Olivia glided through the throng of partygoers her vintage shirt and bum shorts complemented by combat boots, exuding a confident aura. The music pulsed around her as she moved, but her focus shifted the moment she heard Carly calling her from a distance.
"Liv! Liv!" Carly's voice cut through the noise, and Olivia turned, making her way toward her friend.
"I didn't think you'd come," Carly said, a hint of surprise in her tone.
"Why?" Olivia replied, raising an eyebrow.
"I don't know." Carly paused, scanning the crowd. "Where's Richard?"
Olivia feigned ignorance, diverting the conversation. "I've been trying to reach Jensen. I haven't heard from her all day."
Carly's expression softened. "We spoke thirty minutes ago. I think she's on her way here."
Olivia's brows lifted, a slow "Oh" escaping her lips. "Okay."
"So, where is Richard?" Carly pressed.
"I don't know," Olivia said, her voice steady.
"What do you mean you don't know?" Carly's hands rested on her hips, her stance relaxed as if she had all night to unravel this mystery.
"It's a long story," Olivia replied, her tone dismissive.
Just then, Matt approached them holding a cup of drink. "Hi," he said, flashing a friendly smile.
"Hey, brother-in-law," Olivia said sarcastically.
Carly's eyes widened in shock. "Brother-in-law?"
"Oh right," Olivia said nonchalantly, pointing at Matt. "I'm getting married to his brother. Matt, meet Carly, my best friend. Carly, meet my brother-in-law."
Carly erupted in hysterical laughter. "Are you drunk? The party hasn't even started, and you're already high!"
Silence fell over the trio as Matt and Olivia exchanged serious glances. Carly's laughter faded, replaced by astonishment. "Wait, you're not kidding?"
Their expressions confirmed her worst fears. "Wait, where does Richard fit into all of this?"
"We broke up, and I don't want to talk about it," Olivia said, snatching the drink from Matt's hand and downing it in one go before returning the cup. "I'm in the mood to dance. Let's go!"
She grabbed Carly's hand and pulled her away, leaving Carly glancing back at Matt with a look of confusion. Matt simply watched them as they disappeared into the crowd.
On the dance floor, Olivia and Carly surrendered to the music. Suddenly, Jensen entered, scanning the room until her gaze landed on Olivia and Carly. Taking a deep breath, she made her way toward them.
"I didn't think you'd come to the party, Olivia," Jensen shouted over the loud beat.
"And would you think so?" Olivia retorted, a hint of defiance in her voice.
"I don't know, maybe because you and Richard broke up?" Jensen replied, her words cutting through the air.
Olivia froze, her expression shifting to one of confusion.
Carly turned to Jensen, her eyes narrowed. "How did you know, Jen?"
Realizing she had let something slip, Jensen scrambled for an excuse. "Oh, uh, Richard told me," she said, her voice slightly wavering under the pressure of the moment.
"He did? Why?" Carly's voice dripped with skepticism, her arms crossing defensively over her chest.
"What do you mean, why?" Jensen shot back, her defensiveness rising. "I didn't know you two were close. Carly replied sarcastically.
"We aren't. I asked him about you," Jensen said, turning back to Olivia, her eyes wide with concern. "And he told me."
Olivia felt the world tilt slightly, her heart sinking at the realization that Richard had shared their private pain with someone else. The weight of this revelation was like a stone in her chest, and she could feel her composure beginning to crack.
She blinked rapidly, fighting back tears that threatened to spill over. "I need to go to the bathroom. Excuse me," she said, her voice trembling as she turned away, the urgency to escape the moment overtaking her.
"Wait, Olivia!" Carly called after her, concern corroded into her face , but Olivia was already disappearing into the crowd, her heart pounding in her ears.
Carly glared at Jensen, her anger bubbling to the surface. "You didn't have to bring it up like that, couldn't you have waited until she told us herself?" she said, her voice low but fierce.
"How the hell was I supposed to know that she had not accepted it?" Jensen replied, her tone defensive as she shifted uncomfortably. "I thought she'd want to talk about it."
Carly sighed, frustration radiating from her. "You don't just drop a bombshell like that, Jen. I still don't get why Richard told you." Carly walked away angrily leaving Jensen behind.
Jensen rolled her eyes, crossing her arms as she spoke to herself "Everyone is always so careful not to hurt little Miss Ivy because she's so precious," she muttered, the sarcasm dripping from her words like venom.
The music continued to thump around her, but the energy felt different now. It was as if the party had lost its vibrancy, each beat echoing the turmoil swirling in her mind. She glanced back in the direction Ivy had gone, a flicker of guilt washing over her.
The bathroom was dimly lit and suffused with an air of chaos. The sound of retching echoed against the tiled walls as Olivia leaned over the sink, her body shaking with each heave. Tears streamed down her cheeks, mingling with the remnants of the evening's revelry. Two girls stepped out of the bathroom, their whispers laced with confusion.
"Why is she throwing up here?" one murmured, her voice tinged with judgment.
"I don't know," the other replied, shrugging as they walked past Carly, who was just entering the bathroom.
Carly rushed inside and her heart sank at the sight of Olivia, who was sobbing uncontrollably.
"Olivia, are you okay?" Carly asked, concern flooding her voice.
"I am not!" Olivia cried, her voice cracking as the weight of her emotions bore down on her. "I don't know what happened! Richard broke up with me out of the blue. I thought we were happy and perfect, but it turns out that—" She choked on her words, the sobs breaking free as she buried her face in her hands, the pain palpable.
Carly stepped forward, enveloping Olivia in a tight embrace. The two remained locked in that position for what felt like an eternity, Olivia's cries echoing in the small space. Carly stroked her back gently, whispering soothing words, her heart aching for her friend.
"Oh, Olivia, I am so sorry," Carly said softly, her voice steady as she held her friend close.
After several long minutes, Olivia finally began to regain some composure. She stepped back, her face streaked with tears, and splashed cold water on her flushed cheeks.
"I think I want to go home," Olivia said, her voice still shaky. "Are you going to be okay?"
Carly shook her head firmly. "I am not going to leave you alone. I'll drive you home."
"No, it's fine. My chauffeur is outside," Olivia replied, attempting to brush off the concern.
Carly took a deep breath, her resolve unyielding. "It doesn't matter. I'm going home with you, and that's final."
Olivia sighed, her shoulders slumping in resignation as she inhaled deeply. After a moment of silence, they both stepped out of the bathroom, where Jensen was waiting.
"We are leaving," Carly declared, her tone brooking no argument.
"But I just got here," Jensen protested, her arms crossed defiantly.
"Well, you can stay here if you want," Carly replied, her patience thinning.
Jensen rolled her eyes, folding her arms tighter. "She is my friend too. Why are you acting like she isn't?"
Carly took a moment to steady her breath, frustration simmering beneath the surface. "If she's also your friend, then you'd understand why we're leaving."
"Fine, let's go," Jensen relented, her tone laced with irritation.
As they began to walk away, a thought struck Olivia. "Oh, I need to tell Matt that I'm leaving."
Carly waved her hand dismissively. "He's a big boy, Olivia. He can handle himself."
Olivia hesitated, glancing back toward the party, but ultimately sighed in resignation. They stepped out of Brandon's apartment into the cool night air, only to be met by Richard and his closest friend, Christian, who were heading toward the party.
Panic surged through Olivia, a primal instinct urging her to run and hide. But Carly held her firmly by the arm, preventing her from escaping. Richard and Christian approached, their expressions shifting from casual to curious.
"Hello, Olivia," Christian greeted, a friendly smile plastered on his face.
"Hi," Olivia responded, her voice barely above a whisper.
Jensen, unable to resist, chimed in with a teasing lilt. "I bet you only saw Olivia here."
Christian raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean? I saw you a few minutes ago."
An awkward silence enveloped the group, the tension thick enough to cut. Carly decided to break the silence. "Richard."
"Carly," he acknowledged, his gaze flicking between them, oblivious to the unspoken tension hanging in the air.
"You guys are leaving early?" Richard asked, his tone casual but laced with concern.
"Yes, Olivia doesn't feel too well," Carly replied.
"I'm okay," Olivia interjected quickly, forcing a weak smile. "I think I drank something that doesn't sit well with my stomach."
Christian, sensing the palpable tension, glanced between Richard and Olivia. "I can't be the only one sensing it, but you two have been trying to avoid each other's gaze. What's going on?"
Jensen immediately chimed in, her voice cutting through the awkwardness like a knife. "They broke up."
The revelation hung in the air, heavy and shocking. Christian's eyes widened in disbelief. "What! Why? When?"
Carly shot a glare at Jensen, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "You really don't know when to shut up," she hissed, her tone sharp.
"What? It's not like he wouldn't find out," Jensen retorted defiantly, crossing her arms.
Overwhelmed, Olivia felt the walls closing in on her. She pulled away from Carly's grip, her heart racing as she turned to walk away. But before she could retreat further, Richard rushed forward to hold her as she staggered, concern etched on his face.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice low and urgent.
"Get away from me!" Olivia pushed him away, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and hurt, before continuing her retreat toward her car.
Carly quickly followed, casting a sympathetic glance back at Richard. Jensen hesitated, her gaze fixed on Richard, anger boiling beneath the surface. "What the hell?" she shot at him before turning on her heel and marching away.
Christian stood bewildered, watching the scene unfold. "What just happened? You broke up with Olivia?" he asked Richard, incredulity coloring his tone.
Richard ran a frustrated hand through his hair. "I don't want to talk about it," he muttered, storming off, leaving Christian standing in confusion.
Moments later, Inside the luxury car, tension filled the back seat as Olivia, Carly, and Jensen sat in silence. Gerard, the chauffeur, focused on the road ahead, the hum of the engine the only sound breaking through the thick atmosphere. Olivia leaned against the window, her eyes fixed on the darkening sky, lost in a whirlwind of thoughts. The stars twinkled faintly, but they brought her no comfort.
Carly glanced at Olivia, her heart aching for her friend. She wanted to say something—anything to alleviate the pain—but words felt inadequate in the face of such raw emotion. Jensen, on the other hand, was engrossed in her phone, fingers flying over the screen as she tapped out a message, oblivious to the turmoil surrounding her.
After what felt like an eternity, they arrived at the Stone mansion. Olivia stepped out of the car, her movements slow and heavy, as if each step was a monumental effort. Without a word, she walked toward the grand entrance, her mind still reeling from the confrontation.
Carly and Jensen followed closely behind, an unspoken understanding passing between them. They entered the mansion, the opulence of the place stark against Olivia's desolation. Once inside, Olivia made a beeline for her bedroom, the weight of the world on her shoulders.
As soon as she entered, Olivia kicked off her boots, the sound of them thudding against the floor echoing in the stillness. Without a second thought, she threw herself onto the bed, face-first into the plush comforter. Exhaustion washed over her, and she felt the pull of sleep beckoning her into oblivion.
Carly and Jensen wandered into the room, their eyes scanning the closet filled with chic outfits. The atmosphere had shifted; the heaviness of Olivia's heart was palpable, and they both understood that they needed to distract themselves, if only for a moment.
"What should we wear?" Carly asked, rifling through the array of clothes, trying to lighten the mood even just a little.
"I don't know. Something fun!" Jensen replied, her voice tinged with excitement as she pulled out a glittering top. "How about this?"
Carly nodded, grabbing a sleek black dress. "Perfect! Let's have a little fun, just us girls. Olivia will feel better, I promise."
But Olivia remained oblivious on the bed, her mind drifting away as sleep finally claimed her. The chaos of the world outside faded, and for a moment, she was free from the pain that had engulfed her heart.
Carly and Jensen exchanged a glance, a silent agreement passing between them. And in that moment, they changed their clothes and also retired to bed.