𝟏𝟗- 𝐒𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐍𝐄𝐖

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Something Anew.

❂

ARIA didn't get drunk often. She was always either too busy or too tired to do so. Though, when she did have the opportunity to get what many call 'white girl wasted', her level of boldness was especially high.

The nightclub, one designated in the northern part of the city, was swarmed with various kinds of people. The diversity ranged wildly of all sexualities, statuses, and complexions.

Aria's morning with Kiera wasn't much domestic— however it wasn't forgetful either. The two women woke up beside each other, their bodies fully unclothed and only hidden beneath the sheets. Their late night activities of the previous night had sparked a new milestone in their relationship. . . though it was never established of what.

Not much happened after their awakening. The two women laughed at the ridiculousness of their situation but that was it.

Kiera went on her way after getting a call from an 'important' figure, as she stated.

Aria spent the rest of her day cleaning her apartment and running errands, beginning to prepare for a night out once getting a call from Parker.

Kiera was too busy to attend, so it was just the blonde and redhead for the night.

"Does this skirt make my ass look flat?" Aria pouted, her drunken thoughts filling her mind with insecurity.

Parker's eyes darted over to her best friend, her face scrunched up after throwing back her, God knows what number, shot of the night.

She tilted her head, observing Aria's body in the black mini skirt that she wore, "You look sexy as ever."

Aria smirked, her crimson lips rolling naturally into a half-smile, "Perfect. Let's go dance."

And before Parker could respond, the redhead had pulled her onto the dance floor among other people, leaving their memories at the buzzing bar behind.

The two women ground against one another to the beat of the music, the sound of their laughter nearly overpowering the melody. Their dancing wasn't sexually motivated, only close knit. Aria's hands were caressing her own body with delicate precision as Parker's were thrown over Aria for stability.

To say both women were drunk was an understatement.

Aria's face suddenly scrunched up in discomfort, the familiar feeling of having to rush to the bathroom consuming her.

"Bathroom." she simply uttered to Parker, causing the blonde to nod her head in understanding.

The two women looped their fingers together and proceeded to scurry towards the hidden bathroom, their heads still moving along to the music.

It felt like an eternity to get to their destination with the amount of bodies that crowded the nightclub but the wait was worth it.

Surprisingly, the women's room wasn't extremely busy, meaning that the pair would be in and out.

Aria was quick to handle her business and swap places with Parker who claimed to suddenly have to pee as well.

Their trip to the bathroom was quick, and after washing their hands and admiring themselves in the wide mirrors of the room, they were heading back to the dance floor.

"You two together?"

Aria furrowed her eyebrows before looking to the side of them, spotting a guy who seemed to be high out of his mind. His eyes were low, teary-like and the permanent smile on his face was telling.

"Who's asking?" Parker scoffed, her obvious distaste in the man notable.

"I am." he smirked, rubbing his hands together as if creating a mischievous plan in his mind, "Just looking for some fun."

He chuckled to himself with a shrug, not realizing that the women were sending him judgmental stares.

"We'll pass." Aria politely said, her smile fake.

She tugged on Parker to walk again, but the persistent male was quick to block their path, "You're telling me you girls don't want a threesome?"

Aria rolled her eyes just as Parker gagged. They might've been under the influence, but they knew when to appear clearheaded.

"We said no, fucktard. Move." Parker demanded, eyeing the tall man with a sense of humor.

His smile easily flipped into a frown, his eyes now glowering with something darker.

They always get so angry when rejected, Aria thought to herself.

"You bitches always play hard to get," he groaned, reaching for Aria's arm.

Before he could yank either woman in his desired direction, he was shoved off of his feet.

It was neither Parker or Aria, but rather someone who had appeared in between their interaction. The figure was equally as tall as the man who was now on the ground.

"You gonna stay down or will I have to make you?" came the familiar voice, oddly sending a feeling of relief through Aria.

It was Memphis.

Her hands were stuffed in her jacket's pockets, the tone in her voice completely serious as she spoke to the guy from above, her height powerfully towering over his.

A look of genuine fear flashed through the man's eyes as he mumbled incoherent words to himself.

"Can't speak now? You sure seemed to have a lot to say just a while ago." Memphis chuckled, nudging his shoe with her foot in a taunting manner.

Aria's attention was pulled away from the scene after Parker tapped her shoulder, "Ethan's here. We should go."

Aria nodded in silence, shifting her gaze back to Memphis and the guy— who was now scrambling away.

"You go ahead." Aria communicated with her best friend, slightly laughing when Parker pulled an unbelievable expression, "I know her. I'll text you once I'm home."

Parker's eyes shifted behind the redhead, catching sight of Memphis who offered a barely visible smile.

"Fine." she sighed, providing a quick cheek kiss and hug to Aria before walking towards the exit, "Get her home safe stranger."

Memphis laughed but nevertheless nodded her head.

Aria turned towards the brunette, raising an eyebrow in question, "What was that for?"

"Me laughing or saving your ass?" Memphis asked, her glowy face completely unserious for once.

The redhead lazily stared at her, crossing her arms over her body.

She noticed Memphis eyes shift downwards, immediately causing her to scoff.

"I'm off duty." she said blandly, "Didn't you just prevent a horny guy from sexualizing me and yet here you are?"

Memphis chuckled, shaking her head, "I wasn't looking at you that way."

"Then what way were you looking?" Aria challenged, subconsciously leaning toward the taller woman.

Her words were slurring and her body swaying, which was something that Memphis took notice of.

"Just checking if you still belong to me." the brunette confidently said, chewing on her inner cheek, "A hickey can be very telling."

Aria furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, wondering what Memphis could've meant— before her mind had a lightbulb moment.

Kiera had left a hickey on her chest, directly on her left collarbone.

She claimed that it was to make up for Aria's "inexperience". The redhead didn't much appreciate the mark, but she allowed it this one time.

Memphis spoke up before Aria could utter a word, "Let's get out of here."

Memphis wrapped her hands around Aria's waist, helping guide her somewhat sluggish body, out of the live club. Aria might've been able to sober up at the sight of a threat, but she was still intoxicated— even if it wasn't as prominent now.

The contact of Memphis' fingers on her waist oddly caused warmth to spread about Aria's entire being. Her cheeks slightly flushed at the unfamiliar feeling.

Perhaps it was the protectiveness that radiated off of Memphis.

She swooped in at the right time to help deescalate a situation and was now defending the redhead with a guarded expression.

The air outside was a bit cooler than normal, a powerful breeze causing Aria to shiver in her literal boots.

Memphis took notice of the woman's state and simply tugged her jacket off, slipping it onto Aria's bare shoulders while pulling her closer for warmth.

"Next time dress accordingly." Memphis whispered in her ear from behind, squeezing her waist for a reaction.

"Fuck you." Aria managed to say, pushing away Memphis' teasing hands.

Her body felt colder but she ignored the loss of warmth. Memphis was too close for comfort— or at least that's what Aria told herself.

Memphis' lip quirked up slightly, "'Off duty' she says."

Aria groaned, hugging herself to keep her sanity in check, "I'm a dancer not a damn hooker."

"I know that, chérie. You're the one who suggested it." Memphis said with evident wittiness, leading Aria to her car.

Aria stayed quiet, trying to jam all of her wandering thoughts into a single jar.

Memphis' personal car was a sleek, black Ferrari. It's appearance well taken care of just as much as its owner. Memphis opened the door for Aria, attempting to help her into the passenger seat before her hands were slapped away.

The truth is: Aria hadn't known why she chose to ride home with Memphis. She could've easily left with Parker, leaving Memphis behind in the club alone despite her helping hand.

Memphis' personality was weird to Aria. She could be amusing yet stone cold. Her words could be sweet but they could also be teasing.

Aria was still convinced that there was more to the brunette— more to her than what she showed.

The mystery was so intriguing.

Aria had recognized that same dominant presence once more inside with the guy who seemed to immediately grow frightened at just the sight of Memphis.

"You still with me?" Memphis said aloud, pulling Aria out of her head.

They were on the road now, the city's night lights from buildings passing them by. Memphis had connected her phone to the car's radio, the familiar voice of Brent Faiyaz humming through the speakers.

"Yeah." Aria spoke, eyeing Memphis' fingers that rested on the gear stick as she pondered her curious thoughts, "How come you're so secretive about your life?"

As much as she tried to hold her questions captive, Aria still spoke freely about her concerns.

Blame it on the alcohol.

Memphis didn't hesitate to answer, her voice raspy from the late night, "My life is dangerous— too complicated for you to understand."

"Why's that? You own Opia and everyone knows that you guys are involved in illegal shit." Aria confidently stated, already calculating her next question.

"'Illegal shit?'" Memphis chuckled, "Describe what you mean by that, baby."

Aria's breathing hitched slightly at the pet name but she quickly gathered herself, ignoring the flip that her stomach just performed.

"You're all connected somehow. It's a strip club for fuck's sake. I mean. . . Vaughan was very into the whole drug thing. Anytime I saw her, she was coked out." Aria reminisced, allowing her body to relax into her seat, "She had different men delivering her something new every week."

Memphis shifted in her seat, making a one handed turn with ease, "Vaughan could successfully run a business if she wasn't a complete addict. Her addiction ruins all opportunity."

At the mention of Opia's previous owner, Aria's mind jumped back a month ago.

'She crossed me and I settled it with proper action.'

Memphis had said that the first time she was introduced as the new boss of the club.

Aria's head tilted as she pieced together her brewing ideas.

"How'd she cross you?" Aria mumbled underneath her breath, though Memphis heard her well.

"You're thinking too much." the brunette said with certainty, putting an end to their ongoing conversation, "Enjoy the ride. You're almost home, fleur."

Aria surprisingly obeyed the command.

Through her drunken mindset, she felt as if she'd unraveled a new layer of Memphis' existence.

Vaughan had a part in it— whatever it was.

❂