5: Cry

Faye was curled in a ball on their living room floor when Camilla raced into their house. A foul stench slammed into her, but she ignored it as she sank onto the rug, pulling her best friend’s head to her lap. From the state of the living room: the pile of dirty plates and cups, rumpled notes strewn over the floor and couches, she could make one conclusion. Faye didn’t get the bad news about her boyfriend today.

“What’s going on?” Camilla whispered. She stroked her friend’s greasy hair, careful not to tug on the knots. “Talk to me.”

Faye adjusted, lying flat on her back as her red-rimmed eyes met Camilla’s clear ones.

“Vanya is getting married.”

“What do you mean he’s getting married?” Camilla asked. Her best friend had said it a few times that she wasn’t keen on a marriage until she had at least gotten her MSc. “To you? You didn’t tell me that.”

“Not to me, Cam. Pay attention,” Faye snapped. Camilla almost chuckled. She was always the dramatic one or girl in need. Switching roles felt good. Faye sat up, inching away until she was resting against the couch. “He’s getting married this week. Friday. He broke up with me.”

“Excuse me?”

“Said he couldn’t be with me anymore. And, and that’s okay, right?” Faye asked. She couldn’t answer. Her past relationships had been nothing to write home about, especially since she couldn’t offer most of the men what they wanted from her. “I know that couples break up all the time. But how is he getting married the week after? How? You know what that means?”

Camilla shook her head. She wasn’t sure about anything at this point. She suspected Vanya to be a scumbag, but this was a stretch. Faye sat up and crossed her legs.

“It means he has been cheating on me for the course of our relationship, if not, the entire relationship. You can’t just marry on a whim,” Faye murmured. Camilla would have nodded, but her parents married only a few days after meeting each other. People had done crazier things, including her. “When you saw him at the store, he was probably getting stuff for his bride-to-be.”

“Right. So, what are we doing to do?” Camilla asked.

The resignation on Faye’s face made Camilla grab the other woman’s shoulders. They could hatch a two-way revenge plan. Revenge on him for breaking Faye’s heart, stealing her shoe, and ruining her phone. By the time they finished with the moron, he would never cheat on another woman.

“Cry?” Faye whispered.

At that, a few tears escaped Faye’s eyes. Camilla pulled her into a hug, patting her friend’s back as wheels rolled in her devious mind. Vanya must suffer for this.

“If anyone should be crying, it’s him,” she murmured. How could she punish him?

“How can he post the pictures of their pre-wedding shoot on his story without caring if I’ll see them?” Faye asked. She plucked the phone from the couch and shoved it into Camilla’s palm. “Just tell me, when did he have time to take those pictures with her?”

On the screen was a picture of Vanya and his bride-to-be, a pretty green-eyed lady.

“What the fuck?” Camilla stated. Tapping on the screen, she shook her head as more pictures of Vanya and his fiancé loaded. There was one of them at a dinner. “Wow.”

“Yeah,” Faye said, swiping furiously at her cheek. “That’s exactly what I thought, too.”

“That bastard? Have you called him?” Camilla asked. “You need to contact him.”

Faye let out a sob, her hands going over her mouth. “To say what? Hey, I just saw your pre-wedding photos. Have a married life? I wish you the best? Or, I’m happy for you? Which, Cam? Cos I’m far from happy.”

Camilla wrapped her childhood best friend in a hug. Crying wouldn’t solve the problem, but she let her cry into her arms.

“It’s okay, Faye. You’ll be okay.”

“It’s not okay…”

Crossing her legs, Camilla tried to get Faye to look at her. It might not feel like it right now, but it could have been worse. Faye could have married the cheating bastard. It was better to find out now than much later.

“It’s really not okay, Cam. It’s not.”

Faye was right. It wasn’t okay. They had to teach Vanya a lesson. She pulled Faye up to her feet. They could handle Vanya later, but her friend needed a shower right now.

They entered the bathroom, and Camilla helped Faye out of her clothes. Setting the water to warm, she pushed Faye under the shower.

“I should have believed you then,” Faye whispered. “I’m sorry I kicked you out.”

“You didn’t kick me out,” Camilla said, laughing to ease the tension. Her best friend looked like a deer caught in the headlights with her puffy eyes and her rat nest of a hair. “I volunteered to leave.”

Faye nodded, but it didn’t take time for her to be crying again. Camilla joined her in the stall. She spent more time consoling her friend than bathing. Minutes later, they both emerged out of the bathroom, soaked.

They changed into something dry, and she led Faye to her room, tucked her into bed, and closed the curtains. While her best friend slept, she cleaned up the rooms. All done, she returned to the living room to get Faye’s phone and rewatch Vanya’s story.

Vanya’s Ïnstagram story was full of cosy pictures. Camilla had a tough time believing he would switch so fast. What if she called to blast him? That was too easy. They needed to do something more that would leave a longer and lasting impact.

She settled on a text to her twin brother, Calvin. Three of them grew up together. Camilla. Calvin. Faye. And when KJ came, he joined the squad. She used to think KJ and Faye would end up together since they were closer as kids and teens, but those two didn’t talk as much anymore. Faye was concerned with getting her degree. KJ was too busy with work and getting into women’s panties. Before Calvin married his wife, Hana, he had also been a playboy.

Minutes passed without Camilla getting a reply from Calvin. He was good at ignoring her theatrics, a skill she prayed KJ never learnt. She hit him with a new and attention grabbing text. Both brothers claimed Camilla was a spoilt, demanding brat. She and Faye would disagree. She was only a sweetheart who liked attention a little more than her male siblings. Besides, she was their only sister. They had to indulge her.

Cam: I need hired goons to beat up a guy.

Vinny: CAM! ARE YPU CRQZY?

Calvin would lose his mind if he knew she still had his number saved with that childhood nickname he loathed. He already had to deal with her calling him baby brother when she was only older by fifteen seconds.

Cam: Calm down so you don’t make any more typos.

Vinny: That’s it, I’m calling dad. They shouldn’t have let you stay alone. You are always in trouble.

Not true. Well, only a bit. Camilla May McKenna was adventurous and humans couldn’t resist annoying her. Of course she would have to retaliate. She was her own karma. She had to be. Faye was hurt and crying her heart out. Someone had to pay.

Cam: Wait. It’s not me this time. And I’m old enough to stay on my own. I don’t need their permission or blessing.

Vinny: Dialling dad already. Start talking now Camilla or I’ll also call mum. What have you gotten yourself into?

The mention of her mother terrified her. Leila May McKenna was the best mother any human could wish for until you fucked up. And she was always messing up. Her mother was not in support of her moving out of the house, but her father prevailed.

Cam: Stop it. It’s not me, it’s Faye.

Camilla chewed on her bottom lip, wondering what amount of information to reveal to Calvin. He always treated her like his sister. Faye was a part of their family.

Cam: Vanya is getting married.

Vinny: Shit. Is she okay?

Cam: Not really.

Vinny: Should I ask Angel to come over?

Camilla snorted. Her brother called his wife Angel. He was right to do so because his wife was one.

Cam: I’m not sure she wants others to know.

Vinny: I’ll stop by later to say hi.

Cam: Don’t act like I told you anything.

Vinny: My lips are sealed. I’ll bring pringles

Cam: You better. I also need an invitation to the wedding. Two cards for both of us.

Vinny: I don’t know what your plan is. But the answer is no. Vanya has always looked sketchy to me. Maybe it’s a good thing it ended. Who knows?

Cam: Wrong timing.

Vinny: Of course I won’t say it to her face. Look, I have a meeting later, wish me luck.

The annoyance left Camilla’s body. Their arguments never lasted long, anyway. She loved them too much to hold on to the fake anger. Calvin would always come through for her in an actual state of emergency.

Cam: Best of luck, Calvin. I love you. #fighting

Cam: Don’t forget the invites

Vinny: No.

Cam: You have more connections. Help.

Vinny: Bad idea. No.

Cam: She deserves closure.

Cam: If you don’t help us, you’ll forget everything you planned to say at your meeting.

Vinny: ????

Cam: Vinny. Please.

Vinny: I’ll see what I can do. Don’t do anything stupid until I get back to you on that. Promise?

Cam: Bible.

For the McKenna kids, saying bible was the one way to establishing they were telling the truth. For now, she would trust her brother’s decision. If anyone had the power to get them an invitation to that wedding, it was Calvin Kyle McKenna.