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    Tales From Sha-Hair-Azad

    By Najya Yasirah


    Reyjah SharesThe Spotlight - Chapter 27



    She inspected her hair and makeup. She had decided to do it herself this time, so Derrick would have a break. She used an opalescent, pale blue shadow on her entire eye. She placed glitter on her browbone. After lining her eyes with liquid liner, she carefully placed tiny rhinestones above it with eyelash adhesive and orangewood sticks. She lined her lips and slicked on a gloss the same shade as her lips.  She was proud of her hair. She had a long bang that covered her left eye. The rest was in a tight French twist with loose pincurls falling in different directions.  She took off her bathrobe.   She sighed. The dress fit her curves like a glove. She didn’t even recognize herself.  She looked at her back view in her full-length mirror. No thong lines-good. Her back muscles were the backgrounds for the dangling crystals that tied around her neck.  The slits showed off her well-defined calves and toned thighs.  Her feet were swathed in crystals. “I look like a walking Tiffany’s”, she joked. She put on her dangling diamond earrings and favorite diamond watch-bracelet. Her phone rang.
    “I’m outside you door.” “You can come on in, it’s open.” She put her cell phone in her matching clutch.  After wrapping her matching shawl around her arms, she breathed, “Here goes everything.”

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    He almost fell to his knees. Sure, she always looked stunning whenever they went out, but tonight, she was untouchable.  He gently touched her cheek. He looked handsome himself, with his tousled, straightened hair and white tuxedo. He admired the incandescence of her brown skin against the satin. Her shoulders and legs were screaming to be touched by him. “I have the most beautiful best friend in the whole world,” he said softly. She smiled as she took his arm.
    “There’s Arianna, “ said Reyjah happily. Arianna was equally elegant. The dress brought out the golden tone of her deep, olive skin. Her shoulders had been just pumped, one could tell by the definition.  Her date was a beautiful tawny-skinned, natural bodybuilder from the Dominican Republic. “You look, hot, chica!” said Reyjah as they walked over to greet them. She introduced Arianna’s date, Salvador to Antoine. They nodded to each other, comparing who had the sexier date. “Hey, Antoine,” said a familiar voice. It was the Bigalows.  Kate wore a violet, velvet number that had intricate beading on the bodice and spaghetti straps. Deuce looked very dapper with his hair slicked back and his dinner suit pressed. Kate’s hair was still as pretty as the day she got it done. She was all smiles as she gave Reyjah a hug. “You look like a million bucks,” said Kate. “She should, it cost damn near close to it.” It was Ms. Holden. “Ms. Holden, how can I ever  thank you?” said Reyjah. Ms. Holden took her hand. ‘Just sing from your heart as you did today.”

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    Reyjah was received nicely as she went up on stage.  The symphony was very accepting of her as well as the backup singers. After speaking with them about her song selections, she approached the mike. After the applause subsided, Mr. Giovanni, the owner, introduced her. All of Reyjah’s guests were sitting in the VIP Section.  Ms. Holden was sitting beside Antoine. “She’s a vision, Antoine,” she commented. That night she wore a  midnight blue , strapless gown made of jersey. “she is, isn’t she?” he said.  “Before I bore you all with slow songs, I’d like to thank a few people,” Reyjah joked. The audience laughed. “God is here, my parents aren’t, Mr. Giovanni, Ms. Holden , my personal trainer, Arianna  and her date, the Bigelows for coming out, and last but not least, my very best friend, Antoine- thank you and I love you all!” Her friends smiled. Antoine looked into his glass of champagne. Her first song was “River Deep, Mountain High.” “I didn’t know Reyjah could sing,” said Salvador. He only knew her as a gym customer. “She sings when she does our hair, too,” said Kate.  Mr. Giovanni was very pleased. By featuring Reyjah, his restaurant had been rated four stars.  “Good evening, Mr. Giovanni ,” said an angry voice. Mr. Giovanni turned around. “oh, hello, Darlene,” he said in disgust. “Oh, I see leave for a few days and I get replaced?” “No one could find you, Darlene, and you have alcohol problems as well.”  Darlene’s jealousy turned to hatred.  “We’ll see, Mr.G, we’ll see who has a problem.” Darlene stormed off.   Reyjah followed up with “Power of Love,” by Celine Dion. Ms. Holden noticed that Reyjah would look at Antoine every now and then. “Antoine, will you come with me for a moment?”
    They were sitting  in the VIP lounge that was in the back of the restaurant. “Antoine, you should tell her,” said Ms. Holden.  “And ruin what we have?” he said.  “What exactly do you two have, Antoine?”  “We’re best friends…” “That are crazy about each other?” she finished. “If  you two have this great, trusting friendship, then why can’t you trust that she’ll accept it?” “Because I want to spend the rest of my life with her, Nancy. But why should she marry a ‘manwhore’?” He buried his face in his hands. “Antoine, I have known you for a very long time, and I know that you have other talents that you can fall back on.” He looked at her. She had meant every word. “And she will help you, I just know she will. She loves you.”
    They returned just in time for Reyjah’s finale. She was singing “You Sang to Me” by Marc Anthony.  Antoine listened closely to the lyrics of the song: “ All the while you were the one for me; I never realized, I just can’t believe I didn’t see it in your eyes, I didn’t see it, I can’t believe it, ooh but I feel it, when you sing to me…” All of a sudden, a very intoxicated Darlene pushed through  the audience. Reyjah stopped singing. “Outta my way, coming through! “ she said.  “Oh my….” Said Antoine. “Dammit!! Arianna, please, come with me,” he said.  Arianna followed Antoine to the stage. Darlene was staggering.  Reyjah’s mind went back.  “Darlene?” she asked covering the microphone.   Everyone was looking up at them. Kate and Deuce cringed from their seats. Salvador was  oblivious. Antoine and Arianna had made it onstage. “So that’s your best friend, huh?” she said to Reyjah. “And you’re the woman that hit me,” said Reyjah fearlessly. I know what she’s trying to do, but I won’t allow it, she thought. “First , you take my spotlight and now you steal my manwhore.” “Manwhore?” said Arianna looking at Antoine. “Manwhore?” said Reyjah. “Something’s  very  wrong,” said Mr. Giovanni. From his view, he saw Darlene in Reyjah’s face. “What the hell have you been drinking?” said Reyjah to Darlene.  Darlene turned to Antoine.  “I pay you for sex, and this is the thanks I get; you are nothing more than a paid dick, Antoine. And that’s all you’ll ever be! You  refuse me for some… New York Ni-…” Arianna quickly stepped up and punched Darlene in the face.   She was out cold. The audience thought that the scene was staged, so they clapped. Arianna pulled an unconscious Darlene to her feet. “Ladies and gentlemen, my personal trainer, Arianna!” Arianna gave an awkward smile and eased herself and Darlene backstage.  Antoine tried to slip away, but Reyjah caught his hand. “And also ladies and gentleman, the only man that could ever make my heart sing, my best friend, Antoine Laconte.” The audience gave him thunderous applause, especially the women. “What is she doing?” asked  Deuce.  “Forgiving,” said Kate.  Mr. Giovanni had finally reached their table. “What is going on? Why was Darlene acting that way?” Arianna had made it back to the table, just leaving Antoine and Reyjah onstage. Reyjah began singing “Power of Love” again while Antoine held her hand.  “You have an awesome jab, Arianna,” said Kate. “I used to teach kickboxing,” said Arianna as she sat back down beside her beaming date. “What the hell was that woman talking about a ‘manwhore’?” she blurted.  Kate and Deuce were very quiet as was Ms. Holden. “It’s true?” she said.  Everyone nodded. “And none of you told her?” Arianna pressed. “I wanted to, but…”said Kate. “It’s not like he didn’t try to tell her,” Deuce explained. “She didn’t believe him.” Mr. Giovanni was confused. “Whatever just went on, she handled it gracefully. Darlene is a serious alcoholic, a great singer, but a serious alcoholic.” “Shouldn’t you go see about her?” said Ms. Holden to Mr. Giovanni. “She’s gonna be out for a while,” said Arianna. “I bruised my knuckles on her face.”  Antoine was moved by Reyjah’s proclamation of her love for him. When she finished, the audience gave her a standing ovation. When she hugged him, she kneed him in the crotch.

    Tales From Sha-Hair-Azad - Chapter 28