldn’t say she was psychic or anything, but whenever she gets a “feeling” about something happening, it happens. It’s creepy, but I still love her crazy ass. “Are we going to like it?” Nal asked. “Maybe, but not our sweet Layla here. She’s gonna hate it.” Great. Just what I need. “Well, what is it?” “Turn on the news and wait.” Alarms were going off in my head. Nothing good comes from watching the news. Whatever she felt, I really don’t want any part of it. Nal and Nic looked around the living room for the remote, searching through the couch cushions for it. I pointed over to the TV stand where it was sitting at. Raq came into the room and grabbed the remote, turning it on and clicking on the news app. The local channel came up with the current show playing. Everyone sat down and crowded around the table to get a better look at the screen, munching down on their food.