Chapter Ten

Janelle wasn't surprised at the absence of Therese when she arrived at the restaurant. Her friend lacks the concept of time and tends to come few minutes later than any appointed time. Janelle got them a two-man table and settled down to await the arrival of her royal highness. She ordered their drinks while she waits.

Thirty minutes into her wait and still no sign of Therese, Janelle started to get irritated. Is one thing to be late when they have to go somewhere and another thing to be late when her best friend was in the midst of a breakup crisis.

Disappointed at her best friend behavior Janelle turned to flag down the waitress for her bill when the devil, oh I mean her royal highness burst through the door with a high amount of energy, eyes fleeting around like a thief on the lookout. When our eyes met, hers turned from its searching expression to a contrite look as she hurriedly made her way in my direction. Shading other patrons with her wide hips, without so much as an apology while those patrons threw glares at her.

"Girl I am so sorry, "Therese apologized for getting to where her best sat. "You can't believe what happened to me on my way..."

The words of excuse that were about to escape her friend's mouth caused Janelle to release a weary groan as she placed her forehead on her palms, not in the mood for one of Therese's outlandish stories she normally spurs anytime she is late.

"No, this time is for real, "Therese muttered seeing the look on her friend's face. "You see while I was driving to this place, I got distracted by an Old white dude dancing naked in the street, with his shriveled everything out there in the open, I was making sure I wasn't hallucinating the whole abnormal sight when I bumped into the guy driving in front of me who had braked at the red light. I tried explaining to the dude that it wasn't my fault, that it was the old dude fault for distracting me. To cut the whole story shot I was able to charm the guy into letting me go with my wits, and it turned out the old guy is an escapee from that old person home around the corner." Therese finished with a pleases smile at her best friend for having a good reason this time. The smile changed to a frown when she saw the look on her face.

Janelle couldn't believe the words that just poured out of Therese's mouth, as she stared open-mouthed at her, she couldn't stand it any longer and cracked up, laughing so loud that she was drawing attention from other patrons giving them displeased look. The is she going crazy look on Therese's face was not making it easy for Janelle to get herself together.

Therese watched lost as her friend laughed like a crazy person, not knowing what to do. Her laughter was almost hysterical and it was scaring Therese that she blurted out the words that came to her mouth without thinking.

"The break up must have shaken you up more than I expected that it is driving you crazy," Therese looked at her friend to stop before the mental doctors arrive and carts her away.

Janelle laughed harder at Therese's words and look till she found herself sobbing hard as her emotions overwhelmed her.

The split-second change in her friend's mood caused Therese's eyes to widen in alarm as her friend started sobbing. She quickly stood from her seat to her friend's side and drew her into her arms for comfort.

Janelle allowed her tears to flow some more before she got herself together and allowed her friend to get back to her seat. She wasn't concerned about her public breakdown, just relieved to be feeling a little better from being comforted by her friend.

"So what did Tweedledee do this time around?" Theresa asked looking at her friend.

Janelle took in a deep breath and narrated everything that happened, but this time her eyes were dry. She was done shading tears for the bastard.

Therese listened with a tight fist till her friend was done. "Will you visit me, if I am sentenced to life imprisonment? "Therese asked with a serious look.

"What! " Janelle exclaimed, frowning at the non-sequitur.

"Well, that is the punishment for murder is that not, "Therese added confusing Janelle the more as her frown deepened.

"You are not making sense girl, " Janelle said shaking her head at her friend.

"That is what I will get when I kill your boyfriend for hurting you, "Therese said with a serious look on her face.

Janelle smiled at her friend's words before it deemed as a sad look took its place, "Unfortunately, he is not the first, "Janelle mumbled, remembering other guys she has dated that had done the same thing to her. Was she not attractive enough, not giving them enough sex, not good enough, must be something with me Janelle reasoned in melancholy.

Therese saw the dejected look on Janelle's face and immediately surmised the cause. "Hey, baby girl, don't go thinking you are not good enough, those guys are ass holes and their loss for passing on something good, Therese assured her friend with a calming touch to her hand.

"I think I should just give up sex, "Janelle blurted out causing Therese to spit out the drink she has just taking, giving her friend what the hell are you talking about look.

The look on her friend's face made Janelle explain what she actually meant to say. "Most of this guy I get into bed with them so quickly before we can even know each other well, maybe this time I will withhold sex till we have known each other well and are pretty serious," she finished smiling proudly at her friend.

Therese gave her a look of disbelief, "Janelle you are a sex addict, "she muttered causing her friend to glare at her.

"I am not a sex addict, I just enjoy sex a lot," Janelle mumbled glaring at her friend.

"Well don't you think is going to be difficult abstaining for someone who claims to enjoy sex a lot, "Therese said making a quote with her fingers.

Janelle rolled her eyes at her friend, "for your information I can control myself, "she muttered ignoring the I don't believe you look on Therese's face.

"Ready to get out of here? "she asked when they were done with their drink.

Therese nodded her head and stood following her friend after taking care of the bill, which she insisted on.

It is new year's eve and Janelle was going to her parent's house for the party celebration, and she promised herself to let go of all her baggage and have fun tonight. Her parent's house was not very far from where she lives so she decides to dress for the party from her house.

Picking up the phone she dialed her best friend who was coming with her. She waited for the woman to pick her up. "Start preparing we leave at 7," she said without preamble.

"But that's three hours away, "Therese complained at her words.

"That will give you ample time to be ready by the time I come to pick you up, if not you are on your own, "she said cutting the call before her friend could put up more argument.

Three hours later Janelle was ready in her short red dress matched with high black boots her hair falling in waves with light makeup adjoining her face she was ready to leave for her parent's house. She first drove to Therese house and was surprised to see her waiting in front of her door wearing a modest black gown with low cut heels.

"Oh okay who switched the body?"Janelle asked jokingly when Therese joined her in the car.

"Well, I didn't want to arrive alone at your parent's house, "Therese muttered with a roll of her eyes as they drove off.

In front of her parent's cars, there were several cars parked, Janelle was able to pick out her three brothers' cars, meaning they have already arrived with their family and Janelle was excited she will be seeing them soon. She was out the door and heading quickly in the house direction, wanting to see her brothers who she hasn't seen since thanksgiving.

Opening the house it was lightly packed with their extended families and friends all sporting some black dress or tuxedo making Janelle stick out like a sore thumb in her red very short dress, and she didn't mind as she waved to some of her family members air kissing them one after the other while she searched for her brothers.

Janelle caught sight of the tall shadow of her elder brother, Timothy hanging with two other guys. she made her way in their direction, making sure he didn't catch sight of her, when she was close enough, she wrapped her arms around his middle, "I have missed so much my love," she whispered disguising her voice.

Timothy smiled recognizing the voice of his younger sister even though she tried to disguise it. playing along, he murmured, "my wife is around somewhere I wouldn't want her catching wind of our relationship."

"She is not here, "Janelle continued in a soft lover's whisper.

"She is right behind you miss, "a feminine voice muttered in mock seriousness.

Janelle laughed out loud when her brother dropped the act at his wife's voice and turned to lift her up in his huge arms while twirling her around.

"I miss you, sis, "he said dropping her back to the ground.

"Miss, you too, "Janelle said with a wide smile before turning to her sister in law, "hi Sarah," she said going for a hug.

"Stop teasing my husband, brat, "Sarah joked hugging her sister-in-law tight.

"Are you not going to introduce us Tim? "a low baritone voice asked from behind drawing the attention of the three family members.

Tim rolled his eyes, before dragging her sister forward to introduce her to his two friends who he had invited for this year's party.

"Jane, this is Samuel and Adam, my friends and work colleagues, guys my naughty younger sister Janelle."

"Is a pleasure to meet you guys, "Janelle said shaking their hands, she wasn't surprised when the one called Samuel who had asked for the introduction held her hand a little longer, she read his interest when she was approaching her brother, still feeling the sting of her last relationship, Janelle was not ready to tangle with someone new, so she didn't acknowledge his look, but instead asked for her hand back with a pointed look. And the guy trying to be charming had leaned down to kiss her hand before releasing it sending a buzz of electricity through her that caused her to inhale, which the guy noticed because he gave her a knowing look as he dropped her hand.

Feeling a little flustered, Janelle made an excuse of going to look for her other brothers Jake and Drake, her twin younger brothers, and made her escape trying to suppress the feeling rising up in her.

Making her way through the house Janelle encountered her dad who was checking the drinks in the freezer inside their storeroom.

"!Dad she exclaimed, pulling his attention away from the freezer, as she hurried in his direction to be engulfed in his powerful arms that made Janelle release a satisfied sigh as the feeling of safety engulfed her, that is how she has always felt in her father's arms.

"How is my baby girl doing?" her dad asked pulling back to take in his daughter's features. Something in her eyes must have alerted him that all is not well.

"What is it querida?" he asked looking at worriedly.

Janelle has never lied to her father and she is not going to start now. "Joe cheated on me," she whispered burying her face in her father's neck.

"What! "her dad exclaimed in anger, "I am going to wring that good for nothing asshole neck," he threatened while tightening his arms around his daughter in comfort.

"Not so loud dad, "Janelle warned, "I don't want Jake and Drake knowing, they will kill him, "Janelle said remembering the beating that they gave the last guy who cheated on her when she was still younger.

"And that will serve him right, "her dad muttered in a heated tone.

"Where are they? "she asked inquiry after the twins.

"In the kitchen pestering your mum, am sure she is about to be driven crazy by their presence, why don't you go and distract those devils you call your brothers."

Janelle laughed heading towards the kitchen where she is sure her brothers are trying to sneak food before it is ready. Sometimes Janelle had to wonder if they are twenty-five or five-year-olds.

"Look who is here, "Jake said with a huge smile catching sight of his sister as soon she made it through the door.

Janelle laughed as she was picked and twirled around by the twins one after the other. Janelle was shorter than her family members except for her mum who is just few feet taller than a dwarf and makes Janelle 5.6ft seem very tall.

Smiling widely in the said woman's direction, it was Janelle's turn to lift someone else up as she picked her slender mum up twirling her around as her brothers did her.

"Put me down you lunatic, "her mum cried as the other occupants of the room laughed.

"Stop playing around with my wife, "Jane her dad scolded from the doorway with a smile on his face.

Janelle gave her mum one more spin before dropping her on the floor and had to hold her steady when she stumbled a bit, earning her a light hit to the shoulder from her mum who was mock glaring at her before she broke into a huge smile pleased to see her daughter.

"How are you doing baby girl?" she asked looking into her eyes and frowned at the sadness she saw there. She was about to question her further when a look from her told her not now, she looked in her husband's direction and was surprised by the fury she saw there. She was about to confront him when her elder son made an appearance.

"Is food not ready? the guests are getting hungry," he said meaning him as his family gave him an amused smile.

"Ok people start carrying the food out, "the woman ordered her family as they started taking food out for dinner.

Throughout dinner, Janelle was subjected to heated gazes from Samuel, which was setting her insides on fire, and making her feel like jumping his mouth-watering a tall handsome body.

She was hanging around the corner with her drink as they all waited for the count down when the guy joined her raising the tension swimming in Janelle's body twofold.

They tried to hold some conversation but the tension spiraling between them was making it difficult and when the guy took his lips in between his teeth as he stared at Janelle with a narrow look, she couldn't take it anymore. She took him by his hand and dragged him off to the bathroom where she pushed him against the wall and took his lips in an aggressive kiss.

The kiss grew hotter within few seconds and Janelle felt the guy's hands exploring her body, remembering her promise she pushed the guy away, muttering "I can't," as she ran from the bathroom.

In the leaving room, she urgently searched for her friend, because she needed to flee this place before she succumbed to her body needs. Catching sight of her chatting up one of her cousins, she marched to her taking her hand in hers matched towards the door, "we are leaving," was the only words she said before dragging her friend to the car.