Page 32 of Dirty Dealer
It’s the final straw. My breaking point. The worst kind of betrayal. “Crystal?”
“Oh, hey.” The slight jump she gives is the only indication she didn’t expect me to walk in on her. Her left hand clutches a brush set, lipstick, and eye shadow palatte. “What’s up, Rae?”
What’s up?I’d like to know the exact same. “That’s my makeup.”
“Right.” She shrugs, but still doesn’t set it down.
A spike of adrenaline hits with her indifference. “Were you just helping yourself?”
“Oh, Kari Ann said you had samples and stuff from sponsors.” She flicks her hair over one shoulder, but her gaze darts from my face to my makeup supplies. “I was just checking it out.”
“Without my permission.”
“You don’t have to be a bitch about it.”
I don’t have to— “Are you fucking kidding me?”
“Oh, don’t act like you don’t have enough to share. It’s a pretty selfish thing to hoard all of this. Everyone wouldn’t think you’re such a bad roommate if you’d hook us up. I wouldn’t have to sneak in here if you were a little generous.”
“You’re stealing. My stuff.” My anger triples as I realize this isn’t the first time. She’s been stealing from me. My own roommate. God, maybe they all have?
“Whatever. If you’re gonna make this a thing, I’ll put it back.” She drops it back into my case with a loud clatter.
The shadow case snaps, cracks in two, and I suck in a breath as the colors of eyeshadow burst into shiny dust. I push past her and assess the damage.Shit. Shit. Shit.This set easily costs fifty dollars. Money I don’t have. “You need to pay for this.” I gently gather the larger pieces so they won’t crumble and make more of a mess.
Crystal huffs. “I’m not paying for shit.”
My head snaps to meet her gaze. “You’re kidding, right? This is a joke? You come into my room, without permission, steal my shit, then break it, and you won’t take accountability? That’s the kind of shitbag person you are? That’s who I’m living with?”
“Dude. Chill out.”
“Chill out?”
“Leave the acting to us, yeah?” She waves a hand over her shoulder and that’s when I notice we’ve gathered a crowd. Kari Ann, Andrea, and some guy I’d never seen before—scratch that, I think I’ve seen him on a billboard ad in a pair of Calvin’s. Jenni is the only one missing, but she left for work an hour ago.
Crystal rolls her eyes. “You’re so dramatic. You’re blowing this out of proportion.”
“You’re a real—”Bitch.Piece of work. I grate down on my teeth and try to calm my inner rage. But it’s no use. I am so angry I could scream. I hate Crystal. I hate living here. I hate all of this. “Ugly person.”
Everyone gasps, including Crystal.
“I told Kari Ann not to pick you,” she says as the doorbell rings. “You’re old, and stuck up, and I don’t know what you’re doing to make money for rent, but it’s not playing with makeup.” Crystal is beautiful on the surface, but right now she’s showing all her nasty. Not that it matters, because by the glares on the rest of my roommates, they’ve already taken her side. They’re either mean like her, or scared of her malice. The doorbell rings again.
“Someone get the fucking door!” Crystal snaps.
Shit.Jude. I don’t have time to deal with any of this. Not when I’m due on set in an hour.
“We’re not done with this conversation,” I say in her face, passing by the rest of my roommates. I stomp across the living room and yank open the front door. “I’m not ready yet.”
Jude’s eyes widen, glued to my bare legs, while his jaw falls open.
“Jude. Act as if you’ve seen legs before.”
“None like those.” He blows out a breath and runs a hand through his hair before straightening his tie.
I grit my teeth together, not in the mood to deal with his ogling or teasing. “I need five minutes.” I shut the door on his still-stunned face and stomp back to my room, glad to see the drama squad has cleared to their corners of the apartment. I slam my door and lock it. Fuck Crystal. Fuck all of my roommates. I need to make enough money so I can get the hell out of here and rent my own studio.
Peeling off my T-shirt, I slip on a simple wrap dress, then tug on a pair of black boots. I don’t have time to apply my own makeup or fix my hair, so I grab the essentials into a travel case and decide on jewelry—going for big hoops and a statement necklace. I wish I could lock up my stuff—now that I know my roommates like to help themselves, but there’s nothing I can do. Not at the moment. Not without my own vehicle. Besides, I can’t be late to work, or worse, miss my ride with Jude. I don’t even glance in the mirror on my way out, because I’m certain I’m a hot mess.
