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[color=darkgray][indent][indent]The damage caused during Kavi’s party didn’t really sink in for Marisol until Sunday morning. She’d been right in the middle of her shower when she realized she hadn’t gotten any texts from Salem, and finally remembered that he’d dumped her the night before. Mari broke down into sobs for a few long minutes, but by the time she came out, she had an epiphany. The fact that she hadn’t taken any physical retaliation didn’t mean she didn’t have to take [i]any[/i] retaliation at all. That afternoon, the pint-sized girl spent the better part of her time gathering every piece of evidence in her possession and compiling a detailed album of the events between her and Salem’s affair. She made digital and printed copies of every text message and photo received, wrote down a detailed timeline and sequence of events, and eventually sent the folders Gwendolyn Winters’ way. She was certain the other girl had received them when Mari found herself blocked on both Gwen’s and Salem’s social media accounts, but knew her revenge plan had worked when (using Archer’s phone) a little digging revealed all previous traces of the couple in their accounts had vanished without a trace.

And Xixi? Well, the queen bitch of Crown Heights didn’t get out unscathed out of this one, either. The Colombian received an overnight special delivery of about fifty mice (the one animal phobia that sent her into hysterics), who jumped at the opportunity to invade the girl’s opulent home the second she opened the box and gave them their freedom.

All in all, it was just another reminder for the world that Marisol Castillo is not somebody you want to mess with.

That Monday morning had been business as usual for the young woman: homeroom, Calculus, English and Study Hall. The lunch bell had rang, and she’d been in the middle of her walk to the cafeteria when her green eyes fell on Ariel. The news of what had gone down between her and Kavi had spread like wildfire through the school, and judging by the raven-haired girl’s crestfallen expression, she obviously wasn’t doing too well.

She didn’t know if she was driven out of guilt or the need to let Ariel know she wasn’t alone in feeling disappointed by men, but before she realized it, Mari had stopped in her tracks and made a beeline towards her ex-best friend.

[color=brown]"So I heard my charming cousin did you dirty again- in a typical scumbag male move, I might add. That true?"[/color] she asked the girl point-blank, leaning her left shoulder against the wall of lockers beside them.

While putting her books away to head to lunch, Ariel heard a familiar voice especially close. Said voice belonged to that of Marisol. Why the other girl had chosen to approach her, Ariel had no idea. It had been years since that had talked, even though Ari had all of her contact information saved just in case she had gotten drunk enough to text her ex best friend. As it turns out, no amount of alcohol had made her that brave. But since Marisol had decided to make the first move, Ariel didn’t see any harm in seeing where the conversation was going. 

[color=00eddd]”I… yeah. It is. As bad as I hate to admit it, he did,”[/color] she said, promptly slamming the locker door shut. [color=00eddd]”More or less blamed it on me and decided that he hadn’t done anything wrong - also typical douchebag if you ask me.”[/color] Ariel took a deep breath. The act of putting on a brave face was tiring, and Mari wasn’t the only one who asked her about what had happened that night. While she didn’t wish to talk about it, if Kavi was reverting back to his dickhead ways, he’d spin the truth into whatever lies made him look best. As long as people asked, at least Ariel could tell her side of the story. [color=00eddd]”It sort of sucks, ya know? I was ecstatic that he was actually giving me the time of day, but I guess it’s true what they say about all the good things coming to an end.”[/color]

[color=brown]"Fucking tell me about it…"[/color] the shorter girl muttered under her breath, her green eyes flashing with anger at the mere memory of Salem's betrayal. She took a second to compose herself before addressing Ariel again, her tone taking on her usual abrasiveness. [color=brown]"But see, [i]that[/i] was our first mistake: letting them through our guard. [i]No man can be trusted, Ariel[/i]. Well I mean, there's always gonna be exceptions -like Archer and Van for example. But all the others? Bullshit. Every. Other. Men. Is. Bullshit. Period. End. Of. Story."[/color] Marisol declared, banging her fist against her open palm to emphasize the importance of her last ten words.

Ariel pursed her lips and shrugged lazily in a weak attempt of agreement. [color=00eddd]”I guess you have a point. I mean, none of my relationships with girls have ever ended in broken judo trophies and playstations. You seem really angry though, and I know said anger can’t just come from Kavis latest scandal. What’s up with you?”[/color]

Marisol shrugged, shaking her head. [color=brown]"Oh, you know, nothing much. Just got made a fool of by yet [i]another[/i] worthless piece of shit, but no big deal,"[/color] she said sarcastically, angrily picking at the hem of her skirt. [color=brown]"Only [i]this[/i] one failed to mention during all the times we fucked that he'd given a big fat promise ring to the stupid girlfriend he had back home. But no biggie. I'm not even phased about it. He can go rot in a hole for all I care about."[/color] Of course, anyone with half a brain could tell that the brunette was boiling with fury just thinking about it. 

The raven haired girl couldn’t help but laugh sourly. What was it with Kings being a hell hole full of toxic relationships, fist fights, and raging hormones? [color=00eddd]”You’ve [i]got[/i] to be shitting me,”[/color] she scoffed. [color=00eddd]”Let’s just be real; boys are stupid. And now that I think about it,”[/color] she said, holding up an index finger, [color=00eddd]”pretty much all together pointless. I mean, we have vibrators.”[/color]

[color=brown]"And therein lies the problem,"[/color] Mari began, crossing her arms in front of her chest. [color=brown]"You see, as much as I would love to agree with you, but I can't. I took a bat to a Mercedes for the dick. I tackled a bitch for the dick. I was going to jail for the dick. Fucking [i]jail[/i], Ariel! All because of a stupid [i]dick[/i]. Bottom line: I'm not afraid to fucking die for the dick. But am I sick and tired of the men behind said dicks? Absolutely."[/color]

The more and more Marisol talked, the wider Ariel's eyes got. [Color=00eddd]"You might have a problem, love."[/color]

[color=brown]"Me? Having a problem? What's new?!"[/color] Mari shrugged before letting out a round of laughter. [color=brown]"Tell me something I don't know."[/color]

While chatting with Marisol like this was fun, and it was nice to see that they could still talk as easily as they used to, it was a little hard for Ariel to ignore the elephant in the room. [color=00eddd]”So what exactly is… this?”[/color] she asked, making a weak attempt at some weird hand gesture between them. [color=00eddd]”Us talking like this, I mean? Or was that something that I wasn’t supposed to mention, and by doing so, I completely screwed up whatever this conversation was?”[/color]

[color=brown]"I mean, I would have rather you just take it and run with it than make things awkward, but when have I ever gotten what I wanted?"[/color] she replied cynically, shooting Ariel a teasing smirk. [color=brown]"But since you asked, I'll be real here: I know I'm not the easiest person to be around or deal with. And you know I have the hardest fucking time making friends- [i]especially[/i] friends of the same sex- because of this 'special and unique' personality I have. But you know what? I'll fucking say it: I've missed you. I've missed the sleepovers, the random hangouts, shopping trips, the bad makeup attempts… And just having a fucking girlfriend in my corner I can talk about all that pussy girl shit with. Am I still pissed that you tossed us all away like a used condom? Yes. But am I willing to put it past us just to have you back in my life? [i]Also[/i] yes… As long as you don't pull the same crap on me again, of course. Then I'll just have to talk with my bat, I guess."[/color]

[color=00eddd]”No,”[/color] Ariel said shaking her head. [color=00eddd]”I’d never do that again. I had a lot going on then - not that that’s a reason to drop my best friend - but I honestly thought I was protecting you guys. Again, long story.”[/color]

At this point, Marisol had learned that there was no use in prying for any information that wasn’t willingly shared. [color=brown]“It’s fine, Ariel. If there’s anything I’ve learned in this time is that people do stupid fucking things to those they care about. Sometimes they’re bad, but most times they’re good. And if you say that you had a good reason for it, then I believe you. I’m over it. Carpe diem and all that shit. I just want my favorite baddest bitch in my corner again…”[/color] she admitted in a low voice, sheepishly looking down at her worn-out Vans. 

[color=00eddd]”Well if you really mean it, then can we [i]please[/i] go get some cheese fries from the cafeteria like old times? Because I’m fucking starving.”[/color]

[color=brown]“Only if you promise to meet me at the Shack after school for burgers and milkshakes,”[/color] Mari quickly replied.

[color=00eddd]”Absolutely,”[/color] she said beaming. [color=00eddd]”Could I have a hug, or are you still to much of a badass for that?”[/color]

[color=brown]“Fuck you,”[/color] was the shorter girl’s immediate comeback, shaking her head with a smile but wrapping up her friend in a tight hug nonetheless.

While it was sudden and unexpected, Ariel didn’t regret her decision to have this conversation. Returning the hug, she couldn’t help but smile.

Marisol and her were finally friends again.[/indent][/indent][/color]