Tangled In Lies

Chapter 22

The sun had just begun to dip below the horizon, casting a warm, golden hue over the café where Brianna, Estelle, Violet, and Ava agreed to meet after Ava asked to meet. It had been a while since the four of them had spent time together, and though the break was supposed to have left everyone refreshed, there was a tension hanging in the air that hadn't been there before. Brianna and Estelle arrived first, choosing a table near the window where they could people-watch while waiting.

Brianna sipped her herbal tea, savoring the calming warmth as she glanced at Estelle. "I hope this goes well," she muttered, a note of apprehension in her voice. Estelle nodded, equally uncertain about how the evening would unfold.

They didn't have to wait long. Violet breezed in, her presence immediately commanding attention as she launched into a detailed account of her day without so much as a greeting. "You won't believe the nightmare I had at work today," she started, sliding into her seat with a dramatic sigh. "I had to pick up all the slack because, apparently, no one else knows how to do their jobs. And to top it all off, I still can't get over my ex. It's like, how can someone just walk away like that after everything I've done?"

Brianna and Estelle exchanged a glance, their silent communication speaking volumes. They listened politely as Violet continued, but it was clear that she was too wrapped up in her own woes to notice their lack of enthusiasm.

Ava arrived shortly after, cutting off Violet mid-sentence with an overzealous greeting. "Hey, guys! I've been meaning to tell you, I found the best new place for brunch. It's like, the hottest spot in town right now. You won't believe how hard it was to get a reservation, but I managed to pull some strings, of course."

As the evening progressed, it became increasingly clear to Brianna and Estelle why they had grown weary of these interactions. Violet dominated the conversation, cycling through her various grievances and heartaches, never once asking how anyone else was doing. Meanwhile, Ava interjected frequently, often to share some trivial accomplishment or to one-up whatever anyone else said.

"Oh, Violet, that's nothing," Ava said, waving her hand dismissively after Violet recounted how a coworker had slighted her. "You should have seen what happened to me last week. I had to deal with this impossible client who couldn't make up their mind, and I still managed to close the deal. Sometimes I think I'm the only one who knows how to handle things."

The conversation was a tug-of-war between Violet's self-pity and Ava's need to assert her superiority. Brianna and Estelle felt like they were caught in the middle, their attempts to contribute to the conversation either ignored or overshadowed by the other two.

As the evening wore on, Ava began to bring up stories that Brianna and Estelle had heard countless times before, often with slight embellishments or outright fabrications.

"Remember that time we all went hiking, and I was the only one who managed to reach the peak?" Ava said with a smug grin. "You guys were so exhausted, but I kept going. I think it's because I've always been the most fit in the group."

Brianna barely concealed her eye roll, while Estelle forced a smile. They both remembered that hike vividly, but it hadn't happened the way Ava described. They had all reached the peak together, and Ava had struggled just as much as everyone else.

After what felt like an eternity, the evening finally drew to a close. As they parted ways, Brianna and Estelle couldn't shake the feeling of exhaustion that lingered after spending time with Violet and Ava.

"I don't know how much longer I can keep doing this," Brianna admitted as they walked away from the café. "It's just so draining."

Estelle nodded in agreement. "I know what you mean. It's like they don't even realize how self-centered and overbearing they're being. Violet is so caught up in her own world, and Ava... Ava just makes everything about her, even the most insignificant things."