*THE HOLLEN SERIES 03*
👨👩👧👦👨👩👧👦👨👩👧👦EPISODE 23👨👩👧👦👨👩👧👦👨👩👧👦
🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻
*👁🗨 MORE THAN FRIENDS 👁🗨*
🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻
🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻
Zenia’s POV
I sat down on the chair, very close to the table, staring at my reflection in the mirror as if I had never seen myself before.
Digesting a successful finish, I rose from the chair, held up the long tail from my Maid Of Honor dress and made my way to the limousine which awaited me and mom’s arrival.
I stared out the window for the entire ride to the cathedral church where my sister would be joined in holy matrimony with Evan Hollen. Their wedding day had finally arrived and I was rather excited for her. She deserved him and he deserved her, they made each other happy.
I smiled as I thought about Jevan and the potty mouth he possessed. He was such a delightful child and I loved him so much.
~
The limousine came to a halt on reaching the church. I stepped out and mom followed suit. I quic-kly walked to one of the chambers where Jasmine was waiting.
She was crying with happiness as I knocked and entered the small room.
“Hey, so today is the day,” I greeted her.
She wiped her tears away with some tissues and turned around to me. Makeup ruined.
I knew this would of happened so I had carried my tiny makeup kit along.
I wiped away the first makeup application, starting with her cleaned face. I applied moisturizer then followed by a primer.
I filled in her eyebrows and cleaned the harsh edges with a concealer. I color corrected the dark sp-ots on her face then applied the foundation that matched her skin tone. We had the same complexion so my foundation worked great for her as well.
I blended it into her skin, ma-king certain it had a flawless finished. Afterwards, I highlighted her forehead, un-derneath her eyes, nose bridge and chin. I blended everything into her skin with a makeup sponge.
I used my ELF setting powder and Black Opal Deluxe Finishing Powder to set and finish her look.
Lastly, I applied a nu-de pinkl-ipstick to herl-ips and shimmering gold highlighter to her sharp cheekbones.
“Thank you so much. You’re the best,” she said as she admired my work.
“Tell me something I don’t know,” I replied.
She sli-pped out from the tiny dress she was wearing before and stepped into her extremely beautiful wedding dress.
It fitted her so perfectly and she looked like a powerful queen in it.
Slayed.
“I’m so happy for you Jasmine. Your happy ever after is happening.”
hu-gging her again, we heard the music in the background, secretly signalling the maid of honor, bridesmaids and flower girls.
“It’s time.”
She exhaled de-eply, looked at herself in the mirror, held up her bouquet of flowers and nodded her head.
“I’m re-ady.”
As we stepped out the room, we met our father’s ugly face.
“Hello daughters.”
My blood came to a boil instantly but I tried to control myself. Today was about Jasmine and not him, and of course, we were in a church.
“What are you doing here?” Jasmine asked him softly but I heard the anger in her voice.
“Can I plea-se have the honor of walking you down the aisle?” His eyes flooded with tears and pleads and for the first, I actually felt sorry for the man.
“No,” Jasmine responded.
He looked like he had been knocked down off a high horse.
“Jasmine,” I said with a pleading look on my face now, “Maybe you could just give him this one opportunity.”
I had no idea why I said what I said.
“Fine. But don’t even think you’re welcome back into my life,” She directed to him.
She gr-abbe-d his arm and wrenched it with hers. I gave them a final look before leaving to take my place at the alter.
_______________
The wedding went smoothly and great and the reception was even better.
I believed the entire staff of Hollen Tower came out to congratulate their boss and his new bride. Evan’s family and friends were pres-ent and the media was having a field day, capturing Jasmine’s wedding dress and herl-ips on her husband. She was getting used to the life and I was proud of her.
The reception was held at Evan’s house. The yard was big enough for such and it was a beautiful and sunny day outside.
Music pla-yed throu-gh the speakers, people laughing and talking and dancing, servers handling tray with drinks. It was just perfect.
~~
I sat down on the couch, pla-ying with Jevan. He looked so adorable in his black tuxedo and neat hairstyle.
“Zina,” he said again.
I was trying to get him to pronounce my name correctly.
“No. It’s Ze-ni-a.”
“Zena,” he repeated.
“Say… Zen-ia.”
“Beech,” he responded with a frown, slide down the chair and made his own way over to one of the maids.
I couldn’t believe that my one year -three months old nephew just called me a bit-ch.
I watched as the maid picked him up and he made a long yawn. She took him upstairs to her be-droom whilst I went exploring around the mansion.
The mansion was so hu-ge and I eventually got lost.
How does Jasmine find her way around this Castle?
I pushed a door open and sp-otted EJ, Jack and Alex, having beers.
“Hey Zen, wanna join us?” Alex offered.
“No thank you,” I answered, about to close back in the door.
EJ stopped me and made Jack and Alex leave the room.
~
“Where have you been?” he asked, pu-lling me onto his lap as he sat down on the be-d.
“About,” I answered, trying to get away from him.
“Zenia, aren’t you tired of trying to resist me?”
“Are you drunk?”
“No I’m not. I only had one sip.” He shook the bottle which was still almost filled with its content.
His mouth attacked my ne-ck and I instantly felt paralyzed.
What was this boy doing to me?
Sparks erupted throu-gh my b©dy, shooting out throu-gh my toes, fin-gers and ni-pples. I closed my eyes, savoring the sudden rush of zest as his arms circled firmly around me, holding me in place.
I felt my back against the soft mattress on the be-d and hisl-ips claimed mine, p@rting them with his ton-gue before capturing his goal.
My ton-gue laced with his and he was ki-ssing me with a fever. I mo-aned softly in my mouth and at that moment, his hand went un-der my dress.
Very slowly, very gently, he made his way up to me and hisl-ips went back to my ne-ck and my fin-gers went throu-gh his hair.
I wanted him, I had craved enough for him. I had alre-ady forgiven him for hurting me and he had alre-ady forgiven me as well. Nothing else mattered than us. Together.
He reached me but my short shorts was acting as a barrier. I internally grew frustrated when he tried to get into it, but failed three times, miserably.
At functions, I always wore my un-derwear then a shorts over it. I felt more comfortable that way.
“Just let me do it,” I ordered. He moved from over me as I brou-ght myself up, re-moved my short shorts and long a-ss dress and stayed in my red lace br@ and un-derwear.
A smile of triumph came on his face as he hovered over me again. I re-moved his jacket, tie then his shirt. He had a tattoo on his che-st in the shape of a flower.
Wait a minute….
Isn’t that a Zenia flower?
I ki-ssed him pa-ssionately after seeing that, digging my nails into his back, marking my territory. My heart raced in my che-st and closer and closer, he came to me. I felt his erection on me before he broke the ki-ss and made his way down south, ki-ssing me on the way there.
“EJ, ARE YOU IN….!!” we heard a voice from outside the door before it was pushed open.
I quic-kly covered myself with a be-d sheet and EJ turned his back towards the door, hiding the ris-en monster in his pa-nts.
“Oh, sorry to interrupt,” Madison said with a sm-irk on her face.
“Are you really sorry?” I snapped at her. This bit-ch was getting on my last nerves.
“EJ, your mom wants you,” she said, looking at his back.
“Tell mom I’m busy.”
“EJ, just go. The moment has alre-ady been ruined,” I told him.
He heaved a loud sigh, gr-abbing his T-shirt and jacket and putting it on.
He walked out the room, adjusting and fixing his clothes.
__________
“You disgust me,” Madison said as she watched me got back into my dress.
“Well that’s my man and I can have him whenever I feel like it,” I responded.
I zi-pped my dress up and pushed Madison aside as I walked out the guest be-droom.
Stupid Beech
*THE HOLLEN SERIES 03*
👨👩👧👦👨👩👧👦👨👩👧👦EPISODE 24👨👩👧👦👨👩👧👦👨👩👧👦
🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻
*👁🗨 MORE THAN FRIENDS 👁🗨*
🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻
🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻
Zenia’s POV
“I hate that bit-ch! She’s like a blood su-cking tick, draining the life from my relationship with EJ. Why can’t she just leave us in peace!”
I was in a fit of rage and Ashley was finding amusement from it. She laughed lightly as she cut the pattern to her newly designed dress.
“You’re crazy. If Madison has to come between you and EJ, then it would happen but he has to allow her to let that shit happen. EJ loves you. I don’t know why you’re over there acting up like a hormonal baboon.”
“Ashley! I really don’t want any insults. You’re not helping.”
“Zenia, I’m tired of giving you advice and yet you do the opposite of what I say. You have to figure out what you want and how much effort you’re willing to put in for it.”
I slide down onto the floor, lowering my head to my knees, calming myself.
“Stop being a drama queen. You’re all mad for absolutely nothing.”
The door bell chimed, indicating someone’s entrance. I held my head up and saw a smiling Alex. He looked freshly groomed and in the best of moods.
“Hey baby. What are you doing here?” Ashley asked as she ran into his arms and jumped onto his che-st.
Kids.
“I can’t come and see my baby?” he asked her.
“Of course you can,” she answered before ki-ssing him pa-ssionately.
I scoffed loudly, putting an end to their moment.
“Hey Zen!” Alex shouted as if I wasn’t in the same room with him.
“Hey ’lex,” I coldly responded.
“What crawled up your bu-tt and died?” he joked.
Ashley whispered something to him and his happy expression turned down a notch.
“Okay ladies, I wanted to personally come over and invite you to my summer pool p@rty on Saturday at my house.”
“We’ll be there,” Ashley quic-kly answered and ki-ssed him again.
I rolled my eyes at them.
The door bell chimed again and this time, I quic-kly got myself off the floor.
“Hey Zenia,” Anton greeted as I walked slowly over to him, fidgeting with the ends of my hair.
“Hey Anton. What are you doing here?” I asked.
“I’ve missed you.” He pu-lled me into a big bear hu-g, feet off the floor.
“How are you?” I asked, trying to glide out from his arms. I quic-kly looked back at Ashley and Alex and they were staring right back at me and Anton. Alex looked angry now.
“I’m doing great. I’ve been calling me but I’ll be getting your voicemail every time. Are you avoiding me or something?”
“Me? What? Of course not!” I covered.
Of course I had been avoiding him. I was more focused on EJ and I, mending things that seemed to have been broken between us.
“Oh great, because I have plans for us on Saturday,” Anton replied.
“Actually, she alre-ady has plans for Saturday. I’ve just invited her to my pool p@rty,” Alex interrupted.
“Oh,” Anton said with a disappointing look on his face.
“You could come to the pool p@rty with us. It would be fun.” I was feeling guilty for ignoring him but at the same time, I wanted him to say ‘no’.
Alex shook his head, ki-ssed Ashley, said his farewell and greeted Anton on his way out.
~
“I’ll go to the pool p@rty with you.”
“Great, I’ll see you on Saturday.” I faked a smile as he ki-ssed me lightly on myl-ips. I watched him walked out the door.
~
“What the hell, chick! Did you just invited Anton to the pool p@rty? The pool p@rty that my boyfriend would be hosting and who also happens to be best of friends with EJ?”
“Ashley, chill. I got this.”
“Zen, this isn’t some kind of online dating game you’re pla-ying. We’re talking about a temperamental EJ Hollen who’s head over heels for you. How will you show up at a p@rty with another guy when he’ll be there!?”
“Anton and I are friends just like EJ and Madison are friends. Oh, so you’re basically telling me that I can’t be friends with Anton because I’m with EJ? Don’t even try to change my mind because it’s not going to work.”
“Zenia, you’re not seeing this from my point of view.”
“Look! I’ve had enough of everyone talking to me and talking about me! I’m talked out! Anton is a nice guy and no one is going to stop me from being friends with him.”
“Zen, sometimes I really wonder if you’re actually Zenia or just an alien from out of space who happened to be looking exactly as you.”
I laughed lightly.
“I just hope this doesn’t bl-ow up in your face.”
“I’m only friends with Anton!”
“Well he doesn’t seem to have gotten that memo Zenia. You’re all lovey-dovey with him in front of us! You’re going to create a shit storm that would require a lot of toilet paper and I’m not going to be the mop this time!”
She stomped pa-ss me and slammed the door on her way out.
I couldn’t un-derstand what the hell her problem was.
_______________________
On Saturday morning, I tried calling Ashley for the thousandth time. She was ignoring me and giving me the cold shoulder.
Great! Now I know how Anton must have felt when I was ignoring his calls.
Eventually, after giving up, I got into my voice recognition shower. Afterwards, I sli-pped into my un-derwear, a baby blue cotton shorts and a white crop top. I stepped into my pair of black converse and stuffed my bikini into my bag pack.
I combe-d my hair down my back and appliedl-ip gloss only for makeup. I threw on my sungla-sses and a black hat.
I headed to my boutique to wait for Anton.
When we got to Alex’s house, the pool p@rty was alre-ady in full swing. Every female was sp-otted in a bikini or very skimpy clothing.
Miami Vice -Vybz Kartel, blasted out from the hu-ge speakers across the lawn.
Everyone began dancing with someone but my eyes scanned the thick crowd for Ashley.
“Do you see your friends anywhere?” Anton leaned in and asked.
“No!” I yelled as I shook my head to indicate my answer.
If I knew Alex, he would definitely be hosting his p@rty and he loved attention. He would be somewhere over by the music system and the stage.
My eyes traveled to the stage where the music sounds were hooked up. I sp-otted him, Ashley, Jack and several others. And of course, Madison just had to be among them.
My pace quic-kened towards them, pushing and shoving the hormonal people out of my path. Anton followed right behind.
As I got closer, my blood came to a boil as I saw Ashley and Madison chatting in a very friendly manner.
“Ohhh…. It’s Zenia! We thought you wouldn’t have showed up… And ohh, she brou-ght company. Well this is very interesting,” Madison spilled out as her eyes landed on me.
“Save it Madison!” I knew how sarcastic that bit-ch could be.
“Zen, are you you always so angry? You’re always covered with such hate and anger. I know black girls are said to be angry and ratchet, with reason of course, but what’s your reason Zenia? My name is Madison but I’m never mad.”
Everyone around her laughed. Ashley laughed too but my face remained serious. I saw absolutely no humor in what she said.
Ignoring everyone, I turned around and disappeared back into the crowd. I wanted to beat Madison’s face in. I wanted to drive my fist into her face and just pound her like a drum.
“We could leave if you wanna. Your friends are acting like total idiots.” Anton ru-bbe-d the low of my back.
“Yeah. Lets just go. I’m not in the mood for this p@rty anymore.”
We held hands as we made our way out the yard.
~
“And where do you think you’re going?” EJ appeared right in front of us.
“Oh God,” I mouthed.
His eyes traveled down to our joined hands.
I let go immediately.
“We’re leaving,” Anton answered.
“Dude, I wasn’t speaking to you and if you say another word to me, I’ll knock your fu-cking teeth down your throat.”
“EJ!” I scolded while Anton scoffed and attem-pted to hold my hand again.
“There’s nothing you could do about it, bro. Zenia is coming with me and that’s the end of it.”
EJ walked closer to Anton, their noses were only a few inches ap@rt.
“Zenia, why is it that you’re always with this guy?” EJ asked, eyes still locked on Anton.
“He’s my friend. I only brou-ght him here so he could have a good time!” I protested, trying to put an end to the confrontation between them.
“Was it a good time when you shoved your ton-gue down his throat?” EJ’s eyes moved over to me. Dark and murderous.
I swallowed ha-rd.
How the hell he found out about the ki-ss?
“Come on Zenia,” Anton ushered me in front of him but EJ pu-lled me aside and landed a punch directly at Anton’s face.
Anton stumbled backwards but quic-kly gained his balance and punched EJ back.
EJ hands went all over Anton, pounding him and throwing him off his feet. When Anton fell, EJ began kicking him.
“STOP IT!” I yelled
“FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!” the crowd chanted like high school children as they circled around.
It took five guys to peel EJ off Anton.
“This is all your fault! All you do is caused trouble for EJ!” Madison shouted loudly in my face before following up with a slap.
It took a few seconds for me to process what she had did but when I tasted the small trace of blood in my mouth, I was all over her, punching her in the face before wrestling her to the ground. I got on top of her and slapped her repeatedly like a frenzied person.
“Get this crazy bit-ch off me! EJ help me! Someb©dy help!” She cried between bl-ows to her face.
“Get off her Zenia!” Ashley shouted and pushed me off her. I fell back on my bu-m and watched with painful teary eyes as she help Madison up to her feet instead of me.
Hurt, deceived and betrayal flooded my heart when it dawned on me that the only person who could have told EJ about the ki-ss was her.
Why Ashley, Why?
___________
TO BE CONTINUED…..