Chapter Twelve

***Hey so I'm thinking about doing a June's Diary Fanfic since I've put 4/5 of the group in here... What do you guys think??***

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**Kristal**

**ShyAnn**

January 20, 2018

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I had spent the holidays alone except for the occasional visit from Janelle, Gabby, and Kehlani. Over that course of time, Janelle and I had agreed to have a relatively normal friendship, despite her constant press on allowing double backs at her discretion. And with Lani and Gabby, well, after over a month of deciding, I still couldn't bring myself to cut Gabby off. I had so much history with her that I didn't want to hurt her, yet the longer I stayed with her, the harder it was for me to step away. For some reason, Keh was somewhat understanding, however, if I hadn't cut Gabby off by the time I headed to LA in late February, we were going to be done. This was relatively new for me, I mean, I had been playing around and enjoying having anyone I wanted that I didn't know how to handle situations in which my feelings were actually involved.

The House of Blues Houston was pretty packed. Gabby had landed a spot as an opener with Sev for a few shows, so I decided to fly out to support her. I was sitting at the bar waiting for Gabby to take the stage.I was facing the bar with a Black & Mild in my mouth, rubbing the rim of my glass of Hennessy. My brain was cloudy, becoming more faded with my indulgence in my favorite liquid poison.I downed the last of my Henny and started on my two shots of Patron. The lights went down and with one light focusing on her. Then I saw Janelle take the stage next to her.I blinked a few times to make sure I was seeing shit. Sure enough, I realized that I wasn't when I heard the MC announce them. I looked over at Deo, Cooth, and Noel who all shrugged in confusion. I looked on, quietly asking what did I do to deserve all these female problems. The guitarist began to play and the venue quieted down.

You don't know babeWhen you hold meAnd kiss me slowlyIt's the sweetest thingAnd it don't changeIf I had it my wayYou would know that you are

You're the coffee that I need in the morningYou're my sunshine in the rain when it's pouringWon't you give yourself to meGive it all, oh

just wanna see

I just wanna see how beautiful you areYou know that I see itI know you're a starWhere you go I'll followNo matter how farIf life is a movieOh you're the best part, ohThen You're the best part, oohYou're the best part

I zoned out not even noticing when the set finished.

"Yo Dom, Sev wants us to go backstage before her set while Lonnie is performing. Come on," Deo pulled me out of my seat making me slightly woozy before guiding me to the back.

When we made it to the back, Gabby was sitting on the couch next to Janelle, Kristal, and ShyAnn. I had never met Kristal face to face. I had only seen her via social media. I couldn't lie, she was attractive. She gave me Opal Gilstrap vibes from She's Gotta Have It. Kristal sat on the arm of the couch with her legs crossed staring intensively at me. She was poised and had some elegance to her. ShyAnn was the baby of our group in high school. She was sitting there focused on some Instagram celebrity blog dancing in her seat to the music that was playing in the dressing room. Kristal was the first to acknowledge me.

"You must be Dominique. Nice to finally meet you, Ms. Clark. You look a lot better in person," she said pulling me in for a hug. Her southern drawl was surprisingly heavier than mine. And she was nicer than I expected.

"Well, I don't know if that's a good thing or not, but I appreciate it, Kristal," I said pulling out of her embrace. "Now which Kristal is this? I know of two... Janelle or Gabby?"

"Both... Don't worry about how just know both...Ah, this thing... I knew this was yours. Gabby would never admit it... I hated this thing," Kristal said laughing playing with the class ring that hung from my neck.

"Now, this ring took a lot of hard work ma'am. 3x state champs and band. Girl, I earned this. It's not every day you meet a high school legend like me," I laughed pulling the ring from her fingertips. "And by the way, you're not bad looking yourself Lyndriette."

"Okay, that's enough of that damn flirting. Dom, you gotta stop flirting with every girl you meet. That's my ex for Christ's sakes," Gabby said throwing a pillow at me.

"Yeah you know being Kehlani's... I mean Gabby's lil boo thang you can't be doing all of that," ShyAnn said immediately diverting her eyes from my death stare.

"Oh, so you're not with Kehlani anymore? Then why did you tell me-"

"Janelle chill on the bullshit, please and thank you," Cooth said cutting Janelle off before my life could flash before my eyes.

"Oop, she told you," ShyAnn giggled.

"You too, Shy... Hush... anyway Gabby, Janelle? How do yall know each other?" I asked taking a hit from the blunt Cooth had just lit, taking the conversation away from Kehlani and our little issue.

"You didn't know? That's my roommate. Piece of advice, when you come over, y'all need to keep it down," My face turned red. Deo and Sevyn simultaneously spit out their liquor.

"Wait, so you and Dom knew each other before Gabby?" Kristal asked before turning her attention back to me.

"Oh, we're just friends... Don't get it confused, Kris."

"Oh, cause I know this youngin don't have the juice like that," Kristal said pulling the blunt from my lips and passing it back to Cooth.

"Well, I have to get on the stage before the Streetteam disowns my ass. Y'all behave," Sevyn said pulling away from Noel.everyone followed behind with me being last.

"Dom! Come here," Janelle called. I hadn't even noticed that she was still sitting on the couch. I walked over to her and sat next to her. "You know you owe me right?"

"For what? Girl I'm not for you tonight," I said slightly slurring my words.

"I kept our secret and your little Kehlani situation under wraps, that's what. Unless you want me to just come clean. My roommate, Dom? How fuckin low can you go?" She said whispering harshly.

"Look me and Gabby go way back. I thought you knew. Two, you need to chill before your skeletons with Kristal comes out baby girl-" She slapped me. See, before my situation with Janelle got too serious, she was on and off with this girl Kristal, well until Kristal started hearing wedding bells with her boo. Janelle was hella heartbroken. And just like Captain Save-a-hoe herself, I was right there. And after tonight, I guess that explains how Gabby came into the situation. Once again I found myself grabbing the back of my neck in pain.

"I'm sorry Dom... Look, just meet me in my room at 1:30, okay. Room 921."

She walked out leaving me sitting there like a damn idiot. This world was TOO damn small and it was coming to bite me in the ass.

"Why you not out there, sis... Damn she still laying hands on that ass huh?" Cooth burst into laughter. "By the way, your other girl hit my line check on her while you're at it."

"Yeah, alright. Will do."

"I guess being a player has a price that comes with, huh?" She threw my phone in my lap before walking back out. I decided to hit Lani up before shit got any crazier.

Hey baby. I see you tryin to look like daddy now huh?

I guess you taught me well. You know I'm daddy anyway I don't know why you playing

There you go with that damn laugh girl. But forreal, I can't wait to get back to you cause they driving me crazy.

What you mean?

Gabby, Janelle, and Kristal are here.

I guess there goes you talkin to Gabby, right.

Bae, I told you I got it. I know I have to let her go, but right now ain't the time. Now I'm finding out her and Janelle are fuckin roommates.

Karma is a bitch ain't she. You still have time to cut her loose, but you do have a deadline Dom. Well, I'm here waiting on you...

I know, Nami, I know.

Call me later, okay I have to go to this flora event.

Alright, my little hustler. I love you, baby.

Love you too, punkin.

I headed out to join everyone as they watched Sevyn perform. I kept a close eye on Gabby, Janelle, and Kristal. Something was up. I just didn't know what. I wrapped my arms around Gabby's waist and laid my head on her shoulder, closing my eyes. Sevyn started to sing Before I Do, as if she was mocking my situation. I just wanted this shit to fix itself, but knowing my fucked up life, it wasn't.

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