chapter 3: Elle

"I don't like women that smoke," my lastest date announced as I pulled out a clove cigarette.
I rolled my eyes and continued to light my clove. I need a good temporary high and another red stripe. I had know this guy for less than a week and he was already trying to run my life.
"If the smoke bothers you, I won't be offended if you take a walk," I responded as I inhaled the smoke from my clove.
"I just think its a bad habit and unladylike. You are too cute to be over here puffing away," he said looking down at me as we watched a couple in front of us on the dance floor grinding it up.
"Yeah, well its my lungs right?" I snapped back.
Typically I wasn't ever this fiesty with anyone but this guy was getting on my nerves. If I didn't ride with him here I probably would have ditched him an hour ago. Who invites a girl to a club but doesn't dance and only buys her one drink and expects them to sit around the bar people watching all night. I should have known this one wouldn't work. My newly married line sister introduced Jaden to me at her housewarming party last week. She has been ranting and raving about her husband friend from business school for months now. Anyway, at the party he seemed pretty cool. He just relocated here from Calli. He lives in the Grant park area so he is not to far from me. Anyway, we had been playing phone tag all week when he finally caught me today and asked if I wanted to hang out.

I said cool and he said he wanted to see some ATL nightlife. I asked him what type of crowd and vibe was he into. He told me lowkey but he wanted hear some real hip hop. So I took him to MJQ. Now I will admit that MJQ is very hole in the wall spot. It takes a certain type of person to apperciate it. But where else can you go in Atlanta and listen old Wu Tang Clan songs, watch Japanese kids pop n' lock, and spot local celebrities? MJQ seemed like a pretty interesting peak at what Atlanta's night scence has to offer.

He comes to my loft to pick me up around 9. Who goes out to party that earlier ??? So of course I am not ready. I make him a vodka tonic, seat him politely on my couch, and continue getting dressed. I finally decide on a denim bcbg mini shirt a fitted pale yellow cashmere sweater and some thigh high camel colored laceup boots. I pulled my hair back into a high ponytail and put on my yellow threaded earrings. I thought my outfit was pretty hot. I walk out to my living room and Mr. Jaden gives me this stank look and says
"Tammie didn't tell me you were so into fashion. I didn't get those materialistic vibes from you. Don't you think you outfit is a little too much for just hanging out?"
I look back at him and say, "I thought you from Calli, I am sure those girls can run circles around me. We are going to check out a club right? Did you want to do something more low key?"
He shakes his head and I grab my coat. We get to his car Toyota Camry and he doesn't even bother to open the door for me. Now I am thinking this mofo is rude as hell. In his car he is playing an old Outkast cd. I am bobbing my head and giving him some cool points back for liking Outkast when he snaps at me for singing the words to the song. Okay the rest of the car ride is silent. We end up being the first people in line at MJQ and the club isn't even open yet. When we finally get inside and here I am now standing by the bar bored out of my mind. To make matters worst, my feet are killing me.
"I'm going to the bathroom. Don't get too lonely without me," Jaden announced bringing his eyes back to me and away from the dance floor.
"Cool," I said putting out my clove in the ashtray on the bar.
Jaden walked away and I did another survey of the bar area. My eyes lingered over to a tall familar face. I would recognized those eyes from anywhere. I smiled. He smiled and motioned for me to join him on the otherside of the bar. I shook my head playfully and motioned for him to join me instead. He adhered to my request and made his way to me.
"Hello, beautiful."
"Whats up?" I responded back. It was Mark, Brice's friend from the gallery. He would hang out at MJQ. He looked pretty hot tonight though. He was wearing a black collar shirt, loafers and dark rinse diesel jeans.
"Where is Brice?" he asked
"Not sure, I haven't heard from him in a while." I hadn't heard from his inconsistent ass in three weeks now.
"Too bad. I still want you to model for me," he said looking me over. "You look really good tonight by the way. Can I buy you a drink?"
"Sure, my date hasn't bothered to notice that I am almost done with this red stripe." I laughed holding my damn near empty bottle.
"Your date. So you are with that guy that was standing here earlier. He looks like fun." Mark said sarcatically with a smirk on his face.
"Cute, who are you here with?" I smiled. I guess it was clear that I was not having a good time with Jayden.
"How about we leave here and I take you to a better spot?" he said grabbing my hand.
"No, I can't leave my date." I laughed back.
Mark gave me a smiled and licked his lips.
"You must not be into white guys?" he asked leaning back on the bar.
"I don't discriminate but its a little rude to leave one guy to hang out with another." I said back. Where the hell was Jayden anyway? It did not take that long to go to the bathroom.
"Okay, Ms. Elle. How about we meet up later after your date then?" he said motioning the bartender over.
"Maybe another time Mark," I flirted.
"What can I get you sweetie?" the short blonde bartender asked.
"The lady wants another red stripe, I want a vodka tonic and her date would like whateever he was drinking before," Mark ordered and then directed his attention back to me. "We should get together soon then. I will leave you to your date and drink."
The bartender walked up and sat my red stripe and Jayden's drink beside me. She returned a few seconds later with Mark's drink. Mark lifted his drink to mine and said cheers. Just as our drinks meet Jayden walked up looking crazy.
"Hello, I'm Mark," Mark said introducing hisself to Jayden.
Jayden looked Mark over and then looked at me. I shrugged not knowing what to say or do.
"I am one of Elle's friends. I saw her standing here and so I just wanted to say hello," Mark said taking another sip of his drink.
"Nice to meet you man, is that for me?" Jayden asked noticing the full drink beside my red stripe bottle.
"Yeah, well it was great seeing you Mark," I said directing my attention back to him.
"Likewise Elle, I will make sure to stay in touch." Mark nodded at Jayden and walked off.

Saturdays were always slow for me. I got home from my date with Jayden around one. I told him that I had a headache to leave the club. I couldn't take another moment of boredom plus I found myself watching Mark bounce around with a few of his friends on the opposite side of the bar at little too much. I could tell that Jayden was getting annoyed by my occasional glances in Mark's direction so I figured I would go ahead and throw the towel in. Jayden tried to go in for the kiss but I sarcastically reminded him that he hated women that smoked and I leaped out of his car into the night air.
I wanted to dial Brice's number one more time before I entertained the thought of possibly going out with this guy Mark. It wasn't that I didn't do white guys but I had a rule against hooking up with friends. I liked Brice prior to him ignoring my phone calls. He was pretty hot but Mark was kinda hot too. So I gave in and let my fingers do the talking but I made sure to dial *67 first.
"Hello," a deep sleeply voice answered.
"Hey Brice, how are you?" I asked. I got you now mofo!!!
"What's up, who is this?" he asked. I could tell I had awakened him.
"Damn, you already forgot me. This is Elle. Long time no hear," I asked.
"Oh, Elle. Hey whats up girl? Yeah, I have been meaning to call you I have been out of town. Whats going on with you?"
"Ummm... nothing much. I have been trying to get in touch with you for the past month. Where did you go?"
"Yeah, I saw that you called I have been so focused on this piece that I am doing for my opening in San Fran that I havn't had time to call you or anyone."
"Oh, when is your openning?"
"In a few months. This is the final piece to the collection. Yeah, plus my old lady came back from Berlin two days ago so I 've been caught up. But we need to hook up soon. I enjoyed that thing we did a few weeks ago in my studio. Your cocoa skin looked good in midnight blue paint," he laughed.
I could tell he was grinning ear to ear. My thoughts drifted back to that night. I couldn't believe that I let Brice paint my body. We didn't have sex but he did get very familar with me. Wait a minute... did I just hear him say old lady? Was he referring to a girl or his mom!!!!
"Did you just say your old lady? What was your mom doing in Berlin?"
"Ummm... not my mom, meant my girl. She been gone for a year touring over there,"
Silence.
"You have a girlfriend?" I finally asked.
"Its complicated, we have an open kinda thing going on. I see who I want to see, she sees who she wants to see. I thought we talked about this?"
"We had no such conversation. I didn't realize you had a girlfriend."
"Actually, we're engaged."
At this point my face was burning. I wanted to cry my eyes out. I almost had sex with this dude and he is engaged. I felt so stupid. No wonder he blew me off his finacee was back in town.
"You know what Brice, I need to hang up now. Have a nice life!!!"
I throw my cell phone down and buried my head in my lap. I couldn't believe this dude was engaged and still trying to kick it with me. I wanted to scream. Men defenitely aren't shit!!!!! I looked over to my cell phone to see Brice's number pop up on my caller id. Did he really think I was going to pick up my phone after he told he that crap? I rolled my eyes, picked myself up from the couch and made my way to the kitchen. I was still in my pajamas and it was already noon. I surveyed my cabinents for something quick to eat but then decided on ordering pizza from nancy's.
I couldn't believe that once again some guy played me. I am a smart, pretty girl. Why am I 27, single and living in my gay best friend's loft? I haven't had a decent relationship since undergrad. Its been guy, after guy, after guy... I need a break from dating.