Asshole. It’s all his fault. Why does he have
to be so… persistent? As I am putting physical as well as emotional distance from
Colton, I hear the emcee’s voice reeling me back in.
“Hold on, not so fast! Brianna, please come back here.” He smiles and it makes me
feel a little more at-ease. I have to play it cool until this is all over. I plaster
one of those fake smiles that I used to have a long time ago, take a deep breath and
get ready to put on a show. I place my chin up high and square my shoulders, faking
a reassurance that I deeply know does not exists.
Once I am next to him again, he continues, “I have received the decision from the
judges and unanimously, they voted YOU the winner of the showcase!!! The crowd erupts
again with applause and screaming, I am smiling, but I am also numb. I don’t give
a shit. They hand me a small trophy, some flowers and the check. I look towards the
table, and realize I did not notice Colton going back there. Ciara is jumping up and
down, screaming her head off. I walk off the stage and towards the table. People are
high fiving me as I walk back. All I can think is that instead of a victory walk,
it feels like I am walking towards the gallows.
Notso comes around the table gives me a super tight hug, then I see Ciara coming to
me doing the same. They are screaming “We won, we won.”
“Yeah, I know.” I glance at Colton wishing the earth would open and swallow me whole
right then and there. He is staring me down and I look away unable to hold his gaze.
I can’t handle him and these unfamiliar feelings I’m having. I hate being emotional.
I want to think I have evolved from the ‘ me’ that I used to be.
“No, you don’t understand, Brianna… the bets, the money, we won the pot!” I finally
look at Ciara and Notso, my eyes focusing on their happy faces.
“We won the pot? Awesome!” – another fake smile – “How much did we win?”
“Well, there were 57 people who made bets, and only three people bet in your favor,
so we divided the $1,140.00 by 3 and it comes to $380 a piece!!! Yay!!” Ciara is super
excited.
“Cool. That’s what I call hustling. Wait a minute, who is the third one? I know it
was you, me... and who else?”
“Well, Notso here heard me say how amazing you were and he got smart and bet for you
too – even though he had already put his money on Colton.” She winks at Notso.
Traxx chimes in and says “You would think that he would share this bit of information
with his best friends, but nooo, the mother-fucker keeps it all to himself.”
“That’s what you get for having your boy’s back! There is a new powerhouse in town,
her name is Brianna and you better remember that shit!” I tell him and laugh out loud,
continuing to fake this victory’s happiness.
I tell Ciara that I am ready to go. Colton hears this and stands up to tell me he
needs to speak with me.
“Later, Colton. I don’t have the energy to deal with you. I need to go for a ride
and get out of my head for a little bit.”
“Can I take you? Shit, I mean, can I take you for a ride?” He is rubbing the back
of his head with his left hand. He’s feeling insecure. Too damned bad.
I avoid his eyes. “Nah, this is something I enjoy doing alone.” I start gathering
my things and nod to Ciara to do the same.
“But I don’t think is safe for you to be riding alone, especially after drinking!”
I’ve got to give it to him. He does sound like he is concerned. I look at him then
and laugh out loud at what he said.
“Colton, you do not need to be concerned about me. I only had a couple of shots and
didn’t even finish the drink I had ordered. You need to be concerned for whoever crosses
my path when I’m feeling like this. I realize you have never seen me in action, but
I can guarantee you it would not be a pretty sight for whomever tries to get in my
to be so… persistent? As I am putting physical as well as emotional distance from
Colton, I hear the emcee’s voice reeling me back in.
“Hold on, not so fast! Brianna, please come back here.” He smiles and it makes me
feel a little more at-ease. I have to play it cool until this is all over. I plaster
one of those fake smiles that I used to have a long time ago, take a deep breath and
get ready to put on a show. I place my chin up high and square my shoulders, faking
a reassurance that I deeply know does not exists.
Once I am next to him again, he continues, “I have received the decision from the
judges and unanimously, they voted YOU the winner of the showcase!!! The crowd erupts
again with applause and screaming, I am smiling, but I am also numb. I don’t give
a shit. They hand me a small trophy, some flowers and the check. I look towards the
table, and realize I did not notice Colton going back there. Ciara is jumping up and
down, screaming her head off. I walk off the stage and towards the table. People are
high fiving me as I walk back. All I can think is that instead of a victory walk,
it feels like I am walking towards the gallows.
Notso comes around the table gives me a super tight hug, then I see Ciara coming to
me doing the same. They are screaming “We won, we won.”
“Yeah, I know.” I glance at Colton wishing the earth would open and swallow me whole
right then and there. He is staring me down and I look away unable to hold his gaze.
I can’t handle him and these unfamiliar feelings I’m having. I hate being emotional.
I want to think I have evolved from the ‘ me’ that I used to be.
“No, you don’t understand, Brianna… the bets, the money, we won the pot!” I finally
look at Ciara and Notso, my eyes focusing on their happy faces.
“We won the pot? Awesome!” – another fake smile – “How much did we win?”
“Well, there were 57 people who made bets, and only three people bet in your favor,
so we divided the $1,140.00 by 3 and it comes to $380 a piece!!! Yay!!” Ciara is super
excited.
“Cool. That’s what I call hustling. Wait a minute, who is the third one? I know it
was you, me... and who else?”
“Well, Notso here heard me say how amazing you were and he got smart and bet for you
too – even though he had already put his money on Colton.” She winks at Notso.
Traxx chimes in and says “You would think that he would share this bit of information
with his best friends, but nooo, the mother-fucker keeps it all to himself.”
“That’s what you get for having your boy’s back! There is a new powerhouse in town,
her name is Brianna and you better remember that shit!” I tell him and laugh out loud,
continuing to fake this victory’s happiness.
I tell Ciara that I am ready to go. Colton hears this and stands up to tell me he
needs to speak with me.
“Later, Colton. I don’t have the energy to deal with you. I need to go for a ride
and get out of my head for a little bit.”
“Can I take you? Shit, I mean, can I take you for a ride?” He is rubbing the back
of his head with his left hand. He’s feeling insecure. Too damned bad.
I avoid his eyes. “Nah, this is something I enjoy doing alone.” I start gathering
my things and nod to Ciara to do the same.
“But I don’t think is safe for you to be riding alone, especially after drinking!”
I’ve got to give it to him. He does sound like he is concerned. I look at him then
and laugh out loud at what he said.
“Colton, you do not need to be concerned about me. I only had a couple of shots and
didn’t even finish the drink I had ordered. You need to be concerned for whoever crosses
my path when I’m feeling like this. I realize you have never seen me in action, but
I can guarantee you it would not be a pretty sight for whomever tries to get in my
Similar Books
