The Joy of Revenge

CHAPTER 10 A Different Joy My mother didn’t even recognizeat the airport when | only had minor surgery done and colored my hair to a dark blonde The difference is amazing, my mother said, touching my new gold locks. You look gorgeous, sweetheart. | think | should color my hair.” | giggled.

Should | book you an appointment? | have Cristos ask his hair stylist | instantly stopped. How could | ask Cristos a favor when we weren friends anymore? | lowered my eyes, terribly sad.

“What's the matter sweetheart? My mother asked noticing my sad face.

“I think Joy and the tbroke up, my dad said, chuckling. He sounded amused. | gave my dad a dirty look.

“What happened to you and your friends? My mom asked as we all entered the her car to leave the airport.

“I just found out about something, that’s all, | said.

“And does this something directly affect your relationship with the boys?” She asked.

| stared outside and thought about it. They kept the truth about themselves for two years and we were all fine.

Should we be any different now | knew the truth? The answer was simple...no.

“No, Mom. It doesn’t, | said.

“Did they do anything to hurt you?” She asked.

“No, they didn’t, | answered quickly.

“Then, why complicate things? You do want to still be friends with them, right?” My Dad asked, curiously.

“Yes, Dad. | still want to be friends with them, lied.

| wanted to be more than just friends.... to all three of them.

1/4 CHAPTER 10 A Different Joy After our first afternoon out at Domenicos, the tnow beca quartet. | becthe envy of all the girls on campus. | had the attention of these three gorgeous men... if not all of it, most of it.

At first, | thought | was in love with Sebastian. Out of the three, he was the easiest one to talk to, with that boy next door kind of charm... that certain je ne sais quoi. When he looked atwith those honey-colored eyes of his. | would shiver involuntarily, even melting under his jntense gaze. When we touched, | felt the electricity and sometimes, | saw his eyes go dark with desire, but it <1 fleeting, | thought | had imagined it.

One tat the library, someone bumped intopushing the length of my body towards him and | swear, from my point of view, it looked like he was going to kiss me. | raised my lips and closed my eyes, waiting for his lips to touch mine, but when | opened my eyes, | saw him smiling at me. | wanted to kick myself.

Sebastian always had to be somewhere else for sreason, so | spent most of At school, my twith Cristos and Xavier. At the start, | treated them as just friends, since | had my heart set on Sebastian, but | didn’t notice | had fallen in love with them too. First, Xavier then Cristos.

Last December, while | was waiting for Cristos, | saw Xavier talking to a female classmate of ours. It wasn't a secret Shara had a crush on him and | could see by the way he smiled at her that he was into her too. Xavier put her arm around her and they walked away while | fought hard to control my jealousy.

“What's wrong, Joy?” Cristos asked, his tone confused as he finally appeared by my side. He saw Xavier walking away with Shara and noticed the scowl on my face.

“Nothing,” | said, quickly turning my scowl into a bright smile. Cristos didn’t look convinced.

“Shara and Xavier are partners for a project. | can already see Xavier is trying to manipulate Shara to do all the work. He is so lazy,” Cristos explained, rolling his eyes. | averted my face wouldn't seeblushing. away from his, son Then, Cristos. While we were shopping on Rodeo Drive, | didn’t like one of the young sales representatives at a particular store. She served us champagne while making sure Cristos had an unobstructed view of her cleavage.

Cristos stared at her breasts longer than he should have. When the young woman walked away, sashaying her voluptuous hips, | caught Cristos trying to look under her really short skirt.

2/4 12:28 Sat, Mar 23 CHAPTER 10 A Different Joy “Let's go. | don’t want anything from here,” | said, acting like a child.” The store manager, who noticed the reason of my behavior, apologized and told his sales reps to stay away.

When | was trying on a dress, the store manager assistedand had this to say...

“I understand a woman in love. | was in love once...” love.

| looked at her, surprised at her analysis.

| had fallen in love with three men. How was that possible? | began laughing hysterically, like a crazy lady. The store manager began laughing too...withor at me. | had no idea. But after we stopped laughing, she gavea telling look as if she knew why | was laughing.

The more t| spent with Cristos and Xavier and got to know them more, the more | fell in love with them. It was crazy. How could | have fallen in love with three men? What Cristos toldabout the Blood Disciples was just a reason forto push them away. But in New York City, as | stared at my phone, wishing one of them would call, | realized they were my sun, my moon and my moon and my stars.

an “Hey Mom...Dad... Is it okay if | hung out with them tonight? | mean | know I just got here, but | really need to see them,” | said.

“Sure, honey. | was planning to ask your Dad out on a date. Just a movie. Tomorrow, | have the day off,” my mom said smiling, “Tell Cristos to booka stylist for tomorrow afternoon. | want a blonde look just like yours.” “Sure, Mom.” | took out my phone and sent a message through chat. | could see they were all active. At least the message would cto them at the stime.

It Look Several moments before one of the answered.

you.” “X is on his way. We're happy you're back. We missed | smiled when | saw the heart. | sighed and leaned back on the backseat of the car, my smile still on my face.

“Aw, there's that beautiful smile,” my dad said, chuckling.

If he only knew...

3/4 Sebastian's Tirade ring the doorbell. | stood nervously in front of Joy’s house, taking deep breaths, mustering up the courage to With shaking fingers, | pressed the doorbell, then braced myself for the unknown.

“Xavier, sweetie. It's so nice to see you. Con in. Joy is upstairs, still getting ready. But she'll be down soon,” Mrs. Taylor said with her arms outstretched.

Joy’s mom welcomedinto their hwith a big hug. I closed my eyes, so relieved. | relaxed in her arms, choking back the emotions | felt.

When she letgo, | opened my eyes and saw a tall blonde in a sex y white spaghetti strapped fitted dress that went just right below her knee standing at the bottom of the stairs. On her feet were strappy white sandals while she carried a small white purse on her arm.

| blinked. “Joy?” | asked tentatively. She lifted her face and | saw those beautiful blue-green eyes of hers. “Oh, wow!” | exclaimed. “Your hair! Your dress! Your dimple on your chin! Oh my G od! You look great!” “Xavier, don’t drink and drive. And you know she has a curfew, Mrs. Taylor said. “Where are you guys headed?” “The Roof Garden, Mrs. Taylor,” | lied.

“Alright. Have fun, then,” she said, then turned to Joy. “Dad and | are going to Guisados, then we'll watch a movie after, so just call us if you need anything.” “Okay, Mom. Have fun with Dad.

Joy wrapped her arm around mine as we exited the house and walked to the car. | felt a shiver run up and down my spine just from her simple touch.

At Skybar, Cristos and Sebastian were waiting eagerly. Since all three of us had connections, we were given a secluded spot away from the party.

And just like me, Sebastian and Cristos did not recognize Joy from afar, but when they saw her eyes, they instantly knew who she was.

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