6. Crimson #2
I let out a breath and calmed myself. I realized Venus was an energy vampire.
One thing about them energy vampires is they do not care about being right or wrong.
Their one and only goal is to get you riled up, out of character and drained.
Venus definitely wanted my energy, but she was on my turf so it wasn’t happening.
“Look, let me make this clear, because I don’t want to confuse the issue.
Stop acting like I’ve been suffering for years.
When I was evicted when I was pregnant, YOU offered to help me move.
Yes, I called you a few times for a ride from work.
And I always offered gas money, even when I barely had it.
And what did you say? ‘I got it, BFF , you good BFF .” I mocked her.
“So stop acting like I was out here depending on you. And bitch, if I was ? A real friend would allow that shit and not throw it in my face. Trying to make it seem like-”
“I’m not trying to make it seem like anything,” Venus cut me off.
“You are! Every time you bring up what you did for me, you paint yourself as a savior. That's crazy to me.”
She threw her hands up. “So where do we go from here?”
I folded the fabric in front of me neatly, as I organized and compartmentalized my rage. “Venus, look, I don’t have a problem being cordial. I have no choice as long as you’re with Rashad. But I can’t trust you anymore. It is what it is.”
Venus stood there quietly. Her expression shifted, somewhere between shocked and offended.
“So you become friends with Zahara again, and I get pushed to the side?”
“Keep my name out your mouth, Venus,” Zahara warned, not even looking up.
The two of them had been at odds for years. So this little back and forth wasn’t surprising.”
“Just saying it makes sense,” Venus muttered.
“If that’s how you feel,” I said coolly, “again, it is what it is. But let me tell you something. Zahara has never told my secrets, big or small, to Jahsir. And that’s her blood .”
“Hmph. Is that right?” Venus said, turning to leave. “Well. I’ll let y’all have your little reunion. I’ll go home to Rashad and see what he’s got waiting for me.”
“You're going home to him, huh?” Zahara laughed, and I knew why. “Hey, Venus,” Zahara called out, casual as ever. “How’d Rashad find out about the boutique?”
Venus stopped with her hand on her hip. “From Jahsir, or Crimson-” she stammered. “Who the hell else?”
Zahara raised an eyebrow as her lips curved into a smile. “Hmm. Nobody. Nobody at all.”
The silence after that was extremely loud.
Venus rolled her eyes so hard I thought they might fall out of the sockets.
Then she stormed out the door, taking that envious, devious energy with her.
The door closed behind Venus with a sharp chime.
The silence that followed was thick and suffocating.
Zahara didn’t say anything, just went back to piecing together my mannequins.
I leaned against the counter and rubbed my jaw.
I was clenching it the entire time. I guess I didn’t realize how mad I still was.
Not until she walked in like nothing ever happened.
Way too much time had passed since the night we played cards and the robbery, the one thing she never mentioned. Not once. But now she showed up wanting to wish me well, fuck outta here. I wanted to think she meant well, but the whole throwing what she did back in my face shit blew me.
Venus would really have people thinking I was out here bogus, and she was taking care of me.
And now that I think about it, Venus always added a little shade with her sunshine.
It was like she silently enjoyed my suffering.
Calling me broke in a playful way. I tell people all the time, there’s some seriousness to every LOL.
Hindsight is 20/20, and Venus was no friend of mine.
I sighed as I walked toward the dressing area. I gave myself a once-over in the vintage mirror Zahara picked out. The beauty I saw staring back at me had a second chance to come out on top. I needed to stay grounded and away from any and all negativity.
“I don’t want her energy in here,” I said softly, more to myself than to Zahara.
Zahara didn’t look up, but I could hear the agreement in her quiet hum. “You know how I feel about her, aside from the Rashad stuff. Venus was always super sneaky to me; she literally came out of nowhere. I'm glad you are not messing with her anymore. Real talk,” she said. “You good?”
I nodded slowly. “Yeah. Just… thinking.”
“About her?”
“About everything. So much has happened over the past several months.” I said.
Quite honestly, I didn't hate Venus. I wasn’t even angry anymore. I was primarily … disappointed, not in her, but more so in myself. I had a knack for spotting energy vampires. My guard was down, and I got too comfortable. But I’m not getting caught slippin’ again, I refuse to.
We switched up the music. Somehow, Crime Mob was no longer fitting my needs.
I then sat in the low hum of the boutique for a while.
The candle near the register still burned, its clean linen scent still in the air.
Tweets’ voice floated gently from the speaker, wrapping the room in peace.
It felt good to be in a space that reflected who I was becoming.
I released anger, and I wasn’t holding any grudges.
I was healing, in my own space and time.