I was slouching on the couch in Audrey's apartment wolfing on Chinese takeout with AJ and Audrey. Whilst we deliberate on how to break into Queens elderly home without being caught.
So far none of us could come up with the perfect plan.
"We could just kidnap the old hag," AJ said in between malicious smirks feigning he was evil.
"Not a bad idea," Audrey said in affirmation whilst scooping chopsticks full of noodles into her mouth.
I darted a sharp stare at her, shaking my head. "Audrey you are supposed to be the sage among us"
She shrugs.
Audrey suddenly got up on her feet. With a distant look on her face. She rubbed her palms together.
I pinned my palms to my cheeks, waiting for her big plan I'm sure she is cultivating in her brain.
"I got a plan, a perfect plan" my face emitted with excitement and curiousness.
"We will discuss it later, for now, my noodles need my attention" She nonchalantly said getting back to devouring her food.
"Seriously Audrey" I raised my hands in frustration.
I hate being kept in suspense. I slam back on the couch in dismay. The Camila name keeps hunting me. The sooner I get an answer the better before my obsession with that name makes me go gaga.
"April stop stressing over this," Audrey said with concern when she noticed the clouded look on my face.
"Trust me, I got a plan" she assured me.
"Okay"
My noodles were getting cold. It made me lose my appetite. I stop eating deciding to take in diet coke rather.
"It's good you opt-out from eating the noodles you need to reserve your tummy for tonight"
My eyes glistened at her, rattled by her comment.
"Why are you saying that?"
"When was the last time you went on a date?"she asked changing the topic
AJ let out a mockery Laughter.
"She has never been on a date in her entire 24 years of existence. She is going to die a virgin" AJ bluntly revealed humiliating me.
Audrey's eyes went wide with her mouth hanging open.
"Holy shit!" She screeches making AJ cover up his ears probably in fear of her busting his eardrum.
"You are a virgin! Whoa girl you are a prude after all"
A flush creeps across my cheeks with my face turning red.
Audrey couldn't contain her laughter, getting me more agitated by their taunting
"I'm a virgin so what, I'm reserving that for that special person"
"How will you find your so-called special person?" He wriggles his index fingers.
"With your zero records of dates," He added.
"I have gone on a date before you moron"
They both raised their brows not buying that
"Fill us on that Month"
I thought of the hot bartender, who stood me up. Nah I will die of humiliation if I narrate that awful experience to this pair of taunting devils
The movie date with Mr. Smith flushed in mind. That doesn't count as a date. It is technically a hang-out of three, but Veronica the third party opts out at the last minute leaving me with Mr. Smith. So definitely not date right?. Besides, he didn't ask me out or vice versa
I'm not telling them about this either. I can't stand AJ's constant teasing or Audrey's tons of curious questions.
"Fine you win I have never been on a date" I admitted.
"Wow, you keep surprising me with your puritanical nature," Audrey said with a hint of amusement in her tone.
"You are so weird April, You are beautiful it's a huge shock to me "
I blushed.
I was busy trying to survive, fighting to stay alive every day that boys or dating wasn't something I thought of.
"Anyways we got a surprise treat for you at La Blanca restaurant" They both excitedly Said.
"What!" I exclaimed spilling the content of my drink on my dress.
Oh my goodness. That's a five-star restaurant. The best in the city
I searched their faces trying to fish out any hint of prank or something.
They were dead serious
"What treat?"
"You will soon find out, you have one hour to get ready your ride will be here soon"
Ride, what are these two up to?
"Come on let's get you ready," Audrey said placing her hands on my shoulder urging me in the direction of her bedroom.
"I'm not moving an inch until you two tell me what this all about" I stood my ground.
"It's called a surprise don't ruin it " AJ scolded me.
"Why the sudden surprise treat, it isn't my birthday"
"Well fine is not, of late you look so stressed out. You have started to develop wrinkles on your face"
Huh? in a panic I touched my face.
"AJ do I have wrinkles?"
He laughs "Gosh April, Audrey was just messing up with you"
I glared at her, she beam a snick at me in return.
She is right about that, finding out about my records being wiped out and the blind devil Chris Anderson stalking me has taken a toll on me. And now the Camilla name adding up to wrecking my thoughts.
"So" She continued
"We thought is wise, today being a Friday after a long hectic week of stress, we decided you deserve a nice treat from us"
I gasped pressing my fingers to my parted lips. My eyes softly stared at them with an inner glow.
"Aww, you did that for me, that must have cost you guys a lot."
"Nah, anything for you prude" she winks at me.
If two years ago, anyone had told me Audrey and I could become close friends. I would have called that person crazy.
Within these few weeks of hanging out with her and AJ., she has become an important special person in my life.
For the first time in my life, I don't feel lonely. I got these two crazy bunnies as friends. What more can I ask for?
"Thank you" I engulfed them into a group hug.
We broke off.
"Hey month don't start tearing up"
We burst out into laughter.
"let's go get you ready"
I look down at myself.
"Wait, my dress isn't appropriate for that kind of place"
"That's wouldn't be a problem" She darted me an assuring smile.
I followed her to her bedroom.
"Go take a shower" she urges me on.
I took less than ten minutes in there.
I nearly drop my towel when my eyes landed on a sexy red beautiful dress lying on the bed.
"This is for you Month" she gently handles it to me.
I gaped "This is so beautiful"
"A gift from me"
"No way!" I stared at the dress, then back to her. This is an expensive designer dress. It's too much. I thought of the parasite word.
I shook my head.
"I can't accept this, looks expensive"
She let out a sigh. "it's no big deal" she brush it off
"let me pay for it" I insist, bargaining with her
"Fine" she gave in.
"Now sit down" I sat facing the mirror.
"let mama work some magic on you"
That made me giggle like a teenage girl
An hour later she was done with my hair and makeup.
The transformation got my eyes to threaten to bulge out. The girl staring back at me wasn't April, she look so pretty.
"Who is this girl?" I blurted out causing a smile to appear on Audrey's face.
"That's you Month" I smiled feeling so flattered.
I slip on the dress, putting on black classy heels.
I peered at myself in the mirror, the dress was a knee-length, one-shoulder sleeveless dress that flattered and hovered up my body like a second skin gorgeously, with a side spilled exposing my mid thigh down to my leg. I blushed feeling exposed.
Audrey nodded in approval.
"You are beautiful Month" she remarkably said with admiration in her eyes.
"Your ride is here" AJ announced barging in.
"Oh my goodness" he exclaimed, holding my hand and spinning me around"
"You look like a sexy goddess"
I laughed.
"Aren't you guys coming along?" I ask.
"No, this is your treat," AJ said.
"You need to get going you are getting late for your date"
Date?
I furrowed my brows at him.
He twinge his face into a fake smile, I could see through when he realized what he said.
"Sorry I meant your treat"
I felt something is off, but I brush it off.
I embraced them and walked out of the apartment.
James held the door open when he saw me. I'm somehow surprised that he was my chauffeur for tonight. Since the incident with Mr. Smith, I have been taking cab or Uber. hence he was no longer driving me around. They must have employed his service tonight.
"Good evening Miss Jackson" he greeted.
I smiled in response. Entering in. He didn't ask me about the location like usual. The engine sparked into life as we drove away from the apartments building.
Ten minutes into the ride my phone rang, playing a Katy Perry pop song.
I fish out the phone from my purse. I paused staring at the caller ID.
Why is AJ calling?
I picked up.
"Hello?"
"April, guess what" I rolled my eyes.
"You are on your way to a blind date"
" What do you mean by that"
"You heard him right," Audrey said, it was on loudspeaker.
"We set you up on a blind date" They confirmed.
"You did what!" I shouted through the phone.
Those two set me up point black. I blindly walked into their trap.
A realization grasped me. They were acting so weird. I should have known they were up to no good. How persistent they were in convincing me to hang out with them tonight. I thought they wanted to help me with the Camilla issue. Not knowing they were planning on doing this.
I was so gullible to agree to this stupid treat.
I glanced at my red dress. Red portrays sexuality. My eyes widened, Audrey choose this red dress for a purpose.
"AJ are you trying to pimp me?"
He laughs, it echoed in my ears through the phone.
"Don't you like the idea of being one of my escorts?" I felt like giving him an uppercut to his jaw knocking him out completely Unfortunately, we are communicating through the phone.
"There is no way I'm allowing you to turn me into one of your high-class whores!"
He chuckles.
"Ouch"
"Remember your bucket list April"
I gulped gritting through my teeth. He is going to use that to blackmail me.
I use to experience fever whenever I stay out in the cold for too long. I got down with a fever that didn't go away for two weeks. My hypochondriac self thought I was going to die soon. So AJ talk me into creating a bucket list, in which, I included going on a blind date.
"Remembered?" he taunts
I sighed.
"I did say that, but you can't force me to go on this stupid date, I Know nothing about it, I'm going straight home"
"James " I called out. But he didn't respond, he had an earpiece on.
"Before you decide to do that, I have sent you a recording, listen to it"
I checked my phone and saw it. I put him on hold. And played it.
A voice started playing. There were no doubts that were my voice saying that, if I failed to execute any of the things listed on my bucket list, given the opportunity, I have to give him 75,000$ for opting out. That was two years ago, my goodness he had it with him all along!
"You either go to this lovely date or you owe me 75 grand" AJ playfully threatens.
"You guys are conniving bitches!" Audrey heard it, she laughed
"Hey I'm a dude"
"But you are acting like a bitch, you talking me into this stupid date with blackmail!"
I grunted, they have cornered me with this. I got no 75 grand to give them.
"I'm going to get my revenge" I hang up feeling a steep of anger.
For all I know, it could be some dirty old man, or a sociopath those two crazy whackos set me up with
The car halt to a stop. I step out gracefully. Embracing the comfort of the evening chilly weather.
I walked into the restaurant. I stared around marveled at the Luxurious exquisite interior. I felt I didn't belong with the elites dining here.
I learned the Smiths owns the La Blanca restaurant and hotel chain across the country. The power of wealth being exhibited here makes me more intimidated by the Smiths. It's hard to grasp sometimes the kind of family I'm living with.
I realized all eyes were on me. The red dress is making me stand out. I felt uncomfortable being the center of attention.
A Latino waiter approached me.
"Welcome to La Blanca restaurant Miss Jackson" he smiled formally at me.
I smiled back. He knows my name means whoever I'm meeting made a reservation in my name.
Must be a rich pervert, it's only the rich that dines here.
I'm going to get back at them for putting me through this hell.
"This way Miss" he kindly said.
I followed his lead, we climbed our way up on a staircase to a rooftop.
What caught my eyes was the romantic candlelight table setup.
I was flattered, it was a beautiful setup
He pulled up a chair for me like a gentleman.
I thank him and sat down with a jinx in my pulse.
"Would you like to order anything Miss?"
I shook my head. I feel it rude to drink or eat something before your date arrives.
"No thank you" he nods walking away.
I got out of my seat.
Peering around. I could see the whole of New York City from here. The blinding lights of the city illuminate like the stars, captivating me. It was a beautiful sight to behold.
I stared for a while and got back to my seat.
An hour passed and no sign of my so-called blind date.
A nostalgic feeling hit me. It feels like history is repeating itself. He is not going to show up I'm afraid. The same way that bartender stood me up.
I can't any longer wait. I stood up from the table taking a step out. I got clued to the spot as I saw a hot dropped dead gorgeous man in a black suit walking towards me
I gasped softly as my eyes met his face. The handsome angelic face I know too well, that haunts me in my dreams.