Drinking and Driving

Chapter Two.

Jasmine Daniels.

"See this is it right here." Chanel cooed as I stood on the other side of my room looking as one of my costars stood in my closet picking through my clothes.

"Chanel, please take whatever you want. I have too much anyways. I'm pretty sure I haven't worn half of those things." She nodded her head still rummaging.

I sat down and began scrolling through Instagram. I got to The Shade Room's post and braced myself for the embarrassment. There I was again, for the same reason. I couldn't keep a man. Or at least that's what the caption read.

"Jas, stay off the Internet. I can see it in your face. Fuck the shade room." I just nodded and kept scrolling. Fuck them.

"Any ways... are you heading to Elissium tonight? I hear there's a special guest." I shook my head. "I don't want to hear Janet's mouth. I'm not in the mood for another lecture about self respect." I saw Cha roll her eyes. I was in for it now.

"Why do you have to listen to everything she says? Huh? Why when she says jump, do you say how high? I know it's not cause she pays your bills because you do that all on your own, honey. If anything you pay hers." I smiled as she snapped her fingers three times while forming the letter 'Z'.

"Seriously, most managers aren't like her. It's like she thinks you owe her or something. Trust me you don't owe her shit." I nodded. "I hear you, Cha."

"Yeah, whatever." She mumbled as she disappeared further into my closet. She knew her debate was falling on deaf ears because I did owe Janet. I took away the only thing she had left. Her brother.

My father took care of the whole family with his publishing company. He sacrificed himself for my selfishness and I know that I need to make sure his family is taken care of. I'm sure he only had it this was because he didn't expect to leave this earth but he didn't have her on his will. When he died it was all left to me.

I was 18 once the will was read and immediately became a burden to my mothers family who thought they deserved some of his money and his distant cousin's that I had never heard of before.

All I had left after that was Aunt Janet and she helped me further my career to where I am today. I did owe her. I owed her my life in more ways than one.

•••

Looking around the restaurant I caught flashes of light from cameras in the windows. Even though I am used to this, I would often wish for a break, just once I would like to out to eat or leave my house without make-up on and not risk ruining my career because of it.

"Just ignore them, Jas. We're here to eat." I nodded as I stabbed at my chicken Caesar salad. Whenever I went out to eat I was never hungry. Maybe. It was the forceful way the paparazzi was that turned off my lunch but it always happened.

"So have you thought about Elissium? I mean I really don't want go alone." Just like me Cha had no friends. She was an only child and she loved it until her mother passed away from breast cancer and she had to mourn alone.

Although she had our fellow costars it wasn't the same. That was a feeling I knew all too well.

"I hadn't brought the idea across Janet's desk." She scratched at her collar something she always did when she was nervous.

"So, maybe I was on twitter." I nodded. "Maybe I was tweeting about the party," I nodded again, because usually when someone wouldn't just complete a sentence it wasn't going to be bad. It's something that I will always remember.

"Maybe I said you would be there." I looked up into her face so quick. I honestly forgot she was still talking her pause was so long. All she did was give me a toothy smile.

A few seconds after her smile my phone rang. I knew it was Janet. She always knew when fun was going to be had, she always showed up before and sucked it right out.

"It's her. Isn't it?" I looked down and picked up my phone. Just what I needed, The Devil.

I nodded my head and she smacked her lips. "Don't fucking answer it." I thought about her proposal but it wasn't really heard. It's something that I contemplated in my head.

You know if you answer her, I'm just going to come back in full force. I tried not to look at her with her fire engine red hair.

How was that Gawwwwd awful medicine this morning? Do you feel "human" yet.

I had to get her out of my head. I'd rather have Janet.

"Hello, Aunt Janet." I tried to sound as chipper as I could. I just know there's a shit storm coming.

"Where are you? There are things you need to sign. I hope you're not with that girl." I rolled my eyes. She could make me get rid of my man, but not my friend. I only had one and I don't even know if we could be considered friends.

"I am with Cha, yes. We're enjoying lunch." Cha smiled at me dipping her salmon in her mashed cauliflower.

"Ugh, you don't need her. You have me." I wanted to gag.

Better me than her, she's a drag."

"Well, I'm eating now. Is there something you needed immediately or can I finish?" I just knew she was rolling her eyes.

"Actually, a little birdie told me you were going out tonight. What have I told you about your image?" I rolled my eyes and looked over at Chanel. She was mouthing 'Hang Up' over and over and I snickered into the rant my Aunt was going on.

"Is something funny?" I tried to calm myself down. "No, ma'am."

"I bet if your father were here you wouldn't be acting like a loose child with no respect for herself." With the mention of my father I sucked my lip into my mouth attempting to stop the tears.

"My father would be proud of me. This conversation is over." I had to hang up. I couldn't give her the satisfaction of hearing me change my attitude to fit her.

As I sat and think I realized my father would want me to live my life to the fullest and that's exactly what I intended to do.

"So Cha, what time is this party?" I watched as her left eyebrow went up and a smile appeared across her Carmel face. I could also hear her laughing in the background and the only way I could get her out was to take to control.

"Were leaving at 10. I'm getting ready at your house so you don't flake. This will be a night to remember."

That it would be. I just didn't know what, or who hit me yet.

August

"You do know that you can go home now, I got this." My assistant Jason said as I sat in the studio watching the new artist, Emily.

She was different for our label. A mix of pop and hip hop. It was something new and I was digging her sound.

"I know, you bout one of the only people I trust to do anything for me." Jason spun around in his chair and looked at me. He looked perplexed and confused.

"So out of all of these people you keep around you only trust me? August, that's not good."

I rolled my eyes and slowly got out of my chair. I wasn't here for Jason's mouth tonight I have a party to attend to and he was throwing my vibe.

"I know, I know. I'm throwing your vibe." I laughed my way to my office. My cellphone had been going off all day but I always give my artists my undivided attention