Esmerelda the Flower

Chapter 22: Esmerelda

We went to Buon Cibo, a fancy Italian restaurant in Roanoke. The November air hit me as I stepped out of Chris's sleek black Royce. I pulled my jacket around me tighter as Christopher came around to hold my hand, handing the key to the Valet as we stepped inside.

We gave our reservation name, the waitress led us down the fancy restaurant to a table in a private area where Camryn and Brandon were eating each others faces.

We approached them as Chris cleared his throat, "ahem."

They broke apart from each other giggling as they greeted us. The table was circular, I sat down next to Camryn and Christopher sat next to me.

"So guys, shall we order?" Brandon asked. We all nodded in agreement as Brandon signaled for a waiter. In came a pretty waitress, she had deep olive skin and dark brown curls. She was dressed in a white button down and black slacks. I noticed that Brandon was staring at her for a little longer than needed.

We ordered our food, after the waitress left we started to make conversation about the events of our lives and then Camryn switched it over to their engagement.

"So..." Camryn said while tapping the table. "We're planning the wedding for December."

I stopped halfway as I was about to take a sip of my wine, "Camryn, December is next month? How do you plan on pulling it off?" I asked her.

"With the help of my bestest friend of course! But the wedding has been payed for fully by Brandon's parents." She looked at Brandon lovingly as he acted smug, "it's no big deal. My parents were planning on paying for my wedding anyways."

This had to stop. I loved Camryn from the bottom of my heart so there was no way I could let Brandon use her and break her. I had to do something.

"Camryn, I need to use the bathroom. Can you come with me?" I asked her. She agreed and got up and hooked her hand into mines as we walked towards the bathroom. Once we entered, I told Camryn everything.

"And that's what he told me. And honestly Camryn I just don't want to see you get hurt again. You deserve so much better. If Brandon truly loves you then he can be patient instead of rushing into this spontaneous marriage. Do you get what I'm trying to say, Cams?"

She stayed silent throughout my whole explanation, and then when I was finished after a few moments of silence she finally said, "you're jealous."

"Huh?"

"I said you're jealous of me." Camryn said, folding her arms as she looked at me with distaste. "I'm getting married and as my best friend you can't even be happy! You're only saying that because you're jealous of Brandon and me. And the funny thing is, you have a whole boyfriend of your own! And he's 10 times richer than Brandon so why bother? Wait, I know why. You love to compete with me. You thought that if you could manage to get an attractive boyfriend that it would prove you're better than me. And the only reason you've had to prove that is because I'm prettier! I've had all the boyfriends while you were single most of the time! How many nights did I go out with a hot date while you stayed lazing away on the couch, huh?"

Camryn's face was turning slightly red, she was getting heated and she threw these false accusations at me. I couldn't believe the words coming out of her mouth. Sure I'd been jealous of the things she's had before but I've never let that cloud my judgement towards her. I loved her as a sister!

I tried to calm her down by holding her forearm and attempting to explain, "Camryn you know that's not true! I'm trying to look out for you? How can you be so selfish? I'm not jealous of you!"

She jerked her arm away, "no. You are. Let's face it, everyone wants to be the pretty blonde girl. People surround themselves with who they admire. You were only friends with me for social benefits!"

I started to get angry, "what the fuck Camryn? Are you high? Why are you spouting all this hateful bullshit when I'm telling you the guy you're trying to marry is using you! And then when you find out, guess what, you'll be running back to me! Just like you did with all those guys who've broken your heart since you always seem to choose the shitty ones right?"

She looked appalled, and then anger clouded her face as she slapped me across the cheek.

She realized what she did, holding her hands over her mouth as she tried to apologize. "Oh..oh my gosh Esme I'm so, so sorry I didn't mean- "

I slapped her back.

Camryn held her cheek where my hand made impact. "You bitch!" She roared out as she lunged for me. She shoved me against the the sink as I used my good leg to kick her shin. She stumbled back as I stepped away from the sink, trying to get away from her as she pulled me back by my hair.

I yelped out in pain. She let go, looking at me angrily. "You fucking bitch! You pulled my hair? What the fuck is wrong with you?" I asked.

"You!" She screamed out. "You're what's wrong with me! You're supposed to be my best friend and support me. You knew that you're the only person who's ever really loved me since my parents neglected me and all the guys I've loved treated me like shit. But then the one time I can be happy you don't support it!"

I didn't know what to say. My scalp stinged from the pain of Camryn pulling my hair. My leg started to hurt again. I had just gotten into a physical fight with my friend. It was all to much. I couldn't do it.

All of a sudden my chest got tight. I couldn't breathe. Imaginary walls were closing around me as I struggled to find escape. I felt myself falling deeper and deeper into despair. I curled onto the bathroom floor, not caring what was previously on it. My breathing became fast, my palms sweaty, everything was going fast it was just too much when the bathroom door opened.

In stepped Brandon and Christopher, "what's taking you girls so we heard shouting,- oh shit." Brandon's words cut off by the sight he saw. His fiancée looking disheveled while her alleged best friend was on the floor freaking out.

Christopher saw me and immediately kneeled down, holding my arms as he talked me through it. "Esme baby, you're fine. You're just panicking okay? Remember to breathe. Nothing is wrong with you. You're stressed out and it's okay. Take deep breaths for me yeah? And stop crying baby. You're okay."

He wiped the tears away from my face as I calmed down. Camryn was still standing still, staring at me and looking lost and hurt. After I had calmed down she told Brandon that she wanted to go.

"What, you won't even explain what happened between you too?" He asked.

"I said let's go," she said firmly.

Brandon left the bathroom, Camryn following him but before leaving he said, "she may need to take some melatonin before she sleeps tonight. And make sure to put on a Disney movie, it always calms her down." And then she was gone.

I was still calming down a little bit. Looking distraught as Chris held me tightly inside his hands. "Let's get off the bathroom floor please," I finally said.

We left the restaurant, since we didn't eat we stopped by McDonald's to get sandwiches and fries. Once we got home, Christopher changed me into my cozy pajamas and made hot chocolate for the both of us. We settled down into the couch, him gently massaging my side as we watched the Princess and the Frog.

A/N: 4k reads guys 🤣