Triniti

“I made it out here.” I told my friend, Erika Salazar, over the phone as I walked inside my apartment in New Orleans.

       “ I can’t believe you’re out here!” Erika screamed into the phone, causing me to take the phone away from my ear.

       I sighed as I waited for her to stop screaming. Her high-pitched voice finally lowered, and I was able to put the phone back up to my ear. I put my keys on the counter that was next to the front door and looked around my almost penthouse suite apartment. It was terrific, and I’m happy I was able to call it mine. Well, my adoptive parents, Mr. and Mrs. Moore, paid for it for me. So, thanks for the help, Mom and Dad.

     While I was on the phone with Erika, I decided to tour the house. I started in the kitchen and worked my way up the cedarwood made stairs. Then it was from the bathroom to my bedroom. Thank God I had some wonderful movers, everything was set up the way I wanted it to be. I had my 50-inch tv, sitting high on my black and white dresser. My California King bed sat right in the middle of my room, closer to the wall across from me. I looked over in the corner of my room and saw all of my suitcases that I used for my belongings, sitting there, undisturbed.

     “How do you feel about having your own spot?” Erika asked me as soon as I made my way back downstairs. 

     “It’ll take some getting used to.” I told her, looking at the walls of the apartment. The aqua blue color reminded me of my room back in Los Angeles, California. 

     This was my first time being without my family, so I was ready to pack up any second now to be with them again. I wanted to be back home with my mom, dad, and even my little sister, Ember. But, this job opportunity is something I’ve been waiting for. 

      “I’m going to call you back.” I told Erika before hanging up the phone. I dialed my father’s number and placed the phone back to my ear. I walked over to my brown leather couch and took a seat as I waited for my dad to answer the phone. 

      “Hey love bug.” Dad said as soon as the phone picked up.

      “Hi, Dad, I made it.”

     Hearing his voice brought tears to my eyes. Boy, did I miss him already. I missed everybody in my family, but the connection dad and I had was stronger than anybody else’s in the house. That’s why I talked to him more on the phone. 

     “That’s really good, honey.” Dad said. “How do you like New Orleans?”

     I turned to the back of the couch and stared out the window. It was beautiful out here in New Orleans. Exploring the city is something I would want to do, but I wanted to do it with someone. I would go with Erika, but she’s too busy.

       “I haven’t explored the city yet, dad.” I said, almost forgetting he was on the phone. “I will after I finish up here.”

       I heard dad sigh into the phone. “Just be careful. New Orleans is a dangerous place, and I will take a trip out there if I have to.”

       I rolled my eyes when he said that. I don’t know why he worries about me all the time. I haven’t done anything to make him feel that way. I guess it’s just a father thing.

      “I will be careful.” I told him, getting off the couch. 

      “That’s my girl.” He said. “Now, I’m not going to keep you. Go ahead and finish unpacking and we’ll talk later.” 

      “Okay, Dad.”

      “I love you.”

      “I love you, too. Tell mom and Ember I love them as well.”

      “Will do.”

      “Goodbye.”

      I hung up the phone and wiped the tears from my eyes. I crossed my arms and walked to the front door. I think getting some air would be good. I can’t keep crying about how I’m missing my family and how I wish they were here with me. I grabbed my keys off the counter before exiting the house. 

     I quickly locked up the house and headed down the stairs. As soon as I got to the gate of the apartment, my phone vibrated hard in my hand. I looked at the screen and noticed an Unknown number calling me. I answered it and put it up to my ear.

     “Hello.” I spoke first.

     I walked to the parking lot to where my black Expedition was. Dad had the car towed down her three days ago, so by the time I came, I wouldn’t have to catch an Uber. Pushing my jet black hair behind my shoulders, I unlocked the door to the truck and hopped in. 

   “Hi, is this Triniti?” A deep voice asked.

   Starting the car, I pulled the seat up a little closer to the steering wheel. This is what happens when you’re shorter than five feet, four inches. 

   “Yes, this is.” I said, turning my attention back to the phone. “ Who may I ask is speaking?”

   “Ha, I’m so sorry for not introducing myself.” The male voice said. “My name is Dr. Martin, and I’m the guy you will be working for at the Couturie Asylum that was just built.”

  Hearing he is the boss, I sat up in my seat and cleared my throat. “Hello sir, how are you this fine day?” I asked, sounding all proper into the phone.

    “Proper, are we?” He laughed for a minute before calming down and getting right to the reason he called. "I called because there was something I wanted to ask you.”

    “ Of course.” I told him, nodding my head like he was right next to me in my car.

    “ Well, something happened to where a spot has just opened up for this coming Thursday at around ten in the morning. Seeing that you haven't really started yet, I wanted to see if you wanted to start earlier than planned."

    “ When will the shift end for me?” I asked, even though I know the answer.

    “ I’m not going to lie to you; this position you are working will be a nine to five job.” He explained. “There will be times where I will ask you to stay past your hours if that is not a problem with you. Since we are just now opening up, we don’t really have a lot of staff members, plus you are the only psychologist here.”

    “ That’s fine.” I sighed. “ I understand.”

    “ I’m glad. I do want to give you a tour of the place, so is there any way you can come here tomorrow.”

    “ What time tomorrow?” 

    “ Around eleven?”

    “ Of course, that’s not a problem.”

    “ Perfect, I’ll send you the address through text message if that’s okay.”

   “ That’s not a problem.”

   “ Great. Nice talking to you and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

   We hung up, and I sighed once more before pulling out of the parking lot. I dialed Erika’s number and placed the phone on speaker. She answered, but her background was a little noisy.

   “ Hello?!” She shouted into the phone.

   “ Damn girl, I hear you!” I shouted back. 

   “ I’m sorry, we are just packed today. Are you coming by?”

   “ Yes, I am. I need your address.”

   “ I texted it to you already."

  Confused, I looked at my screen, and sure enough, there was an unread text from her.

  “ I see it.” I told her. “ I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

  “ Well, hurry up.” She said, then hung up the phone.

  I hate when she does that. As soon as I hit the first red light, I put the address into my GPS. I couldn’t wait to see my best friend. I haven’t seen her for a very long time. The light finally turned green, and I took off into the direction the GPS placed onto my phone.

❤️

   “ Oh my gosh, I can’t believe you’re here!” Erika shrieked as she ran to me with open arms.

   We both hugged for what seemed like an eternity. She has changed completely. She’s not the little skinny Hispanic girl back in middle school. She’s picked up some weight in the right places. Her hips and thighs are more full. She dyed her hair to a strawberry vanilla color, and it went down her back like mines. She’s a few inches taller than me, which sucks ass. I guess I’ll just be the short girl in the pair. 

    “ I know.” I told her as I released myself from the hug. 

    “ That’s crazy! You want to drink?”

    She grabbed my hand and pulled me over to the bar. Once we got there, of course, there were no empty seats. Erika tapped on one of the guys that was there.

    “ Are you done?” She asked him. “You’ve been here for two hours, and my friend needs to use your seat.”

    “ Well, your friend can wait.” He grunted, taking another sip of his vodka.

    “ Dante, you know the rules.” Erika told him. “ Men are supposed to give up a seat if there is a female present.”

   “ It’s not a big deal.” I told them, not trying to cause problems.

   “ Obviously it is a fucking problem!” Dante shouted at me, causing me to jump.

  The bar filled with silence as the attention of the customers were all on us. If this wasn’t embarrassing at all, then I don’t know what is. Dante finally looked at me, and fear instantly came over me.

   “ She’s right, Dante.” A male voice said, behind us. “ You know seats are to be given up to a new customer, especially a female.”

  I saw a figure walk past me, and the mysterious person stood in front of Dante. Gosh, he smelt really good. Too bad I couldn’t see his face.

   “ That’s not fair; I’m a regular here, and I’m being forced to give up my seat.” Dante complained to the person in front of him.

   “ It’s my sister’s rule.” The person shrugged his shoulders. “ Plus you’ve been here for over four hours.”

   “ This is bullshit!” Dante shouted, finally getting out of his seat. “ There are other motherfuckers here that have been here longer than me!”

   “ They weren’t the ones asked, though.” ,” Erika said.

   “ Man, shut the fuck up talking to me!” Dante shouted at her.

   “ You shut the fuck up!” Erika shouted back.

   Dante was about to step towards Erika, but the guy stepped forward to him.

   “ Not in here.” The guy whispered.

  Dante glared at him for a second before his eyes switched over to Erika and me. He huffed as he grabbed his jacket off the chair and stormed out the bar. 

   “ Thanks, Dominic.” Erika said to the guy in front of us. 

   The guy turned around and looked at the both of us before he walked off. I turned and watched him head to the back of the bar.

   “ What’s going on here?” My head turned back to the front entrance. My eyes immediately locked onto a tall, brown-skinned female, standing in front of the door, looking in Erika’s direction.

      She walked over to us and stood there. 

      “What’s going on?” She asked again when no one answered.

   “ Well, we had an altercation with a customer." Erika explained. “Dominic helped us out, though.

   “ My brother was here?” She asked, ignoring everything else that was said.

   “ Yeah, he just left a few minutes ago.” I told her, pointing to the back.

   “ Freakin’ A.” She sighed before turning her attention to me. “ Who the hell are you?”

   “ This is my best friend, Triniti.” Erika introduced me to her. “ Triniti, this is my boss, Janelle.”

   I extended my hand to her, but she just looked at it. Embarrassed, I pulled my hand away and turned my attention to the ground.

   “ Take a seat.” Janelle said and walked away. 

   I took a seat at the bar and watched Erika go behind the bar and prepare herself.

   “ Sweet or sour?” She asked me, washing her hands at the sink.

   “ Sweet.” I told her. 

   “ Okay. I'll make something I know you will enjoy."

   As Erika made the surprise drink for me, I scannes the bar and the customers and noticed that the customers were male-only. I turned my attention to my friend, who was making my drink. 

   “ Do females come here?” I asked her, and she laughed.

   “ No.” Janelle said, walking over to Erika. “ Is that a problem?”

   “ No.” I shook my head. 

   Erika handed me my drink, and I drank it without making a sound. Janelle turned her attention to Erika, flicking her ear with the quickness. Erika flinched, turning her attention to Janelle.

   “ I ran into Dante before I came here.” She stated. “He told me how you approached him, and I don't like that."

   “ But I wasn’t-.” Erika started, but was shut down by Janelle immediately.

   “ I don’t care. Be respectful to our clients. If you have a problem, let me or one of my brothers handle it. Do you understand?”

   “ Yes.” Erika agreed with a sigh.

   Janelle looked at me before she walked away from the bar. I looked back at Erika, who rolled her eyes as she washed the glasses of the previous customers who left.

    “ I’m sorry.” I apologized to Erika.

    “ It’s not your fault.” She said, looking up at me with a small smile. 

    I smiled back at her and continued drinking my alcoholic beverage. As I was drinking, a girl came into the bar, looking around like she was trying to hide from an abusive ex-boyfriend. She rushed over to the bar, and we just looked at her. I couldn’t help, but envy this girl. She was absolutely gorgeous. She was tall like Janelle and Dominic and somewhat curvy like Erika. She pushed her blonde hair out of her eyes and looked back at Erika, trying to catch her breath before she spoke.

   “ Where’s Janelle?” She asked, still panicking over something.

   “ She’s in the back.” Erika said. “ Are you okay, London?”

   “ Yes, I just need Janelle.”

   Janelle must’ve heard her name because she came over to us and stood by Erika with her arms crossed.

   “ What is it, London?” She asked with an attitude.

  I swore when she said that, I could tell there was some tension between the two. She didn’t sound too happy that this “ London” girl was here in her bar. I wonder what their story is, but I wasn’t going to pry because of how Janelle and I have just met. 

  “ Wow, I never come here, and when I do, you think I want something.” London argued.

  “ I don’t like you.” Janelle admitted. “ Now, what do you want?”

        London rolled her hazel eyes and looked at the ground. Janelle huffed before she slammed her hand onto the bar. Once again, the bar had gotten quiet as the customers turned their attention over to where we were.

         “ WHAT?!” She shouted at London this time.

        “ The cops are at it again with Seth and Dominic.” London said before turning and heading out of the place.

        "God damn it!" Janelle shouted.

  Janelle rushed from behind the bar and followed London out of the bar. All the customers that were in the bar followed as well. I looked at Erika, who kept staring at the front door. I finished my drink, which had already watered down because of me letting it sit, and I got up. Erika walked around the bar, and we both headed outside.