When we got home, the awkwardness between Olive and me lingered like a thick cloud no one wanted to acknowledge. I really wished we could address it ; I couldn't afford to lose the only friend I had.I sighed and walked into the house after Olive pulled the door open. Emma, blissfully oblivious, twirled her hair as she entered behind us.Before I could say a word to Olive, she started gushing about her joyride.“Gosh, that car is everything! The lights, the sound system—I felt like a vixen in an aesthetic music video! And you know what? We’re totally taking it to the party.”I looked at Olive, waiting for her reaction to Emma's suggestion. But her face was still dark."It's not ours to take, Emma," she said."Well, I asked those men, and they said it's yours, so why can't we take it?" Emma replied with a frown.I glanced at Olive again; she was busy at the refrigerator.“If Olive wants to take the old car, then… that’s what we’re taking,” I said.Olive froze, then lifted her head ~~up
"Well, I think you have a point," I said sadly. “No, she doesn’t,” Olive cut in firmly, glaring at Emma. Emma smirked, unbothered. “Well, whoever it is clearly has money. I’ll just sign up for the next batch of that show—maybe I can get fans too.” Olive leaned toward me, lowering her voice to a whisper. “So… are you still going to the pool party... with the bodyguards?” Before I could answer, Emma cut in. “Absolutely! Imagine the respect if we show up with them. We’ll own that party!” I sighed, dragging my hand down my face. “I don’t know… this all feels like a dream.” “Well, I know...” Emma said confidently. “We’re going to the party. End of discussion.” Olive suddenly went silent. I turned to her, but she avoided my eye contact. Is she mad at me? Olive walked ahead toward the parking lot. Emma and the two attendants she turned into her personal servants, followed her. I stayed behind, wondering why Olive was suddenly cold and couldn’t even look at my f
When we finally finished shopping, we headed to the exit. Emma strutted ahead, her heels clicking against the polished tiles like a runway model with the brand-new sunglasses she just got from the fashion perched on her nose.She had bought so much that two mall attendants had to trail behind her, their hands overloaded with glossy shopping bags that swung like pendulums. "Look at her walking like she paid for everything and even ours," Olive said. I chuckled softly and shook my head. "She's a character." "Right! I am glad you are getting used to her," Olive replied. I smiled back. "Yeah, I guess you can say that."We both laughed as we carried our own bags—two for Olive, one for me. “It’s your lucky day and yet you bought so little,” Olive teased, giving me a pointed smile. I just shrugged and smiled back. But the smile faded the moment we stepped out of the mall. Two massive men in dark suits suddenly appeared at my sides, flanking me as if on cue. Their faces were unread
Once the last person scrambled out with their carts stacked like towers, the sliding doors shut with a soft clink. Two security guards stood there to ensure no one came in—or maybe to make sure we couldn’t escape! Okay, I was overthinking again, but seriously, what was going on? The store grew eerily quiet again—except for the hum of the AC and the pounding of my heart. The two women in uniforms turned to me again with the same friendly smiles. “Now,” one said warmly, “the hall is all yours. Please, shop as much as you like. Anything you want. No time limit.” Olive gasped so loudly I thought she’d swallowed her tongue. “Wait—you mean like… free? Everything free?” The women nodded. “Is it for just her or are we included?” “It’s left for her to decide,” one of the women replied. Olive’s eyes widened, and then she spun dramatically in a full circle, throwing her arms in the air. “Dear God, after years of suffering, my prayers have finally been answered! Charlotte, you’re my l
Before I could process that, a sharp voice rang out from the speakers! “Ms. Charlotte! Welcome!” Olive’s jaw dropped. “Wow, it’s a woman and she even has your name, Charlotte.” “What the fuck is Ms. Charlotte?” Emma muttered. I shrugged. “Well, we’ll see,” Olive replied. Two women in sleek uniforms marched up to me, carrying a giant bouquet of flowers. “We’ve been expecting you,” one of them said with a smile. I froze. “You’ve been expecting… who?” Emma quickly stepped in, trying to shield me from the staring crowd. “This is a misunderstanding. She’s not who you think she is, so don’t embarrass her. People are watching for crying out loud,” she whispered. But the women insisted. “We are certain. Please, come with us, ma’am.” I panicked. “I—I don’t have the money to pay for everyone. It’s not me!” One of them laughed politely. “Oh no, ma’am. You’re not paying. The person sponsoring this instructed us to welcome you personally.” “And who is this person?” I asked weakl
After a few minutes, Emma returned from the private talk with Olive with her lips pressed into a thin line. Then she muttered an apology. Her sudden apology came like rain in the desert—refreshing, but suspicious. I could practically see Olive’s fingerprints all over it. Still, even if it was forced, it felt… weirdly nice. Fake care is still care when you’ve been starved of it, right? I tucked it away like a child hoarding candy. Now we were driving to the mall, as Emma had suggested. Olive was at the wheel, humming off-key to the music (Charlotte by Mystery), while Emma lounged in the back, scrolling through her phone as if we didn’t exist. I sat in the passenger seat, actually enjoying the peace. The silence was golden—no snide comments from Emma, no buzzing anxiety about my body. Just… quiet. But it didn't last for long because Olive broke it. “So, Charlotte,” she said, eyes still on the road, “what’s your favorite color?” I chuckled softly. “I don’t do