Chapter 23

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Capricorn
Chapter 23

Behavior When In Love
The typical Capricorn:
* takes things slowly, doesn't rush
* rarely makes the first move
* doesn't flirt for fun, when they do it's serious
* only says "I love you" when it's truly meant
* sees no need to keep repeating how they feel

*

1 week later

Adena stayed with Craig for the next week. She no longer had to ask, it was already a given circumstance. Ron didn't mind, Adena assured him it was only temporary. That week with Craig was relaxing but nonstop fun at the same time. Every night they went to a different club. He played all over the city. He even did a corporate breakfast event and when it ended, he and the catering crew took the rest of the food home. One morning Adena woke up to a huge breakfast. They still were living great off that. The nightlife was like the movies, just a montage of different environments, people, and drinks. Adena slowed down on the drinking. For a couple of nights, she had too much fun but she stopped drinking herself sick. Luckily the spots weren't all high-energy nightclubs. 

There was Henny and Heiney's, a gentleman's club type of lounge where you could smoke cigars, drink and eat great food. Craig played lounge, dinner party, house, and lo-fi hip-hop for this crowd. However, Adena couldn't take the smoke and left early, she definitely had to wash her hair after that. She decided to keep it slightly natural and gave her hair a wavy look instead of her usual silk press.

At least she didn't cut it like other girls who went through a breakup.

Craig did more happy hours at The Love Shack. Adena made friends quickly with all the guys, probably because they wanted to get close to Craig too but she always had a great time there. It was probably the friendliest spot she's ever been to. They had a great drag bingo and had an official 80's night, costumes, music, and all.

Her favorite was Gatsby's, pretty much the best-kept secret in Manhattan, it was a speakeasy-themed club in the basement of a pizza parlor. You had to know someone or heard an ad or two here or there on the local jazz stations to find the location. Preparing to go made it the best day ever, it was a 1920's themed club. Craig warned her she would stand out if she wore her usual streetwear style. Everyone was in costume or cocktail attire. You couldn't come in without wearing those. So she and Craig practically went to Broadway to find a costume to rent. They found the perfect costumes. Adena had dozens of pictures of the two of them. Once you got to the pizza parlor you would go behind it through the backdoor. It led to a small room behind the kitchen. How did you get into the club? You opened what looked like just another huge deep freezer on the outside, but there was a small room for coat check and a steep staircase to the basement on the other. Craig was on fire. The crowd's energy was high and people rarely left the dance floor unless they absolutely had to. 

The most outrageous was a rave. It was in a big warehouse. You also had to know someone from a certain crowd to get in or even know it existed. Everyone was scantily clad, wearing loud and bright outfits and costumes under bright black lights and psychedelic black light posters and art, she liked that part but that was about it. She saw quite a few drugs being exchanged throughout the club but after listening to EDM all night, she knew why. She almost thought about trying some herself, her head was pounding just as hard as the bass. By the time she and Craig got home, the sun had risen and people were already at work. A record for her. 

She skipped the club later that night to recover.

During the day, Adena tried to keep her real life in order without being at home. It was still early in the month so a lot of their bills were due. Like their water bill, she "accidentally" forgot to pay that one. When Taye texted her asking if she knew why the water was cut off, she knew her devious plan had worked.

Go, Adena!

She also searched for temporary places to stay. She would only go back home unless Taye moved out. It was just too stressful for her to even be around him. She knew that would be another fight but she had a few AirBnB, apartments, and lofts in her back pocket in case she somehow lost.

Pretty productive week.

Adena was working on her tablet when Craig came in. "Hey," he said to her and she looked up. "You wanna go to a wedding?"

For Adena, it seemed like a great idea at first. Craig just knew it was the perfect idea because when she stepped out of his bathroom in an evening gown, courtesy of one of the drag queens at The Love Shack, he instantly felt... 

Butterflies?

"Wow you look great," he said as he adjusted his suit jacket. 

"I feel great," Adena said with a thankful nod. "I thought this royal purple would make me look crazy but it's actually pretty nice" she continued as she checked herself out in the full-length mirror. She quickly peeked under the hem to ensure her sneakers were tied tight. They hid perfectly under the gown. 

There was no way she was wearing heels tonight. Her feet needed a break.

At the wedding reception, she felt like she was truly crashing it. But as she sat and ate with the table of other single strangers, it all hit her.

Weddings. Marriage. Husband. Wife. Vows. 'Til death do us part.'

What bullshit. 

She was quiet all night and didn't drink or dance, she just sat there with a numb expression on her face.

Craig made sure his playlist was queued up, then walked over and sat down in his seat. "Wanna dance?"

"No, my feet are kinda hurting still," she said quietly.

Once he got a peek at them, he laughed, "What do you mean? You're wearing Nike!"

She smiled for a second and then it faded. "Yeah they're hurting so bad I had to put these bad boys on."

"You ok?" he asked her. She wasn't her usual polite and content self. She looked guarded and anxious. She only nodded as she picked up her water to drink it. "You don't want anything to drink?" She only shook her head no as she stared out on the dance floor. The bride and groom were doing a special dance routine for the guests to their requested song. 

Then it hit him.

Why would you invite a woman who is going through a stressful divorce to a wedding?

He had to make it up to her, or at least make the wedding more enjoyable. As the guests cheered for the couple, Craig switched a few songs around. "We're gonna slow it down after that wonderful performance. We're celebrating love so bring someone you love to the dance floor."

Adena had zoned out again until an Isley Brothers song began to play. Couples started to fill the dance floor in the center of the hotel ballroom. She looked over at Craig and smirked. She watched him as he walked over. He looked damn good in a suit. 

"You wanna dance?" he asked as he held his hand out to her.

"Mehhh I don't know-"

"It's your favorite band and I remember you telling me this is one of your favorite songs?"

She did? She sighed but then she got up, "Ok just this song." She took his hand and they started to sway to the music close to his makeshift DJ booth, just in case. He pulled her close to him, wrapped his arm around her waist, resting his hand against her lower back. His other hand was interlocked with hers. She had soft hands. 

"You sure you're ok?"

"Yes, Craig. I'm sure" she said matter of factly. There were conflicting emotions going on right now. Basically depression and irritation for agreeing to come to a wedding but she now felt a nervous excitement being so close to him, holding his hand, his arms around her waist.

Her tone though, made him shut up. They swayed and turned to the music. He looked down at her and she looked like she was lost in space. He was about to apologize for not thinking straight but she cut him off.

"You should apply here" she mentioned randomly. She had to fill the silence, yes her favorite song was currently blasting out of the speakers but she and Craig weren't saying a word to each other and that was rare. She also had to talk about something that was the opposite of what was currently going on, love and marriage. "I saw a hiring sign" she continued, trying to get her mind off of what she was surrounded in.

"Oh ok," Craig said, not knowing what to say.

"So...?"

"So what?" Craig asked her with a laugh.

"Well...are you going to apply?"

"Here? At this hotel?" he asked her. Has she met him? "Never crossed my mind-"

"Well you can't afford to be picky," Adena said and then quickly shut up. She remembered saying the exact same words to Taye months ago and it more than likely resulted in a fight. He was picky about work but not very picky about women. 

Stop thinking about it, she tried to tell herself.

"I know that," he said. "That's why you've seen me bust my ass all this week. Making up for that corporate check I lost. I'm gonna have to work 7 nights a week-"

"There's gotta be something else you want to achieve. To work toward. You wanna be a DJ all your life? What are you going to do 10 years from now? 20? You're still gonna be partying nonstop?"

"If I can make a living off of it and be happy then so be it. There's a lot of stuff I can do besides DJ. If I can't tour as a DJ, I can tour with someone else and be theirs. Work in music production."

"That's all you want to do? Music? Nothing else?"


"That's basically it," he said without thinking about it. He didn't have to think about it anymore. He thought about it enough. He made up his mind. He feels he tried everything he could stomach. All his side gigs were just to help him get by but they weren't fulfilling. That's why they never lasted long. He wasn't going to lose his mind over a job that he wasn't passionate about. He was going to make this 'music thing' work. "What about you?" he asked, desperately trying to change the subject. "Do you have anything you're passionate about?"

"Art, of any kind. And..."

"Come on, there's gotta be something else," Craig said.

Adena sighed, "Well the other used to be having a family...kids..." she said sadly, "To be a mom."

"You can still have that Adena. But you may have to wait longer you know? Start your life over, have some fun first. I mean you're only 23...you got a lot of time" he said.

"Yeah...but I wanted to have my first child by 24," she said, "Just like my mom had me...and that's not gonna happen unless I give birth in the next 6 days."

"Hey, you never know. Maybe having one at 34 will be better for you" he said.

She shook her head no. She couldn't wait that long. Her mother always said that was a big regret of hers, waiting too long to have her second child after Adena. Eating healthier, and not working so hard, to prevent her from going through miscarriages. That was hard for her to watch as a child, as a teen, thinking she was finally going to have a baby brother or sister and then one day, her mom comes home empty-handed and with an empty heart. It happened more than once. So the younger, the better. 

What if she was the same way?

Craig noticed her go back to space again, deep in thought, "Speaking of, have you decided about your birthday?"

Adena rolled her eyes playfully, "My birthday has not been on my mind at all."

"Why not?"

"Because it'll be nothing like last year," she said. Then she decided to be honest with him, "Last year, Taye and I were still engaged, he was still into me, still loved me, he had a great job and he just showered me with gifts" she laughed nostalgically, "And when I mean gifts, I don't mean just material things. He actually cleaned the apartment, cooked one of my favorite dinners, ordered this big dessert, ran a bath for me" she sighed, "I'm not looking forward to it because I'm not going to have any of that" she said. It was funny, well actually not so funny in this case, how things could change in a year. And what was worse was that they didn't even make it to their 1st anniversary. She felt ashamed.

"I'm sorry I know it's difficult and I'm sorry I invited you here-"


"It's more than that," she said, not listening to him, "...you know what I want for my birthday this year?" she asked him.

"What?" Finally? A straight answer?

"To not have one. Well, not like that. I just want that day to be skipped over or something. And if it has to come, somehow it's got to be so good that I can forget what happened last year, not just temporarily but forever. But NO ONE can give me that."

Craig frowned. "You never know," he said. They continued to sway in silence, then she let go of his hand and stepped back out of his embrace. He wished with all his might that he could make her birthday special. Then in an instant it wasn't just a wish, it became a mission. Right then and there.

"You know what? I'm gonna go back to your place. I'm tired" she said, not looking at him. "We've been partying all week."

"You sure? I can-"

"I'm ok Craig, I'll just get an Uber. I just need to rest" she tried to assure him but as she turned and slightly rushed out of the ballroom, he wasn't convinced. She lifted her dress so she wouldn't step on it, hair bouncing and swaying against her back, she looked like Cinderella at midnight.

Or a runaway bride.

*

On the whole, typical Capricorns pursue the following leisure interests: music, listening, or playing...

*

When Craig got back, he was exhausted, so much so, that he kicked off his shoes, took off his jacket, loosened his tie, unbuttoned and untucked his shirt, and laid down right next to Adena.

It was a cute sight to see because Adena was already lying peacefully, still in her dress.

*

Missy took off her coat in a huff as she finally got inside of the club. It was freezing outside and she had to wait in line. The bouncers were acting like they never saw her here before. She tossed her coat at the coat check girl and picked up her ticket. She tucked it in her cleavage as she called a number again. 

"Fee Fee I'ma fuck you up next time I see you," Missy said to herself. Fee Fee was supposed to let her in tonight but she was nowhere to be found. What's up with her friends disappearing on her? She hoped she wasn't back with that asshole, her words, that she complained about the other day.

Her mood lightened up when one of her favorite jams started to play. She walked deeper into the club and noticed Adena's DJ playing. She made her way through the crowd. Adena had the best seat in the house with Craig and free drinks. She wouldn't mind coming to the club now as much as Missy did (which was almost every day) if she had this treatment.

"HEY DENA!" she heard someone yell to her. Speak of the devil- Missy. "COME 'ERE! I NEEDA TALK TO YA!"

"I'LL BE BACK," Adena said to Craig and he nodded, she left the booth, walked up to her, and hugged her, "YEAH? DAMN, WHY ARE YOU SO COLD?"

Missy pulled her into the bathroom and then sat her down, "Taye's worried about you."

"And?"

"Did you really say that you were staying with someone cuter than he was?" Missy asked with a laugh. Adena nodded, she remembered that much. "Go best friend! That's my best friend, he deserves it! I wish I would've seen his face."

"It was priceless...but what did you really wanna say to me?"

"I wanted to ask how serious this shit was with you and DJ boy?"

And there it was.

"It's not," Adena said with a nonchalant shrug, or at least her best attempt. She didn't know what was going on but she had to ignore all that now like most things. One crisis at a time.

"Hmmmm...ok...well are you ever gonna hang out with your friends anymore? Or are you gonna drop everyone?"

"Shut up," Adena said, "I'm sorry it's just-"

"You know what girl? Don't apologize to me. People grieve or celebrate or process stuff in different ways and I respect yours. Also because it's so much like me!" she said as she nudged her. She gave her a hug, "Girl take all the time you need. Party off your stress."

"Are you drunk?" Adena asked. Missy was hugging her way too hard.

"Nah but my edible is just kicking in."

"Wanna hang in the booth?" she asked her. Missy was all for it, especially since there were free drinks. "Craig, meet my best friend, Missy. Missy, this is Craig."

"Your new best friend," Missy said as she looked him up and down. She wasn't mad at it. "Nice to finally meet you. I've heard ALOT about you."

"Nice to meet you too," he said, though he wondered why she said it like that. Something he didn't know? "So...how do you know Adena?" Craig asked her after he ordered her a drink. She didn't order one drink. She ordered a round of shots. Missy seemed so different from Adena. She was more outgoing, not as mature as Adena and her tight lime green outfit basically showed him everything he needed to see.

"We met in college, roomies all 4 years, we had an art class together and she helped me pass, we have been cool ever since," she said to him. She watched as he programmed some songs into the system, "Hey. Why do you play this techno shit anyway?" she asked him.

"It's EDM and it's the rules I guess. Diverse crowd, diverse sounds" Craig said, then he had an idea and Missy was perfect! "Oh! I need help with something and I see you're the perfect person to ask."

"Already? We just met" she asked with a wink and a soft bite of her lip. 

"Well, you're her best friend. Her birthday is coming up. I need help with planning a surprise party." 

"Wait what?" she asked him. She was hoping he would say something different but this was just as surprising. 

"I want you to help me plan her surprise party!" he said, leaning closer to her, thinking she didn't hear him. "I mean I know her situation and it's pretty bad and I just wanted to do something nice for her you know?" Craig explained, "I figured you would know what she would like."

This guy must really like her. But he didn't know her well. Adena wasn't a surprise party type of person. Missy glanced back at Adena. She was fist pumping along to the EDM, drinking her wine as she talked to a waitress.

At the same time, Adena was a different person nowadays. She was clubbing more often, drinking more often, and doing outrageous things more often. Maybe it will cheer her up. Why not?

"That's sweet. Sure, what cha want me to do?" she asked him.

"We can't talk about it here," he said as he glanced at Adena, she was speaking with the waitress but glancing their way. "What's your Instagram?" he asked.

"Thought you'd never ask," Missy said with a wink. He had a huge following being one of the hottest DJs and all. 

"Thanks, we'll keep in touch. I'ma hit you up" he said as Adena walked over.

Adena thought she was seeing things but maybe she was after having a glass of wine, but did they exchange numbers? Well, she did tell her nothing was going on between them... "You two getting along?" she asked them.

"Yep!" they both said, as innocently as they could.

*

Capricorns are devoted to their friends, they will continue to love and help a friend who is old, disabled, or going through a tough time.

*

"Ok. You have to tell me, who is it that you're always whispering to lately?" Kim asked Missy as they ate lunch at their usual spot, Dominic's. Missy was texting and answering short phone calls.

"Nobody just some guy," Missy said with a

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