I allow her in, putting my arms around her for support.
"What happened?" I ask and guide her to sit down.
"I caught him cheating on me with Marya, on my bed in my Condo." She sniffs.
"That snake!" I spit.
Ryan leans on the wall like a statue as everything unfolds before him.
"I will get you some water." I offer.
"Let me do it." Ryan offer to assist. I point to him where the kitchen is.
I settle beside Roxana and pull her closer.
"My own best friend betrayed me." She says absentmindedly.
My eyes travel to where she's clutching her arm. I push her fingers away. She is hurt, there's dry blood on it. I then realized her face also has hand prints.
"Oh my God! He physically assaulted you." I say anger building inside me.
She weeps more and I push a box of tissue towards her.
"We got into an ugly argument after and he beat me up like I wasn't a person. I still can feel his blows on my body." She lifts her legs to her chest. I have never seen Roxana this broken. "He told me he will kill me like he did with his foster father who used to 'touch' his little sister." She sniffs.
I tenderly brush her back.
"Am scared Cara." She cries more.
Ryan is back, "We should go back there and get that asshole arrested." He says in distaste.
"No!" Roxana answers abrupt.
"It's okay. You are safe now." I assure her and look up at Ryan. He places the glass of water on the table.
He clears his throat. We both looks at him. He gets nervous as he tries to scratch the back of his head.
"Am sorry, I really am." He says to Roxanna. His eyes find mine, "I guess it will be just me who will be going to that gig." He speaks fast and awkwardly. "I totally understand you can't come with me cause your friend needs you." He rubs his hands together.
"Probably another day Ryan." I speak.
"I want to go to that gig." Roxana says.
We both stare at her in disbelief. She looks horrible and unstable.
"It isn't a good idea. You need to be calm first before we sent that jerk to jail. Partying shouldn't be a priority now." I try to reason with her.
"I need anything that can make me forget what I have gone through." She insists.
"This is not a good idea." I remind her.
"You told me that about Chad I didn't listen now look where it got me."
"I didn't know it would lead to this." I say.
"You know what? Let's go to that party. Screw men!" She says.
"Okay." I agree. Anything to take her mind off.
"Are you sure?" Ryan asks.
I nod and drag Roxana with me to put on our party attires.
****
The gig is three towns away. It starts at eight in the evening, at least that is when a majority of people arrive. It is a birthday party for some politician son.
Ryan Is busy on the deck, spinning and playing everyone's request. He has played Perfect by Ed Sheeran twice as a dedication to me.
Roxana is drowning herself in booze. "I love him so much. I pushed him to hit me." She slurs takes another sip from the red cup.
"I should text him and apologize." She takes her phone. Am quick to grab it from her grasp.
"He's a monster. He did this to you." I remind her.
I almost break into tears when I see the emptiness in her eyes. Chad broke her in an unimaginable way.
She breaks down again in uncontrollable painful tears. I think of a way to console her. I pull her to her feet when Ryan puts another club banger. We squeeze ourselves through the sweaty bodies swaying our bodies to the beats as the music silence our demons.
Roxanna clutches on my shoulders and we scream as we dance. Seems like my plan worked. She is dancing her youth away like the word problem is yet to be discovered.
"I should find my rebound here." Roxana shouts at me.
I shout back, "No, we are here for fun, 'screw men' remember?"
Just then I spot Courtney, Jermaine and Lee walk in. She looks superb in her white denim shorts and a pink chiffon top. I look around to see if Quinn is among them. Am relieved when he isn't.
Lee and Courtney move to sit somewhere near the swimming pool. Jermaine disappears into the crowd. I hope Courtney doesn't see us.
"Don't go anywhere." I order Roxanna. "I will be back."
I navigate the big house to find the bathroom. Am too pressed and a bit tipsy from the Alcohol.
I finally find one on the first floor. It is filled with scantly dressed girl, am no exception. They are busy with make ups. I stumble into an empty stall. Minutes later I find myself walking back to find Roxana until someone blocks my way.
"Hey! I remember you." I look up to find Jermaine's hazel eyes on me. "You are Ryan's new girlfriend. You should come sit with us." He says and starts to lead me where Courtney and Lee are seated.
I try to talk but the music is too loud to even hear me.
My eyes circle the area, Roxanna isn't where I left her.
"My friend is missing." I shout at him and he stops.
"She somewhere having the time of her life." He replies.
"You don't understand."
"Okay, if I help find her you will join us in atruth or dare game?" Jermaine asks.
"Sure." I say sarcastically and start walking calling out Roxanna's name.
I hear Jermaine footsteps behind me. "What was she wearing?"
"I didn't agree to join your little group." I say to him.
"Am just helping, you don't have to."
We search everywhere for her, am panicking. She was drunk and not in her senses. We decide to go inside the house. There are fewer people who are making out. All worst case scenarios are running through my head.
What if she has gone back to confront Chad. She did suggest we go break his motorcycle.
I stop when I hear her familiar laughter. It is emanating from one of the rooms. I rush towards it and burst the door open. She is half naked kissing a stranger.
She sees me and laughs, "Let's have a threesome." she slurs. The stranger laughs with her. "Or an orgy." She adds after seeing Jermaine.
"Is that your friend?" Jermaine asks.
I nod.
"She's crazy and a wild thing." He comments.
"The fun is over." I say taking her by her hand. She adjusts her dress to hide her nudity.
The stranger groans but falls back to bed.
Jermaine scoops her in his arms and I follow him back to where his friends are. He lays her on a hammock.
Lee and Courtney are now seated in a circle with another bunch of people. Courtney casts me a quick look and mutters, "This is going to be interesting. Cara you should sit beside me."
I really don't want to play this childish game but I sit anyway.
"I will start." Courtney offers.
Her eyes are on me, her lips plucked. "Cara, Truth or Dare?"