S.L.T./Anthony "Ant" Vaughn

nine

It's the day of Mardis Gras. Amerie, Quinni, and I are at Darren's pregaming.

Darren reads a text from their phone, "'It's heaps eetsway. I'll let you know, bro.' I swear I need subtitles for him sometimes."

"Malakai needs to learn how to keep his mouth shut," Amerie says.

"You did tell us about the hook up," I remind her.

"I kept it PG," Amerie argues. "Whose side are you on?"

"Yours, babes," Darren assures her.

"One-on-one, Malakai is so lovely. But when guys get into that group pack mentality, they just turn so feral," Amerie says.

"I'm sorry, boo. Straight men are the worst," Darren tells her.

"Lesbians aren't that easy to deal with either," Quinni insists.

"Everybody sucks then," I state.

"Except us," Quinni says.

"Mmm. You know how I feel about people that aren't us," Darren remarks. There's a knock on the front door. "Mmm. I'll check."

"I knew Sasha wouldn't show," Quinni says.

"Darren, who is it?" Amerie asks.

"Oh. Just those nice boys we weren't totally just talking shit about," Darren tells her.

Malkai walks into the room and I can see Darren talking to Ca$h.

"You'll come to the Slay Ball with us?" Quinni asks Malakai.

"Yeah. It'll be cool," Malakai says.

"Cool. It'll be good," Quinni says.

"Bold of you to come," Amerie tells Malakai.

Malakai clicks his tongue. "Ah. Can we have a yarn somewhere in private maybe?"

Quinni and I stand up ready to give the two privacy.

"I think Qunni and I are gonna go," I tell Amerie.

Amerie grabs Quinni and I and pulls us back down onto the couch. "No, stay."

"Um... Did you get any of my messages?" Malakai asks.

"No, I haven't, because you're on mute," Amerie tells him.

"Right," Malakai says.

"I need to wee," Quinni states.

"I think I do too," I say.

"No, you don't." Amerie grabs us. "Sit down. Mmm."

"But this is excruciatingly awkward," Quinni tells her.

"No, it isn't," Amerie insists.

"No, it is kind of," Malakai assures.

"Oh, I'm enjoying watching you squirm," Amerie tells him. "Anyway, how'd you get Darren's address?"

"I sent him a pin drop," Quinni explains.

"Judas," Amerie whispers.

"Anyway, Malakai wants to talk to you and he wants to say..." Quinni starrs.

"I'm really sorry, Amerie," Malakai tells her. "I messed up. Our business is our business and no one else's. I am..." He looks down at his hand. "I realize that in my actions, I was contributing to a culture that I don't want any part of. I didn't take into account how that might make you feel. I'm sorry. I promise I'll do better next time. Well, at least try to."

Amerie gestures to Malakai's outfit. "We're gonna need to get you out of whatever the hell this is."

Malakai looks down at his shirt. "What?"