CHAPTER 11
After Marty dresses in his hippie attire, we head back to my room. I need to grab clothes and shower. “I shouldn’t be here. Someone took a shot at me the other day.”
By the time I say it, we’re already in my room. Amber’s been here and dumped half her closet onto my bed. She totally trashed the room and it still smells like smoke. Her bed sheets are rumpled and there’s a watermark on them—still fresh. She’s so disgusting. I take all of her crap and dump it on her bed.
“I wish she’d keep her crap on her side of the room. I hate it when she does this.”
Marty grabs my elbow. I wince and he releases me. The wound still hurts. “What the f*ck is going on with you? Who took a shot at you?”
I shake my head. “Not now. Let me get my stuff and get out. If Sean or Black finds out I was here, well, I’d just rather not.”
Marty stiffens, and folds his arms across his chest. He looks like a hippie that could take out Manhattan. Irony. “Fine. Hurry up. I’ll watch the door, and it goes without saying that anyone that messes with you while I’m around dies.”
I smile at him. The words are so wrong that it’s ridiculous, especially coming out of his mouth. “Got it.”
I manage to shower, change, and grab a bag of clothes before taking off again. Marty and I leave the room and that’s when we run into Amber.
“Whore,” she says as she walks by.
I stop and turn back, “I’m not the one that has come stains all over my sheets. And, oh yeah, don’t throw your crap on my bed. I took the liberty of putting your stuff back on your side of the room. You might want to move that silk slut shirt you like so much. It would be a pity if it got wet.”
Marty looks bored. “Seriously? You two are going to have another cat fight? We should buy you both Catwoman costumes. At least that’d be more entertaining.”
“Shut up, queer,” Amber snaps at him. Marty just laughs in response, which makes Amber turn to nuclear bitch mode. “Laugh it up, because while you two were out talking about boy problems, I was in there actually f*cking a real man.”
“I think you meant three or forty.” Marty replies with a grin on his face. “I forget how whorey you are when we don’t see each other for a few days. You see, me, I’m a one guy kinda girl and so is Avery. We’re romantics and you’re disgusting. Like she said, silk shirt, bottom of the pile of shit Avery tossed on your bed. Better go get it.”
“I’m going to get even with you for that, you skank!”
People are watching us now. A few doors have opened and some students mill at the end of the halls. “Go ahead and try.” I turn away to leave, but Amber laughs that horrible cackle of hers which makes me turn back.
She’s holding up her phone. “Who wants to see Avery sexting with my man?”
For a second, I think she’s bluffing, but she turns the volume up on her phone and I hear my voice mid-rapture. I lunge, trying to take the phone from her, but she’s already passed it to someone else. Amber gives me a satisfied smile. “Who’s the real whore here, Avery? At least I didn’t take money from him.”
She knows. Holy shit, she knows what I’ve done.
Amber giggles and shouts at the crowd, “Make sure you have a good look. You can get that kind of action too, and from what I hear, she doesn’t cost much.” Amber turns back to me and winks. She walks to our room, cackling.
My hands are clenched by my sides and my entire body is shaking. If I go after the phone, they’ll play keep-away. I start shaking. Gnashing my teeth together, I hiss, “I hope she dies. She’s a horrible excuse for a human being. You goddamn skank!” I scream at her, but Amber is long gone.
Marty’s hands are on my shoulders, “Come on, Avery. Walk away.”
Tears are streaking down my face. “They’re going to share it. That video will be everywhere.”
“Knowing Amber, it already is. Walk away. Come on.” He tugs my good arm and pulls me down the stairwell. I don’t focus on anything until we’re in front of the restaurant.
Marty is sitting across from me and I’m slumped back into the seat, hating myself. “This is why I don’t think you should take the madam job. If this happened to Black--”
“This wouldn’t have happened to Black.”
“My point exactly. Sex is power, Avery. Everyone knows that. It’s not like Amber got into your private life. If you’re going to do this you need to be fearsome. You’re not.”
I groan, okay, it’s more like a whine. “I don’t know how.”
“Yes, you do. You fight back, and I could tell you wanted to claw her face off. Dial that down a notch so it’s not clear how you’ll hurt her, but so that she knows it’s coming. Then own it. If you f*cked half of Manhattan, own it. Be proud. You chose this life.”
Those last three words do something to me. I don’t know if it’s good or bad, but I feel something combust within me. I’m sick of fighting with people and I crave the respect that Miss Black demands. Maybe I won’t be like my mother and make the best meatballs, but who cares when no one respects me?
My gaze drifts up to Marty’s. “I did, and I will. No more hiding. No more half-assed Avery.”
“Bring it.”
“I will, and I won’t get even with Amber, I’ll own her.” A smile snakes across my lips.
“Now, there’s my girl.”