Chapter 1

"Okay! Lana, you got four minutes. Get ready!" my assistant Marie informed me outside my door. I quickly cut the dope and snorted it. I inhaled a sharp breath. I stuffed the rest of the dope at the bottom of my purse. I fixed my hair and got out of my backstage room stumbling due to me trying to put on heels. Marie was waiting for me behind the curtain. She raised her arms, "It's about time you showed up!" 

"Sorry, I had a fashion emergency but now it's sorted out and I'm here!" I told her enthusiastically. She held up my perfume to take it. I took it and sprayed myself with it. 

"Okay! go on it's your turn!" 

I let out a shaky breath before stepping out of the curtains and walking on the runway. Paparazzi snapped a bunch of pictures as I was walking. I gave the audience a pose before walking back to the curtains. 

Eventually, the show ended and I started packing my things and putting on some normal clothes. I was on my way to leave the building when I got a call on my cell. 

"Lana this cannot happen again," Marie said on the other line. 

"Marie, I have no idea what you're talking about," I lied acting dumb.

"This Spring when you're representing Coco Channel, I expect you to be on time behind the curtains. No exceptions." 

"Alright, Marie. I'll be on time next time. Promise." 

"You better be, Lana." Then she hung up on me. I took a cab home. When I reached my apartment, I unlocked the door. As soon as I put down my purse, I got another call. 

"Marie, I get it that you're pissed but c'mon can a girl catch a break?" 

"Sounds like someone is not having the best day of their life," Terry spoke on the other line.

"Terry! Sorry, I thought you were my assistant." 

"Assistants, am I right? How have you been?" 

"I'm doing great. I got done for the season and now I'm free until Spring. How are you doing? And how's Johny holding up?" 

"I'm doing fine but John's not doing that good. That's the reason I called you." My heart sank. 

"Why what's wrong?" Terry went on to explain to me what happened. My heart wrenched for John as I was listening to him explain everything to me. 

"...so I sent him to Tahiti, to get some fresh air you know. I need your help, Lana. I want to get these punks that wronged him." I put a hand over my chest. 

"Of course. Anything for Johny and you. I owe you two big time." 

"Yeah, and I can guarantee you I owe him the most," he laughed. I chuckled at him. I put my hand on my hip. 

"So, what's the plan? I'm still in New York but I can catch the first flight to LA. When do you need me to be there?" 

"It would be great if you came into LA today, Lana," he admitted. 

"Today it is! I'll pack my bags and call you back with my flight info later." 

"See you soon, Lana."

"See you," I hung up. As I was packing my things I called up Marie, "Hey Marie, can you arrange a flight to LA today?" 

"Yeah, sure. Let me see what time is going to be the next flight to LA and I'll meet you at the airport with your ticket."

"Thank you so much, Marie. Bye." 

Before leaving I decided to do another line of dope. I hid my dope under the padding of my shoe before leaving. I took a cab to JFK Airport. When I got out of the cab with my suitcase, I saw Marie holding an envelope next to the entrance of the airport while looking for me. I paid the driver and walked toward the entrance. I greeted Marie, "Here is your ticket to LA and how long are you planning to stay in LA?" 

"I don't know honestly. I might be staying for only a couple of weeks."

"Well, let me know whenever you are planning to return. We have lots of preparing to do for the next show." I smiled at her as I took the envelope from her hands. 

"I can't thank you enough, Marie." 

"Have a safe trip." I grabbed my suitcase and entered the airport. I turned around and blew her a kiss. She rolled her eyes and chuckled before pretending to catch the kiss. 

After I checked in, I was sitting in the terminal and pulled out my cell to call Terry about the flight details. 

"Hey, Terry." 

"Hey, so what time do you need me to pick you up?" 

"It's a six-hour flight, so I'm guessing around eight pm?"

"Alright, I'll be waiting. See you soon!"

"See ya." 

I checked my watch and saw that I still had thirty minutes until I needed to board the plane. I might have enough time to get another hit of my dope...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Around seven-thirty pm, I landed at LAX. When I walked out of the airport I saw Terry waiting for me outside of his car. When he spotted me, he waved at me. I waved back at him. I walked to him. 

"Lana!" he opened his arms for a hug. I hugged him. He rubbed my back and gave me a kiss on the cheek, "Long time no see, Lana. Look at you, beautiful as always." I slapped his arm playfully. 

"Look who's talking Mr. Businessman," I laughed. He laughed back. 

"Let me help you with your stuff." He grabbed my suitcase putting it in the trunk before opening the passenger door for me. "You're such a gentleman, Terry," I teased getting in. He smiled before getting on the driver's side. 

"Now, let's get down to business shall we?" On the way to his house, he explained to me his master-revenge plan. 

"...we also are telling Danny boy that John's dead." I nodded. 

When we arrived at his house, it was starting to get dark. Terry's butler got my suitcase as I got out of the car. When I entered his house, I saw a lot of paintings on the wall. 

"Where shall I put this, Mr. Silver?" Terry's butler asked him. 

"Put it in the guest bedroom upstairs, Milos," he instructed. The butler nodded before getting on the elevator. On the fireplace, I saw a framed picture of me, Terry, and Johny doing silly poses. I smiled at the photo. 

"Good 'ole times huh?" he said standing behind me. I nodded staring at the photo. I started remembering the times when me, Terry, and Johny would spend lots of time together after Vietnam. We were inseparable before Johny opened up his karate dojo, Terry started working for his father's company and I started modeling. I remember my first show, Johny and Terry sitting in the audience cheering for me, or the time when after my first show Johny and Terry surprised me with dozens of bouquets at my apartment. 

Flashbacks 

I just finished my first runway show successfully. I went to one of the telephone poles to dial Johny's number. After two rings he finally picked up, "Hey Johny where did you and Terry go? I was hoping to see you both before heading back home." 

"Oh, sorry Lana. Terry had a business emergency and we had to take the first flight to LA as soon as possible." I frowned. 

"Oh okay, thank you for coming to my show though. I really appreciate it." 

"You're welcome, Lana," Johny replied before Terry cut in, "You did amazing!" I laughed. 

"Thank you, Terry!" I shouted through the phone. "I should get going, Johny. Say goodnight to Terry from me."

"Will do, Lana. Goodnight." Then he hung up. I put the telephone back in its box and decided to walk back to my apartment. When I reached my apartment, I fetched my keys from my purse but when I went to unlock it to found it unlocked already. I grabbed the pair of throwing knives I carried in my purse and cautiously entered my building. It was dark. I hit the switch to turn on the lights and I did so, I was greeted by Terry and Johny shouting "Surprise!" in unison. 

I jumped in surprise and put my hands on my chest. I screeched out of happiness. I ran up to both of them hugging them. "Thank you so much, oh my God," I looked around my living room to be greeted with an ocean of bouquets of flowers. I gasped in happiness. 

"Tell us, Lana. Did you really think we would be leaving town without surprising you first?" Terry asked me. 

"Believe it or not, I did fall for you all's little surprise." Johny smacked his forehead in disappointment and Terry laughed his ass off while holding into his stomach. Terry stopped laughing and held up his index finger in thought, "Wait! we almost forgot something!" He quickly ran to the kitchen and I looked back to Johny scrunching my eyebrows. He simply shrugged acting as if he didn't know anything. 

Shortly, Terry came back from the kitchen with a bottle of champagne in his hands. "Everyone knows that you can't have a celebration without...?" he trailed off. 

"Champagne!" I cheered. Terry unscrewed the cork and all the foam from the bottle exploded everywhere. I stood under the waterfall of champagne with my mouth wide open catching the waterfall of champagne in my mouth. Johny playfully pushed me out of the way and stood under the waterfall of champagne as well while Terry cheered. I quickly grabbed my camera and snapped a picture of them. 

end of flashback 

I felt Terry put a hand on my waist followed by his chin on my shoulder while looking at the photo.

"Whatcha thinkin' about?"

"Memories," I say. He turned his head to me as I followed his movement. Our noses touched for a moment there. It felt as if I was being electroshocked. Me and Terry had an intimate relationship before but we decided to keep it only between us to not ruin the friend group back in the day. But now I'm not sure he feels the same way I feel about him. 

Terry slowly pulled away from my face, "We should head to sleep. We have a big day tomorrow."