29. The One That Broke Your Pretty Little Heart

Harmony's P.O.V.

March, 2001

A taste of some sort of ridiculously expensive champagne lingers on my tongue even as I lower the glass from my lips. This is the exact kind of drink that probably goes for a thousands apop but it's extremely overrated secretly being the exact same as the cheap bubbly that could be found at any corner liquor store in the hood.

Which I would know all about.

After all, I've been toasted with this exact kind with my girls on the very first time we all found out that we was about to score the very same record deal which used to continue to remainint evasive to all four of us, something always just an inch away from our grasps, something that was always almost completely unattainable...

But still that was one of main things I remember about that night.

Fresh out of the VMAs, dancing and drinking with my girls after having been railed by the white boy.

Which... arguably would be this other thing I oh so distinctly remember, one might say... it's actually the #1 thing. And maybe it was.

Em had notoriously exceeded my expectations, but I was still done with him nevertheless just because of that one rule I have.

Never jump on the same dick twice.

Just as I was also done with this whole beef thingy I've had going with him. It had run it's course, you see.

So fun and exiting at first, now it was just boring and played out to me.

It's become just too easy because he was WAYYY too easy to wind up, and your girl likes a challenge, and Em wasn't any, so this whole beef between us... it was becoming stale.

So I was walking away from it, my pretty red bottom shoe's high heels clicking against the pavement.

Stomping on it both literally and figuratively.

Until SHE showed up.

Mariah had approached me while I was sipping from a glass of Chrystal, the low thump of a hip-hop beat that was currently playing through the speakers at the venue pulsing through my ear drums, making my body move subconsciously to it.

And she had made me an offer I couldn't refuse, something that was meant to change both mine and the rest of my friends lives, so of course I had to accept.

Simple as that.

But then I had changed my mind.

Also just as simple as that.

I literally just didn't feel like following the whole screw Marshall plan anymore, so I stopped following it.

Anyways...

Me, the girls and Mariah, we are all sipping on that same champagne tonight, that dumb overrated Crystal, and the taste of it, it goes straight to my head, almost making me completely numb to what the golden girl is whispering to me right now, her voice just as sweet as honey but as poisonous as a rattle snake.

Serenity, Ash and Kayla are all glued to the TV in our penthouse, all watching the re-runs of us performing at some recent award show. All of us drunk and delirious with the fact that we've actually made it. Neither one of them paying attention to anything else, although Kayla does glance back at where I'm sat with Mariah, the two of us whispering to each other almost like we are conspiring with each other once more, Kay's eyes briefly narrowing with suspicion at us before she looks back at the TV.

But just then, the door bell rings, and Ash goes to answer it, letting in two men dressed in cops uniforms, brandishing police batons and handcuffs in their arms just as the rest of the girls start shrieking and whistling in delight.

Male strippers.

I'm not exactly sure who hired them, but my friends are supper excited at their mere presence here. Serenity claps her hands while being the main one to start throwing bills at them.

I roll my eyes and sip some more of my bubbly. I have a feeling that Mariah had called those dudes here but who cares. She doesn't engage with them anyways, no more than I do. Instead the golden girl sits closer to me.

And she actually holds her empty glass up towards me like she expects me to top it.

All I do is just give her a look that causes Mariah to giggle, the sound coming out more like a nervous chuckle. She stares at me all judgemental like though, a look of complete disapproval an absolutely exhausted parent gives their kid that's continuously let them down.

"I have to say this to you, darling. Don't take it the wrong way, or maybe do if you wish, but I am soooooo disappointed in you," she coos right before pointing her finger at me. " And if I were you, I'd take what I'm saying to you very seriously too. I could snuff out your career and ruin you just like that," Mariah then snaps the fingers of her free hand. "You and your talentless little group mates. Do not forget, Harmony, it was only because of ME putting in a good word for you that you and those other cheap hookers you run with were even able to secure the record deal you have now. Without me, all of you would still be singing backup for Destiny's Child."

One of the male strippers dances on Ash. She laughs and grabs at him while the rest of the girls shriek and giggle.

All in good fun, we are just having a girl's night.

Kayla itches closer to where me and Mariah are sitting, she reaches for one of the bottles assorted between us and walks away.

"So do it then, bitch. Try to ruin our careers. Don't just be sitting here and throw empty threats at my face, darling," my voice is dripping with sarcasm as I unwrap a brand new strawberry lollipop which I'm securing  in a corner of my cheek, full of mock sweetness while I throw that same dumb pet name she always addresses people with back in her face.

"You really would throw it all away for a guy then, Harmony? I mean... I guess I can't say that I fully blame you. I've had him before as well, so I know what being with him is like, but sweetie, he really isn't worth it. None of them are. And once he is done with you, he would toss you aside just like he did me. And just like he's done to Kessia. You might think you special, but you are really not."

"Awwwe. Is that why you hate him so much, Mimi? Because he broke your pretty little heart?"

Something about what I've just said to her must've hit a nerve because Mariah leans closer to me, she smile wide and the pungent scent of her way too overwhelming flowery perfume hits me right in the face. She still has that wine glass in her hand, just swinging it about.

"Do not play with me, sweetie. I would crush you like a bug, Harmony."

"So just for the record, this isn't about Marshall. It is NEVER about a man for me. But it IS about the audacity of fake ass boogie bitches like you. You say you can harm me? You really threatened me just now? Do it then, love. I fucking dare you to."

"Oh, you are going to wish you didn't just say that to me, darling."

The funny thing about betrayal though?

It never comes from the people you already know not to trust, not your actual enemies, no.

Instead, it often comes from the people we have the most faith in, the ones we know as our friends...

---

It's been a minute since I've last updated this.

But I'm back.

For better or for worse lol 😈😭