《Miss I.D.G.A.F.》


 Chapter 1

    I sit on the balcony of my one-bedroom apartment just staring out at the beautiful sunset sky. The soft breeze feels amazing in this Las Vegas heat. Before long, it''s dark out and the lights from the High Roller are brighter than ever.


    The Las Vegas strip is coming to life once again. I''m not into the whole gambling or party scene. I prefer staying in and reading a good book or watching Netflix. Call me boring but I''d much rather be safe than sorry especially when it comes to alcohol, drugs, and whatever else goes down here in "sin city". I''ve always been what most might perceive as a "good girl." I''ve never done anything bad in my life.


    It may seem weird for someone like me to be living in such a party city but I have my reasons for living here. Well, two reasons actually. The first one is my best friend, Mel. She and I are as thick as thieves. We have known each other since freshman year of high school. I remember the first time I saw her. I was sitting in the cafeteria with my friends talking about our first day when in walks this gorgeous blonde with black cowboy boots.


    Everyone was whispering all around about what she was wearing. This girl didn''t have a care in the world about looking different. Clearly, she was not from Los Angeles. She had a brown bag lunch and was looking around for a place to sit. I got up from our table to introduce myself. I know what being the new girl is like and I wanted to make her feel welcomed.


    From that day forward, we were inseparable. Amelia Benson, or Mel as she likes to be called, became my closest confidant. We are total opposites but somehow we just click. She has bleach blonde hair, blue eyes, fair-skinned and is about 5''8. I''m dark-haired with hazel eyes, tanned skin and is very petite at only 5''2. She loves to have fun and let loose while I''m more conservative and prefer the quiet.


    She has been trying for years to get me out of my shell and has successfully done that once by making me get a tattoo when we first moved out. One week here and I now sport a heart and flower tattoo on my right shoulder. However, she has failed in getting me to go to clubs.


    "Cmon, Nia! We''re 21 now! It''s like a right of passage to go out and get drunk now that we''re legal!" she had told me on a few days after my birthday.


    "No way! You know I hate that type of stuff."


    "I don''t get why. You''re so pretty and you could honestly pull off any hot outfit and we could totally have fun on the strip."


    I roll my eyes at her. She just doesn''t understand that I have no interest in drinking and partying. It has nothing to do with how I look. I know I''m pretty and that guys check me out all of the time but I just don''t care to flaunt that around.


    My other reason for being here is my boyfriend Carter Montgomery. We''ve been together since jr high after so many years of being just friends. We grew up together and have been friends since practically birth. Weirdly enough, we''re only 2 days apart. To this day, we still believe our mothers somehow planned it out that way.


    Carter is the quarterback at UNLV. He got a full ride to go here and so I applied along with Mel and now Las Vegas has been our home for the past two years. We''re currently juniors, Carter majoring in kinesiology, Mel in art history, and me in Psychology.


    Since being out here, Carter and Mel have become closer since they both have the party streak. I don''t mind when they hang out on the strip and at parties because I at least know they''re safe. I know most people wouldn''t be that trusting especially with a guy like Carter.


    Carter is the big man on campus. Practically the whole school knows who he is. There is always a girl wanted to get with him but he shuts that down real quick. I don''t blame other girls for throwing themselves at him. He''s pretty hot with his brown, boyish hair, grey eyes, 6''2 frame, tan and toned body and a smile that could melt anyone''s heart.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Carter can act like a douche, I mean what guy doesn''t have that side to them? But I truly know him and I know the softer side he has. He''s absolutely sweet, understanding and I know I can trust him. It also helps that after a night out, he always comes back to stay the night with me.


    I may be a nice girl but even I have needs. I love Carter and I know he loves me so having sex felt like a normal thing. He has never pressured me into doing anything I don''t want to do and that just makes me fall for him even more.


    Just like clockwork, at around 1 AM, I hear someone at the door. I laugh as I hear Carter''s voice as he cusses and fumbles with the lock. Eventually, he gets the door open and smiles as soon as he sees me.


    I get up from the couch and hug him tightly.


    "Mmm, I missed you," he says into my hair.


    I smile, "I missed you too."


    He lifts me up with ease and makes our way to the couch. He sits down and places me in his lap. I have my legs on either side of his and straddle him.


    "How was your night?" I ask.


    He shrugs. "Not bad, we all just hit a frat party so it was just pretty much the usual drunk people hanging out."


    "And Mel?"


    "She was there too. I made sure to walk her back to her apartment to make sure she got home safe."


    I smile. Carter is such a gentleman.


    He closes his eyes and I run my hands through his hair. I lean down and kiss his lips softly then make my way down to his neck. I bite down softly, sucking on his skin. He lets out a soft moan letting me know he''s enjoying this.


    We make out for a little while before Carter lifts me up yet again and walks us to the bedroom. He lays me down on the bed and hovers over me as he kisses me hard. Soon our clothes are off and he''s inside me.


    The only thing I hate about his drunk nights is how quick the sex is. I''m not saying the sex is bad but I usually feel a little frustrated after because it doesn''t last as long as when he''s sober. Within a few minutes, Carter is lying next to me asleep. I go to the bathroom and take a quick shower before getting back into bed and cuddling up to my snoring boyfriend.


    The next day, I''m sitting at a frozen yogurt shop with Mel, listening to her talk about the party last night. I sit there eating my yogurt and pretending to listen. After a while, it gets boring when Mel talks about her partying but I''ve learned to block out most and listen just enough to make it look like I''m paying attention. It''s a gift really.


    We get interrupted by a few guys who ask us for our numbers. Mel gives them hers and makes them leave before they even have a chance to ask for mine again.


    "So, you''re going to the game on Saturday, right?"


    "Well, my boyfriend is the quarterback so I kind of have to be there."


    She nods her head. "Right. What about after? You should come out with us."


    I sigh. "Not this again. You already know my answer to that."


    "Stop being such a party pooper!" she says a little too loud. A few heads turn and look at us. She looks around silently apologizing to them and gets up.


    "I''ll be right back but this conversation isn''t over."


    I roll my eyes and go back to eating my fro-yo. As she walks to the bathroom, her phone goes off. Taylor Swift''s "Shake it off" starts blaring. I reach for her phone to silent it surprised it''s not on vibrate since she usually has it on that setting. I don''t mean to look at the message on the screen but when I do, I''m in shock.


    It''s her old roommate Rachel, who I''ve never gotten along with, asking why Mel didn''t call her earlier. She ends the text with "You better not be too busy making out with Carter!"


    What the hell? As I''m about to silent the phone and put it back down, it goes off again. This time "Stay" by Sugarland starts playing. It''s the chorus and the next verse that I know so well that catches my eye.


    "Why don''t you stay?


    I''m down on my knees


    I''m so tired of bein'' lonely


    Don''t I give you what you need?


    When she calls you to go


    There is one thing you should know


    We don''t have to live this way


    Baby, why don''t you stay?You keep tellin'' me, baby


    There will come a time


    When you will leave her arms


    And forever be in mine


    But I don''t think that''s the truth


    And I don''t like bein'' used, and I''m tired of waitin''It''s too much pain to have to bear


    To love a man you have to share..."


    I finally look at the name of who is texting her and almost drop the phone. Carter? What the fuck is going on? Why does she have that song set as his ringtone? I read his message and my heart stops.


    "Hey baby, sorry I couldn''t stay last night. I''ll see you tonight though. Wear that outfit that I like so much."


    Baby? Baby?!?! Oh. My. God.


    My best friends are sneaking around behind my back.

 Chapter 2

    I turn the phone to vibrate and set it back down to where it was. I see Mel coming back and quickly pull out my phone and pretend to be on a call with my mother.


    "Yes, mom. I''ll be home in a couple of weeks for a visit," I roll my eyes and say.


    Mel laughs knowing how my mother can be. She picks up her phone and I watch her from my peripheral vision as she visibly pales. She must be hoping I didn''t see her messages. She gives me a quick glance before typing away.


    I end my fake phone call and turn to Mel. "Ugh, my mother is relentless when it comes to me visiting."


    Usually, Mel would comment something like, "She''s just worried about her perfect little daughter being out alone in the gambling capital of the world."


    But today, she''s quiet and just mutters, "Y-yeah, that sucks."


    I put on my best-concerned look. "Is everything alright?"


    She shakes her head as if she''s clearing her thoughts. "Yeah, everything is good. I just completely forgot that Rachel wanted me to help her with something so we better get going."


    I give her a fake smile. "You lying bitch. I know what''s going on and trust me you won''t get away with it," I think to myself.


    Instead, I grab my bag and say, "You don''t have to give me a ride. I''ll just Uber or something. I''m going to the coffee shop across the street to get started on a paper that''s due soon."


    "Are you sure?" she asks.


    "Totally sure. You go ahead and meet Rachel. I''ll be fine." She gives me a smile and walks out to her car.


    A scowl forms on my face. "Amelia Benson. Carter Montgomery. You''re going to regret ever doing this to me," I say silently.


    I grab my things and head to the coffee shop. I pull out my phone and text the one person I know I can still trust, my old roommate Danielle.


    My Freshman year of college, Mel was adamant that we get our own roommates at the dorms. I was hesitant at first but when I met Dani, I knew we would get along just fine.


    Dani is a Vegas native. She''s not much of a partier either. She is like a millennial Sherlock Holmes, though. I knew one day her sleuthing skills would come in handy. Both Dani and I are Hispanic. Since none of my other friends, or maybe now ex-friends, speak Spanish, we kind of use it as a fun way to communicate just so no one else we hang out with can understand. It especially came in handy Freshman year when we had to hang out with Mel''s roommate Rachel.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    Rachel is another Vegas native. Dani luckily didn''t know her though. Probably because Rachel is basically Mel''s clone. They look a lot alike and they both have the party streak. She doesn''t like me because she thinks I''m boring for not wanting to go out all of the time.


    "Hola, puta! Que Pasa?" she says in our usual banter.  (Hi, whore. What''s going on?)


    I laugh and shake my head. "Hola, cabrona. Me alegro de verte tambi¨¦n." (Hi, bitch. I''m glad to see you too.)


    She sticks her tongue out at me and takes a seat. "What''s up?"


    I take a deep breath and tell her about the text messages I saw on Mel''s phone. "So, yeah. I think my best friend and boyfriend are hooking up behind my back."


    Her jaw drops but she quickly composes herself. "Pinch¨¦ culeros," she mutters. She shakes her head and gives me a pointed look. "I told you you should''ve been more suspicious about them hanging out so much when they went out."


    I roll my eyes. "I know, I know. I just thought I could trust them, you know?"


    "For what it''s worth though, I''m sorry. What are you going to do?"


    I think about it for a moment before a plan pops into my head. "I have an idea but I want to be certain. Do you think you could get me some proof first? Like maybe some pictures or something? Anything I could use when I confront them?"


    She nods. "Absolutely, not a problem."


    I tell her that Carter and Mel will most likely be hanging out tonight. "Can you text Carter and possibly get an idea about his plans tonight?"


    I nod and pick up my phone. "Hey. Any plans tonight?" I text to Carter.


    A couple of minutes later, my phone dings. "Hey, babe. I think some of the guys are heading to Mav''s house for a party. Can I swing by later?"


    I show Dani the texts and she smiles. "This will be fun. I mean the sleuthing will be fun. Not the whole getting proof of him cheating on you with Mel. Anyways, just give me a few hours and I''ll have everything you''ll need by the end of the night."


    I give her a soft smile and text Carter back and tell him he doesn''t have to come over later because I''ll be at Dani''s. He doesn''t even bother with a reply. Asshole.


    Around midnight, I''m a nervous wreck. I bite my nails and pace around my room. "God, waiting is torture."


    I''ve been going through so many emotions since I last talked with Dani. The last update she gave me was that both Carter and Mel were at the party. She said they were hanging all over each other but didn''t seem to do anything inappropriate. That''s probably because they don''t want to publicize their affair.


    Before long, there''s a knock at my door. I open it to find Dani dressed in all black. "Nice outfit," I smirk.


    She doesn''t say anything but instead sighs. She shuts the door behind her and hands me a manila envelope.


    I take a deep breath and open it. I feel a huge pain in my chest as I look at the pictures in my hand. The pics are of Carter and Mel. They are making out in Carter''s truck. The same truck we''ve ridden and made out in so many times. Each picture reveals more skin and less clothing. They are crystal clear, my best friend and boyfriend are nothing but backstabbers.


    I close the envelope back up and throw it on the table. I feel the need to break down crying or just smash something. Maybe both. I shake those thoughts away fast. They don''t deserve any of my tears. The only thing that they deserve are a  smashing to their faces. Maybe I''ll pull a Carrie Underwood from her song "Before He Cheats" and take a Louisville slugger to that precious truck he loves so much.


    I let out an evil laugh and turn to Dani. "Thank you for getting me the proof I need."


    "What are you going to do now?" she asks.


    I let out a deep breath. "I''m going to get revenge. They''ll never see it coming."


    We exchange a smirk and I say, "Esa hija de la chingada me las pagara." (That motherfucker will pay for this.)


    Let the games begin!