5

CHLOE

I'm at Monet's, a restaurant. I come here every day except Fridays to Sundays to meet up with other writers. They've been so positive and helpful, really. I met them at the beginning of the year when I came to get a cup of coffee, and my paperwork fell out of my bag. A woman in her early thirties helped me pick it up.

"Thanks," I told her. 

I was a little bit embarrassed because all I could think about was her thinking that I was careless. She was pretty, with black short hair, caramel skin, nice full lips, and her eyelashes were long and natural. Her eyes made her look even more beautiful. It was like I was looking at one of the models from America's Next Top Model.

"Woah, you're a writer too," she said, and she had that wide smile on. Her perfectly white teeth almost blinded my eyes.

"Yeah, I'm guessing you're a writer."

"Yep, fantasy."

"Romance." We shook hands, and then she paused.

"Wait, did we just introduce each other based on the genre we write and not our actual names?" We both giggled.

"Yes. That wasn't weird at all," she laughed.

"I like you already. Let's start this again. I'm Cindy Bellman."

"Chloe Fint." We shook hands, and we both laughed again. 

It was like I found a friend, someone I could relate to. We both wrote in different genres, but we were still writers, and I loved it when the writing community supported each other.

"Hey, there's a writers club that's being held here every day except the weekends. Would you like to join? We talk about the perks of being a writer, the joys of being a writer, and we also discuss our favourite books and authors. We start at twelve pm." 

I didn't know that a writing club was what I wanted. I didn't think I'd have the time to write and be at a restaurant for three hours every day. But I wanted to give it a try, and she was very convincing. All she had to do was shine her perfect teeth, and I'd be all hers.

"Okay, yeah. I'd love to join."

"Really?" She clasped her hands in excitement. "Oh, the others will be thrilled to have you. Let's exchange numbers, so we'll be able to keep in touch." 

A start of a new friendship. I wasn't good at making friends because I was always focused on my work, and I loved being alone. Being alone with a good book and alcohol or caffeine is the best feeling in the world, probably better than sex.

The next day, I walked into Monet's and met a group of ladies who were fine as hell. I was relieved to see that there were no men here. At least if there was going to be a man, he should be gay, and we all agreed to that.

We were six: Cindy Bellman, Aisha Mohammed, Drew Finch, Jessica Boston, Lexi Hale, and me. We were just six beautiful ladies who loved to talk about our favourite books and rant about how J. K. Rowling is a bitch for her transphobic tweets. Sometimes we'd just go out to have some fun. We weren't just a book club; we were a sisterhood.

Lexi's mystery thriller novel will be out next month, and I'm so happy for her. There's no room for jealousy or spite because as women who moan over hot fictional characters like Christian Grey, we cannot bash each other. All we have is love for each other.

Jessica's science fiction novel is in the publishing stage. I was so happy for her when she told me that they accepted her work. Of course, her work got rejected four times, and she didn't stop. Maybe I should have learned a few things from her instead of going to a club to drink and having sex with a stranger. I regret all that.

Layla Abrams joined us last month. She said she couldn't look at the Harry Potter books the same way because of JK's insensitive tweets. She sold her books to a little girl who didn't know what it meant to be transphobic or just a plain bigot.

She just joined us, but it already feels like she was here from the beginning.

I spot my girls, and they're laughing loudly. I smile and turn to look at them. They're at our usual table, and there's a man with them. Hmm, maybe Cindy knows him.

"The usual," I tell Daphne, the person behind the register. 

She knows what my group of friends and I love. I love coffee with lots of sugar and cream. My mom has always told me to stop taking lots of sugar, but I never listen. I'm a sweet tooth. It's something she should know by now.

"Thank you." I tip her and collect my coffee, heading toward the girls. 

The guy they're laughing with is cute. He has dark hair, and his eyes look green. They are green. He has brown skin, and I love his smile. It's nice. He dresses nicely too.

He's wearing a black shirt with sleeves rolled up, black pants, and blue sneakers. He looks like a lady's man. That's why my girls are laughing like maniacs.

"Hey, guys," I say, and they stop laughing when they see me. Well, Aisha is still laughing.

"Oh hey," they say in unison.

"Chloe, let me introduce you to our newest member, Christian Joshua," Cindy says. What the fuck did she just say to me?

"Hey." He gets up, "nice to meet you." We shake hands, and I'm putting on a fake smile. 

This can't be happening. A man, in our club?

"Nice to meet you too." I hope they don't notice how I'm screaming inside. Why is this man in our club, and why is he smiling at me like I want him here?

This man better be gay. I don't need this right now. Ugh!