"I can't wait to quit," Sabrina groaned taking off her heels once they passed the threshold of their shared apartment. Erica Jones sauntered behind her cousin and threw herself onto the couch feeling the fatigue only intensify the longer her lids remained open.
"Tell me about it."
"When you finally get rich and famous-"
Erica snickered at the statement before she could even finish. Knowing whenever her cousin started a sentence with those exact words, it had something to do with how unsatisfied she felt at her job. When they started university, Erica's parents had been insistent she stay at home but in a desperate need to drink up from the fountain of independence and freedom she moved in with Sabrina much to her parent's dismay. But in as much as she appreciated their need to keep her close given their protective nature, she wanted her own space. She wanted to be able to fully express herself and go for that which made her complete.
Music.
Though they were sad at first, her parents have been supportive of her which was all anyone could really ask for.
"Before you finish that statement, the chances of me making it are a little slim there, boo."
"Bullshit," Sabrina replied taking a seat next to her," with a voice like yours, you're bound to get discovered eventually. And besides with the way your ass has sacrificed getting some loving," she giggled listening to her cousin," you better make it."
"Here we go again on that relationship shit," Erica groaned out tossing her head back dramatically. She had made a choice to avoid them like the plague, but she knew with Maxwell she'd make a possible exception...
"Don't you think I have a right to be concerned?"
"No," she replied quickly to which Sabrina narrowed her auburn eyes on her," I already get that same shit from my mom. Can't you be the normal one in this family who doesn't stress me," she whined lightly glancing at her in the hopes her pouting will crack Sabrina's tough exterior.
"She's on your case again."
"You don't even know the half of it. I have half a mind to ignore her calls," she grumbled. Erica was an only child and knew that her mother was set on her having someone in her life. But after her last relationship she wasn't as willing to give it a try.
"You know you just need to find someone else. That can be your way out of the constant harassment from her to settle," Sabrina suggested.
"As if it was that simple," she thought blocking the darkness ready to hinder her chances of seeing the light.
Sabrina eyed her carefully; she was always able to read Erica. It was no surprise given they had been living together for close to three years that the two now saw each other as siblings.
She had seen Erica at her best and worst such that she reached out and gave Erica's hand a gentle squeeze," It's been two years, Erica."
"I know," she replied, her voice coming out a bit demure as opposed to her bold personality.
"I just thought I wouldn't have to worry anymore." Erica perked up at her statement to find her cousin observing her.
"Since when were you worried about me?"
"E... " Sabrina sighed uncertain of whether to air out her concern.
"You and Lance ended two years ago... I know what he did hurt, but that was TWO YEARS ago," she stressed. Erica rolled her eyes feeling the sourness she had buried resurface.
"We've been over this, I moved on."
Her cousin smirked raising her perfectly arched brow in her direction," Your encounters with the vibrator don't count," she replied.
Erica choked on air as her cousin held her stomach, laughing at what she thought she was doing in secret.
"The walls are thin, love. And as much as I hate to admit it," Sabrina paused eyeing her carefully before she wiggled her eyebrows," your moaning is cute."
Erica quickly smacked the other girl's leg but that did nothing to stop Sabrina from laughing at her. Standing up she decided to call it an early night whilst silently making a mental note in her mind.
Use it when she wasn't around.
"Erica," she stopped mid-step to glance in her cousin's direction. She had stopped laughing and was looking at her with a look akin to that of a concerned mother.
"Don't let his sins ruin your purified essence. Someday you'll find someone willing to align the stars in the universe just for you," Sabrina said giving her a small smile.
"For someone who listens to me through the walls, you're actually quite deep."
Both girls ended the night in higher spirits despite how lethargic their bodies felt. Amidst her words of concern, Erica's luck in relationships was low. Affiliating with men allergic to commitment to those who viewed themselves as Mayweather in how they handled her was one way of summarising her track record. Lance had felt like her one solid chance until he ruined it. And Maxwell... well that was just a case she decided to keep hidden away in the hopes one day he'd look her way.
So, for now music would be her only devoted lover from whom she'd find all the solace she needed. It was the one thing where she felt complete and when she managed to land the spot of being one of the singers at Monty's Underground Haven she was ecstatic. With Sabrina working as a waitress at a restaurant called D's Alluring Cuisines, Erica knew she had to contribute equally to the rent.
Despite the diverse crowd that flooded Monty's each night, there was one individual she began to see more frequently. He stood out like a sore thumb given his tailored suits and clean cut appearance.
She was used to people admiring her especially during her performance's, but this man's gaze was always more fervent. And she often found her eyes straying to his wondering what colour they must be.
Regardless of the dim lighting the rest of his features were more visible, Roman nose, pouty lips, prominent strong jaw structure she admitted although he wasn't her usual type, he was... fascinating to observe. And his expression always remained the same- blank. She had made a vow to keep men in general at a safe distance from her but admittedly he seemed to always pique her interest slightly. She figured the interest stemmed from a place of- as Sabrina would put it needing someone to fulfil her sexual appetite.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
Lying on her bed and releasing a satisfied sigh at the comfortable mattress she stared up at the plain white ceiling. And just when she was about to close her eyes, the realisation of the assignments waiting for her made her groan out in frustration.
"You just couldn't help yourself, huh? You nasty girl," came her cousin's voice on the other side. Erica chuckled before she raised her hand to hit it against the wall.
"I'm not using it, bitch!" she shouted back feeling flushed.
It was on days like these she was thankful for having her cousin around as she navigated through life. She was an only child and had often felt lonely when no one else seemed willing to understand who she was. But with Sabrina, it was different, and she could only wonder laying there if she'd ever be ready to open up to anyone again.