Luxe by Ashley Antoinette Page B

watered. It took everything in her not to go in on them. These nosey broads were worse than the old hens who spread news through the ghetto grapevine back home. She couldn’t, however, burn bridges that she might have to cross later. She knew no one here, so she might as well make an effort to get to know them. She would need allies here. The last thing she wanted was to beef out with the women she shared a living space with. She sighed and instead of going the “slap a bitch route,” she decided to extend her trust. New friends were a rarity where she was from. If you hadn’t been down from day one, you wouldn’t get down, but she couldn’t live by that rule anymore. What would she do? Stay holed up in her dorm for four years? Nah, she had to put herself out there. She had to start laying the foundation to live her new Cali life. “Y’all have no idea what it took to get here. I have to do this. That’s why you two can’t say anything. Not one word to anybody.” She closed her robe insecurely.
    Aysha held up her hands in defense. “I won’t say a word, mama.”
    China nodded. “I won’t say anything.”
    Bleu cut her eyes at China skeptically. She could just see China running across campus telling all her business as the opportunity arose. The bitch looked like a gossip. There was nothing worse than a chatty chick with loose lips, and China fit the description to a T.
    â€œHey,” China protested, catching the shade. “I know I was in bitch mode last night. My bad. I won’t say anything. You can trust me. If we’re going to live together for the rest of the school year we may as well be cool, right?”
    Aysha laughed and shook her head. “China’s cool. She’s kept bigger secrets than this.”
    China added, “To make up for last night, we’ll show you around. Aysha is signed with Ford Models. Her pretty ass can get us into all the hot spots. VIP, bottle service, step and repeat, the whole nine. You should come out and let us introduce you to a few people. Might as well get accustomed to the vamp life. That’s when the city comes alive.”
    â€œYou model? Then why are you here?” Bleu asked curiously.
    â€œBecause this ass won’t be this tight forever. Looks fade; my degree won’t,” Aysha said. “But while I’m this dope might as well enjoy the perks.” She winked and flashed a smile before she added, “You in or nah?”
    Bleu hesitated briefly before replying, “Yeah, I’m in.”
    *   *   *
    Bleu tugged at her clothes insecurely as she stood in front of the full-length mirror. Jordans, a sleeveless, crop-top turtleneck, and black leggings gave her a sexy tomboyish look. It was the best thing that she had in her suitcase, but still it didn’t quite feel good enough. She wasn’t a stiletto type of girl, at least not yet. She had just graduated from high school less than six months ago. She was still in the realm of sneakers and backpacks, but clearly that attire didn’t cut it here. She squirmed uncomfortably as she frowned at her reflection. She reached up and pulled her hair into a tight ponytail just as Aysha and China came bursting through the door. No one ever seemed to knock. Privacy seemed to be nonexistent.
    â€œNah, mama, hair down,” Aysha said as she came up behind Bleu, giving her two cents.
    â€œAnd what are you wearing?” China added. “We’re going to a nightclub, not the mall. You’re wearing sneakers. They won’t even let you in without heels that are at least five inches.”
    Bleu turned and looked at the two glamazons in front of her. Her cheap threads were incomparable to the thousands of dollars’ worth of labels they were wearing. Not only did she not look the part, but also she felt out of place. There was no way she could stand next to these two. It wasn’t just a matter