Morana Alistar

I showered, washing all the bad from me.

"Morana!" Zara screamed and I frowned.

She came into the bathroom.

"Why were your eyes swollen when Kieran brought you in?"

I sighed.

"Nothing." I turned from the curtain and rinsed my hair of the conditioner before washing my body.

She waited till I was done.

I wrapped myself in a towel.

"Not only that but they ignored me the entire time!" She ranted.

I smiled, grateful.

"What happened?" She asked.

I looked at her.

"Nothing."

"They can know but I can't?"

"No."

"Morana-"

"I'll beat the shit outta you. Stop." I warned.

She stared at me, shocked.

"I don't wanna talk about it, honey. I need water." I said.

She stood, running to grab me a bottle from the fridge.

She came back and handed it to me as I drank it.

She looked sad and I grabbed her face.

"I didn't mean to cry. They happened to be there. I told them to ignore you. They took care of me, I'm fine." I whispered and she nodded.

I let her go and walked past her.

"Well, they asked me to ask you if you wanted to go to the western casino for dinner. They invited Antony and I as well."

I nodded.

"Be ready in an hour."

-

I finished my makeup, my eyes still swollen but it was whatever.





I got to my living room where Zara was yelling at Davian and Kieran for being in here as they stood, watching her freak out.

I took a moment to study them.

Davian's eyes were electrifyingly green as he wore a nice outfit.



Kieran wore his signature unbuttoned shirt to show off his tattoos.



As he watched her he toyed with his lip ring.

"Are you done?" I asked and Zara looked at me, her face red and I smiled.

They looked at me and I looked down at myself.

"What?"

"Ready?" Kieran asked.

I nodded.

I walked out in front of them, we got to the main floor where Antony held a bouquet for Zara who gasped and giggled like a teenager.

I was happy for her. They were both sappy and cheesy. It worked.

"What's the equivalent of flowers for you?" Davian asked and I looked up at him, his eyes piercing mine, his lower lip between his teeth.

"Books." I whispered.

"What kind?" He asked.

"Dark romance. Mafia romance." I smiled.

"Mmmm. Alright." He stood back to his height and I shrugged.

We left and watched Antony take her in his car.

"Wanna walk or drive?" Kieran asked.

"Walk." I said.

And we did. They didn't ask anything of earlier, just left me alone and I appreciated it.

"Thank you for not saying anything to her." I looked up at Kieran especially.

"You asked us not to." He frowned, confused about the gratitude.

"Yeah but you literally said nothing." I whispered.

He shrugged.

It mattered to me regardless.

So I mentally pretended he said you're welcome.

Kieran was on the side of the cars, Davian on my other side.

I can't count how many people he's ran into.

He doesn't try to move.

He doesn't budge.

He's gotten cursed at many times in the past 5 minutes.

I was amused.

"Where should we sit in the booth to avoid the PDA couple?" Davian asked and Kieran hummed.

"No idea."

We got there, they already had the table and we walked to them.

"Get in." Davian said and I did.

I was beside Zara and he sat at the edge of the U booth.

Kieran sat on the edge of the other side beside Antony.

"I can guard-" Kieran looked at Antony with a "let's be for real" type of look.

He shut up.

Antony was a beautiful man but you can tell he was a golden retriever boy.

Too kind. Too naieve. And that was absolutely Zara's type since she was the opposite and very confrontational.

I didn't like those kinds of boys.

I've seen shit. I need a realist, not a dreamer.

"Ladies, gentlemen, bosses. What can I get y'all to drink?" The waiter asked.

I looked at Zara.

"A margarita please." She smiled.

Antony ordered a martini.

The waiter looked at Kieran but he looked back at me.

I tried to talk but my throat was like a desert.

"What do you want, beautiful?" Davian scooted closer to me.

"First she needs water please but she would like a frozen peach margarita." He read what I pointed to.

"Awesome salt okay?"

I shook my head no.

"Sugar?" Kieran asked.

I nodded.

"Sugar rim, amazing. I'll grab that water as well. Mr. Richards?" He looked at Kieran.

"Bourbon, over ice."

"Mr. Conor?"

"Mmm you know what I want." He said and the waiter smiled.

"Great, anything else for now?" He asked.

"She needs her water before anything. And then us three are together and the two of them are." Davian pointed.

"Cool. Alright, I'll grab that water."

He left.

"Thanks." I whispered. Davian fixed a strand of my hair.

"Of course."

"Why can't we all be on the same bill?" Antony cleared his throat and I sat back, analyzing the man into Zara.

"I'm not paying for you two." Kieran looked at him, skeptical as well.

"Didn't you bring money?" I leaned forward, placing my chin on my hands.

He swallowed.

Zara sighed.

"This is the second time." She said and this was news to me.

"I'll get it." I said.

"No." Zara rushed.

"Zara-"

"Wait for your water, doll." Kieran stopped me and I frowned.

"I can get it, Mo. It's alright." She looked frustrated.

I looked at the boy beside her.

He shrunk a few sizes.

"Relying on other men to pay for you?" I asked, not caring if my voice sounded like it were being killed.

"I didn't mean to-"

"Zip it. She'll kill you before you make an excuse." Zara muttered, embarrassed.

I glared at him.

"Pussy." I sat back, crossing my arms over my chest as I was given my water.

I drank it and Davian's hand settled on my thigh.

"Relax." He whispered.

"In your wallet in your car?" I asked him.

"It is." Zara looked at him.

I hummed.

"You're relying on men to pay for you, why not pay for yourself?" He asked.

"I brought my wallet. I can pay if I desire, but these gentlemen were kind enough to pay for my things." I ignored the protest of my voice.

"Pay for ours then."

Zara looked at him, disrespect and hurt coating her face.

"I'm done talking." I looked from the boy.

"I think you should go." Zara told him.

He glared.

"Do you actually want that?" Davian asked, his hand still on my leg.

"Please. I really do." She nodded.

Kieran stood.

"Come on pretty boy." He said and Antony left in anger.

Kieran sat back down.

"Sorry babe." I whispered to her.

"You know better than I do." She shrugged.

"He seemed okay." I shrugged.

"You thought that because I didn't talk to you about him. He's been like that I just didn't want you to be right."

I nodded. I understood that.