Ryder crumples up his napkin and throws in on the table. “She was getting clingy and wanting more. I couldn’t give it to her.” He flicks his gaze at me then away. “She started talking shit about Elizabeth and it pissed me off. I got fed up with all of it, so I dumped her.”
“What the fuck did she say about Liz?” I growl at him.
“Nothing I’m going to repeat to you ‘cause I know you’ll just fly off the handle.”
All three of our phones go off with a notification.
“Of course I’m going to fly off the handle, dumbass, when it comes to anyone hurting my girl.”
“I didn’t want things to be weird between Elizabeth and Maria, so I tried to end things as amicably as I could.”
“Holy shit,” Julien exclaims.
“What?” Ryder and I both say.
“Check your phones. We need to go.”
A video has been posted with the hashtags #nolongerfriends #theotherwoman #sayitisntso. Ryder and I must have hit play at the same time on our phones because we hear Maria’s voice in stereo.
“Don’t Mar me. Do you know how it feels to fall in love with someone who doesn’t love you back because he’s still in love with someone else? Do you know how that feels, Liz? You chose Jayson. The day Ryder asked me out, god, that was the happiest day of my life. I was like, finally, he saw me. He saw me, not you. I have bent over backwards for a year trying to make him happy, make him want me. I was an idiot. He never wanted me. I was just a distraction to him while he continued to pine away for you!”
“That’s not fair! I’m not responsible for your relationship problems.”
“You’ll never understand. You have those three boys wrapped around your finger. Their princess. Isn’t that right? You’re a selfish bitch who keeps stringing Ryder along. You want everything and have to give up nothing.”
“That’s enough Maria. You don’t know shit. Ryder, Julien, Jayson, and Lizzie have been best friends since they were little.”
“Jesus, not this again. You forget, Hailey, that I’ve been around too since the third grade. I know all about their ‘special bond’.”
“Yes, they do have a special bond. Something that existed way before you and Lizzie started hanging out and became best friends. Something unique and special and I would give anything if I could find something like that. But am I jealous of my sister because she has something that I would love to have too? Hell no! You’re the one being a petty, selfish bitch. Not her. I can guaran-damn-tee you that nothing has ever happened between her and Ryder. So if Ryder wanted to dump your ass, that’s on him. Not her. And if you believe otherwise, you don’t deserve her friendship.”
“That’s fine with me. We’re no longer friends Liz. Leave me the hell alone.”
The video ends with Liz crying. Jesus fucking hell.
I call Liz.
“Hey.” She sounds broken.
“Princess, what the fuck! Are you at school right now?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m with the guys at Ruby’s. You’re on speaker. Please tell me what we just saw did not happen.”
Hailey’s voice comes on. “Yes, it did. Since we’re on speaker - Ryder, what are you going to do about it?”
“I’ll deal with it,” Ryder tells her. He looks pissed.
“We’re on our way, baby. Hales, take her back out to the car and wait for us.”
“On it.”
“I love you, baby. Everything is going to be ok. Be there soon.”
“Ok.”
“Jules, let’s go. Ryder, fix this mess,” I demand of him. “If you don’t reign in your ex, I will. Maria is not going to fuck with Liz because you broke up with her. That’s bullshit.”
