Kelly to the Rescue

TINA

I was relaxed on the couch, clad in a plain black T-shirt and matching lace panties, with a bowl of fried chicken and watching a movie when there was a loud knock on my door.

“What the fuck?” I looked at the door angrily. Today was Sunday and one of my favorite days to relax. I didn’t want any visitors.

Yesterday had been a long day. Pleasant, but long. I came back late from my date with Alejandro and slept like a log. And now I wanted some time for myself before I had to go back to work tomorrow for another week.

The banging on my door became louder. Apparently, someone had other ideas. I’d paid my rent early, so it wouldn’t be the landlady.

“Girl, I know you’re in there!” I recognized the familiar voice on the other side of the door. “Get your big fat ass over here and open this door.”

With a slight shake of my head, I stood up and made my way to the door. Opening it, I saw the upset face of Kelly.

“About time.” She briskly made her way into my apartment.

“Sure, come in,” I muttered sarcastically as I closed the door.

Kelly was inspecting my couch with a perplexed look on her face.

“Girl, is this what you do when you’re not working?” Her eyes darted toward the bowl of chicken. “Stuffing your face and watching a boring-ass movie.”

“Okay, first of all,” I put a hand up. “That movie is not boring-ass. My taste in movies is spectacular.”

“Second,” I walked toward the couch and flopped on it. “How else do you spend a weekend?”

“I could think of many ideas.” She grinned. I knew that look—and I immediately felt the warning alarms ring in my head.

“Kelly.” I shook my head at her with a scowl. “We’re sure as hell not going clubbing. You know what happened the last time we did.”

“Okay, okay.” She raised her hands in surrender. “Don’t get your panties in a twist. Although, I’ll say it’s kind of late for that.”

She snatched the bowl away from me and took out a piece of chicken.

“Do you always have to make jokes about my butt?” I stood up and tried to get the bowl back, but she pulled it out of reach.

“Can’t help it,” she replied, side-stepping me with tremendous agility as I dashed toward her. This woman’s fitness was one of the wonders of the world. “That thing swallows the black lace panties you’re wearing. I can’t imagine what happens if you wear a thong. Your future boyfriend will be one hell of a lucky guy.”

I flushed at the image of a certain someone looking at my backside. I quickly shook the image out of my head when I saw the mischievous grin Kelly sent my way.

“You seeing anyone yet?” She wiggled her eyebrows.

“Shut up.” I pouted. “What are you doing here anyway?” She didn’t seem so upset anymore, now that she’d eaten my food and insulted my ass again.

She handed me the bowl. “I was bored. Wanted to grab something to eat, so I thought you should come along.”

“You mean you came all the way here to spoil my wonderful day just to ask me to do the same thing I was doing before you came?” I stared at her in disbelief.

“Girl, this is a sorry excuse for a lunch.” She rolled her eyes, making reference to the bowl of chicken. “It’s not healthy and sends weight to the wrong areas of your body.”

“I get it already!” I gritted my teeth at her. She could be a pain in the ass sometimes.

Great. Now I just used a butt pun, thanks to her.

“Get dressed and let’s leave this jungle and get some fresh air.” She commanded.

I groaned. “Can’t we just eat here? I think I have a vegetable in the fridge.”

“No.” She shook her head. “Come on, hop to it. Let’s go get a balanced meal.”

I grumbled incoherently as I stood up. Another problem with Kelly was that she could be stubborn. As I walked past her, I felt the sting of her palm against my partially exposed butt. I wasn’t expecting it, and I yelped in pain.

“Oh, it even jiggles.” I heard her hysterical laughter behind me.

I shook my head and made my way into the bedroom.

***

“Now tell me you don’t feel better eating this,” Kelly said as she swallowed a mouthful of well-seasoned brown rice.

We were seated in a moderate restaurant by the seaside. I have to admit it was comfortable. The salty breeze against my skin was soothing, and the scent was exhilarating. I glanced down at my bowl of rice, broccoli, and salmon. It was delicious. The chefs were also impressive. I wondered how I’d never seen this restaurant before—probably because I didn’t come to this part of town.

“Fine, the food is great.” I swallowed a spoonful.

“And a balanced diet will do wonders for you.” She winked.

“Yeah, that too.” I rolled my eyes. “But you’re still paying.”

“Yeah, yeah.” She laughed and took a sip from her glass of water. “If it will get you to stay off junk.”

“That doesn’t mean I won’t eat my fried chicken once in a while.” I stuck out my tongue.

“You’re so insufferable,” she said, and we both laughed.

I relished the moment. No matter how much Kelly could be a handful, she never stopped finding a way to bring a smile to my face. I knew she adored me. Even the incident at the club had faded into a memory of us triumphing against the world. I wasn’t lying when I told her at one point that I saw her as more of a sister than a friend. She had shrugged it off with one of her usual quips, but deep down, she knew I was right. I was an only child, and as much as my parents had cared for me and showed me much love, sometimes it just felt lonely.

Just then, Kelly’s face morphed into an intense glare.

“Kelly?” I gave her a worried glance.

Her glare wasn’t directed at me but to something behind me. Or rather, someone behind me. I could hear the footsteps made by high heels. I turned around in my seat, and my mood soured.

“Fancy seeing you again.”

It was the woman that accompanied Alejandro that night. Natalie, was it? I knew I was going to run into her soon. I wasn’t expecting it to be this soon. From the way she had looked at me after that incident as Alejandro sent her off, I knew her eyes still carried the pledge of an unfinished battle.

I felt the anger rise in me.

“What do you want?” I glared at her. I could feel Kelly’s fingers grazing the table, radiating her building rage.

“Alejandro has been distant since that night.” Her eyes narrowed at me.

“And what does that have to do with me?” I deadpanned, unfazed by her venomous gaze. I shouldn’t rub it in that he’d basically left her for me. But I wanted to. “Clearly, he has priorities.”

“Don’t try to act coy.” She bent down until our eyes were level. “I know you’re trying to punch above your weight.”

I felt her vanilla breath tickle my nose. “You should keep your eyes down at your own level—date a plumber, or something.”

I was so focused on her face that I didn’t see her hand reach for my glass. Seconds later, I felt the splash on my face, and my vision was blurred.

“That’s it!” Kelly screamed.

Before I could stop her, she had tackled the bitch to the ground.

The nasty girl’s screams echoed in the restaurant. I wanted to laugh, but I had to pull Kelly off of her. Kelly rained punches and scratches on her face. As much as I relished seeing that bitch in pain, we were drawing unwanted attention.

However, that moment made me love Kelly even more.