Chapter 3 Dirty Martini

• AELLA
• I wake up exhausted, the curtains are up, and the lighting is blinding. My head feels like it could crack open anytime.
• Mama is dead.
• I rise to my feet instantly with a smile on my face. what does one do to celebrate one's freedom?
• lazily, I drag my feet to the fridge, grabbing a bottle of water and aspirin. I drink greedily from the bottle.
• "Let's do some cleaning shall we".
• An hour later I moved to my room. I grab my phone from the nightstand, scrolling through my messages. There are a bunch of condolence messages and missed calls from John. I met him last semester, he is a very cute guy with a nice smile. I know he sort of has a thing for me, Mama would have had my heart for dinner if I as much as entertained thoughts of a guy.
• I called John back. My revenge on Mama would start by losing my virginity, I have never liked John in that sort of way, but I know he is a nice guy. He picks on the first ring.
• "Aella?" he sounds panicked. "Fuck girl! I almost lost my mind trying to reach you, are you okay?". I laugh, I don't know how I manage to with my pounding head, but John always has a way of cracking me up.
• "I am fine, unravel your knickers, young man. I never told anyone about my mother's death, how did you find out?"
• He sighs. "Eva told everyone". Trust my best friend to sound the alarm when I don't. I am not upset; I know she felt I would feel better if I had more people checking up on me.
• I have never fancied a guy or even... what is that word? arranged to have sex with one. I need to speak to Eva she is everything I am not; She has had a lot of boyfriends. how do you ask a guy for sex?
• "I... am home you know, you co..." No that sounded too desperate. "You could visit if you want, not that I need you to, I mean, I won't be in school for a while." That sounded so much better. I almost jump out of my body when I hear a knock on the door. My cheeks are so red, it is like I have just been caught stealing.
• "Of course, Aella, I will be there on Monday if that's fine with you." The polite knocking on the door becomes more aggressive. I say my goodbyes to John running downstairs. I swear if it is Grace or worse one of those beggars, I will drag them out by the hair.
• I open the door ready to scream my lungs out, but I am faced with Eva.
• "Stupid! I swear I was ready to put a bullet through your head right now?"
• She ignores me and moves inside, turning around like it is a fashion show.
• "This is my first time in your house babe, give me a break." She pulls me towards her and hugs me. I fought hard at first, but knowing Eva, she never gives up easily. After what feels like forever I give up and place my face on her chest. Eva is taller than I am, and she is slim but thick in the right places, I swear before we became close, I was convinced she had surgery for her backside and boobs.
• "I know you didn't love her, and I understand you have mixed feelings right now. but she was your mother and you have known her all your life."
• I sigh. "I don't feel particularly sad that she is dead, I don't miss her, but I am somewhat glad that she isn't here to control me anymore. I just feel sad for me."
• I pull away from her warm embrace and face her. "I am barely twenty. How is one supposed to survive alone?" I look at her and ask the first question bugging me since I woke up. "How does one celebrate being alone?" Knowing Eva, she always has an answer.
• "Let's start by taking one day at a time." Let's? I don't miss the fact that she wants me to know that I am not alone. "I am sorry Aella, but I am glad she is gone, those things she did to you, the things..." I shake my head signalling her to stop, I don't want to remember.
• "One celebrates freedom by doing things they never got to do before. what would you like to do? you can make these decisions now."
• "Dance, drink, laugh. because she hated those things." Have sex, I don't say it out loud.
• She claps her hands startling me. "That, I can make happen right now." She grins. "Let's go shopping shall we".
• **********
• We finally arrived at the club after hours of shopping. I opened up to Eva about my money situation and she got upset that I would think she expected me to pay even if I did have a truckload of money. I am dressed in a black tight-fitted gown, I almost had a heart attack seeing the scandalous dress. My curly red hair was straightened and wrapped into a bun. This dress has Mama turning and screaming in hell, it clings to my every curve and the neckline plunges modestly to reveal just a tantalising glimpse of decolletage, and the hemline reveals a tantalizing expanse of my toned legs. the back... starts at my waist showing an enormous amount of skin.
• I am almost alarmed when we are stopped at the gate, but Eva always has her ways."
• "Hi, cutie" The bald scary man smiles at Eva and lets us in.
• "How do you know him?".
• "He is my brother's friend" she replies smiling. "Drink?" She pushes me to a stool. "Wait here"
• Like I have anywhere else to go. She arrives almost immediately with a drink. "What is this?" I ask her curiously.
• "Drink first"
• I savour the first sip, the taste is a tantalising tango of saltiness and bitterness, with a whisper of robust olive flavour lingering in every drop. "Fuck can I have another?"
• Eva laughs loudly. "It's a dirty martini, and yes, you can."
• I do just that, glass after glass until I feel tipsy. The room feels like a slow waltz, the floor surprisingly shifting. In my blissful tipsy haze, I move to the dance floor dragging Eva with me.
• I begin to sway my hips laughing loudly. I dance, with my body, and my hands in the air. A cute guy signals Eva she looks at me, and I nod my head in approval. I want her to have fun, not babysit me. I don't complain when a fat guy starts to rock me, placing his hands on my hips. I smile when another cute guy who looks like John places himself in front of me.
• One at my back, one at my front. the cute guy places his lips on my ear, I feel something wet, and I know it is his tongue. I am fully immersed in my intoxicating dance of indulgence.