Abnormal Lives (21 page)

Tears began to stream from Simone's eyes. “I can't believe this shit. I swear shit like this only happens to me.”

Stefan was saddened by Simone's reaction and his inability to comfort her. He pulled the sheets back from the bed and patted his hand on the mattress. “Come on, Simone; lay down and take a nap. Everything will be awright. It hurts but you need to give yourself time to get over this.”

Simone slid under the covers and pulled them over her head and continued crying. She wanted badly to confide in Stefan, to tell him the truth about what had happened. She wasn't sure whether she could do so without being told how stupid she was, without being told that she'd made a huge mistake, without being taunted by him about what really happened for the rest of her life.

Stefan flicked off the light on his way out the room.

“Where are you going?”

“To pack my stuff.”

“For what?”

“My trip's tomorrow, remember. Southern Decadence; I told you a little while back.”

Simone remained quiet as Stefan made his way out of the room. She couldn't help but think about Wayne, his smile, how good he had made her feel up until that point. The thought of him lying with Michelle and enjoying her body made Simone's blood boil but she assured herself that they were both in jail regretting their night together.

Stefan packed his suitcase. He was feeling guilty for not canceling his trip and leaving Simone alone to mope. He reflected back on the argument they'd had the day before. He considered that
Simone may have been right. Maybe he did ruin her life. She had vested him more influence over her life than she realized and he had taken advantage of it, not wanting to be in his trade without company, not wanting the only family he had left to leave him behind. Simone had become helpless. She wasn't capable of governing her life.

Stefan was fearful of what would happen to her when he was no longer around to look out for her. She would fall victim to degenerates and victimizers. They would prey on her like vultures until there was nothing left of her. He couldn't let that happen. He couldn't leave Simone alone to suffer for any reason. Not even death. How would he be able to rest in peace if he did? He took the necessary steps to make sure that he didn't leave Simone in the world to suffer after he was gone. She might not go with him but she wouldn't be far behind him.

Stefan stopped packing his suitcase to answer the phone. “Hello,” Stefan said.

“You still going?” Paris blurted out.

“Damn, not hi, how you doing, what you doing, kiss my ass, nothing; just are you still going.”

“Naw, I asked 'cause I talked to Crystal and he said he ain't going.”

“What!” Stefan exclaimed.

“Yeah, that's what he said; guess he can't pull himself from under that nigga he be fucking with.”

Stefan shook his head. “I can't believe this.”

“You can't believe it,” Paris said. “I paid for his reservations; how you think I feel?”

“That's fucked up.”

“I know, right,” Paris said. “Do you think Simone might want to go? I'd hate for my money to go to waste.”

Stefan plopped down on his bed and took a deep breath. “I don't know. She's going through it right now.”

“What you mean?”

“You haven't seen the news?”

“Hell naw; you know I don't watch that shit,” Paris said. “Just tell me what's going on.”

“You know she went to see ol' boy the other night, right,” Stefan said. “Well, when she got there, he tried to get her to have a threesome with him and this other chick. When she said no and tried to leave, they held her down and raped her.”

“What!” Paris exclaimed.

“You heard me,” Stefan said. “They held her down, burnt her with cigarettes, and some more shit.”

“Is she okay?”

“Yeah, for the most part,” Stefan said. “She's real hurt behind it though. You know, going through the motions.”

“Well, this might be a good opportunity for her to get out and get her mind off things.”

“True, I'll check and see how she feels about it.”

“Well, hurry up,” Paris said. “Ain't like she's got a lot of time to decide.”

“Awright, I'll hit you back in a minute.”

Stefan pulled his extra luggage bag out of the closet and dragged it toward Simone's room.
I guess I better get her shit packed.

19

S
imone had been in high spirits ever since she stepped off the plane into New Orleans. She was embarrassed about how nervous she was when Stefan announced that she would be accompanying him on his trip.

She was taken in by the rainbow colors that lined the street and the banners hanging in front of the clubs and restaurants with “Welcome to SDGMs XXXVII” displayed on them. She started to feel a bit over, as well as under dressed, as she took notice of those around her. People were wearing everything from cabarets to cow customs with udders dangling from their crotches. Stefan wore a blue headdress and a black cabaret with silver ostrich feathers. Paris wore a short zebra-print, halter-style dress and black glitter covered the exposed parts of his body. Simone felt out of place, wearing a skirt and a tank top.

She was amazed at all the different types of men that she saw displaying their gay pride. Big, brawny men wearing tall wigs and leather jumpsuits; tall, slinky men wearing short, sheer dresses and long, crisscross, glittery eyelashes; and hard-body men she would have sworn were straight if she hadn't seen them parading around in bright-colored Speedos, carrying huge, penis-shaped balloons.

Simone had never known of an event like Southern Decadence, where people could walk around barely dressed to relieve themselves
of the sauna-like heat, where cocktails were served and drunk on the street in twenty-four-ounce cups, where people could engage in sexual acts and seemingly go unnoticed, where those who weren't heterosexuals could be themselves without being ridiculed.

It was after twelve o'clock when Simone, Stefan, and Paris decided to venture into the Bourbon Pub to join the party and dance events. Despite how crowded it was, the three managed to find seats at the bar. They ordered their drinks and directed their attention to the festivities. Simone was exhausted. Her feet hurt from all the walking they had done and she was tipsy from all the drinks she had consumed. Just as she was about to get out of her seat and tell Stefan and Paris that she was going back to the hotel to call it a night, a woman stood in front of her, reaching out her hand.

“Hey, I'm Jana.”

Simone looked the woman up and down, before shaking her hand. “Hi.”

“And your name is?” Jana asked.

Simone sighed. “Mona.”

“Oh, that's cute.”

Jana stood there and continued to talk, hoping Simone would warm up to her.

Paris tapped Stefan on his shoulder and nodded toward Simone. “Look, Simone made a friend already.”

The two giggled, catching Jana's attention.

“Hi, how are you doing?” Stefan asked.

“Are you three together?” Jana asked.

“Um hmm,” Simone muttered.

“Oh okay; my name's Jana.”

Stefan and Paris both reached out to shake Jana's hand.

“I'm Stefan.”

“And I'm Paris.”

“Is this y'all first time here?” Jana asked.

Stefan nodded. “Yeah.”

“I thought y'all look new,” Jana said. “I've been coming here for a few years, so I recognize a newcomer when I see one.”

“Yeah, we're first-timers,” Paris said sarcastically.

“Well, I'll tell you what; I'm here with a couple of friends that I'm sure would like to meet you,” Jana said. “We can all get together the next five days and we can show y'all around.”

“Okay, that's what's up,” Stefan said.

“Where are they?” Paris asked.

Jana looked puzzled. “Excuse me?”

“Your friends; where are they?” Paris asked.

Jana pointed toward the back of the club. “They're over there; I'll go get them.”

Jana eased her way through the crowd to where her friends sat.

“Damn, that was strange,” Simone said. “I've never met a woman that friendly.”

“Yeah, I bet,” Paris joked.

Stefan laughed. “Don't worry; she seems like good people.”

Jana came back over to the bar with her two friends. “These are my friends, Jamal and Kenneth. Jamal, Kenneth, this is Stefan, Paris, and Simone.”

Stefan immediately took a liking to Jamal. Jamal was about six feet tall, with dark brown skin and a muscular frame. He was definitely Stefan's type. “That one's mine,” Stefan whispered to Paris.

“That's fine with me,” Paris said. “Shit, I'll take either one.”

Jana turned around to Jamal and Kenneth. “I told them they could chill with us for the next five days.”

“That's if you two don't mind,” Paris said, eyeing Kenneth, already making plans to run his tongue over Kenneth's chocolate-colored body.

Kenneth smiled, revealing his gold fronts. “Naw, I don't mind; I'd love to.”

“Same here,” Jamal said, rubbing his hands together as he eyed Stefan.

“Good,” Jana said. “Then we'll meet back here at one o'clock this afternoon.”

“Sounds good,” Stefan said. “We'll see you then.”

Simone walked out of the bathroom, dressed in a sheer skimpy black dress and a headdress with fuchsia, black, and silver ostrich feathers. Her headdress reflected the colors of that year's decadence celebration.

Simone walked over to Jana and stood in front of her. “You like?”

“Yes, you look stunning.”

Simone explained to Jana how out of place she felt in her everyday clothing while everyone else flaunted about the French Quarter in their showy costumes. So Jana decided to take Simone to the Hit Parade to pick up some suitable clothing for the event; her treat.

Simone had only known Jana for a few hours and Jana was going out of her way to make her happy, taking her to buy suitable clothing so she wouldn't feel uncomfortable, constantly saying things to flatter her. It wasn't anything Simone couldn't do for herself. She had money and when she looked in the mirror every day, she realized that she was pretty but it was something no one had ever done for her; something that made her feel special as if she was worthy of love and consideration.