~deepika.~ (REGRETAVATOR STORY)

15

(Small note: Sorry for the unannounced break. Deepika has returned.)

In the same fancy restaurant (the one where Split and Mannequin Mark were), Bive lights a cigarette with a match, she puts it out by shaking it, a pinch of smoke fills the air, but not enough. She is having lunch with Pilby. Split recommended this restaurant earlier. Pilby puts their fork down on the plate, which has a nice green salad. There are two fancy glasses of water on the table. Bive smoked the cigarette, but she didn't inhale it.

Bive: "Uh... I don't know why I suggested this place, Split recommended it."

Bive let out a small cloud of smoke.

Pilby: "Well...At least we're together. I never get to see you, you're so busy."

Bive has the cigarette in her right hand, in-between her fingers.

Bive: "You're so busy."

Pilby: "No you are."

Bive: "No you are."

Pilby: "No you are."

Pilby chuckles slightly.

Bive: "Guess I am."

Bive puts her hand on her chest, then she takes it off of her chest.

Pilby: "Me too."

Bive: "In fact, If I have to do one more interview..."

Bive smokes the cigarette again.

Pilby: "I guess it's hard. All this success."

Pilby drinks water from the glass.

Bive took a quick smoke of the cigarette.

Bive: "I'm just so tired of being admired all the time."

Bive: "I mean all these men they're...they're beautiful, artistic minds, great sex, the whole package, but...hollow."

Bive: "You know what I mean?"

Bive: "I feel nobody's honest with me."

Bive paused.

Bive: "Nobody wants me..."

She paused again.

Bive: "...For me."

Pilby: (smiling a bit) "They're not family."

Bive: "Oh, Pilby I wish I had your life."

Bive: "Husband, kids, carpool."

Pilby smiled.

Pilby: "Well, I may have it all."

Pilby: "But you know sometimes I wonder what my life might have been like if I actually," (Pilby paused for a bit) "Tried to write a novel."

Bive puts her hands on the table, infront of Pilby.

Bive: "I'm sure it would have been good."

Pilby gasped slightly.

Pilby: "Well maybe I will write one."

Bive: "You should."

Bive is holding one of  Pilby's hands with the both of her hands.

Bive: "Just try."

Pilby: "No...I- I don't need that kind of success."

They both pause for a bit.

Bive: "Listen to us. We who have everything while Split..."

Pilby let out a long sigh.

Bive: "...what does she have?"

Pilby: "Oh you're so right..."

Pilby: "And she's just getting older."

Bive took yet another smoke from the cigarette.

Bive: "Last night, she called while I was in bed with Jimmy...I think."

Bive: "She was in tears."

Bive: "She told me she quit her job."

Pilby: (smile is fading) "Oh god no...that's her lifeline!"

Bive: "She said she wanted to change her life, "do good". Work with the poor and the needy."

Pilby: (Sighs a bit) "I don't get it."

Bive: "Don't even try, she doesn't understand, she is good. She doesn't need to do good."

Pilby: "Wh- What about her music career?"

Bive shrugged.

Bive: "I don't know," (she taps the cigarette on the ashtray, tiny pieces of burned ash goes on the tray) "But don't hold your breath."

Bive: "Listen anyway," (she puts the cigarette on the ashtray again) "this is all top secret she doesn't want anyone to know."

Pilby: (sarcastically) "Oh...but she told you?"

Bive no longer has the cigarette.

Bive: "She felt she can trust me."

Pilby: "'Cause she always thought I was someone, that she could confide in."

They chuckle slightly.

A waiter poured some water into their fancy glass cups.
Bive touched her tongue with her finger. She closes her mouth after that.

Pilby: "Did you speak to mom?"

Bive: "You mean about the split-up?"

Pilby: "Oh...I- I thought- that was all top secret?"

Bive: "Just for Split, sensitive Split, everyone else knows."

Pilby: "Oh..."

A waiter comes up to them with a tuxedo.

Waiter: "Could I get you ladies anything else? Coffee? Deserts?"

Bive and Pilby look at the waiter.

Bive: "Oh no thank you, just the check please."

The waiter places the check on the table, then takes the two plates away, he leaves.

Bive: "Thanks for lunch."

Bive puts her hand on Pilby's hair gently.

Bive: "I really enjoyed this."