See you in St. Tropez

“Good morning…,” the waiter greeted them. The hostess was nowhere to be seen.

“Morning. By the window, please,” Elly said in an arrogant manner.

“Where would you rather dine?”

“Here, on the first floor, right?” Elly asked Eva, completely ignoring the waiter.

“Is there anything on the patio?” Eva wondered looking at the waiter and smiling.

“I’ll see what I can do. Follow me,” happily replied the waiter, never once having lost the 17th century young man character, the number one rule at this fancy place.

Elly rolled her eyes with disapproval as they followed their waiter. She was ranting on and on about how she would have preferred the first floor and about her conversation with Rosa. Eva kept nodding, but was really consumed by her own thoughts. They picked a table on the patio and ordered cold water.

“And two glasses of wine!”

“Elly, what wine? It’s not even noon!” Eva suddenly felt embarrassed in front of their waiter. “I mean… I wanted to get us some rose bubbles, but you didn’t give me a chance.”

“Ruinart?” the waiter asked

“Perfect. I need a minute to think about breakfast, though. Maybe after the first glass…”

“Hmmm… I don’t know about the champagne…,” Elly seemed hesitant.

“What’s up? What happened that you’ve decided to drink in the morning?”

“I think I’d do a vodka shot.”

“Oh my god, you’re scaring me. What happened? Why vodka?”

“Please, just a glass of white wine. We can’t be drinking champagne after what I am about to tell you…”

Eva felt uncomfortable.

“What happened? Is everything all right?”

“With me – yes, thank God.,” She looked at the waiter who was still there. “You know, we’ll get a bottle.,” Elly said. The waiter nodded and went away.

“Here… listen…”

“You’re scaring me…”

“Well… you’re so easily impressed. I don’t want to traumatize your fragile psyche…”

“Come on already. Tell me. If you are gonna take longer, you will see me kick the bucket, as Sasha likes to say.”

“What Sasha?”

“My driver, Sasha.”

“Oh him…. I should have guessed. Who else would say such a thing…”

“Leave him alone! I’m starting to think you fancy him…”

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that. So, listen… You remember Bella?”

“Besides traumatizing my fragile psyche, you think I have memory issues?” Eva placed her phone on the table, having enabled the silent mode. “Let me guess… she’s dating one of your idiots, right?” Eva produced a snort while laughing.

“Not exactly…,” she ran her fingers through her hair, fixing a stubborn curl behind her ear. Then, she coldly added: “She died.”

The silence hung between two friends. What seemed to be a semi-smile froze on Eva’s horrified face that had been grinning just a few seconds ago. They started at each other, both not knowing what to say, or even what to do in that instant. As if a computer’s operating system froze and needed to be rebooted.

“Here’s your glass of rosé,” the waiter broke the awkward silence.

“Thanks,” Eva heard herself say. Her voice sounded weak, tears rolling down her cheek.

The waiter, not knowing what to do, uncorked the bottle and splashed some wine into the glass – an invitation to taste. She looked at him in surprise which made him fill the glass to the top and quickly disappear, asking no further questions.

“Why are you crying, silly?” Elly seemed worried with such a sincere concern on her face which Eva thought she rarely saw her friend display. She was clearly worried, despite the unspoken taboo people like Elly had on openly expressing their emotions. Being an iron lady, a snow queen, she never showed what she really felt. Never. That was the reason many openly disliked her for her coldness, arrogant confidence, and condescending attitude. Elly never cried. But in that instance her heart was filled with pain and compassion that have forced the iron mask she had worn off her face. Although, she did not really cry, you could see something in her eyes – the eternal sadness, and to Eva’s surprise, warmth and unmistakable urge to help a friend to cope with the terrible news.

“Eva, stop crying or I’ll cry myself!”

“I don’t even know why I reacted this way,” Eva said weeping.

“You sure you don’t want wine?”

“No, thanks,” Eva said, taking another sip of champagne.

“Poor guy,” Elly said, looking at the waiter who stood at the opposite corner of the restaurant, discreetly looking at two friends. “He’s probably worried for you. I bet he wishes he had brought vodka.”

“Tell me, how did it happen? I still cannot believe it. I cannot even say it aloud. How old is she? I mean was…,” having realized the extent of the tragedy, Eva burst in tears all over again.

“Eva, baby. Please, do not cry. Had I known…. I would have had you over to tell you… and then we would’ve come here. I should’ve listened to Rosa.”

“Listened to Rosa?” Eva was confused.

“She said you’re rather sensitive, yet you try to look strong and rebellious. But in reality, you’re just a baby whale who’s still holding on to the mother’s flippers…”

“She’s right. As always,” Eva sadly agreed. By then she had stopped crying but her cheeks were wet and eyes puffy.

“I hope she’s right only about that. You’ve no idea, all the time we were walking here she was screwing my brain, trying to convince me not to go to the restaurant dressed like this.”

“What’s wrong with your outfit? I think you look amazing for someone who only got four-hour sleep.”

“She doesn’t think so. She told me I looked like a pale moth and today there may be just the right man who will pass by me without ever noticing. Or, even if he noticed, he wouldn’t be as impressed. When it comes to men it’s all about the first impression. Don’t you look at me like that. It is not my idea, it’s all Rosa’s. She believes that if a man sees you all beautiful, stunningly dressed, that’s how he’s going to keep seeing you forever – even when you’re not wearing any makeup or dressed in a bathrobe… In other words, if he likes you the way you are naturally, with bed hair, without makeup, just like I am now, then no matter what you wear later – he will perceive you as a simple woman who isn’t capable to impress any other men. And since all men are primitive, according to Rosa of course, and driven by natural instincts, the other kind of women – who are able to attract other men. Don’t know if I made much sense, but something like that…”

“What kind of trash is that. Utter nonsense. Now you have to wear a corset and have a whip in order to be loved?”

“I wish. If only you knew what I have to listen every Friday night before going out. She is never pleased. Now, I look too humble, and pale. Other times, vulgar, like a whore. She’s a true Madame Paradox. She makes me sick,” Elly rolled her eyes and took another sip of wine. “And now imagine me having to listen to this nonsense non-stop! And today it went on over the phone. God have mercy on my poor ears.”

While Elly was complaining about her granny Eva finished her glass.

“Another one, Madame?” asked the waiter who seemed to have suddenly popped out form the thin air, startling Eva. “Oh, my apologies. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“No worries. Yes, please. I’ll have another one. I’m not hungry though, thanks.

The waiter disappeared.

“He annoys the heck out of me,” Elly snapped. “Anyway. Just promise me you won’t be crying anymore! Otherwise I won’t be able to tell you the rest… of what I know… or keep learning about.,” Elly was now looking at her phone which she never turned off.

“How do you keep learning…?”

“Well, Instagram¹ of course. Why do you even need one? Are you even subscribed to anyone? You never seem to know what’s going on.”

“You know I don’t like gossips!”

“I do know. But I can’t believe you’re not even slightly curious?”

“No. Besides, what you just told me is no gossips, it’s a sad, sad news. How could this happen?” Eva’s face fell, though this time she managed not to cry. “And what does Instagram have to do with any of that?”

“Come on. There is now a new hashtag. #RIPBella. So far, twenty-seven posts.”

“And what are they about?”

“Well obviously mostly bunch of hypocrites. I’ve literally been in shock since morning. How could people be like that. How could anyone hate a person, turn away from her, because of that story, you know; And now after she hanged herself, write how much they loved her and how much she meant to them. blah blah blah…”

“What? Hanged herself???”

“Yes, she did. The girls wrote she hanged on a strap from her silk negligee.”

“You’re kidding? Is that true?” Eva was in shock. She leaned back in her chair in an awkward position without seeming to care about how she looked. Her “24/7 perfect look control,” was now disabled. “When did it happen? Today or yesterday?”

“Hey girl, slow down on that champagne….,” Elly was looking at the empty glass her friend was still holding in her hands.”

“I can’t drink anymore. I was planning for one glass and Benedict’s eggs.”

“Eggs Benedict,” corrected Elly.

“Pardon?”

“You said… Benedict’s eggs…,” Elly said barely containing laughter.

“I couldn’t have said that,” Eva disagreed. “You misheard me.”

“Either way. Sounded weird,” Elly was now laughing.

“Elly, even if I did misspeak, you know what Chekhov said on the matter – Good breeding is shown, not by not upsetting the sauce, but by not noticing it when somebody else does,” Eva sounded clearly displeased, her voice cold.

“Ok, sorry.” Elly was trying to stop laughing. “I won’t argue with Mr. Chekhov. I completely agree. But you can’t deny the name of the dish, is weird. I am positive, you were not only one who misspoke about the eggs in such a way.”

“Elly! Will you stop it. It’s not the time…”

“Ok then…” Elly took a big sip of wine hoping it will help with the hysterical laughter.

“So, when did it happen?” Eva asked in a serious tone.

“Well… turns out, it happened three weeks ago but it wasn’t until today that everyone found out.”

“Oh my god. Three weeks, Elly. She’s been dead three weeks and we find out about it today? From Instagram? What kind of world are we living in? What kind of society? It hurts me to even think about it. Poor girl… She couldn’t take it. When everyone found out her secret and turned away.”

“For the first time, I am inclined to agree…,” Elly sighed and took another sip.

“Where is she buried?”

“Why do you ask?”

“What do you mean why? We will go say good bye. Today. Bring some flowers to the grave.”

“I don’t think it’s a very good idea, to be honest… we weren’t really close, were we? In fact, not at all.”

“What do you mean not at all? You can’t be so insensitive. We attended the same dinners on multiple occasions, sang karaoke together a couple of times, even danced together at that wedding of your weird friend… you know, the one with big teeth. That day, she gave me the flower bouquet she had caught and said she wished me luck finding a great boyfriend….,” Eva started to cry, overwhelmed with the memories.

“Come on, please don’t cry. You’re so sensitive, really. You’ve got to toughen up, I’m telling you,” Elly rolled her eyes. By then, it seemed Elly’s sadness had faded away and Eva was looking at her good old friend – invincible, overly confident Elly, with an immense self-control. “See…. good thing I told you to throw those flowers into the river.”

“Why?”

“What do you mean why? First, she hanged herself. Secondly, it isn’t exactly a god thing to receive flowers from a girl with a low level of self-esteem and social responsibility.”

“Elly!!!”

“Sorry. It isn’t really my place to say, I admit. Anyway, it was a good thing we stopped at the embankment and threw those flowers….”

“Is that why you were so insistent on me throwing the flowers away? I thought you simply didn’t want me to get married before you,” Eva said without a hint of emotion. “Just kidding,” she added.

“Look at you there, you told a joke. Not a very funny one, but nevertheless. I am happy. I was starting to worry what happened to you. Welcome back, you’ve been missed!”

“Elly, sometimes you’re so obnoxious. However, I want to tell you that I am happy to have you in my life as my best friend. I love you, Elly.”

“And I love you too, babe,” Elly said with a serious face,”. So, I guess we should get married then?”

“I think day after day the joke gets sadder and sadder,” Eva smiled, but there was a hint of sadness. “I guess, if I don’t meet my Mr. Right in ten-year time, we might as well get married!”

“Does that mean you’re confident I am not gonna meet anyone in the next ten years, right? Are you sure?”

“No, I didn’t mean it this way! You know that. My bad!” they laughed. “Life is so unpredictable, though. There once lives a person – today, and tomorrow they’re gone. I don’t care if this is gonna sound trivial, but we really should appreciate each and every day. Each and every moment.”

“Agreed.”

“I wish we didn’t have to learn such a tragic news on a wonderful day like today… I can’t stop thinking Bella will never see a day like this again, or will never feel the beauty of nature, or a touch of the loved one. It gives me shivers. Wasn’t she the same age as me? She just turned twenty-one. I can’t believe it. She didn’t even get to live! What has she got to see in such a short life she had?”

“I think she had seen more than a woman in her fifties alright….!”

“Elly! It’s is so inappropriate of you to say!”

“Look, I may have agreed I made an inappropriate remark the first time. But please, don’t make her out a saint, either! Everyone knows what her life style was… and she would never have found a decent boyfriend, had she continued to live like that… You know what I mean.”

Eva have her friend an angry look and Elly decided to change the subject.

“Weird…,” she said, “ – only today did everyone find out…. don’t you think so?”

“See what kind of hypocrisy modern society has to deal with? I hate to even think about it.”

“Oh well. Look, there’s an update. A new post from, you won’t believe who!” Elly was looking at her phone with disgust. “Guess who?”

“pRATty girl?!”

“Yes! Just another instance where she lives up to the nickname you gave her. Look at the photo she posted!”

Eva looked at her friends’ phone. Disbelief was written all over her face.

Bella

Bella was a good acquaintance of ours. Well, perhaps, not a very good one – just an acquaintance. Elly couldn’t stand her from the moment she first saw her. She’s always thought her to be pretentious and fake, in everything from her name to her ten-carat ring with a bright yellow diamond. As soon as Elly would spot Bella on the horizon, she would instantly get annoyed and would always say: “Where did she come from?”. I came up with my own explanation for my friend’s behavior: just like two suns cannot share one sky, two egocentric, overconfident, and beautiful women cannot share one company of friends. Indeed, Bella seemed to be interested in the same type of people that would always follow Elly around – the rich men’s sons. Of course, apart from that fact they were two entirely different characters and it went without saying that I gravitated towards Elly in most ways, including the way she looked. Elly was tall and skinny, with long legs and beautiful breasts. Her brown hair was complemented by the green, captivating eyes with intense, and somewhat predatory gaze. Bella’s look was entirely different. Quite fit, though not as tall as Elly, she did possess sexy hips long hair extensions of chocolate color that looked completely natural. It was clear when it came down to the amount she spent on it, she didn’t think twice. It wasn’t a secret that by the age of twenty, she had managed to “tune up’ her entire body. She had toilet bowl-white teeth veneers, unnaturally narrow nose, Botox enhanced eyebrows that gave her face a somewhat bitchy expression. A close friend of hers had told me in confidence that even her once sticking out Dumbo ears now were fixed up. What Bella reminded me was of a photoshopped glossy magazine model, that had materialized in front of me. Imagine sitting and chatting with her, while she looks ever so perfect. Not a hint of extra facial mimics, for which my mom would always tell me off: “stop frowning”, or “stop wrinkling your forehead” she would often say. Bella was so perfect that after the encounter with her, you would be happy to see your live, yet somewhat imperfect face, in the mirror. Guys had even given her a nickname – Bella Tuning. They would actively hit on her when drunk, or having fought with their girlfriends. What she didn’t have though, were classy admirers, and that constituted a key difference between her and Elly. My friend was regularly taken out on dates, guys literally melted when they were looking or talking to her. They were ready to tolerate her cold, at times cruel remarks, showered her with flowers. Rumor had it, once a guy who Elly had turned down on numerous occasions earlier, got drunk and called Bella. Not only did she accept his dinner invitation, but also treated him a “desert’, if you know what I mean. Elly couldn’t stand Bella. I, however, didn’t mind her company. It was both interesting and entertaining to me how in the world a tiny girl like herself could have done so much to her body, that ato thirty-five-year-old established woman wouldn’t have had a chance to do, and most importantly, WHY? Having said that, I found myself actually liking Bella. Ms. Tuning was always funny, down to earth, and very easy to be around and talk to. Elly often tried to convince me otherwise. She would say Bella was a notorious bitch, wishing good to nobody. I strongly disagreed. In contrast to most of our boring, predictable, and hypocritical peers, who were lacking identity, style, and being unable to say a word without their parents approval, Bella most definitely stood out. A defiant child to her parents and free spirit, she always had an opinion of her own. It seemed, much like a butterfly, she lived one day at a time – full of emotions, and sincere feelings. Besides that, we didn’t know much more about Bella. Maybe, a fact that she did have rich parents. According to her, her dad had died few years earlier, having left a big chunk of money to her mother, who lived in Monte Carlo. She spoke very little of her mother and when she did, her mother disapproval of the daughters lifestyle was always implied. She was a doctor, a very intellectual woman. One more thing we knew was that Bella was her only child. Her mother had her at the age of forty and it was attributed to this fact she had always been overprotective of Bella. That was the reason Bella left Monte Carlo once she had turned sixteen and came to live with her auntie here in Moscow. She lived here ever since, never ever wanting to go back or regretting the choice she had made. She had a kind of French last name everyone had difficulty remembering or even pronouncing. Either it was Bardot, like Bridget, or Boudreaux, like wine. Her collection of bright, colorful name brand clothes she wore probably featured all color palette of Birkin purses. It also included a variety of evening dresses from couture, diamond, exquisite perfume as expensive as a car. She was frequently seen being driven in Bentleys or Rolls Royses. However, Bella herself was quite humble, speaking little to none of the fortune her father had left her. Many, if not everyone in our circles fell for her money and chose to ignore her rather easy virtue. Her mother would always be spoken of as a decent, honest woman who struggled with her daughter behavior of a silly, shallow party girl. “She is too young,” they said. “She will outgrow it,“they were convinced, “There’s one in every family”. Apparently, that was what money could do – temporarily cover up unpleasant truths and contain the extent of social conviction.

It was that finally battle of good and evil that happened a few months earlier. Elly and Bella, as if competing for the title of bohemian

beauty, as I like to think of it. We were having dinner at our favorite Italian restaurant “Mario” in the company of a mutual friend. I really loved the place for both its atmosphere, and food. Naturally, in there dined predominantly men who came to the restaurant to enjoy food. Girls, however pursued an agenda entirely different. All dressed up and ready, they patiently waited to be noticed by some of the restaurant regulars. Some of them went as far as paying the waiting staff for letting them know when someone of interest would arrive at the restaurant. Elly and I liked the place because watching all that unfold was even more entertaining than a new play at a theatre. I kid you not, from the moment we made it through the doors, we were immersed in a magical, untold atmosphere of wealth, super wealth and euphoria. White table cloths, live music, dim lighting, candles, sparkles of true diamonds and cheap jewelry imitations – vanity fair as it is. And of course the most important – the audience itself.

However, people of our ages tended to gravitate towards places appropriate for the age, thus we were ones of very few of the kind here, which of course was a pleasing fact. Among our peers we would often feel like in a kindergarten. It was at places like this that we felt most at ease.

That evening, just like any other Friday night, we went an extra mile, having put on our most stunning outfits. I wore a dangerously short black dress with a golden Versace meduse pins. I was still tan after my Maldives vacation with mom a month before. I was extremely pleased with my hairstyle and makeup as I was leaving a beauty studio. As a gay friend of mine likes to say, don’t leave the house until you want yourself in the mirror. It was exactly how I felt that evening. Elly looked like the main character Elvira from the “Scar face” movie. She wore a stunning emerald dress with a slit all the way along hip. Her hair was elegantly styled into Hollywood curls that looked especially beautiful on her. Without boasting I will say, no matter where we went, we would attract a lot of attention. Of course, we acted like we weren’t aware of the fact and only planned to have a glass of Dom Perignon. You understand me, right? In other words, it was otherwise a rather ordinary Friday evening.

“Look who’s here!” whispered to me Elly, holding her breath soon as we sat down.

“Where?”

“There! Two tables to the right!”

“There are tons of people. Who are you talking about?”

“The cutest one, obviously!”

“The dark-haired guy with a Hollywood smile?”

“Yes.”

“Well, he is cute. Handsome. Stands out. And who would he be?”

“Darn it, Eva. Do you ever watch news or read magazines?”

“Everything you just said is so last year…”

“I see,” Elly rolled her eyes a little too theatrically. “This is Andrei B. I’m not telling you his last name… A name that loud, you will fall off your chair. And stop acting so restlessly!”

“I am not acting restlessly. The dress is way too short, I’m trying to get comfortable. So, who is he?”

It was quite annoying the way Elly chose to speak riddles to get me to ask more questions. It allowed her to dispense information slowly with a smart, professor-like face.

“This is one of the richest guys in the country…maybe world!”

“Huh! I am shocked. He… and every other man here.”

“You know what your problem is? You manage to always miss the most interesting because you think you know everything better than anyone else.”

“Go screw yourself.”

“Not only is he incredibly rich, Eva, he’s also one of the most generous and refined man on the planet…”

“And you know this how?”

“I have my own sources,” Elly said looking important, “…my nails lady told me. You know, that one Sasha goes to.”

“What Sasha? My driver?” Eva laughed.

“Ha. Ha. Ha. – she took a little pause – Well, you don’t really know her. Anyway. She’s the owner of a beauty salon, and an art connoisseur. In other words, wife of a rich old fart.”

“And you share the same nails lady with her????”

“You think I should change her?”

“Just think. If she gossips about that Sasha, what kind of things about you she tells others?”

“Darn. I didn’t think of that. There are certainly things about me….”

“Are you serious?” Eva cut her friend short.

“You know, nails lady is sorta shrink. Don’t you ever talk about yourself with yours?”

“No!”

“Wow. What a strength! O.K., I’ll think about it tomorrow,” frowned my Scarlett O’Hara wannabe friend. “So, Sasha said she had met Andrei at one of the private parties she used to go to before she met her old fart. She and the other girls there were from a modeling agency specifically invited to that event. So, he kinda liked her, they hung out for a couple of days and then he asked…”

“I thought you were gonna say dumped…” interrupted Eva.

“He did, eventually. Why the hell would he need her for anything serious?”

“So, what are you getting so excited about then?”

“He ASKED her what she dreamed of? Sasha said she wanted to have her own condo in the heart of Moscow. And you know what happened?”

“Let me guess. He bought her a condo!”

“Exactly! Inside the condo was a porsche panamera, too. But that’s not the point —” Elly was barely whispering now, “-Sasha says, with a man like him, she would…. have fun… without all these extra perks… you know what I mean?”

“You mean… because he’s handsome and generous?” I was confused.

“Girl, I feel sorry for you sometimes! It’s time you get rid of your innocence. You sound like a child, honestly,” Elly hummed with betrayal. “He is very good in bed. I hope you don’t need any extra explanations on this one!”

“Fuck. You.”

“Oh come on! It was a joke. Where’s your sense of humor? – she smiled. – well anyways… returning to the subject! You know, such a high opinion coming from a whore… it must mean something.”

“Elly, no offence, but I am not gonna listen to this dirty shit. It literally makes me physically sick.”

“What dirt are you talking about. Just look at him. He’s a high-breed. Wealthy and generous. And hot. It’s a rare combination even in movies…” Elly sighed romantically. “Look at his gaze, so deep. Imagine how much he could tell… or show…”

“Listen to you… you’ve found a modern days Pygmalion.”

“Right on point!”

“I was just kidding…” I started to say, but Elly didn’t let me finish.

“Look at who just came to to sit at the table next to him! Alan’s dad and his friends. Tonight, an oligarch at every table.”

“I couldn’t care less. Stop looking around like a savage villager. I hope you’re done with your nails lady’s stories, right? Seriously, I’ve heard enough!” I really did start to get frustrated. What I do want to know is where is Vlad?”

“Oh, don’t remind me of him. I hope his tires will get flat or something… Hope he’ll be late. Wish he wouldn’t show up at all!”

“How can you say this?!”

“Well, he’s got us a table here, payed for it. The rest is irrelevant. He doesn’t have to be here,” Elly was looking right through me with a dreamy smile on her face. “Yes!!! Yes!!! He looked!!! He just looked over! Ever so discreetly but I saw it!” she was whispering full of excitement.

“Who?”

“Who I was just telling you about?”

“So, what?”

“Well, if he comes say Hi, I won’t mind…”

“Oh Elly,” I sighed and decided to massage Vlad to see what the holdup was. While I was sending the message, a hostess approached our table. Bella and two girl friends of hers were following. The hostess gave us what seemed like a condescending look and went away.

“What the hell is that?” Elly hissed through her teeth.

“No idea…” I wasn’t any less surprised.

“Hi there, girls” Bella greeted us with her usual mannerism is the voice. Her two friends smiled nicely.

“Hi there,” I tried to sound friendly in contrast to Elly whose face was green with anger, matching her emerald dress.

The message came through:

“Training ran late. David and his friend might beat me.”

“With three friends,” I said quietly to myself, having read the message.

“What? Elly asked, frowning.

I handed her my phone.

“Bella, where’s David?” I inquired in the friendliest way possible.

“I don’t know. He should’ve been here by now. I hope he will be late…” Bella replied and laughed. She and her friends politely sat at the opposite end of the table making sure they weren’t bothering us, in theory.

“I hate this idiot.”

“David?

“Him too! But right now, Vlad!”

“He didn’t mean to…”

“Stop defending him. He’s such an asshole.”

“Come on. Look, they’re sitting all the way there. They don’t bother you.”

“Didn’t you see what happened when they came over?”

“The hostess’s look?”

“No, besides that. Huh, you did notice that too, didn’t you?”

“I did. And i don’t care. If anything, it was kind of funny.”

“It would be funny if it weren’t so sad,” Elly remarked. “Now everyone here associates us with her – the most popular slut of the city. She’s practically a walking I AM A WHORE sign.”

“Stop it!”

“He must think I am like that too now.”

“Who?”

With her eyes she pointed in the direction of the man she had been talking about before Bella showed up.

“Elly, I don’t mean to disappoint you, but I think he doesn’t even think about you at all. First. And second, he’s got plenty going on without you. But there is light in the end of a tunnel. The good news are, form what I gather from your story, he likes whores, you heard that from Sasha.”

“I think I’m gonna pass out….”

“Oh, calm down! No one cares, just relax. Remember, TGIF!!! Relax.”

“That’s one way to support a friend,” Elly grumbled. “Even Alan’s dad is looking at us weird now, look! If only had I known…. Too late now, no matter what you do, we are losers cause we sitting at the same table with them. Fuckballs!”

“Why do you always have to be so fixated on who sits with who? Just listen to me – hear me – NO-BO-DY-CA-RES! Honestly.”

“You’re right. I gotta look happy. Frowning isn’t gonna help,” she smiled. “Is this better?”

“Now try it sincerer, that will do!”

“O.K. let’s talk about something else or I’ll get sad again.” Elly opened the menu content of which we already knew by heart. Pretending as if she was studying the possible options she said to me, keeping her eyes on the menu: “I can feel his gaze on me. Look, I’ve got goosebumps. I’m getting a frisson!”

“Fri… what?”

“Skin orgasm.”

“You’re nuts!”