Amid every emotional moment throughout the night, no one made it home. No one found solitude. Pillows rested beneath disheveled heads, while restless thoughts and sleepless eyes carried them into the early morning hours.
Jason appeared to be the most comfortable of the three. At least physically. He occupied the recliner like a man who had given up trying to sleep hours ago. Leaned back, one leg draped over the armrest, his head wedged into the corner where the chair met the cushion. Comfortable enough to fool anyone passing through. Not comfortable enough to quiet his mind.
Kayla had claimed the floor. Blankets tangled around her body, pillows scattered in every direction in a failed attempt to soften the hardwood beneath her. She tossed and turned throughout the night, eventually deciding the pillows were useless against the thoughts keeping her awake.
Shea remained stretched across the sofa.
No blanket.
No pillow.
Just exhaustion.
Her arms were folded beneath her head as she stared at the ceiling. Her eyes were swollen and heavy, but sleep refused to claim her. The vibration against her wrist reminded her exactly how long she had been awake. What was normally her wake-up alarm felt more like a timestamp on a night she never survived.
The abrupt sound of duck quacks shattered the silence.
Jason’s head jerked up immediately.
“What the hell is that?”
Kayla scrambled beneath the blankets, searching through the sea of pillows and discarded clothing for her phone.
“Sorry.”
“Damn, that’s loud. Scared the hell out of me,” Jason muttered, stretching.
“I’ll take it outside.”
Kayla finally located the phone and climbed to her feet.
“This is Kayla.”
“Hey girl. I know it’s early, but this is the only free moment I have today,” Saisha said. “I got your message, which means something is wrong.”
Kayla glanced back toward the living room.
Jason was rubbing sleep from his eyes.
Shea hadn’t moved.
“Kinda,” Kayla admitted quietly. “Let me step outside right quick.”
“What you mean kinda? What happened now, Kayla?”
The hesitation alone answered half the question.
Saisha sighed.
“Let me guess. Your job’s at stake.”
“Som… something like that,” Kayla stumbled.
“Hmm.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means I’ve already heard about it.”
Kayla froze.
“Excuse me?”
“I’ve already been privy to the debacle.”
Kayla closed her eyes.
Of course.
Of course word traveled fast.
“Before you start spiraling,” Saisha continued, “tell me one thing.
Did you say it?”
Kayla swallowed.
“Say what?”
“The stuff they said you said.”
Silence.
“Kayla.”
“Yeah.”
“Then why are you acting surprised?”
Kayla rubbed her forehead.
“Because everybody makes me out to be the villain, Sai.”
“No, baby,” Saisha corrected gently. “Everybody didn’t make you the villain. You auditioned for the role.”
“Ouch.”
“I’m not trying to hurt your feelings. I’m trying to save your career.”
Kayla leaned against the railing outside Shea’s condo.
The morning air felt cool against her skin.
“I’ve told you time and time again, you don’t have to become the mean girl to prove you’re the smartest woman in the room.”
“I know, but what if they don’t like who I am?”
“What if they do?”
The question hit harder than Kayla expected.
“What if you’ve spent so much time protecting yourself that nobody’s ever gotten the chance to meet the real you?”
Kayla was quiet.
“You’ve got what it takes to make it in this industry,” Saisha continued. “I’ve watched you survive things that would’ve broken other people. I’ve watched you outwork people twice your age. I’ve watched you earn every opportunity you’ve been given.”
A sniffle slipped through the phone.
“Aht aht,” Saisha interrupted. “Dry it up.”
Kayla laughed through the tears.
“I’m serious. Tap into the woman you’ve become instead of the girl they keep trying to convince you that you are.”
“You always know what to say.”
“No. I just know you.”
Kayla smiled.
“Damn. I miss you.”
“I know you do.”
The confidence in Saisha’s voice finally earned a genuine laugh.
“Oh, so you just that girl, huh?”
“I’ve been that girl.”
“Whatever.”
“Now tell me this,” Saisha said. “What are you going to do to fix it?”
Kayla opened her mouth. Then closed it.Because for the first time since the suspension…She didn’t have an answer.
Shea maneuvered her way into the bathroom, determined to prepare herself for whatever the day decided to throw at her.She retrieved the collection of products that made up her morning skin routine and turned toward the mirror.
Reality was already waiting.
Exhaustion stared back at her through bloodshot eyes. Stress rested beneath them in dark shadows. The remnants of dried tears still clung to her skin, evidence of a night she would rather forget.
For a moment, she simply stood there. Staring.
The woman in the mirror looked nothing like the version of herself she had greeted every morning for the past twenty-five years.
She placed the products on the countertop and quietly retreated to her bedroom.
“Shea?”
Jason’s voice carried softly through the door.
A light knock followed.
“Yeah?” She answered with sniffles behind the words.
Jason stopped at the door, leaning against the frame, tea in hand.
“You want a cup?”
“I don’t really know what I want, but I guess that’ll be a start.”
Jason entered, handing the tea over to Shea.
“This is a lot Pie,” he said softly, “but I’m here.”
Shea sighs. “I know, you’re always my piece of cake.” She smiles softly.
He returns the sentiment.
“Reach me my laptop please.”
His brow furrows.
Jason grabs the lap top from the dresser. “I know you’re not about to work Shea!”
“No,” she began while opening the screen. “I’m actually checking today’s schedule to see what I need to cancel.”
“Good you need to rest. I can hang around today if you need me to.”
“Rest? With all that was dropped on me last night… what’s rest?
Jason dropped his head. “I get it Shea, I do. But you won’t solve anything overnight.” Jason stated softly as he sat with her on the bed.
“I know, but why so many stipulations? And Six months?”
“You’re spiraling, breathe.”
Jason interjected.
“Take today to breathe.”
Shea looked up, tears glistening in her eyes.
“Okay, can you cancel my schedule for today? I suddenly feel…”
She jolted from the bed.
Jason looked at her in confusion while escaping her beeline.
Sounds of gagging echoed through the bathroom door.
Jason swiftly moved back. “Girl you okay?”
More gagging commences.
“Eww Yeah, I’ve got you, but from the living room, Pie, I don’t do puke.”
He exited swiftly.
Xavièr grabbed his phone from the nightstand.
After silencing the alarm, he stretched before making a beeline for the bathroom. If he didn’t get there soon, his bladder might declare war on him.
Once finished, he washed his hands, grabbed his toothbrush, and began his morning routine.
He turned on the shower and allowed the water to warm. Just as he reached for the hem of his shirt, notification alerts began firing off from his phone.
His stomach tightened.
Some notifications excited him. Others stressed him out. He walked back over and glanced at the screen.
Two messages from Lux.Three from an unknown number. One from Shea’s scheduling system.
He opened Lux’s messages first.
Lux: Good morning. I’ve got news.
Lux: BIG NEWS!!! Make sure you call me first thing.
A grin spread across his face. Finally. Something good.
Next, he opened the scheduling notification.
Captured By Shea Scheduling: Good morning. We apologize for any inconvenience, but today’s appointments are being rescheduled. Updated dates and times will be sent by the end of the morning.
“Well, that sucks,” he muttered.
His thumb hovered over the remaining messages.The unknown number. He already knew who it was. Still, he opened them.
Unknown:
I really miss you.
Unknown:
You’re still upset with me?
Unknown:
Please talk to me, Xae… please.
Xavièr sighed heavily.
He rubbed his forehead and dropped the phone onto the counter. The excitement Lux’s messages had created disappeared almost instantly.
Some people could walk away from your life. Others found a way to linger long after they were gone.
He stripped down and stepped beneath the hot spray of the shower, hoping the water would wash away thoughts he had no interest in revisiting.
He lathered, scrubbed, rinsed, and repeated the process. He poured shampoo into his hands and worked it through his hair when his ringtone pierced through the bathroom.
“Of course.”
He finished washing his hair before reaching for the towel. After drying off and wrapping the towel around his waist, he grabbed his phone.
One missed call.
Unknown.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
He opened the message thread. His fingers danced across the screen.
**Please stop while you’re ahead. **I’m not going to ask again.
Send.
The phone rang immediately.
Xavièr groaned. Then looked at the screen.
Lux.
A grin replaced the irritation.
“Hey man, I was just getting ready to call you.”
“Dude, I’ve been waiting impatiently. You sitting down?”
“Nah, just give it to me. You said it’s big.”
“Very big. I’ve got two gigs for you.”
Xavièr straightened.
His pulse immediately picked up.
“Tell me, man. I’m sweating over here.”
Lux laughed.
“First, I’ve got you a role on Been There Done That.”
Silence.
“Wait.”
More silence.
“For real?”
“For real.”
Xavièr dropped onto the edge of the bed.
“Man, stop playing with me.”
“I’m serious.”
A smile spread across Xavièr’s face so wide his cheeks hurt.
“Talk about a crossover opportunity.”
“You’re not shitting me, right?”
“Nope. And guess what else?”
Xavièr laughed.
“What could possibly be bigger than that?”
“The underwear campaign is interested.”
Xavièr froze.
“The real one?”
“The real one.”
His heart nearly stopped.
“They want to see how you represent the brand. Get me those outdoor shots and let me work my magic.”
Xavièr grabbed his wrist and yanked his arm downward in celebration.
“YES!”
“This is your break, Xavièr,” Lux said. “Let’s secure it.”
“I’m on it, man. I’m on it.”
For the first time in a long time, everything felt possible.
Kayla held onto the phone, turning Saisha’s question over in her mind. What are you going to do to fix it?
For once, she didn’t have a clever answer.
“Kayla, you there?” Saisha’s voice echoed through the speaker.
“Yeah, Sai. I’m here.”
“Figure it out. I’ve got your back, but you need to have your own.”
Kayla swallowed hard. A sniffle threatened to escape.
“I hear you, Sai.”
“Good.”
A brief silence settled between them.
“Okay girl, talk to you soon?”
“Yeah, Sai.”
Kayla smiled softly.
“And thank you.”
“Anytime.”
The line disconnected.
Kayla stared out across the parking lot. The morning sun was beginning to climb. People were moving. Starting their day. Living their lives.
Meanwhile hers felt stuck.
She glanced over her shoulder toward Shea’s apartment door. Part of her wanted to leave.
To drive. To disappear for a few hours. To avoid the conversations waiting on the other side of that door.
She patted her hips. Then frowned. Patted them again.
“Dammit.”
Her keys.
Still inside.
Kayla rolled her eyes toward the sky.
“See? This is exactly the kind of morning I’m having.”
With a dramatic sigh, she turned and headed back toward the apartment.
She walked inside and noticed Jason coming from Shea’s bedroom.
Her brows furrowed.
“Another secret conversation?” She asked.
Jason scoffed and rolled his eyes.
“Weren’t you having a private phone call outside? Don’t start Kayla, it’s enough going on.”
“I was just joking. Seems like someone awoke on the wrong side of the recliner.”
“Well, I don’t know when your joking or not Kayla.”
Kayla approached him as the island counter.
“I apologize for my unpredictability, but that also makes me who I am. I do understand that I make it complicated at times.”
Jason looked up at her. “At times Kayla? Really?”
She chuckled.
“Alright, damn, I’m trying to say sorry and I’ll do better.”
Shea turned the corner behind them.
“That’s all we can ever ask for.”
Jason and Kayla turn to meet Shea’s gaze.
“Thank ya’ll for being present.”
She turned and walked away before anyone could respond.
Once she got back to her room, she climbed in bed, cuddled with her throw blanket, and began to think.
Her thoughts took over, from her friendship with Jason and Kayla, to the wordage of this will, to her mom.
“Why would Pop say not to help his daughter?”
That was puzzling. Everything seemed off, but that stood out to her more than anything.
“I’ve got to figure this out.” She thought. “And soon!”
Saisha sat in her office, laptop open, pen in hand, twisting from side to side in her office chair. She scrolled through webpages, jotted down notes, and a sly grin formed on her face.
She yelled out. “Carleigh, step here please.”
Her secretary stepped into the office space in no time.
“Ma’am?”
“Clear my schedule for next week, book me the first flight to Klienville for tomorrow.”
“Yes ma’am, solo trip?”
“Yes, I won’t need your assistance for this, just going to check in on a friend.”
“That’s sweet, I’ll get on it.”
Carleigh walked off in stride to make the plans as requested of her.
“Mhmmm sweet indeed.” Saisha mumbled.
Kae Jaye The Writer 