ANOTHER KIND OF DIAMOND (36 page)

A bullet flew past her head and missed her by the length of her hair and Carissa docked under a table. And now using some tables as shield she began crawling towards the direction she remembered coming in from until she got to the end of a row of tables and suddenly emerged to the open. Instantly Cindy fished her out from the crowd and yelled as loud as she could. Run! Carissa runs! Cindy, her shoes in her hands was already close to the door so she made a quick exit. She knew where her car was parked and knew exactly what to do, so she found and got into her car quickly.

Now, driving like crazy, she got out of the premises and was about making a corner when by coincidence she saw her. Limping, Carissa ran out of the front door to the bar and now headed the opposite direction on the street. Cindy managed to hold the car on a tight space made even more difficult by distance Police siren and yelled out, Carissa! Carissa! She heard the familiar voice of her roommate, made a very quick search and found her car stationed some poles behind. Over here! Cindy shouted even louder, flung the door of the car open and Carissa limped even faster until she got to her destination. Get in! Get in now, Cindy shouted and Carissa barely managed to throw herself inside the car before Cindy sped off leaving behind the Police siren that was almost closing in on them.

For a while nothing was said as Carissa struggled to recover her breath but then without warning she began.

Cindy!

What?

Why didn’t you tell me this was gonna happen? Why?

I told you. May be you weren’t listening or something but I told you everything, okay? Where is one of your shoes anyways? And that she was laughing while talking got Carissa really mad.

There is nothing funny about this, okay? I probably broke a bone or something ‘cause I hit my leg on some shit. If we left the time I said we should, do you think all this will be happening right now? As you can see I also lost my shoe and is one of my best but I lost it. You see only one in my hand and no one goes about with a shoe on one leg damn it!

Carissa, listen! I have done this many times, okay? I know how to take care of this kind of stuff well enough and thought I was gonna have everything in check, get what I’m saying? Besides is not every time you hit the bar you get this kind of thing. I don’t know why it happened today.

It happened because it was supposed to happen, okay? You messed up, girl! This is the kind of thing I’m talking about, understand? What about my car? Carissa continued.

We can’t go just yet ‘cause the Police should be all over the place by now, Cindy tried to explain.

But I need my car! Carissa continued.

We’ll go get it as soon as everything clears up, don’t you understand? Is because of this kind of thing I didn’t want you park inside.

Who cares about that?

You better calm down Carissa. The Police are behind me right now. I think they wanna pull us over so you better put up a face like everything is ok, understand? We’ll be smiling when they get here or they pull a fast one on us.

There are no more fast ones to pull on me ‘cause you used it up already. Besides I did nothing wrong, okay? So, don’t you dare try to intimidate me with this Police stuff and shit, Carissa continued

Calm down Carissa. You are over-reacting! Listen, the guys could give us some liquor test, that’s what I’m talking about, okay? So stop running your mouth like hell ‘cause you know we loaded with stuff.

An Officer signaled her to pull over and Cindy did as she was told.

The officer approached cautiously. What do we have here? He asked leaning on the car window.

Nothing! It’s just me and my friend, Cindy answered calmly.

And where are you guys heading tonight?

That should sound like, where are you guys coming from ‘cause we are going home. We went to visit a friend Officer, Cindy continued while Carissa looked on.

Is that right? What’s your friend’s residence?

Cindy was fast to come up with an address.

Ok! The Officer said. You guys been drinking tonight?

No! We don’t drink much, Cindy said.

That’s nice! Let me have your driving license, registration and Insurance?

No Officer gets Cindy on that ‘cause she is always prepared. The Officer went to run her ID and back. Tell me some? You girls been picking up guys? He asked.

Give me a break, okay? Did you see any guy in the damned car? Cindy reacted aggressively.

No! But I’m just asking, continued the officer who chose to remain calm.

I already told you where we are coming from, okay?

That’s ok! I’m gonna let you guys go but watch your steps girls!

Then you have yourself a good one, Officer. Cindy said and then drove around for a while before she headed back to the club until she got to where Carissa’s car was packed. Sure you can drive? Cindy asked.

I hurt on my left leg, so I’ll make it; Carissa said, hoped into her car and began the journey towards home but soliloquizing thought the drive. I could have lost my life tonight. I could have lost it and that will be it! I’m gonna give that Cindy a piece of my mind when we get home tonight, she continued repeatedly. And true to her words they barely got into their apartment before she started again. Cindy I’m really pissed by the way you treated me out there, understand? I don’t appreciate it at all. No! I told you it was time to leave but you wouldn’t listen, ‘cause you always think only about yourself.

Carissa! I heard enough already, okay? Cindy who was not ready to take more reacted. I don’t want you to keep talking to me like that, do you understand? Do you understand?

Rita heard the shouting bout and came out of her room. What’s up with you girls?

Ask Carissa what she is forcing about, ‘cause I don’t really understand what’s her problem?

Hey Carissa! What’s going on? Rita started.

Carissa re-counted all their experiences that night in anger with emphasis on all the efforts she made trying to persuade Cindy it was time to leave to no avail. But the reaction she got was not what she expected at all ‘cause she expected Rita to reason with her but she started laughing and that got Carissa real mad. Rita what’s so funny? She reacted.

I don’t know?

This is no fun piece at all, Carissa continued. Look at my leg, it’s all swollen and shit. I probably broke a bone or something ‘cause I’m in so much pain right now, and you make the whole thing look like joke? Unbelievable!

Then call 911 and get yourself to the emergency room or something, okay? I already heard enough of your shit in one night! Cindy reacted in anger.

I don’t want to here anymore sound from you asshole, Carissa shouted back at Cindy. Don’t even bother telling me anything no more. It’s your fault that this whole shit happened, bitch! Anyways, I should have known better than come out here to share apartment with someone like you in the first place. You even talked me into this shit kind of business that I’m into right now and made me run all over town with you to night ‘cause you always think you are the smartest girl in the world and have answers to everything. You are selfish Cindy! You only think about yourself, period! It didn’t matter to you if I was dead out there ‘cause it’s all about you. You knew something was gonna go wrong and made plans on how to deal with it without telling me about it ‘cause I don’t mean shit to you. Now you see what happened? I’m probably gonna loss my fucking leg because of you. Hope it all makes you happy now, bitch!

Enough of your bullshit, okay? Cindy now stood on her feet. You can’t be calling me names after all I did for you. How are you gonna sit there and blame me for a decision you took by yourself, eh? You are a grown ass woman, damn it. I’m selfish yet I spent my money to get you fixed when you came here looking like something from the damned horror pictures. I’ve done a lot for you already Carissa and what have you ever done for me, eh? It’s probably because you went with me that all this happened out there tonight. Remember? Bad things happen wherever you go Fred Kruger! Or have you forgotten, Wench!

Look who is now throwing stone on a glass house! You have the gut to call anybody names, unbelievable! Carissa continued.

Shot your mouth fool! Cindy shouted and moved closer to Carissa now. I can now see why your former roommate had to run away, it is all because of you, ingrate! She just had to get away from you! Who knows, Tasha would have still be here today if she never met someone like you.

If I hear you say Tasha again with your stinking mouth I’m gonna re-arrange you entire body in such a way that even your Mama would see you and can’t say this is my baby, damned fool! Carissa moved real close to Cindy as she was speaking and Cindy showed she was ready also until both jammed at a point but restrained themselves as each of them barely managed to step back just a little bit. But now, standing face to face, eye ball to eye ball, skin to skin they began a real contest in verbal abuses. It was long drown and almost resulted in a fight but Rita prevailed on them to break it up and won. At last tired and exhausted each of them retired to her room.

Chapter Twenty-One
 

I
t was the next day, a Sunday and Carissa stayed in her room most of the day. Later that evening, she got a call from Angela a girl she met recently and after a long conversation she decided for a shower. And now trying to dress for an outing she discovered it. Some of my clothes, shoes and jewelries even my undies are gone, Carissa shouted out to whosoever could hear her. There are a couple of new paints I bought last week and now they are all gone. She was searching for her stuff inside her room and talking at the same time. I paid a lot of money for those and I’m gonna find my stuff! I’ll surely get all my things back no matter who took them! Oh my God! My best things are all taken from me! I also had a $200 bill under the matrass, now I can’t even find that either. Can someone tell me what is going on here? Suddenly she rushed to the living room and began shouting so loud. Everybody come out here ‘cause nobody is gonna rest in this house until I get my stuff back. Yeah! That’s the deal right now!

Rita was quick to act so she ran out to the living room first. Carissa what is it again? I thought we had everything sorted out last night!

All my stuff are gone’ okay? That’s what is going on and I want them back right now, she said banging so hard on the wall as she talked.

Calm down Carissa! Rita tried to appeal to her.

No! I want everybody out here right away!

You start again, ha? Cindy asked as she stepped in. Won’t you shut your stupid mouth for a minute bitch? We had enough of you already, okay? Don’t you see I’m struggling to get over what you did to me last night and you’re starting another? Is like you are determined no one will have peace here anymore. What’s your problem this time?

My stuff is all gone! All of my damn precious things are taken! What did I get myself into, eh? Why me all the time? Lord why? By now Carissa was crying so uncontrollably.

I said shut you’re fucking mouth up fool! Cindy screamed at her.

My things are all missing, wicked bitch! My clothes, shoes, jewelries, money are all stolen, okay? Miss Medusa, where the hell are your miserable ears? Hidden under that snake-y hair of yours?

You better be sure of what you’re talking about ‘cause false accusation is no fun piece, okay? And if I find out you are lying, I’m gonna pull off your entire teeth one by one from your mouth with my bare hands and believe me that’s gonna hurt real bad, Cindy said.

You think I’m a kid, ha? One of these days before I leave this god damned place, I’m gonna teach you a lesson to remember me with and it’s not gonna be tasty either, bitch! Carissa responded.

We see! Cindy stressed the point.

Instead of trying to help me find my things you are there telling me stupid stuff ‘cause you only think about your damned self, Carissa continued.

Anyways, Rita, those friends of yours that came here yesterday where did you leave them?

Cindy, what does that mean?

I asked you a simple question. What’s wrong with all of you tonight? Cindy reacted.

They were with me most of the time and now they are gone back to their home, okay? Rita said.

I don’t think so! Cindy said. I better go check my own things too ‘cause I never trusted those girls. I always warn you about those two, don’t I? But nobody listens to me in this house and that’s the problem we are having here. I’m thirty-one fucking years and the oldest here, yet none of you listens to me. Sometimes I think is better I go find me my own place and live alone ‘cause I’m too old for all these bullshit you girls are doing here.

Why don’t you leave, eh? Carissa responded.

To hell with you Carissa! Get out of my face, okay? I wasn’t even talking to you, wench! Rita, I remember there was a day those friends of yours came here and I was in my room when one of them tried busting in without warning and the way she went about it told me she was up to no good. I sort of signaled that somebody was inside and she retreated quickly. Since the incident, I don’t trust those two, get what I’m saying? They are kind of sneaky. I better run go check my things too.

My goodness! She screamed so loud that Carissa and Rita could hear her from the living room. My things are all gone too! My jewelries, clothes and Shoes! My undies too! No! No! They can’t do this to me. They stole my bracelet also? They can take whatever they like from me but I’m not gonna allow them go with my gold bracelet. No way! That’s not gonna happen ‘cause it was given to me by Jerome as a present.