Daphne
The morning light is too sharp, too bright, as she pounds on the door.
No answer. She tries again, louder this time. Harder. When it finally creaks open, Tina squints into the light, nearly flinching at the sight—Daphne, standing right there in the courtyard in nothing but a wrinkled silk teddy, kitten heels, and last night’s smudged makeup.
“What the fuck was that?” Daphne snaps. “You let me get dragged out like some drunk extra on a knockoff Bravo show.”
Tina doesn’t reply. She just turns and disappears into the apartment.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
“Uh, hello?” Daphne calls after her, stepping into the doorway.
But Tina’s back as fast as she left, arms full with the clothes Daphne loaned her last night, perfectly folded and neat.
“That’s it? That’s all you have to say?”
Tina exhales. Slow. Barely awake but already over it. “Look, it was a scene. You made it a scene. And I don’t do scenes. We’re not soulmates, Daphne. We met, what, five minutes ago?”
“Fine, I get it,” Daphne says, grabbing the clothes from Tina’s arms. “Last night was too much drama. Won’t happen again. We good?”
Tina considers. Barely. “Cool.”
“But you still owe me for leaving me high and dry.” Daphne lifts her chin, gaze steady on Tina like she expects obedience. “So we’re going out again. I’ll redeem myself. Okay?”
“Sure. So long as I can pick another outfit from your closet.”
Daphne dismisses it with a flick of her hand. “You’re not the first friend I’ve bribed. Swing by around ten.”