A Chance For Happiness

08. The Required Amount Of Fucks Needed

Ayo meticulously puts on their makeup in front of the bathroom mirror, a pouting Nessie standing by their side. They ignore her for as long as they physically can but Nessie is apparently not in the mood to be ignored. Finally, they relent, deciding to humor her.

“Something on your mind, babe?” they ask, knowing exactly what’s on her mind.

Finally acknowledged, Nessie flares her nostrils as she starts to speak. “I can’t believe you’re gonna be in another city in another country on another continent for an entire week!” their roommate whines like a child whose mom was trying to dip.

Ayo raise a brow, unmoved. “I think the right expression is ‘I can’t believe you’ve got a gig with a fucking famous photographer and get to spend the week in a beautiful French village and watch all your dreams come true!’”

Nessie sighs, shrugging. “That as well. Hay, I don’t know what I’m gonna do without you for an entire week.”

“My advice, do what you always do — sit in the bathtub and drink wine while listening to those pretentious music you love.”

“That gets old pretty quick.”

“I wouldn’t know. Look, it’s only a week, we’ve been apart for longer.”

“Yeah but not when you’re going across the world!”

Ayo snorts. “Just admit it, you’re jealous I’m going to France while your ass is stuck here in New York.”

She scoffs. “Why would I wanna go to France when I’m in the best city in the world?”

“What’s it best at? Being worst?”

Nessie gasps. “As a New Yorker, that breaks my heart.”

Ayo snorts once more, walking out of the bathroom. “Go cry to your boyfriend about it.”

“He’s not my boyfriend!”

“Sugar daddy then.”

“Not that either but that’s beside the point. Aren’t you gonna miss me?”

They stop, turning to Nessie with a soft look on their face. “Of course I am, Ness, more than anyone but it’s just a week. If this goes right, I’m literally going places. So I need you to support me and be happy for me.”

Nessie rolls her eyes but she’s smiling. “I am happy for you, Hay but I too wish I could get an all-expense paid trip to some foreign ass country.”

“Maybe your sugar daddy can take you.”

Nessie shoves them playfully and they stumble away laughing.

Ayo’s phone dings and they frown a little. “My cab’s waiting downstairs so I’m gonna go. Please don’t follow me, I love you and I’ll call you once I get to the airport.”

“And also when you get to France!”

“And also when I get to France. Mwah!”

Ayo kisses her cheek before grabbing what little luggage they’ve packed. They head out, leaving a sullen Nessie slumped on the couch in despair.

It takes all of five minutes after Ayo was gone for Nessie to decide that she doesn’t want to be alone. Even Pussy The Cat had deserted her, wandering off someplace she doesn’t know. She’d be worried if this was unusual for the feline.

Still, she wish she wasn’t alone, the apartment seem so dull and lifeless without Ayo brightening up the space like they usually do. She feels so dull and lifeless, curling up on the bed as Doja Cat’s Alone plays in the background.