THE STARKS ALLEY

38

"Your girlfriend is quite the conclusion jumper," Ella said the minute Izzy returned.

"She's not my girlfriend," Izzy said truthfully, "May I ask why you are like this?"

"I have a rare skin condition that requires at least three baths a day lad," she said, drying her hair, "It was time for the second one. I did ask if I could use your bathroom."

"Fair enough."

"My apologies to your lady friend. She is no thief for nothing is missing in my purse," she said going into one of the rooms.

Kristie went back home where she found her parents with Charlie.

"Kristie," Charlie said, full of relief, "You don't have to go to Japan if you don't want to. I am truly sorry for trying to impose that on you."

"It's alright. I know you want the best for me." Kristie hugged him. They talked for a while before he left and her parents were still not ready to let her be, but they knew Kristie would put up a strong fight before she gave in. Kristie's mom knew this especially after Kristie told her that she would be going back to The Starks Alley the next day.

True to that, she woke up the next day, ready than ever before. She hadn't informed anyone at The Starks Alley that she was going back and she intended to keep it that way.

She got to the next cab to The Starks Alley and arrived in fifteen minutes.

"We're glad to have you back Miss Kristie," The doorman said enthusiastically.

"Not all of you will be," Kristie mumbled, smiling. She picked up her usual cup of coffee from the cafeteria in a teacup with the words, "I can't breathe." It was symbolic to create awareness against racism, worldwide.

Kristie slowly walked towards the grand doors of the set where all the action happened. She wasn't scared; she had gone through more frightening situations and this wasn't one of them.

Kelsie's reaction was the most memorable of all because she was shocked to see her best friend walk in and she could not wait to talk to her. She was mostly tensed because she remembered what happened the last time they were together. Kristie was so mad at them, she locked them in a room and threw the keys away.

Kelly was more worried about their fake relationship than anything else. For weeks, a lot of rumors about their break up had been spreading and his father was most definitely not pleased by it.

"Kristie!" Kent acknowledged her presence so that even those who hadn't seen her knew that she was back, "It's so nice to see you again."

"Thanks," Kristie said, carefully placing her teacup on a nearby table. They talked for a while and Kristie told him about how terrible the hospital was and he just laughed at how dramatic she was. Jerry was also happy to see his writer back in good health.

"She's the girl that was at your apartment the other day!" Ella said to Izzy, "You do sleep with your colleagues, ew."

"I do not," he said strongly, "She's my friend, Kristie."

"You mean like, Kristie the producer?" Ella asked, "For the movie, The Coco Monkey Nuts."

"I didn't know it got famous in Naples."

"It didn't. I just found it online."

Kristie's felt a tap on her shoulder, rapidly followed by another. It was none other than Kelsie Starks. She hugged Kristie the moment she turned around and jumped in excitement.

"How are you?" Kristie asked calmly.

"I should be asking you that," Kelsie said, "I missed you every day."

"No," Kristie said. This made Kelsie pause for a moment.

"We were all eagerly waiting for you to come back, Kristie," Kelsie said as Kristie looked around the room. That was when she saw Ella with Izzy.

"I am tired of all this pretense, Kelsie. For how long will you keep this up?" Kristie asked, standing.

"I am not pretending." Kelsie took one step back.

"You are a liar, a deceiver, you're so full of shit!"

"Watch your language," Miss P said.

"I wasn't addressing you, P," she then turned to Kelsie, "I have had enough of..." Kelsie cut Kristie short because she knew exactly what she would say.

"I have been a bad best friend to you and I admit that in front of everyone right now," Kelsie said hesitantly, "I even admit to owning the whisky. Kristie was only trying to do the right thing when she took it from me but I blamed it on her." There was a gasp in the room and Jerry asked people to leave to clear the scene.

"Ladies, we can do this later," Kent said.

"Do you forgive me?" Kelsie asked Kristie, completely ignoring Kent.

"I do forgive you." Kelsie smiled at this, "But I revoke all ties that we have of any kind. My dad was right, you are toxic and I am the one being intoxicated. You almost got me killed!"

"I had nothing to do with that!"

"Oh, let's see, you knew Dale was cheating for months and everyday you faced me as if nothing was going on. How could you!" Kristie was obviously still hurting from the heart break, but more from Kelsie's gesture of being disloyal.

"I'm sorry!" Kelsie said. She was sincerely sorry for everything and she was hoping that Kristie would forgive her.

"Kelsie must really have been a bad friend," Miss P whispered to Kent.

"Sorry won't cut it. You've done enough," Kristie said, looking away. That was when she spotted Kelly and she walked up to him, "Our fake relationship agreement has been terminated in case that was unclear to you before." She then left.

"Fake relationship?" Kent asked Kelly, who wasn't ready to talk about it.

Happy Birthday to me😊