TO HELL WITH ELON
ZENDAYA
Has anyone ever told you that making a real decision when you’re very mad at someone somehow goes haywire?The kind of haywire you really can’t change after it’s done?
I don’t even know why I’m asking. I guess I’m the only one in this goddamn world who doesn’t know that, or maybe the only one who never learns from it.
I sat opposite Kelly, my best friend, who would probably tear my head off once I told her what the hell happened this morning at my boyfriend’s place, now apparently, my ex-boyfriend.
I definitely knew it wasn’t going to go down well with her, which was why I was clever enough to reserve a seat at a cheap restaurant. I invited her over to pour out the story that was going to blow things up, and I knew she wouldn’t be able to cause a full scene since we were in public.
“Zendaya,” she started, her voice way too calm. That kind of calm that’s way scarier than when she’s yelling. “Honestly, this c*ck and bull story you just told me is really, really not making sense. Can you kindly tell me what you did after seeing Elon on the bed with Sarah? That’s the part I want to know. The rest? I don’t care.”
She said it so gently and nicely I knew and right then, I was totally screwed.
The thing is, Elon is my boyfriend. Technically, we broke up this morning. And please, don’t even get me started on the part where that same Elon is Kelly’s older brother. Twisted, right? Yeah, that’s a long story on its own.
Yesterday was supposed to be a grand celebration. We had this fancy date planned and a surprise gift I got just for his birthday, only it turned into the worst day ever. Because my darling Elon, my own boyfriend, was half drunk on his bed with that Sarah girl, the one I used to think was just his “secretary.”
What do you think? I couldn’t take it. I was mad.
And the worst part? He didn’t even remember it was his d*mn birthday, and I don't care, he was still hungover from yesterday, it still got me more mad. So... I lost it. I dragged that so-called secretary girl right off the bed, hauled her down the stairs, her stupid curly hair— probably messed up from the s*x they’d had the night before—and dealt with her in that way she'd never think of hooking up with him again.
When I was done, I turned to Elon, who was still lying there, still half-tipsy, watching the whole scene like it was some kind of wrestling match. That’s right, call him an *ss, because he really is.
Now back to the point, I ended up breaking up with him. And now I was about to tell his younger sister. God.
“Kelly, I don’t have to spell everything out before you figure out what happened next,” I finally said after taking a dramatic one-hour pause just to gather courage.
She smiled in that weird, almost too calm way I’d seen before. “Oh, baby, I don’t want to guess, unless you want me to start guessing how exactly I’ll break your bones if what I’m thinking right now is what you actually did.”
I blinked nervously, not because I was afraid of her, but because I was about to admit it.
“Fine. We broke up. Your brother was a total d*ck. We’re both girls, you know how it feels, right? Don’t tell me you’re taking his side just because you share the same blood?”
Her mouth dropped open dramatically. I would’ve laughed if this whole thing weren’t so serious.
“You fcking did what? … Zen, you broke up with Elon because you assumed he f*cked some other girl—”
“I didn’t assume, they really—” I cut in smoothly.
“Shut the fucck up, b*tch!” she snapped, loud enough to make the table beside us flinch.
“Woah, woah, woah, take it easy, girl! Don’t forget you’re still talking to your best friend here.”
“To hell with best friend!” she shot back. “I don’t care! Do you even realize what you just did? Because you were angry, you threw away your only chance of securing a goddamn spot at the Paris One-in-a-Million Fashion Competition! All because of your stupid anger! God, I really can’t believe you sometimes, Zen!”
I kept quiet for another few long seconds. It was true. I badly needed to make it onto the list of contestants for that competition. It had always been my dream.
And since Elon had been personally invited to be one of the judges, thanks to his rich family background plus his own fame, I’d bet it was a straight ticket to at least second or third prize.
Which I just lost.
But hell no, that still doesn’t mean I’d shut my eyes and pretend I didn’t just catch my boyfriend cheating.
“You know, it’s not that easy to pretend that didn’t happen,” I said, my voice lower. “Except you’re telling me what he did counts as nothing.”
Kelly exhaled sharply. “Stop making this a big deal, Zen. You and I both know you’d practically do anything, literally anything, to get what you want, and this is really nothing. It’s not about me taking sides, it’s about you. I know the hell you went through to finally get Elon to agree to let you participate in that competition, only for you to throw it all away. That’s what I’m mad about. You know what this means for you, right?”
“Stop it, Kelly. You’re starting to make it sound like I’d even sell my soul to make money. I can do fine, with or without your brother.”
She slammed her palm on the table so hard a few heads turned toward us.
“Really?” I whispered, just before she slammed it again.“Stop doing that! People are watching.”
“Oh, now you care about that?” she snapped.
“No, but I care about the world finding out I just broke up with my boyfriend because he cheated!”
“Oh God, this is driving me crazy,” she muttered under her breath, running a hand through her hair. “I know one thing, Zen, this stupid ego you’re clinging to like it’s some kind of life support won’t take you anywhere, trust me. You want to know if I’m mad at Elon for cheating on my best friend? Yes, I am. I really am, I can swear on my life. But if that costs you your lifetime dream, I’ll gladly turn a blind eye. Got it? Because that’s what a normal person would do—just pretend until you get what you want. But no. F*cking no! You believe you did the right thing and won’t listen to anyone!... It’s not that hard to pretend, is it?”
“Are you even my friend?” I spat, glaring at her.
“Look, Zen, do whatever you want. I don’t care. It’s your life. But if I were you, I’d go crawling back to that b*st*rd who f*cked his secretary, tell him I’m sorry with a few kisses, and then it’s done.”
“What?!” I shouted, my chair screeching against the floor. “Do what?” I scoffed and shot to my feet. “You know what? You both can go to hell. I’m done here.”
I grabbed my bag, and of course, my already cold coffee. I might be furious, but I wasn’t about to leave what I paid for. Then I stormed down the hallway. Kelly didn’t call me back, and I didn’t even bother looking over my shoulder. I didn’t care anymore.
Just as I reached the door, I bumped into something hard.
Looking up, I met an oblong face with sharp, handsome features, the kind that screamed trouble, and, okay, maybe a little too beautiful for my current mood. The type of face you’d expect on a fallen angel.
“Are you done feeling my abs?” His deep voice carried that stupid smirk I instantly wanted to wipe off his face with a punch, if I wasn’t holding a cup of coffee.
I didn’t even realize I was still touching him until he said it.
“I’m sorry,” I muttered, using the last ounce of politeness I had left.
“You know,” he said louder, his smirk widening, “that’s not how you say sorry to someone you just sexually harassed!”
He shouted the last part just as I was flagging down a cab.
I froze, turned sharply. “What? Harassed? Are you kidding me?”
Great. My day couldn’t get any worse— now I'm public pervert.
I tried to compose myself, but I could feel my patience thinning. “I already said sorry, and I’m not sure I know what you’re talking about. Nobody harassed anybody.”
He tilted his head. “Wait, you didn’t? Because you pretty much just touched my chest, baby girl.”
“Stop calling me that! I don’t even know you, so stop addressing me like we do.”
God, I didn’t even know why I was still talking to this guy. I'd better leave before I lost it completely.
And thank God he didn’t say anything else, because if he did, I swear I’d have thrown a punch.
I waved down a cab, hopped in, and let out a long, sharp exhale, like the world had just been lifted off my shoulders.
That was when my phone pinged.
Hello, Miss Carter. You’ve been selected as a home tutor by your client. Please resume tomorrow as early as 9 AM.
I almost jumped from my seat. God, I finally got the goddamn job! Easy pay, no stress, except to just teach some college boy, and I’m done.
Maybe I really didn’t need that stupid Elon after all.
