COLOR ME

EPISODE TWELVE

We pulled up to King's house, and it was even more magnificent than I'd imagined. The party was already in full swing, with people arriving in droves. At the entrance, bouncers were turning away those without tickets.

"Tickets, please," one of them asked as we approached.

We handed over our tickets and were quickly let in. The music was blaring, and the scent of alcohol filled the air. King spotted us almost immediately and came over to greet me before pulling Jensen aside for a quick chat.

As Reina's song "We Came to Party" started playing, I could feel the excitement building up inside me. This was it—the night I'd been waiting for.

Verse 1:

"We are here, we are young

It's our time to feel young, to be proud

No one can stop us

Nobody can stop the rhythm

Let's party all night

Chorus:

I hope, we hope to dance

Like there's no tomorrow

When the disco lights come on

Dance, dance till day breaks

Because we came to party

Came to party, came to party

Verse 2:

"We need to take a break from the world

Let us be, let us show

It's our time to feel alive, to be free

No need for fear, no need for sadness

Feel the rush drifting over our bodies

Let's party all night

Chorus:

I hope, we hope to dance

Like there's no tomorrow

When the disco lights come on

Dance, dance till day breaks

Because we came to party

Came to party, came to party

I checked my phone again. Mae had texted to say she'd be there in forty minutes; she'd been busy babysitting Ember's kids all day. Andrew had arrived and was outside, still searching for parking.

Just then, a flurry of texts from Tendai popped up on my screen. I quickly tapped on them, eager to see what he had to say.

Tendai: Sorry, my friends came over and we smoked weed 🌿.

Tendai: Was delirious for a while. I will be there soon.

Tendai: Don't start without me.

Kemi, Liz, and Raven arrived. I was seated on the balcony so I could see everyone arriving. Andrew was right behind them.

"Addie, I've been looking everywhere for you," Jensen said as he approached. "Someone told me to check here. Reina Thingz is here—she's in one of the rooms."

"That's what King mentioned," I replied. "He wants us to meet her one-on-one?"

"Yeah, that's right," Jensen confirmed with a smile. "Let's head over."

We left the balcony and made our way to the left wing of the house. "King said they're in the left wing of the house, fourth door to the left," Jensen informed me.

He knocked on the door, and a bodyguard opened it, eyeing us with a stern expression.

"What do you want?" the bodyguard asked gruffly.

"We're here to see Reina Thingz," Jensen said.

"You'll see her perform at the party. Now go away," the bodyguard replied dismissively.

"Jensen, is that you?" I heard King's voice from inside the room.

"Let them come in," King said.

The bodyguard stepped aside, and we entered the room. Reina Thingz was kneeling beside a table, her platinum wig glinting under the lights. On the table was a white substance that she and King were inhaling.

"Guys, join in," King said, gesturing towards the table.

"No thanks," Jensen said immediately, stepping back.

"How about you, Addie?" King asked, looking at me with a smirk.

"No," I responded firmly. The white substance looked like cocaine, something I had only ever seen online.

"We just wanted to take selfies with Reina Thingz," Jensen said, trying to steer the situation.

Reina paused. "Big Mike, fetch me a towel," she said. "I need to take a selfie with my fans."

Big Mike handed her a towel, and she stood up, dabbing her face. Jensen and I took quick selfies with her, trying to mask our discomfort.

"Thank you," we said, forcing smiles.

"You guys go have fun," King said as we headed out. "I'll be down soon."

"It was uncomfortable back there," Jensen complained once we were out of earshot.

"I know," I agreed. "I didn't realize Reina Thingz's drug problem was so severe."

Jensen and I posted our selfies to our individual i********: accounts. When we returned downstairs, we found Andrew sipping Moet, Kemi and Liz dancing, Raven vaping, and Grayson drinking.

Andrew came over, looking excited. "Hi guys, where have you been?"

"We went upstairs to meet Miss Reina Thingz," Jensen said. "We took selfies with her."

"Oh my God, can I also take some selfies with her?" Andrew asked eagerly.

"Sorry, King only gave the two of us a chance," Jensen said apologetically.

"It's okay," Andrew said. "Maybe I'll get a chance when she performs."

"What drinks are you guys having?" Andrew asked.

"Honestly, I don't know," Jensen said.

"I don't know either!" I added.

"Start with shots," Andrew suggested enthusiastically.

Tendai had told me not to start without him. I hesitated, feeling torn.

"Guys, I need to use the bathroom," I said. "Start without me."

I left Andrew teaching Jensen how to take shots and bumped into Mae as I moved away.

"I've been looking everywhere for you," Mae said, her eyes scanning the crowd.

"I was with Jensen and Andrew," I replied, trying to sound casual.

"Let's go back to them," Mae said, heading in the direction I had come from.

"I'm actually going to the bathroom. Be right back," I said, diverting her.

I pointed Mae towards where they were and headed back upstairs to one of the bedrooms I had seen earlier. As I settled in, I checked my phone again. Tendai had sent several texts, and I quickly opened them, my heart racing with anticipation.

Tendai: Hi love ❤️

Tendai: I am here, where are you?

Addie: First room on the right in the right wing of the house 😊.

The door swung open. "You've hurried," I said without looking up from my phone.

"I didn't know you were this desperate for him, Darkie," Grayson said, stepping inside.

I sat up immediately. "Get out, Grayson."

"You're hiding here because you don't want Kemi to see the two of you together," Grayson said, moving closer. "I wonder what she'll do when she finds the two of you together."

"Go ahead and tell her then!" I retorted.

"Relax, Darkie. I'm not a snitch," he said, inching closer. "I'm just curious about what's going on."

"I said get out, Grayson. How did you find me?" I demanded, frustration evident in my voice.

"I followed you. I knew you were coming to see him," Grayson admitted with a shrug.

"Now you know it's true. Leave us alone," I insisted.

Grayson's expression turned serious. "Darkie, Tendai isn't the Prince Charming you've conjured up. He's far from it. Kemi knows that and accepts him as he is. You, not so much."

"Are you implying that you're Prince Charming then? Because you're not," I shot back.

"Ouch, that hurt," he said, feigning hurt. "I'm not Prince Charming, and I don't pretend to be one."

"Grayson, you're a horrible person with low self-esteem who abuses people just because he's insecure inside. Now get out of this room," I said firmly.

"Darkie, this isn't your house. I can go into whichever room I choose because it's King's house," he retorted, crossing his arms.

Just then, the door handle turned, and Tendai walked in, his eyes narrowing when he saw Grayson.