Chapter One-hundred Fifty-Four: Making Amends

Chapter 154

Making Amends

Ashley was on their front patio with a glass of vanilla rose iced tea. They wore an ivory paisley shirt with red velvet bellbottom pants. Vanessa approached them in tears. She wore a pink floral sundress with a beige sunhat featuring a pink ribbon around the brim, and wedge sandals tied with ribbons. Ashley looked up at her sympathetically.

Ashley: “What’s wrong, Vanessa?”

They knit their eyebrows. What did Blair do now? They thought with a sigh. Vanessa sat next to them and began to cry.

Vanessa: “Hiroto is ghosting me, Ashley! I don’t know what I did wrong! I went to his office wearing this and caught his secretary giving him a blowjob!”

She bawled and then fished into her purse to pull out a photo of her wearing the heart costume. Ashley awkwardly shifted their eyes.

Ashley: “Oh! Why wasn’t she giving you a blowjob, too? That’s so unfair!”

They frowned. Vanessa gaped at them.

Vanessa: “Are you trying to make a joke, Ashley? At least you make me laugh. Blair is just mean!”

She cried. Ashley tilted their head, looking confused.

Ashley: “A joke? It is a joke that she couldn’t do your hair, too!”

They answered. Vanessa laughed loudly.

Vanessa: “Oh, Ashley, this is why you’re a great friend! You’re so funny!”

Lazaros stepped out wearing a purple sequin button-up shirt with billowing sleeves, black pants, and black loafers.

Lazaros: “Uhm, Ashley, a blowjob has nothing to do with hair.”

He said awkwardly and raked his fingers through his hair.

Ashley: “Huh? What do you mean, Lazaros? Isn’t that what that loud blowy thing does in people’s bathrooms and the hairdresser’s?”

Their head spun with confusion.

Lazaros: “That’s a hairdryer, and no… That’s a blowout. She was telling you she saw Hiroto’s secretary putting her mouth on his penis.”

He explained with a smile. Ashley’s jaw dropped, and they reddened at Lazaros.

Ashley: “O-Oh…”

Vanessa bawled into her hands.

Vanessa: “I DID SEE THAT!”

She cried. Ashley cupped their mouth when they realized.

Ashley: “Oh dear! I’m sorry, Vanessa!”

They gasped.

Vanessa: “He told me he felt sorry for her and didn’t want to say no. I forgave him, and then we made love at Peach Rain… and he said he had to go on a business trip… and I haven’t seen him since!”

She bawled on Ashley. Ashley sighed and patted her back.

Lazaros: “Well, in desperate times we need to call for desperate measures! I made a huge breakfast, and you can watch Ashley eat it all! That always cheers me up!”

He grinned. Ashley smiled lovingly at Lazaros, wanting to cheer him up.

Vanessa: “You know, Demetrio and Sylvia miss Ashley’s baking and breakfasts.”

She sniffled. Ashley sighed sadly.

Ashley: “I miss that, too.”

But I’m happier now and away from Blair, they thought to themself.

Lazaros noticed a sign on his lawn. He went down the steps and screamed. It was a large sign that had “A FEEDER FAT FETISHIST LIVES HERE WITH HIS FAT BEACHED WHALE!”

Lazaros: “FIRST, HE HITS ME LIKE A BARBARIAN AND NOW HE MAKES THIS!”

He screamed and cried. He fell to the ground, pounding it and wailing loudly. Ashley knit their eyebrows and knelt to Lazaros.

Ashley: “Deimos never called me a beached whale, but… Blair did.”

They frowned, looking around for him.

Blair stepped out of the bushes. He wore a TMNT shirt that said, “Say NO to drugs, say YES to pizza, shorts, sneakers with knee-high socks, and a boater hat. Ashley frowned at the sight of him. Is his fashion getting worse? They thought.

Blair: “I made that sign, Lazaros, and I never hit you! I’m warning those who travel to this neighborhood what kind of sexual deviants live here, and now they know what you and Ashley are!”

He said loftily.

Lazaros: “ALL YOU DO IS MAKE ASHLEY CRY! YOU ARE THE DEVIANT FOR HURTING THEM AND TRAUMATIZING THEM! YOU MADE AN ALBUM COVER FOR MAXX!”

He bawled. Ashley held Lazaros close and nodded.

Blair: “They chose YOU over ME! I was nothing but nice to them! I am sick of nice guys finishing last!’

He snapped.

Blair: “Ashley prefers sexual deviants over true princes!”

He huffed. Ashley frowned at Blair.

Ashley: “That’s right! I chose Lazaros! You were only nice to me to get me to date you, and then when I didn’t, you were a mean jerk! You’re not a nice guy, and you’re not a prince! I have my true prince!”

They cried, clinging to Lazaros. Blair seethed when Ashley clung to Lazaros and said he was an actual prince.

Blair: “Okay, whatever, FATLEY! You are also encouraging Vanessa to sleep with a married man! We all know he’s ghosting her because he’s embarrassed by her! That’s how most normal people feel about you! You’re a fat shame!”

He snapped on the verge of tears. Ashley recoiled at his harsh words.

Ashley: “Th-That’s not true! Lazaros is proud of me! Unlike you!”

They cried.

Deimos stepped out, sipping on a cup of coffee. He wore a Kreator tank top, torn jeans, and motorcycle boots. He went over to Blair and punched him across the face. Blair crashed face-first on the lawn and passed out. Ashley’s eyes widened.

Deimos: “You’re welcome, Ashley. While Lazaros was crying about nothing, I took care of your problem. I get it: you have to babysit a manbaby.”

He fielded scathingly, glaring at Lazaros.

Lazaros: “I was trying to show him I am proud of Ashley! I am NOT ashamed of them!”

He bawled. Ashley smiled at Lazaros.

Deimos: “You’re useless and pathetic. You never did anything for me, and you don’t for Ashley. It takes more than forcing people to watch them eat.”

He said coldly. Lazaros broke down crying. Ashley frowned and held Lazaros as he wept.

Ashley: “You’re not useless and pathetic…”

They assured Lazaros gently.

Deimos went to the sign and kicked it down.

Deimos: “You’re welcome. I take action while you just sit around and weep.”

He glared hatefully at Lazaros. Lazaros cried on Ashley. Vanessa rushed to Ashley.

Vanessa: “Well, Ashley has been helping me deal with Hiroto ghosting me!”

She nodded.

Deimos: “I never said anything bad about Ashley… As for Hiroto, I guess he’s getting dental surgery.”

He shrugged. Vanessa gasped.

Vanessa: “Why would he do that?!”

Deimos: “His teeth were all knocked out from what Celeste told me. She did it while rescuing Jaxon, so that’s my guess. What, Hiroto never told you?”

He scoffed.

Vanessa: “Why would someone do that to Hiroto, Ashley?! I need to visit him now!”

She flapped her arms.

Ashley: “Oh dear… he must have done something really bad.”

They knit their eyebrows.

Deimos: “Sure did, he kidnapped his son to force him to marry Noriko.”

He stated. Ashley’s eyes widened.

Ashley: “He kidnapped Jaxon to marry Yvette?! B-But Jaxon is in love with Celeste and doesn’t want to marry Yvette, and he’s his father, he shouldn’t be kidnapping his son!”

They gasped.

Deimos: “No shit, Jaxon and I both have shitty fathers. Imagine defending their honor.”

He glared at Lazaros, who sobbed on Ashley. Ashley sighed and held him close as he cried on them.

Ashley: “I think Laz is scared!”

Deimos rolled his eyes and didn’t care anymore. He went back into his house and closed the door.

~

Jordi walked through Megalos Tower in his black suit work uniform and black zip-up boots. He went through the automatic doors to The Illusion, the pool rooftop club in Megalos Tower. He scanned the area and spotted Minerva lounging in one of the cabanas. She wore a black one-piece swimsuit, a large black floppy sunhat, and black sunglasses that obscured her eyes. She lowered her shades when she saw Jordi looking down at her. She reached out and cupped the back of his knee. Jordi jolted and shivered. Please, please stop, he thought.

Jordi: “Wh-What do you need, Ma’am?”

He stammered.

Minerva: “Any progress on Jiro?”

She asked softly, dragging her fingernails over the backs of his knees. Jordi inhaled sharply and bit his bottom lip.

Jordi: “N-No, M-Ma’am…”

He said in a high-pitched squawk.

Minerva smirked as she dragged her nails over the backs of his knees. Jordi couldn’t hold it in any longer. He erupted into laughter and keeled over.

Jordi: “HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHA!”

He laughed and trembled all over.

Minerva: “Ticklish, Jordi?”

She teased. Jordi shivered.

Jordi: “Y-Yes…”

He admitted and slowly rose to his feet.

Minerva: “Where else are you ticklish?”

She chuckled. Jordi shifted his eyes.

Jordi: “Well, you know my feet are and the back of my knees… My tummy and underarms.”

He said slowly. I don’t want to tell her my penis is, as well, he thought. He raked his fingers through his hair.

Minerva: “Good to know, Jordi. I think this will be happening much more if I don’t have Jiro by my side.”

She smirked. Jordi sighed and hung his head.

Jordi: “I’m aware…”

He muttered.

Minerva: “You’re dismissed until next time.”

She grinned. Jordi forced a smile.

Jordi: “Have a good day, Ma’am.”

He rose and went to leave.

As Jordi stepped toward the door, Craig stood before him in his red swimming trunks, grinning inanely at him.

Jordi: “What do you want?”

He asked exasperatedly.

Craig: “Your phone number!”

Jordi gaped at him.

Jordi: “So… no to you means ‘keep trying’, huh?”

He asked wryly.

Craig: “Fuckin’ Oath!”

He said earnestly.

Jordi: “Unfortunately, life is not like ‘American Pizza’ or whatever trite movies you watch. No means ‘NO’. I’m not interested in you, now step aside!”

He said with irritation.

Craig looked at him with puppy-dog eyes.

Craig: “Can I at least buy ya a drink?”

He whimpered. Jordi shifted his eyes and glanced at the bar.

Jordi: “...You want to pay twenty-eight dollars for a drink from there?”

His mouth twisted. Craig smiled dumbly and nodded.

Craig: “Fuckin’ oath! Don’t worry ‘bout me payin’ for it! I don’t gotta! Stefano pays for it all!”

He said triumphantly. Jordi rolled his eyes.

He grabbed his gills and delivered a shock to him.

Craig: “YAAAAAAAAAARRRGGGHHH!!”

He wailed and crashed to the floor, convulsing.

Jordi: “Shouldn’t you be doing your job of lifeguarding and not checking out my butt?”

He clicked his tongue and left. As Craig convulsed and twitched, his eyes were glued to Jordi’s ass as he walked down the foyer.

~

When Jordi strolled down the foyer, Desiree passed him. She wore her black business suit with her boots.

Desiree: “Yo, Jordi.”

She waved.

Jordi: “What do you want?”

He asked flippantly. Desiree winced and raised her hands.

Desiree: “We haven’t talked since Los Campos…”

She stated.

Jordi: “And it will remain that way. I have nothing to say to you.”

He said icily. Desiree hung her head.

Desiree: “Come on, Jordi, we used to be friends!”

She said pleadingly. Jordi clicked his tongue and rolled his eyes.

Jordi: “Yes, ‘used to be’. Past tense. You chose being loyal to Minerva over me!”

He snapped and pointed to himself. Desiree furrowed her eyebrows.

Desiree: “I had to, Jordi! I NEED this job!”

She fired back, her feet braced apart. Jordi rolled his eyes.

Jordi: “And you think I don’t?!”

He asked sharply.

Desiree shot her forefinger out at Jordi.

Desiree: “Are you THAT blind to all of this?! Minerva lets you get away with a lot more shit than she does me, and you know it!”

She barked. Jordi shook his head and laughed bitterly.

Jordi: “Are you sure about that?”

Desiree: “YES, I am sure! If you fuck up, she tickles your feet, and she will put her hands all over you! If I fuck up, I’m fired, and it’s back to being a thief and selling hot items! She got me out of serving time! I owe her that!”

She snapped. Jordi gaped at her, and hurt flickered over his face. He nodded.

Jordi: “I see. I see how it is.”

He said evenly.

Jordi: “Well, I’ll be civil if I need to work with you, but it doesn’t go beyond that.”

He said flatly. Desiree knit her eyebrows.

Desiree: “Jordi, your grandfather is a dick! He doesn’t deserve what you do for him!”

She flared hotly. Electrical surges coursed over him as his temper rose.

Jordi: “THAT IS NOT FOR YOU TO SAY!”

He bellowed as he stepped toward her menacingly. She braced her feet apart and put her fists up. Jordi stopped himself and shook his head.

Jordi: “This conversation is over.”

He spat and turned around to leave. Desiree watched him go and glared at him. She looked away and walked the other way.

~

Jaxon sat on his front patio, smoking a cigarette and reading a manga in Japanese. He wore a silk red button-up shirt and dark blue jeans. He had his bare feet perched on the railing, and his ankles were crossed. He heard footsteps drawing closer and raised his head to see Deimos standing before him. He rolled his eyes.

Jaxon: “What do you want? Celeste is at Trevor’s, working on a bed.”

He muttered. Deimos hung his head.

Deimos: “I wanted to… apologize. I feel bad about what I said at the concert last night.”

He said slowly as he rubbed the back of his neck, and had a look of guilt and shame. Jaxon gaped at him.

Jaxon: “You don’t have to apologize because Tristan forced you to.”

He hissed. Deimos heaved a deep sigh.

Deimos: “He didn’t force me…”

He mumbled. Jaxon rolled his eyes.

Jaxon: “I know your patterns, Deimos, and you only listen to Tristan as much as you listen to anyone who isn’t yourself.”

He said acidly.

Deimos looked away.

Deimos: “Yes, he told me what I did wrong.”

He said in a low voice. Jaxon rolled his eyes.

Jaxon: “So you didn’t deduce it yourself. You had Tristan tell you that is was wrong as if you were a child.”

He snapped with hurt in his tone.

Deimos: “I’m sorry, Jaxon. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

He sighed.

Jaxon: “Whatever. You’re just doing this so Tristan doesn’t remain angry with you, not because you’re sincerely sorry.”

He looked away with hurt in his eyes.

Deimos gazed at Jaxon’s bare feet resting on the railing. He reached out and tickled them. Jaxon burst out laughing and yanked his feet away.

Jaxon: “AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAAA!”

He laughed hard.

Jaxon: “Hey! What the fuck are you doing?!”

He rasped.

Deimos: “Showing you I am sorry.”

He grabbed his ankles and tickled all over his feet. Jaxon screamed with laughter.

Jaxon: “WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAHAHAHA!! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!!”

He laughed loudly and started trying to slap Deimos off him.

Celeste came up to the house. She wore a white Pantera tank top, a jean skirt with a studded belt buckle, heel sandals with studs on the straps, and a spiked collar. She saw Deimos tickling Jaxon’s feet. She rushed over, knelt, and tickled his armpits.

Jaxon: “NOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOOOOO!! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!! ARGGGHHH!! NOHOHOHOHO!!”

He wailed through laughter.

Jaxon wrenched away and panted.

Jaxon: “STOP TICKLING ME! I want space! GET AWAY FROM ME!”

He cried and stormed inside the house, slamming the door behind him. Celeste bowed her head. Deimos heaved a deep sigh.

Deimos: “He doesn’t forgive me, and I don’t blame him.”

He said glumly.

Celeste: “Well, the bed I was helping Trevor work on turned out pretty good. I think the client will love it. It took me three hours to paint the upper lip.”

She drawled. Deimos sat down and heaved a deep sigh. I’m a failure and I ruin everything, he thought.

~

Jaxon and Tristan stepped into the courtyard of Osteria Fiore d'Olio, an upscale Italian restaurant. Tristan wore a three-piece navy blue Italian-cut suit, a white pressed shirt, a black tie, and black wingtip oxfords. Jaxon wore a black suit jacket, a red button-up shirt with the buttons undone to expose his chest tattoo, black pants, and black loafers. Peach tablecloths covered the tables, set with wine glasses and red napkins. The chairs had wrought-iron frames with a distinctive curved, lattice-like backrest.

The architecture surrounding the courtyard had three floors with a warm, historic feel. It featured arched doorways and windows with dark frames, and there were balconies with intricate wrought-iron railings on the upper floors. The restaurant’s facade was a beige, worn stone. The upper parts of the establishment were remarkably detailed, with spires, and one section featured a small clock tower.

The courtyard floor was paved with terracotta-colored tiles, and the entire space was bathed in a warm, inviting glow from various light sources. These included string lights draped in a small tree to the right, interior lights spilling out from the restaurant’s windows, and other hidden fixtures that highlighted the architectural details. Potted plants and greenery added to the lush and welcoming atmosphere. The servers wore white, banded-collar shirts, black chinos, black shoes, and maroon twill aprons.

Jaxon surveyed the area and admired his surroundings. He and Tristan sat down at the table where the host led them and handed them their menus. They looked over them.

Tristan: “Seems a bit heavy for this hot weather.”

He groused.

Jaxon: “Get a Caesar salad. This is salad weather.”

He suggested.

Tristan: “Hm, all right. I guess I’ll get a grilled chicken Caesar salad.”

He nodded and closed his menu.

A white girl in their server uniforms approached them.

Waitress: “Hello, my name is Alice. I’ll be your server. What can I get for you two gentlemen?”

Jaxon: “We’re both going to get the grilled chicken caesar salad and a basket of garlic bread with mozzarella cheese.”

He smiled. Tristan grinned at him. The waitress jotted down their order.

Waitress: “And to drink?”

Tristan: “A glass of chardonnay, please.”

Jaxon: “Beer on tap, please and thank you.”

The waitress smiled at them and left.

Jaxon: “Thanks for inviting me out, man.”

He smiled a bit. Tristan withdrew his gold case, took out a cigarette, and lit it up. Jaxon followed suit and lit up his cigarette.

Tristan: “My pleasure, Jaxon. I figured you could use someone else to spend time with and someone whom you can vent to.”

He said as he inhaled a long drag. Jaxon heaved a deep sigh.

Jaxon: “Deimos came by to apologize to me today. I know it’s because you asked him to or suggested he do it. When I wouldn’t have it, he tickled me… and then Celeste tickled me.”

He furrowed his eyebrows and grimaced. Tristan nodded.

Tristan: “I understand, Jaxon. I know you need space to process what Deimos said and did to you. Yes, I pointed out what he did wrong, but I also understand you’re not ready to forgive him.”

Jaxon blew out smoke.

Jaxon: “If I do.”

He huffed. Tristan inhaled sharply.

Tristan: “Jaxon, you’re angry right now. Emotions are running high, and things got heated. While you deserved NONE of what Deimos said to you or did to you, you shouldn’t have pushed him to face what happened between him and Lazaros.”

He said sincerely, looking at Jaxon with empathy. Jaxon’s face flickered with hurt.

Jaxon: “But all he does is run and run! He was nasty with Celeste when she innocuously asked him about his tattoo! All I did was run and look where it landed me!”

He spread his arms out as his voice rose. Tristan nodded.

Tristan: “Yes, but… You faced those on your terms… as Deimos has to. You can’t force him to face his problems, Jaxon. When he tells you to drop it, do so.”

He said gently.

Jaxon: “I didn’t appreciate him being nasty to Celeste!”

He huffed. Tristan nodded.

Tristan: “Neither did I, but this is a sore topic for him, and this isn’t me taking his side or agreeing with him. I do not! You deserved NONE of that, and I know Deimos has a vicious temper.”

He said genially, followed by a long sigh.

Jaxon: “He said VERY hurtful things to me.”

His bottom lip trembled. Tristan sighed and knit his eyebrows.

Tristan: “I know… It hurt me, too. Chelsea was a very good friend, and Ivy was no stranger to hurling such accusations my way.”

He declared.

Tristan: “And I am no stranger to Deimos’ venomous temper either… as you know.”

He frowned.

Jaxon: “He left you at the park… over IVY.”

He grumbled.

Jaxon: “As long as Deimos refuses to face his problems, we’re always going to run into this cycle. This is why I wanted him to. I wanted him to stop hurting his friends and you, but he treats every discussion like a debate he has to win, and he won’t stop until you’re broken!”

He said with a hurt tone. Tristan twisted his mouth and heaved a deep sigh.

Tristan: “You’re right, Jaxon. I agree with you.”

He said as his voice trailed off.

Tristan flicked his ashes in the ashtray.

Tristan: “However, I do know when Deimos apologizes, he means it. I truly feel he’s sorry.”

He nodded. Jaxon folded his arms tightly.

Jaxon: “Right, forgive him, until he does this again, and he will.”

He rolled his eyes. Tristan gazed at him.

Tristan: “Maybe this is the eye-opener he needs to see the error in his ways.”

Jaxon clicked his tongue.

Jaxon: “I doubt it. It would have to be you. You’re the only person he will listen to.”

He muttered.

The waitress came with a glass of wine for Tristan, a pilsner of beer for Jaxon, a basket of garlic loaf with mozzarella cheese, and two large bowls of grilled chicken Caesar salad with a lemon wedge. Jaxon’s and Tristan’s eyes lit up as the delicious food whet their appetites.

Waitress: “Enjoy!”

Tristan: “Thank you, we shall.”

Jaxon: “Thanks!”

The two men raised their glasses and clinked them together.

Jaxon: “Thanks for being a good friend to me, Tristan.”

He said earnestly as he sipped his beer. Tristan smiled tightly as he took a piece of garlic bread and bit into it.

Tristan: “Anytime, Jaxon.”

Jaxon squeezed some lemon on his salad.

Jaxon: “So…”

Tristan ate his garlic loaf and washed it down with some wine.

Jaxon: “Any news on this Barnabas guy?”

Tristan froze, and his expression went cold.

Tristan: “...No.”

Jaxon gaped at him.

Jaxon: “What are you hiding?”

He pressed him.

Tristan: “Nothing. I’m fine. I don’t know who he is, and no one else does.”

He said tersely as he squeezed lemon on his salad, squeezing it so hard that seeds fell into it and it squirted onto Tristan’s suit.

Tristan: “Oh no!”

He whined and grabbed a red napkin to wipe it off.

Tristan: “I’m sorry, Jaxon.”

He said with a pleading look.

Jaxon: “What are you sorry for? You can talk to me.”

He said gently.

Tristan heaved a deep sigh and smiled at him.

Tristan: “Thank you, Jaxon. I appreciate, but I feel this is best discussed privately.”

He nodded. Jaxon gazed at him and nodded.

Jaxon: “I understand.”

Seated at a nearby table was Ivy with Blair. Ivy wore a black silk cheongsam with a silver peacock design down the front, black heels, and lotus drop earrings. Her hair was in a half ponytail pinned with a jeweled peacock hairclip. Blair wore an ill-fitting brown plaid suit, a white, pressed shirt, a brown tie, and brown derby shoes.

Blair: “I-Ivy, y-you look like a million dollars… You always do.”

He grinned inanely. Ivy read Tristan’s mind and grinned like the Cheshire Cat. This will work out nicely, she thought. I now know who Barnabas Chatrian is, she mused.

Ivy: “Of course… just as planned.”

She grinned.

A waitress approached them and glanced at Blair. Eww, why is he dressed like someone’s old couch on the side of the road? She wondered. Ivy read her mind and snickered.

Blair: “What’s so funny, my turtle dove?”

He smiled.

Ivy: “Oh, thinking of Samson eating those snacks Ashley made for your cousin.”

She grinned. That will teach you to call me that stupid name, she thought. Blair frowned.

Blair: “Humph! Ashley made them for Vanessa, and she is sleeping with a married man! They never did anything like that for me! GOOD! I am glad Samson ate them! I would have trashed them!”

He cried. Ivy smirked tightly.

~

Celeste and Deimos dined at Fred’s 50s Diner. The two sat at a booth with Celeste fiddling with the jukebox on the table. Deimos was smoking and staring off into space. The waitress came with their orders: double bacon cheeseburgers with onion rings and fries, a Professor Pepper, and a root beer float. Celeste’s eyes lit up at the root beer float and her meal.

Deimos: “I don’t deserve anything good. I ruin it anyway. I ruined my band, my friendship with Jaxon, and Tristan is disappointed in me.”

He said glumly.

Celeste: “You didn’t ruin it, Deimos! Jaxon will come around! He needs some time! When I told Jaxon that he was the apple of my eye and held up an apple, he cracked a smile!”

She laughed and sank her teeth into her burger.

Deimos: “I went too far. He’s right. Tristan is right. Ivy said I was a failure, and she’s right.”

He sighed.

Celeste: “Ivy is never right. She sucks.”

She laughed.

Someone loomed over the two. Celeste made a face as she raised her gaze to Vasilos. He wore a pink polo shirt with a blue sweater draped around his shoulders, white chinos, and white loafers.

Vasilos: “What’s with the long face, Deimos? Did Tristan dump you, and you’re whining to your gal pal?”

He asked wryly. Deimos turned to him with a sneer.

Deimos: “The fuck do you want?!”

He whispered hoarsely. Celeste gritted her teeth and felt nauseated.

Vasilos: “Nothing, I’m here to tell you that Tristan is MINE! I am not giving up pursuing him EVER! He doesn’t deserve a sponge like you!”

He hissed at Deimos. Deimos growled at him and gripped his fork tightly.

Celeste: “You know…, maybe you could use a sponge.”

She gagged. Vasilos turned to her.

Vasilos: “I don’t recall asking you a fucking thing!”

He hissed.

Celeste: “No, but… I can smell your feet through your loafers. Would it kill you to wash your feet or use foot deodorizers or something?”

She gagged. Vasilos glared at her with hot fury and bared his teeth.

Deimos: “She’s not wrong, and your feet stink as much as your personality! Tristan would never want you! If a patient man like Andrew left you at the altar, what makes you think you have a chance with Tristan?!”

He rose to Vasilos, glaring at him. Vasilos clenched his fists tightly.

Vasilos: “For your information, I was GOING to leave Andrew!”

He hissed through clenched teeth. Deimos rolled his eyes.

Deimos: “Sure, I know you and your patterns, dickhead. If you were going to leave him, you would have called off the wedding, and you didn’t.”

He spat.

Vasilos turned beet red as his fury soared through the roof. He threw his fist at Deimos. Deimos quickly grabbed it and twisted it in an arm lock.

Vasilos: “YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRGHHH!!”

He screamed.

Deimos: “FUCK OFF FROM TRISTAN, MY FRIENDS, AND ME, YOU ASSHOLE!”

He bellowed, released him, and delivered a roundhouse kick, sending Vasilos crashing into the jukebox. Vasilos gasped and passed out. Celeste was munching on her fries as she watched him.

A middle-aged, portly white man, wearing a light blue, pressed shirt, beige pants, and brown derby shoes, came out and gasped.

Man: “My jukebox!”

Deimos handed him several hundred-dollar bills, accumulating to over a thousand dollars.

Deimos: “This should cover the cost. I’m sorry. Can we get this to go?”

The man smiled as he took the money and nodded in response.

Celeste: “I’m still eating!”

She whined.

Deimos: “We’re taking it home.”

He said firmly. Celeste sighed.

Celeste: “The fries will be soggy and I hate soggy fries…”

She muttered. Thank you for ruining my dinner, Mr. Stinkfoot, she thought as the waitress took their food to put into containers for them to take home.