Ella
I leaned back in the driver's seat of my car, the engine purring quietly as I held the phone to my ear, my fingers tapping the wheel in rhythm with my words.
Richard's voice came through, light and easy, and I couldn't help but smile. It was one of those rare, peaceful moments; just me, the phone, and the steady hum of the world outside.
"So, how's Selena?" Richard asked, his voice playful but tinged with curiosity.
I glanced at the clock as it was almost noon. "She finally picked up," I said with a chuckle as if it had been a long, funny ordeal. I leaned forward slightly, peering through the windshield, hoping to catch a glimpse of Selena somewhere.
Richard laughed lightly on the other end. "Well, that's progress," he said, "You still on for lunch today?"
"Sure," I said, glancing around the parking lot one more time. No sign of her yet, but she had to be close. "But listen, Richard, should I tell Selena about the money... and the other thing?"
I let the question hang in the air, my eyes darting from one side of the lot to the other, waiting for any sign of her. The question was more loaded than I cared to admit.
There was a brief, sharp pause. Richard didn't speak for a moment. When he finally did, there was a note of amusement in his voice, but it felt colder like he was weighing something carefully.
"Seems like you're all about the money, huh?" he asked.
I let out a laugh, though it felt forced. "I mean, it's not possible for me to keep secrets from my homegirl, you know," I said, "I figure it's better if I get her consent to tell her now, or else I'll just go ahead and spill it regardless."
My eyes flicked to the rearview mirror again. Still nothing. I couldn't shake the feeling of something just out of reach, like a puzzle I was only halfway through solving.
Another pause. Then, Richard's voice softened a little, like he was weighing his words carefully. "Okay," he finally said. "You can tell her about the money. But not the other thing. Let it play out. See how things unfold."
I nodded, though he couldn't see me. "Agreed," I said, my voice calm, though there was a tinge of uncertainty beneath it. "We'll see how it goes."
Richard's tone shifted, sounding almost relieved. "Thanks for yesterday, Ella," he said quietly.
I felt a strange flutter at the back of my neck. "It's nothing," I replied quickly, a little too quickly. I forced a smile. "I'm hanging up now. Selena's coming."
I saw her then, just as I said it. She appeared out of nowhere, her figure materializing at the far end of the street. I caught her in the corner of my rearview mirror, her expression as unreadable as always, but there was something different about her today; the way she moved; was it just me, or did she seem... distant?
I disconnected the call with a quick swipe of my finger, the sound of the line going dead suddenly too final, too cold. A shiver ran down my spine as I took one last glance at the mirror. She was closer now, walking towards the car with that familiar stride, her eyes locked straight ahead.
It was time to face the truth, whatever that might be.
*****
Selena
"Hop in!" Ella yelled, her voice high and urgent as she spotted me from the driver's seat.
I didn't waste any time. Sliding into the passenger seat, I muttered, "Thanks for coming to get me." My voice was barely above a whisper as I buckled up.
Ella shot me a quick look, raising an eyebrow. "My car's wack and I don't know why you won't just use yours." She shifted into gear, revving the engine and speeding onto the highway.
I sighed, staring out the window as the world blurred past. "Things got messy the other day," I said, my voice low. "I've been depressed ever since. Had to give the car back to my mother. And while I was still trying to explain to Victor what happened at the library, Richard called me."
"Richard?" Ella's tone shifted, her discomfort was noticeable as she gripped the wheel tighter, eyes flicking to me. "How did he even get your number?"
"Same thing I was wondering," I muttered, trying to push the anger out of my chest. "Did you give it to him?"
She flinched, almost imperceptibly. "What? Of course not," she snapped, eyes focused on the road ahead, but her knuckles were white around the wheel.
"I don't know how he got it," I said, the frustration creeping in again. "Maybe from Mrs. Baxter or the library. I'll ask her if we meet her at the library today."
Ella bit her lip, her expression tense. The silence hung heavy between us for a moment, and then, like she was deciding whether or not to speak, she finally broke it.
"There's something I need to tell you, homegirl," she said, her voice hesitant, almost guilty.
I glanced at her, suspicion rising. "What is it?" I asked.
She hesitated, her eyes flicking between the road and me, biting at her lip. "First, you have to promise you won't be mad," she quipped.
My eyes narrowed, already knowing where this was headed. "Only if you spit it out within the next thirty seconds," I said, my voice sharp, my patience running thin.
Ella tapped her fingers on the steering wheel, her gaze fixed ahead as she thought over her words.
"Your time starts now," I urged, my voice tight.
She groaned, taking a deep breath, the air thick with her hesitation. "Fine. It's not like you're gonna kill me anyway," she growled, "After you left the library's parking lot, Richard offered me some money for a favor."
"What kind of favor?" I snapped, my impatience now overtaking the shock.
"Well…" Ella hesitated, "he offered a lot of money. A thousand bucks, and I couldn't say no." She pulled into the intersection leading toward the city library, her face tight with tension. "He asked for a number. Your number."
My jaw dropped. I was stunned, speechless for a moment. "Are you kidding me? You sold my number for a thousand bucks?"
She winced, but continued, trying to explain herself. "I tried to call you, but your phone was off. Then when it rang, you didn't pick up…"
I could feel my anger bubbling over. "How could you do that?" I asked, "I thought you were interested in him!"
"Eww!" Ella shrieked, her face contorting in disgust. "I have a boyfriend!" Her eyes flickered to mine, then away, as if unsure whether to continue. "Look, girlfriend, what I did might seem wrong, but I reached out to you so we can figure out how to spend the dough."
I shook my head, the disbelief seeping into my voice. "And you think a shopping spree is going to make up for your betrayal?"
"Maybe not," Ella said, her tone softening, "But it might make you feel better after all the pressure. Come on, we've never made a thousand bucks in five minutes before!"
I let out a frustrated sigh, muttering under my breath. "You're unbelievable!"
She grinned, her confidence never wavering. "Yeah, I know. And you love me that way, don't you?"
I shot her a glare. "Maybe a little. But you owe me big time."
As we pulled up to the city library, I scanned the area, my eyes automatically searching for Stanley. I couldn't help it. The thought of seeing him again today sent a flutter of anticipation through me.
Would he be here?
Maybe I could get a new bestie, unlike Ella who betrayed me for a thousand bucks.