CHAPTER SEVEN: READY OR NOT
1539 Words
The apartment smelled like tomatoes and cheese. Alina stood on the counter, kneading her pizza dough like her life depended on it. Her hoodie sleeves were folded at her elbows, and there was a smudge of tomato sauce on her cheek. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead and she wrestled the dough. It was winning.
She was humming off-key to some Ayra Starr song playing from her phone. Celeste has been putting her onto some afrobeat music.
“Why do I smell effort?” Allen said, limping in with his backpack slung lazily over one shoulder, rubbing his eyes. “Is that… actual food?”
Alina rolled her eyes. “Nope, it’s a mirage. You must be hallucinating.”
He came closer watching has she pathetically lost the battle to a piece of wet flour. “No, for real. You’re here, on a Friday night, making pizza? What happened, is the world coming to an end?”
“I like cooking,” she said.
Allen narrowed his eyes, giving her a long side long glance.
“You once burned rice and cried for twenty minutes.”
“How could you bring up such a painful memory?”, she sniffed, wiping her eyes, then instantly regretting it had flour entered her eyes.
Allen laughed as he walked to the kitchen sink, wet the corner of a napkin and gave it to her.“But seriously though. Why aren’t you doing… whatever twenty-something year-old interns do on weekends? Shots and bad decisions?”
“Thank you”, she said, collecting the napkin and wiping her eyes. Also, I’m not interested in shots and bad decisions. All I want is to spend time with my favorite brother.”
“ I’m your only brother. Try again.”
Alina laughed, but he didn’t let it go. He leaned against the counter, eyes narrowing slightly.
“You never go out. Not even with the friend you told me about, Celestine?”
“Its Celeste”, Alina corrected.
“You’re practically leaving your life on a schedule. Work, home, hospital, sleep. Repeat.”
“I’m happy doing those things. Isn't that what matters the most?”
“No, you’re hiding.”
The smile dropped from her face.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”, she stopped fighting with the dough and turned to look at Allen.
“It means you act like your whole life is just… keeping me alive. Don’t you know it makes me feel like I’m some kind of burden or something.”
Alina’s shoulders stiffened. “Don’t say that.”
“But it’s true, isn’t it? You keep giving up everything for me. Your time, energy, youth. You almost got in trouble cause you borrowed money from that shady, ”.
“Allen! That’s enough. We are not having this conversation.”
Allen clenched his jaw, his fists tightening.
She stared at him. He looked away.
“What would have happened if someone didn’t anonymously pay those medical bills?” he continued. “Would you have dropped out to take care of me? Alina, you almost got arrested for crashing a gala. Do you think I want another family member in jail?!”
“Allen!”
His posture stiffened, and his eyes began to water.
“Sorry. "I shouldn’t have said that.” My voice was barely audible.
Alina stepped away from the counter, wiping her hands on a towel. Her voice came out quieter than she expected.
“I chose this life. I am happy with this life and you’re not a burden. "You're my brother.” she leaned down to meet his eyes. “There is no one in this world who I care about more than you.”
“Then why do I feel a prison sentence.”, he chocked out.
Her throat tightened.
“What is your problem?” she snapped. “All I wanted was to have a nice and quiet dinner with you.” I went out of my way to surprise you by making your favorite food. I already have so much I am dealing with at work, so I don’t appreciate you acting so ungrateful and playing the victim when I am working tirelessly to keep us both alive?”
Silence.
The dough began to dry, sticking to the counter.
Alina turned and stared at it. She didn’t feel like eating homemade pizza anymore.
Alina sighed, pinching her forehead. What a disaster.
“I’m sorry,” he muttered. “That was unfair.”
“It was…. but I’m sorry too” she whispered.
She looked at her younger brother again. His shoulders were trembling and he looked like he was on the verge of bursting into tears. She wasn’t actually angry at him, especially when she knew he was just looking out for her.
She reached out and ruffled his fluffy black hair.
“It still looks…edible.”
He cracked a smile. Barely.
“Yeah? Are you sure we shouldn’t just order?”
“Bet.”
The office buzzed with its usual energy, but Alina moved through it like her thoughts weighed ten pounds each. Thankfully there had been no sign of Cassian but her mind lingered on the argument she had with her brother.
It had been a week since her brother said those words to her.
“You act like I’m a prison sentence.”
It wasn’t like that at all.
She liked attending meetings. She liked highlighting documents. She had even grown to like coffee…. No she hadn’t, it was still terrible.
She really didn’t mind coming home on a Friday night and snuggling with Allen had they binge-watched K-dramas and ate noodles.
Dancing, drinking, letting loose? Those weren't things that came to her naturally. She had never experienced them. The thought had never even cross her mind.
And even if she wanted to when bills stared you in the face and rent reminded you it was coming due, having fun felt like a luxury she couldn’t afford.
Still… for the sake off he brother maybe once wouldn’t kill her.
Maybe once would ease his mind.
So, during their break, she turned to Celeste—who was mid-rant about some weird intern who kept trying to get her number—and said it casually:
“Hey… do you want to go out tonight?”
Celeste blinked, then slowly craned her neck towards Alina like she’d just heard a ghost whisper her name.
“What did you just say?”
“I mean… if you are less busy”, Alina wiped her sweaty palms on her skirt, nervously darting her eyes away. “You don’t have to but if you would like to go out that night.”
“Out. For like fun. Music. Loud, sweaty people. "You and me?” Celeste gasped so dramatically she dropped her fries. “Alina Moore. The law intern. Queen of the introverts. Is this a prank?”
“You asked me last week and the week before. I’m saying yes now.”
“You’re saying yes?! Babe, we are most definitely going out, I need to resurrect your nightlife!”
Later that evening they both arrived at Celeste’s apartment. Celeste dramatically opened up her closet to reveal what looked like if forever 21 and fashion nova had a giveaway.
“Move. I’m dressing you.”
Alina laughed as Celeste pushed her onto the bed and dumped three possible outfits on the sheets. After ruthless selection and a small argument about heel height, they finally settled on the dress.
Celeste got dressed first. She was dressed in a fitted black crop top, a tiny leather skirt and a pair of knee-high black boots. Her blonde waist-length wig was the only form of color on her.
Alina couldn’t help but feel insecure. Celeste was the most radiant person she had ever seen and she exuded so much confidence that made her even more beautiful. The way her chocolate skin glowed without a single blemish it reminded her of a goddess and way the clothes hugged her body she was practically a walking hour glass.
Alina almost didn’t want to look at the mirror. She knew that whatever she saw would incomparable to how good her friend looked but Celeste forced her to look.
It was a deep red corset top and a mini jean skirt hugging her curves with a subtle slit that teased just enough thigh. The kind of outfit you didn’t just wear, you entered a room.
“Who are you?” Alina whispered to her reflection, narrowing her eyes.
Her black hair was swept into a soft bun with a few curls framing her face. The smoky eyeshadow made her eyes appear greener and a rich red gloss that made her lips look fuller.
She had never seen herself outside sweats and office clothes. She truly couldn’t recognize the person in the mirror. She turned to look at the person responsible for this beautiful creation.
“Thank you for agreeing to go out with me tonight. You look amazing Cel.”
Celeste grinned at her, “So do you. Now let’s go have fun”
And with that they stepped out into the night.
Ready or not.
- Writer
