Suds – Season 1, Episode 16

… a mini-soap opera that bubbles with Love & Drama

[Last time on Suds, a whole lot was going down in the club. Shantel strutted her stuff on the dance floor with her sorority sisters, while Mira and Leilah searched the bar area for Darien who was definitely interested in Leilah. However, Leilah was accosted by Terrance’s eagerness. Is anyone else a little confused about who Terrance wants? Ms. Bossy or Lady Loner? If it’s Ms. Bossy, he has a serious problem because she was right back in her ex Darien’s face at the party. And if it’s Lady Loner, he still has a problem because I get the feeling she’s a little clumsy for Darien. The world is turning, the young are restless and the beauties are beyond bold, so let the hot water run and pour in the chamomile bath salt cause it’s time to get sudsy…]

“What about you?” Terrance asked Leilah. He stared deep into her eyes. “Are you secretive?”
“Depends…” Leilah smiled, tainting her voice with a sarcastic reminder, “Is your girlfriend?”

Instantly, Terrance remembered that Shantel was also in the club. His eyes darted around the room from the dance floor, to the game room and finally to the bar where they met Shantel’s cold glare.
~~
Somebody is in trouble, Leilah thought as Shantel came into view. Dude knows he is on a tight leash. He should have stayed at her heels where she thinks he belongs. Leilah stifled laughter as she looked up at Terrance who was clearly bracing himself for Shantel’s tantrum. Just as Leilah was about to leave the lovers to their spat, Shantel stepped up in her face.
“What did I tell you?” she snapped at Leilah.

Is she talking to me? Leilah glanced around for the other person Shantel had the gaud to approach in such a rude manner. There was no one else, and all eyes in the vicinity were looking at her like she had something to do with Shantel’s outburst. She can not be talking to me.

“Baby, calm down,” Terrance stepped between Leilah and Shantel.
“Calm down my behind. You cheating on me with my roommate,” Shantel screamed slapping his chest.

Roommate? Leilah thought. “Wait a minute,” she said aloud as she attempted to push Terrance’s massive frame from her view of the sociopath. “Are you talking about me?”

“Who else do you see smiling all up in my man’s face?” Shantel yelled.
Leilah blurted out a mixture of laughter and a gasp of disbelief. “Shantel, I already told you I don’t want your man.”
“Well, then stay away from him,” she screamed, clawing with all her might to get past Terrance.

Leilah chuckled, “Are you trying to fight me?”
“You better not go to sleep,” Shantel yelled. “I swear if you come back to the room you better sleep with one eye open.”

“I better not go to sleep,” Leilah repeated, skeptically. “I wish you would try to pull that mess with me.” Leilah directed herself to walk away, but Shantel’s words lit a small fire of rage inside her. And as she tried to be the bigger person and walk away, the threat resounded in Leilah’s mind blended with the visual of Shantel clawing to get at her.

“You heard me, you poverty ridden…” Shantel mouthed off a string of profane sentiments toward Leilah.

Leilah blinked.
Time slowed.
And all sounds disappeared.

She blinked again, and like a gust of wind, she was warped back to the images and sounds of Shantel hurling insults and threats at her.

Leilah’s eyes darkened. And like a hunter with its target in sight, Leilah lunged at Shantel.

Shantel’s eyes widened.
Terrance turned to buffer the attack.
Then a body collided with Leilah’s.

His arms wrapped tightly around her waist as Leilah writhed and wiggled out of the firm grip with such force that he almost fell.

“Let me go,” she roared, twisting her way out of his arms as he readjusted his grip. Then she shifted her attention to Shantel’s shocked face. “I will be home tonight. And I will sleep in my bed. And I dare you…Let me go!” she screamed again, hitting Darien’s back as he struggled to get her out of the club.
~~
“Man, Lei, you are a beast,” Mira laughed, sitting in the driver’s seat of Darien’s car.
“I can’t believe I let her take me there,” Leilah groaned rubbing her head.
“Well, you can believe I was just gonna stand there and watch you kill her.” She laughed again.
“This is not funny. I can’t be that person again. I am too old for this.”
“Yes, and too pretty.” Mira agreed, stroking her hair. “Don’t beat yourself up. Let it go, and move on. It was all just a big misunderstanding anyway.”

Leilah nodded remorsefully as she rubbed the black leather seats. “Whose car is this?”
“I have to stay her and wrap up the party, so Darien is going to take you home. Although, come to think of it, you might need some more time to cool off.”
“I’m fine. I just want to take a shower and go to bed.”

Leilah looked out of the window. Darien and Sylus were leaned against the trunk of the car, talking. “What’s up with you and Sylus?”
“The usual,” Mira smirked. “I kinda miss him.”
“You always say that right before he upsets you with the same tired games.”
“I guess my weakness comes in the form of a tall black man with a goatee.” Mira laughed as she embraced her friend. “Don’t go home yet because I don’t have any money to bail you out of jail.”

Mira climbed out of the car, said something to Darien, and walked back into the club on Sylus’ arm.

Darien started the engine. “You cool?”
Leilah nodded embarrassed by her behavior.
“I’m not trying to be forward or nothing like that. You know where I stand, but um…” He traced his rough braids. “We can chill at my place for a while. Like watch a movie or something.” Darien glanced out of the window before seeking for her answer.

Hesitantly, she nodded.

[Stay tuned: Drama, drama, drama… where’s the love? Find it tomorrow on Suds…]