"And Your Enemies Closer"

|19|

Renée

A few hours earlier. . .

Life isn't fair.

So why should we play a fair game?

Why should I play the game right?

If I couldn't get what I want, then everybody ago suffer inna dis. I really could care less about whose feelings gets hurt in the process.

Kalíanna just happened to be first on my hit list.

The preparations for her birthday party is all I seem to hear about and it makes me sick.

Kali this, Kali dat!

I'm the only rational one, who thought that maybe, just maybe, a Halloween Party for your 18th birthday is a sign you haven't grown enough. It just doesn't seem like the best idea. You literally have the money to go all out and you choose that of all things?

I'll still go to the party, though.

I'd be stupid if I didn't.

Everyone who was somebody, is going to be there.

The invite list won't be limited to her close friends, I'm sure of it. It will be as big as, her sweet seventeen. . .or bigger.

Yes, she had a sweet seventeen instead of a sixteen

Especially because, I'd easily be first preference, being apart of her inner circle.

I guess it's true, you should keep your friends close. . .and your enemies closer.

The group chat buzzes with more messages, all regarding Kali's party. There has to be an end to this torture. I played along choosing between different decor ideas.

This one is cute, I typed out, hitting send.

Soon after, my phone pings with another notification.

It's another message, suggesting that we meet at her place at 7:00 p.m.

I'll be there, send. I finally put down my phone.

I look next to me seeing that he was already wide awake staring right back at me.

My sheets were pooled at his waist still stained with my arousal.

My body ached remembering all that had gone on few minutes earlier.

He plants a soft kiss to my forehead.

I wasn't planning on sleeping with him but push came to shove and now we were both in my bed naked. It was very risky, my mother was on her way home and my parrot of a sister was right down the hall. But it was far too hard to keep quiet, not with the way he fucked me. A small part of me felt as if I had finally won. I felt appreciated. When he came, he looked into my eyes as he moaned, my name.

"Yuh love me off eno." I spoke softly, rolling my eyes as I fought back a smile.
He only hissed his teeth with a small chuckle. I leaned into him resting my head on his bare chest that still was a bit damp with sweat.

"Yuh ago do eh dirt?"

I nod in confirmation.

"She just ask mi fi come over." I inform him.

When I told him that Kalíanna and I were still close he asked me if I could wire something into her phone so he can have her location or whatever. Never took him for the obsessed ex type. But I didn't question it. If that's what he wanted, then I'd help him.

Why go through all that trouble, tho? Why not stalk her socials or something?

I move to get up, but his arm holds on to mine with a harsh grip. A feeling of pain shoots through my arm but he doesn't let go. "Doh fuck up." The words were low and every bit of condescending. I try to push my fear to the side to muster up a response. "Yeah."

If I played my cards right, I could be in and out.

The last thing I wanted was to upset him, or make him think that I couldn't handle a simple task.

Rihanna texted me asking if I needed a ride and I respond with a simple 'yea'.

I get out of bed and headed straight for the bathroom.

When I returned he still layed in my bed.

"Memba seh mi mada soon come home. Kill yuh want she kill mi?" I asked, playfully tugging at the sheets.

But he no longer had that playful air or that boyish grin on his face. He sat there giving me the coldest stare and it was as if he was now a different person.His demeanor had changed entirely.

I took the hint and left him alone.

I headed over to my vanity to start getting ready.

It's no secret, I'm always late.

Looking in the mirror I saw that my hair was a complete mess. Afta eh boy never stop grab eh. "You do dat eno." I laugh, glancing at him through the mirror. But he's far too busy on his phone. Very disinterested. I brush it off, acting as though I wasn't offended by his sudden change in behavior. I started combing through the wig, adding some water and hair products to revive the curls.

I add the final touches to my hair then begin doing my makeup.

• • •

Kalíanna is still caught up with her party preparations.

Everyone else here was too.

I was waiting for the perfect opening. All I had to do was wait for her to leave her phone unattended, but I also had to be aware of everyone else in the room. Especially, Javier, he's really vigilant.

Maybe I should just lie

You're a bad liar

True

I decided to wait it out a while longer.

I indulged in some food while I listened to their conversation.

I didn't bother to join in, tho. It felt wrong knowing that I was playing both sides.

I looked over at Javier who is whispering something in Kalíanna's ear, it couldn't have been that funny, yet she smiled from ear to ear. I pretended as if it didn't bother me at all. But what he did next pissed me off, I watched as his hand slowly slipped past her waist, ever so slightly brushing against her ass. It took a hot minute before she finally swatted it away before pushing at his chest.

The feeling of jealousy blossoming in my chest was almost as hard to stomach as the Chinese food I was having.

Wasn't my cup of tea

All my thoughts where I second guessed crossing her, were now gone.

She deserves it.

It was only a matter of time until everyone else realizes that too.

• • •

The girls and I sat down engaged in small talk.

They were too caught up in their laughs to realize me taking up her phone.

She's far too trusting, I've seen her put in her password too many times to count. They were all talking about something unnecessary, I presume. I scroll through the phone looking for a particular setting that Jaheem had briefed me on.

After awhile, it successfully had gone through. I let out a laugh of triumph but it comes off as me just laughing at something that was said.

I slip the phone into my bag, when I realize there was no way I'd be able to put it back in its original spot without being detected.