Uncrowned Princess

16

In the cramped bathroom stall, Isabella hunched over the toilet, her body wracked with violent heaves. Her carefully styled hair hung in damp strands around her face, and her mascara left dark streaks down her cheeks. Jenny stood behind her, holding back her friend's hair and rubbing her back soothingly.

As the retching subsided, Jenny handed Isabella some paper towels. "Ella, what were you thinking? You know better than to drink that much."

Isabella wiped her mouth, her eyes glassy and unfocused. "I just wanted  to forget... not get a heartbreak... again," she mumbled, her words slurring slightly.

Jenny sighed, helping Isabella to her feet.

Jenny sighed, helping Isabella to her feet. "Come on, let's get you out of here."

They stumbled out of the club, where Dan was already waiting with a taxi. As they helped Isabella into the car, Dan's phone rang. He glanced at the screen and answered, "Ethan?"

At the sound of Ethan's name, Isabella's head snapped up. "Tell that jerk to go to hell," her voice hoarse.

Dan moved away from the taxi, speaking quietly into the phone. "Yeah, she's with us. We're just leaving the club now."

Isabella tried to lunge for the phone, but Jenny held her back. "Ella, stop it. You're in no condition to talk to anyone right now."

Dan returned, his expression troubled. "Ethan wants us to bring her to the bar. He says if Ronald sees her like this, he'll be furious."

Jenny looked at Isabella, who had slumped against the car window. "Dan, look at her. She needs to rest. Can't we just take her back to the hotel?"

Dan shook his head. "Ethan was pretty insistent. He says they need to spend the night at the bar to avoid Ronald finding out."

Jenny bit her lip, torn between concern for her friend and the potential consequences of defying Ethan's orders. "Fine," she said finally. "But I'm staying with her. She shouldn't be alone right now."

As they redirected the taxi to the bar, Isabella drifted in and out of consciousness, occasional mumbles of "stupid Ethan" "arrogant jerk" " and "never again" escaping her lips.

Jenny exchanged a worried look with Dan. Whatever had happened between Isabella and Ethan, it was clear that the fallout was far from over. As they drove through the quiet streets, Jenny silently vowed to get to the bottom of this, determined to help her friend through whatever storm she was weathering.

The taxi pulled up to the bar, its headlights cutting through the night. Dan opened the door, but Isabella remained stubbornly seated, her arms crossed.

"I'm not going in there," she slurred, her eyes unfocused.

Jenny sighed, "Ella, please. We need to get you inside."

After a moment of coaxing and gentle tugging, they managed to get Isabella out of the taxi. Her legs wobbled beneath her, and she leaned heavily on Jenny and Dan as they made their way to the bar's entrance.

As they approached the door, it swung open, revealing Ethan. His face was a mask of concern and frustration as he took in Isabella's disheveled state.

"Let me help," he said, reaching out.

Isabella's eyes flashed with anger. "Don't you dare touch me, you lying piece of-" Her words were cut short as she lurched forward, her weak fist connecting with Ethan's chest. The momentum of her swing caused her to lose balance, and she started to fall.

Ethan instinctively caught her, his strong arms wrapping around her waist. Isabella thrashed weakly in his grip, her words a jumbled mess of insults and accusations.