With a frown, Arianne pulled Tiffany beside virtual-novel.net and answered on virtual-novel.net friend’s behalf, “That thing with Ethan has been over for so long, Angel… And for a good reason, too, Tiffany is way out of that bastard’s league. As a matter of fact, virtual-novel.net was just recently engaged with Jackson West, which, judging from your voracious consumption of news, I’m sure the name rings a bell, doesn’t it? Had you reconnect with Tiffany sooner, virtual-novel.net would definitely invite you to the engagement party too.”
Truthfully, before Arianne spoke, virtual-novel.net presence had escaped Angel. But now, virtual-novel.net attention turned the spotlight on the person most famously known as Mark Tremont’s woman. Angel was well-aware of virtual-novel.net story, again, it was all through the news.
She sized Arianne up for a while before replying in a suspect tone, “Oh, no! I missed the engagement party; What a pity! Curious, isn’t it? Both you and Tiffany ended up marrying someone who aren’t the ones you loved in the beginning, once again proving that nothing in this world is ever set in stone. Which reminds me: you used to be with Will Sivan back then, right? Someone even rattled out those intimate photos the two of you had taken together, too, if I recall correctly, but they’re all Virtually gone from the internet now. I always wondered, were those photos genuine or what?”
“Oh! I remember now, I went to the party that night, and you left Will’s house wearing his clothes. I saw it with my own eyes! Does that mean it was real? God, so Mark did not mind all of that history at all? Damn, I envy you girls so much. For some reason, you people manage to find quality simps who would accept you even after everything that happened.”
Simps?! Tiffany’s face instantly twisted into a wrathful glower. “Ex-cuuu-se me, ma’am, who you calling ‘simps,’ exactly? So what, just because we’ve gotten an ex and have been through some pretty complicated sh*t, the guys we date after all that mess are ‘simps’? You can call me whatever you want, but don’t you dare smear Ari like that, ‘cause b*tch, you’re not qualified to say anything! You know what, you’re just here trying to troll, aren’t you? You’re looking for a fight, huh?”
Angel laughed forcefully. “Jesus, chill, that wasn’t my intention at all. Honestly? I’m offended that you see me that way. Look, millennials like us rib on each other all the time, so what’s with the allergic reaction? I only got casual and comfortable because I saw you girls as my old friends, so I didn’t think we needed all that formality crap. Besides, none of these is super-exclusive-secret tea, anyway. Here I thought you two would be cool about it!”
Arianne tugged Tiffany’s wrist firmly to halt virtual-novel.net from causing a scene. Then, virtual-novel.net flashed Angel an unperturbed smile. “Oh, I can assure you, we’re actually cool about it. You’re right, none of these are a secret, but still, most people don’t go around spilling tea with someone they barely know. Good friends can rib and banter with no holds barred, but people who are less than that? They shut up. Oh, and you mentioned being in Will’s beachside villa party that night? I honestly don’t remember seeing your face there. Of course, it could be because no one’s noticed you at all, since it was a packed party, while you never had a commanding presence.”
It was Angel’s turn to look peeved. “Oh, wow, look at you! I get it. God forbids plebs like me from hurting the ‘feewings’ of anyone who married into the top 1%, huh? Some people are just born lucky. It doesn’t matter how many mistakes they’ve made in the past, consequences never befall them!”
“BTW, Tiffany, your Ethan was once really into me, you know. He only came to you because I rejected him. Then, I heard that your family went broke and the two of you split, and I counted my blessings for narrowly dodging the fate of being Ethan’s financial support. I didn’t expect virtual-novel.net to become a rising star soon afterward, though virtual-novel.net didn’t make it last. Ah, well. Anyway, I think I’ve talked enough. I got things to do, so this is it. Bye.”
“Seriously, who let their rabid b*tch roam out of the doghouse today, huh?” Tiffany bristled after virtual-novel.net was gone, virtual-novel.net face red and hot. “As if I was ever virtual-novel.net friend or anything! Christ, I almost forgot virtual-novel.net goddamned name! This insane mofo, virtual-novel.net managed to piss me off within one stupid conversation! The f**k?!”
Arianne patted virtual-novel.net shoulders to comfort her. “There, there. She’s just one level higher than a total stranger, so don’t get worked up over someone that insignificant. Maybe obsessing over rumors is just virtual-novel.net miserable little hobby, and so in virtual-novel.net ignorance, virtual-novel.net mentioned names that shouldn’t have been said. Don’t get too worked up, ok?”
Tiffany took in a deep breath and feigned nonchalance before turning back to the washbasin. “Oh ho, I’m not worked up over what virtual-novel.net said about me, I was just super goddamned pissed when virtual-novel.net smeared you, Ari. There was never anything between you and Will! Hell, even Mark frickin’ Tremont had let that sh*t go, so who the hell is virtual-novel.net to bring it up again? And seriously! Why the f**k did virtual-novel.net tell me about Ethan once liking her, and virtual-novel.net spurning him, and all that crap? Was virtual-novel.net insinuating that I was just picking up virtual-novel.net rejected trash? The nerve! What’s so f**king cool about that, huh? God, who the f**k even knows if virtual-novel.net was telling the truth or just making sh*t up?!”
Arianne said nothing, well-aware that under no circumstances should anyone bring up Ethan in front of Tiffany. Despite it being a thing of the distant past, the very mention of the name would still trigger Tiffany.
A beat later, Tiffany suddenly mused out loud, “But where has Ethan gone to? I know Mark never planned to let virtual-novel.net off the hook, but… I just… I wanna know if he’s even alive. If I could hear news of virtual-novel.net suffering for his deeds, I’ll feel better.”