~A Drunken Reality~

~The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy~

- Martin Luther King Jr.

Song - Crazy by Lil Baby.

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"You're just trash, I'm done with you, Aubrey."

Aubrey leaned back in his plush chair, surrounded by the dim glow of the One Bottle Casino's VIP lounge. The sound of clinking glasses and muted laughter filled the air. He took a long drag on his cigar, exhaling a stream of smoke that curled toward the ceiling.

His friends, Micheal and Ryan, laughed and joked beside him, sipping their whiskey. He laughed along with them, pretending to enjoy the night.

Emma, his girlfriend, broke his heart on the last day of high school. What could be better than getting drunk to forget her?

He couldn't think of a better way to spend the night.

His phone rang, picking it up, he realized it was a call from his mother. A video call to be precise.

"Shit," he cussed, declining the call. He knew very well why his mother chose to video call instead of sending a text.

She was suspicious.

Michael raised an eyebrow. "Everything okay, man?"

Aubrey waved his hand in dismissal, shoving his phone back in his pocket.

Both Ryan and Micheal exchanged glances, before directing their focus on their almost drunk friend. "Maybe you should take a break from alcohol, you don't look so good."

Aubrey laughed humourlessly. "A break?" he drawled. "Can a fish survive without water?"

Both of his friends raised an eyebrow, exchanging glances again.

"No, right? It's impossible," Aubrey completed, taking a sip from his whiskey. "The same goes for me."

"Okay man, but I know you're doing this to forget Emma," Micheal said, taking a sip from his drink. Aubrey brushed Micheal off, and continued dragging his cigar.

"Yo, look over there." Aubrey and Micheal turned to look at what Ryan was pointing at; rather, who.

"Isn't she fine as hell?" Ryan questioned his friends, eyeing a black girl who sat at the other side of the casino playing spade with some exuberant youngsters.

"Damn, she's good-looking," Micheal added, while Aubrey ignored his friends, smoking the night away.

Ryan turned to Micheal, giving him a slap on his chest. "I saw her first, so butt out."

"So what? I'm still gonna shoot my shot, besides I'm more good-looking than you are."

Ryan grimaced at Micheal. "Nah-uh dude." He stormed off to meet the girl, while Micheal ran after him.

Aubrey didn't care about what his friends were up to. He kept smoking and drinking, clearing his filled mind.

Screw girls!

He downed his drink and sauntered to the bartender. He sat on a stool, sliding his glass to the bartender. "More," he slurred.

The bartender felt afraid, Aubrey looked really drunk. But at the end of the day he had to do his job. He poured another shot and slid the glass back to Aubrey, then continued wiping the counter with a rag.

As the liquor burned his throat, Aubrey's eyes twisted in inebriation. He just felt a sense of belonging and happiness. Sighing, he muttered, "This is where I'm meant to be."

He leaned on the counter and slid his glass back to the bartender. The bartender groaned, putting his glass away.

"I'm sorry sir, but I can't give you anymore."

Aubrey's brows furrowed and he slapped his palms on the counter. "Looks like you're new here, where's Joe? Another shot nigga, don't act like my momma!" he yelled.

The bartender's boss, Joe, intervened the scene, apologizing to Aubrey for the inconvenience. The bartender was ordered to do what Aubrey requested, so he did so.

Aubrey gulped down another shot, shutting his eyes and pursing his lips. "Ahh," he exhaled in satisfaction.

"Hey handsome," a sultry voice whispered in his ear.

Aubrey turned, his gaze meeting a striking woman with piercing green eyes and raven-black hair.

"Hey," he replied, his voice low, affected by the liquor.

She smiled, her full lips curling upward. "I'm Lily. Mind if I join you?"

Aubrey shrugged, gesturing to the empty stool beside him. Lily settled in, her legs crossing as she sipped a crimson-colored cocktail.

"You here alone?" she asked, her eyes sparkling. Aubrey nodded, taking a swig of his drink.

"Hmm." Lily's gaze drifted to the poker tables. "Want to play some Blackjack? I'm on a hot streak."

Aubrey raised an eyebrow. "You think I'm lucky?"

Lily's smile widened. "I think you're intriguing."

Aubrey's interest piqued, he pushed his stool back. "Deal me in."

Aubrey and Lily strolled over to the Blackjack table, the dealer shuffling cards with precision.

"You in?" Lily asked, her eyes sparkling. Aubrey nodded, placing a hefty bet. The dealer dealt the cards.

Lily leaned in, her voice whispering in Aubrey's ear. "Hit or stand?"

Aubrey's pulse quickened, her warm breath sending shivers down his spine. "Hit," he replied, his voice low.

Lily's smile approved his decision.

As they played, Lily's banter and laughter drew Aubrey in. For a fleeting moment, he forgot about Emma. But when Lily's hand brushed against his, Aubrey's mind snapped back to reality.

He pulled away, focusing on the game.

"You win," the dealer announced, sliding chips toward Lily.

"Yes!" She grinned, gathering her winnings.

"Beginner's luck?" Aubrey teased.

Lily's eyes locked onto his. "I'm a skilled player," she whispered. Aubrey chuckled, shaking his head.

Suddenly, his phone buzzed, distracting him from Lily's charm. A text from his mother: "Home. Now."

"Gaah!" Aubrey groaned, squeezing his fist. His gut twisted as he shoved his phone back in his pocket. "Sorry, Lily. I have to go."

"Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, yeah. I just need to take care of something." Aubrey's eyes turned, and he held his forehead. The alcohol was acting up, but he was used to getting drunk.

Lily's smile faltered. "Maybe I'll see you around?"

Aubrey nodded, his mind already elsewhere. He had no interest in Lily, he just needed her as a distraction for the time being.

Again, screw girls.

He was about to go meet the guys, when he saw them strolling towards him. They were both soaked, with alcohol dripping out of their hairs. "What happened?" Aubrey questioned, staring at Ryan and Micheal in bewilderment.

"She happened," Micheal mentioned, directing his vision to the black girl they admired earlier.

"Turns out she's got a boyfriend." Ryan added, squeezing his soaked shirt.

Aubrey was at the verge of laughing, but he stifled it. "And you two are soaked, why?"

"Her boyfriend is at that table," Ryan shook his head, pointing to a hefty black guy. "He beat us and bathed us with alcohol for trying to flirt with shawty."

"Sweet Lord," Aubrey burst out laughing.

"It's not funny man," Micheal snorted.

Aubrey carried on with his cachinnation. Receiving an eye roll from his unamused friends, Aubrey regained his composure. "Come on, let's go get more drinks."

"Aren't you drunk already?" Ryan asked Aubrey angrily. "How much more will you consume?"

Aubrey chuckled, biting his lower lip and placing his hands on both Ryan and Micheal's shoulders - he was in the middle.

"Till all my problems vanish," Aubrey said, leading his friends to the bartender.

On their way there, Aubrey's phone chimed again. A text from his mother: "Aubrey Zain Wellington, home, now!"

Aubrey groaned loudly, switching off his phone. His friends stared at him in perplexion.

"Yo, everything good?" Micheal asked.

"It's my momma again, she keeps bugging me," Aubrey said in a frustrated tone, tugging his phone in his pocket. "Forget her, let's just get more drinks."

As they drank and laughed, Aubrey's gaze fell on a cocoa butter skinned waitress, who was busy serving an old man. He caught a glimpse of the old man, handing the waitress a card and she took it with a smile. Aubrey gaze studied the waitress, he couldn't help but be struck by her breathtaking beauty. Her cocoa butter skin glowed with a warm, golden undertone, as if infused with a subtle radiance from within. Her features were finely chiseled, with high cheekbones, a small nose, and full lips that curved into a perpetual smile.

Her hair was a rich, dark brown, braided into intricate cornrows that framed her face and accentuated her striking features. A few stray strands escaped the braids, curling softly around her temples and adding to her effortless charm.

Her eyes were a deep, shining brown that sparkled with warmth and kindness, even from across the room. They crinkled at the corners as she smiled, radiating a sense of joy and approachability.

Her white crop top and black leggings hugged her curves in all the right places, showcasing her toned physique and leaving Aubrey - and no doubt many other patrons - utterly captivated.

Aubrey had lost his mind at this point, so he got annoyed, seeing that she accepted the old man's card, which was probably for home service.

"What you looking at?" Ryan asked, turning his neck to figure out what got Aubrey's eyes engaged.

Aubrey stood up without answering his friends, and maneuvered to the cocoa butter waitress. Something about her, just lightened his aura. His friends called out to him sluggishly, because they were both drunk and lazy to go after Aubrey.

The waitress took a turn, going back to the kitchen area, when Aubrey pulled her right arm. She seemed startled by his gesture, as Aubrey licked his lower lip trying to rizz her.

"How can I help you?" She asked in an irked tone. Aubrey's behaviour was already irritating her.

"Yo, chill. You do home services?" Aubrey trailed off, biting his lower lip.

Feeling disgusted by his words, the girl voiced out angrily. "I don't do such, I only serve!"

"You sure about that?" Aubrey asked her, averting his gaze to the old man she served earlier. "It seemed like you agreed for that old pops over there."

"What are you talking about?" she snapped in rage, inviting attention. "Are you sick or something?"

She released herself from Aubrey's grasp and turned to leave. Aubrey felt a jolt of anger in his veins, he pulled her back and squeezed her arm.

"Are you stupid?" the girl yapped. Aubrey pulled her close to him and forced a kiss on her lips. She struggled, pushing Aubrey away. When she finally succeeded in pulling out, she threw her hand across his face.

The hot slap, made a loud echo in the casino, alerting Aubrey's friends and everyone else. The securities were also alerted, so they rushed in.

"You whore, how dare you hit me?" Aubrey bawled drunkenly.

The waitress faced the security men. "He tried to assault me, take care of him."

The men nodded, pulling Aubrey out of the casino while he resisted.

"Yo, let go! Leave me," he insisted. Neither of the men paid attention to Aubrey's demands, they pulled him out of the casino, while his friends trailed behind them.

Moments later, Aubrey found himself sitting in a prison cell, in the Los Angeles Police Department.

"Y'all can't keep me in here!" He yelled, shaking the rods of the cell door. The metal clanged loudly, echoing off the cold, grey walls. Aubrey's eyes blazed with anger and frustration as he paced back and forth in the small space.

A police officer, a tall, imposing figure with a stern expression, padlocked the cell door. "Save your breath, kid," he said, his voice firm but detached. "You're not going anywhere until you've been booked and processed."

Aubrey stopped pacing and glared at the officer. "I didn't do anything!" he protested, his voice rising.

The officer raised an eyebrow. "Save it for the judge, kid."

Aubrey's face twisted in anger and desperation as he realized the gravity of his situation. He slumped against the wall, his eyes fixed on the floor as the officer walked away, leaving him to his thoughts.

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A/N

Ahem, *clears throat*

First chapter dusted, by yours truly 😌❤️

So, I don't know if I did this right (y'all know how indecisive I am), so please share your thoughts on this chapter. Let me know if I'm to add some certain details or something, I'll definitely consider it. So feel free to bombard me with ideas.

A. Keep going girl, you're on the right track. I'm HOOKED!

B. Cringe, please stawp.

If anyone says B, I might just die 😂😂. Nevertheless, your reviews matter.

Thanks for reading, please don't forget to vote, follow and share. (Giving this book a shout out on your message board will melt my heart 🫠❤️)

I love you!

CiCi 🌹