Lust in the Moonlight

Chapter 6

                 The morning of the Lennox Banquet was absolute anarchy. Kennedy and I had the task of delivering the clothing to the attendees. Most of the clothing was dropped off by her yesterday. After we were done driving around California playing delivery girls, we tended to pour so we could look our very best for the event.          

                 "So, when was the last time you went to the salon to get your hair done?" The hairdresser asked me. Kennedy had taken us to a salon she normally goes to in Los Angeles. The salon kept its interior design to white and black, but the simplicity was done beautifully, white marble tiled floors with raven black furniture. I was propped up in a chair in front of a mirror, a protective cape was draped over my body, and the hairdresser was playing with my hair trying to figure out what to do with it. 

                 "For my prom. I usually just cut my own hair whenever it needs a trim" The once talkative salon went silent at my words. The hairdresser stared at me perplexed through the mirror. I never saw any reason to go to a salon, rarely went to fancy events and I had a great eye for split ends. 

                   Soon after staring me down with disbelief people went back to the own conversations. Kennedy who was sitting next to me sneered lightly to herself, I glared at her from behind my glasses. 

                    "Priscilla will do you justice, trust her" Kennedy responded with reassurance. The person tending to her hair was straightening it, Kennedy barely let anyone touch her hair, she was very adamant about keeping her hair healthy, so when I saw her sitting comfortably in her chair, relaxing, I put all my trust in the hairdresser behind me. 

             "Oh my gosh" I said in small laughs, completely blown away at the results, of course I was a bit weary especially when I saw Priscilla bring out a dye box, but she eased me down with a satisfying wash. Priscilla had given me a large handheld mirror to admire her work. Definitely an improvement from me cutting my hair in my bathroom. My fingertips slowly combed through hair starting with my roots and down to the ends. For once my fingers didn't get stuck. 

             "Just darkened your blonde a little bit to add really light highlights to make it pop, and finished it up adding curls" Priscilla said, I had never once curled my hair, I didn't think I would look good with the results so I kept it straight always but I was horribly wrong. I was completely obsessed with my hair and couldn't stop touching it. 

           After paying for my hair and thanking Priscilla a million times, Kennedy was waiting for me in a lounge area with her hair completely straightened down. She looked different but still gorgeous. No doubt about it, I would come here more regularly. 

          We still had a few more hours until the Banquet. The list of things we needed to do was shortening, so we decided to make a pit stop to the only family I was still in contact with. 

         "Hi Grandma!" I exclaimed as the door flew open and my Granny was standing in the door frame wearing blue jeans and a white blouse. Her once blonde hair, now grey, was tied up in a bun on the top of her head. She smelled of peppermint candy, and when met with a humbling smile she made you forget all about your worries. Kennedy was standing behind me anxiously waiting to greet my grandmother.

           "Look at my girls!" She gasped when pulling me into a hug. Granny fiddled her fingers in my freshly done hair then nodded with approval, before offering a hug to Kennedy. Granny saw Kennedy as another granddaughter. After engaging in a small conversation, we settled into the small living room set Granny had placed on the porch. I'm surprised it hasn't collapsed after all these years. 

              Granny lived in a house right outside San Francisco. With was a classic family home, three floors, huge front lawn and backyard that carried flower and vegetable gardens. It was painted a bright yellow with white outlining on all the door and window frames. The house has been passed down through generations, my grandmother wanted me to have it but knowing my mother once lived in these walls, her pictures all over the place, all I could see was the back of a woman who abandoned her child. 

              "You're here yet again without the boyfriend" For a while my grandmother just stared at me, leaning back in her armrest, her eyes tearing me apart to see inside of my soul. Granny always spoke what was on her mind, she was excited when I told her I had gotten into a relationship but as the time went by without meeting Isaiah, she grew restless and annoyed. 

              Kennedy smirked to herself and stared down at her lap knowing I would get the heat. I opened my mouth but before any words could come out Granny interrupted me. 

              "This Isaiah character, is he even worth it?" Granny asked me, I was taken aback, our relationship was fairly new but Isaiah was amazing to me. Granny showing doubt without even meeting him was upsetting and a bit embarrassing. Immediately I looked towards Kennedy for some back up, she met Isaiah, and told me that he is a decent dude. Instead of support, Kennedy shot my down with a questionable look as if she was too, doubtful of my relationship. 

                 "Are you both kidding me right now?-" I shot up from the sofa with disbelief, completely conquering my body. Kennedy and Granny looked at each other with tired looks before settling their attention on me. 

                 "The first time I actually have stability in my life, when a guy actually likes me for me, you two dare to question that?!" Kennedy held her hands up in defense and my Grandmother rubbed the bridge of her nose, not knowing how to approach the now hostile situation. 

                 "That's not what we are saying Seraphina, as your friend, your best friend, I just think you should be more cautious with guys like Isaiah.." I didn't want to hear what she was saying, I was so enraged that she was painting him as some sort of untrustworthy person, when he has been nothing but good to me. 

                "Kennedy, you should be the last person to give out relationship advice, considering you were dumb enough to sleep with our boss!" We all say things when we are angry, things we don't mean, it only took a nanosecond for me to regret my words, especially seeing Kennedy's face, like I took a dagger and pierced it straight into her heart, and our sacred friendship.

               "Seraphina!" My grandmother screamed. The most shocking part of this all to her wasn't the fact that Kennedy slept with our boss, but the fact I used it against her, shaming her. Granny shot me down with a look of displeasure before looking at Kennedy who was already gathering her stuff as she got up from the sofa. 

              "f**k you Seraphina.." Kennedy hissed, she couldn't even look at me. Granny tried to latch onto Kennedy's wrist but she pulled away and we both watched as Kennedy stormed down the porch stairs. Granny helplessly chased after her but only made it halfway down the stairs but Kennedy made it to the car. She didn't waste any time, in seconds, the car was racing down the street, disappearing from view. Granny watched the sight with a heavy heart before approaching me with pure rage. She sent her hand flying to the back of my head. 

             The sun had began to set, the sky radiated a breathtaking orange, meshed in with  hints of red and pink, but the day was far from over. It was two hours before the banquet would start. 

             After my driver dropped me off. I could feel the tension when I got home. The house was dark and quiet. My shallow breathing filled the air as I closed the front door behind me. Nervously, my fingers twiddled with my keys, cautiously I stepped through the house. Granny scolded me for what I had said about Kennedy. In reality, she really didn't need to, because the guilt and disgust formed a massive hole in my chest. I hurt my best friend in the worst way, judging and shaming her for the choices she had made. 

                The only light in the house was the ones peering through the cracks of Kennedy's closed bedroom door, I could hear movement from inside the room, a lot of shuffling and murmured talk. My fist clenched up, readying myself to knock on her door. Suddenly all that courage plummeted in the hole in my chest. The feeling of embarrassment ate me up inside, I had no strength to face the one I hurt. Without a second away, I retreated to my bedroom and closed the door behind me, catching my breath. There wasn't anything I could say to make the situation better, if I were to apologize now, it would only to cure myself of the guilt. I truly needed to take accountability for hurting Kennedy and with that is time. 

                 I remained in my bedroom with complete darkness surrounding me. When I heard Kennedy leave that's when I was finally able to bring light to my bedroom. The first thing that caught my attention was a gown sitting on the edge of my bed. The sight was extraordinary, I sucked in a sharp breath completely filled with bewilderment. I've seen Kennedy's dresses, but I never once wore one, but I could only imagine how one made you feel. Looking at the color, the fabric, I was drawn in like a fool. Before I could let the dress enchant me, I focused my mind on the time, I had only two hours to get ready for the ball, and drive to Renya's, where I will be accompanying her to the ball. I didn't know what awaited in the mystery of the future, maybe tonight would be the night I finally decide to completely let myself go with Isaiah, or maybe I'll find myself on the dance with a alluring stranger, who knows, anything could happen and that was the part that was seducing my mind the most.