Layla ran from her bathroom to her bedroom and back to her bathroom. She couldn't figure out why she always did this. It was frustrating for her to be so unorganized. She'd been off work since five o'clock which allowed her plenty of time to be ready by now but had opted to take a nap. She had convinced herself to take a short power nap but that turned into a four hour snooze. Now it was nearing ten o'clock and her friends would be here any minute ready to head to the club. It was the weekend ritual for the three stooges. Of course Friday nights where harder to pull off than Saturday nights simply because she had to work Fridays. Fridays were mandatory at the law firm where she worked as a legal secretary. It wasn't anything glamorous but it paid good money and she was good at what she did.
"Layla!" Layla's mother screamed from the top of the stairs.
"Yes mom?" Layla screamed back over her blasting stereo.
"Please honey, turn your music down," her mom said popping her head in Layla's bathroom door. "You're going to cause your father to go into cardiac arrest."
"Yes mom, I'm sorry. I was trying to get myself pumped up to go out tonight," she said breezing past her mom into her bedroom to do as she was told.
"You know, you don't have to go out tonight. You can take a break from the club some times. Why don't you join that lovely singles church group I keep hearing the young people talk about?" Her mom asked while helping Layla adjust her top. It was backless and nearly missing the front as well. It tied at the neck and her mom was holding the knot. "Don't you think this is a tad too revealing?"
"Mom! You haven't said one positive thing to me since you stepped in my room," Layla said putting on the last of her makeup. "I look hot don't I?" She teased, but knowing deep down that she did.
"I just don't get you young people these days. You have to show off all your goods. Don't you leave anything to the imagination anymore?"
I've got to get my own place soon, Layla thought to herself as she sat on the edge of her bed and put on her open-toed, heeled sandals. She walked to her dresser to retrieve her perfume and get another look at her outfit. She had stopped by the mall on her lunch and picked it up. The one big advantage of living at home was that she had extra cash to buy outfits like this one. The black and silver top with its back out and black mini skirt fitted her curves nicely. Her amaretto skin color glistened from her freshly applied lotion. Layla plucked at her short hair trying to get each strand of hair to sit just right on top of her head.
"Layla?"
"Yes mom?" Layla turned from the mirror to look at her aging mom. She was why she had moved back home. A little over a year ago her mom had become very ill and with her brothers and sisters busy with their own families she was the only one available to help her.
"Just promise me you'll be careful honey," she said squeezing her youngest daughter. "Mmmm, you smell good."
Layla laughed and kissed her mother on her cheek. Just then the doorbell rang and Layla knew immediately who it was. None of her parents' friends would dare come knocking on their door at ten o'clock. It could only be Theresa, and Monica.
"That's the girls ma. I won't be late ok? Be sure to lock you and Daddy in and no wild parties!" Layla grabbed her purse and was out the door before her mother could respond.
Nestled in Monica's BMW Layla breathed a sigh of relief. While she appreciated her parents and loved them more than life itself she was glad to get these weekend breaks where she could be her own self and have fun.
"Shot anybody?" Theresa asked from the back seat.
"Oh please," Layla called out from the front passenger seat.
"Cheers!" The threesome toasted as Monica weaved in and out of the lanes to the downtown club they frequented.
Monica had once dated the party promoter for the club and since she had him whipped he put all three of them on the VIP list. No waiting in lines for them, straight to the front door they went.
"Damn girls," the bouncer howled as they approached the door. "Do all three of you guys have to look so damn good?"
Monica began to reach into her purse for her ID when the bouncer gently placed one of his mammoth-sized black hand on her arm, "Girl, I know who you guys are. Don't trip, go right on in," he said patting her butt as she walked by. "Damn! Let me get yours too," he said to Layla who stuck her butt out for him to touch.
"Don't even think about it," Theresa said walking in. She was the prude of the group and everybody who knew them knew that.
The club was packed, with people jammed from wall to wall. The women knew most of them which could be perceived as good and bad. The girls headed to the bar to get drinks. It was White Zinfandel for Monica who always wanted to appear more sophisticated, Hypnotic and Hennessey for Layla who was looking for the fastest way to catch a buzz, and a cranberry and vodka for Theresa. It was while they were at the bar that Layla was spotted by Sean from the VIP booth.
"I'm going to the dance floor," Layla screamed over the music into Monica's ear.
"Wait, I'm coming with you," she said leaving Theresa at the bar which again was normal.
The two women danced with each other in the middle of the dance floor causing many to stare. They were used to the stairs. They weren't bisexual and never tried anything with each other; it was only a game they played to see how many men would step to them afterward. It wasn't long before one of the brave souls from the crowd stepped between the two. Dressed in athletic gear, baseball cap and sneakers the courageous guy was not neither Monica nor Layla's type of man. The two walked away from the young guy and continued dancing a couple of feet away.
"Where are y'all going?" He screamed.
The two friends ignored his question.
"Oh, that's how you gonna do a nigga, huh?" He screamed even louder. This time causing more of the crowd to stop and look at the scene.
"Look, you're not either one of our type ok?" Layla asked trying to reject him as gently as possible.
"You lesbian cunt!" He screamed at Layla.
"I'd rather be a lesbian than a little dick kid," she screamed back.
The rude rejected man charged at Layla as if he were going to fight her when out of no where Sean stepped in between them. Layla was fully prepared to defend herself. She wasn't a fighter by any means but wasn't about to succumb to that poor excuse of a man who stood before her.
