Feeling much better, and looking like it too. Abby says, "Good to see you smiling chica." She grins as she replies, "Thanks to you two, which I appreciate very much. It's easy to smile. He just pissed me off so badly, I couldn't let it go."
Stacy is now curious about what was said, as she responds, "That's clear, what did he say that got you so upset?" She rolls her eyes as she replies, "For starters, he tried to become a voluntary rebound guy, since Eddie and I are over. As if he was even remotely on my radar." Abby sighs as she replies, "What a jerk. Wasn't he friends with Eddie? Like damn. Who raised him?"
Stacy smirks as she responds, "Girl with friends like him, who needs enemies?" Abby nods as she comments, "What a snake, just lying in wait to eat the scraps from another man's table." She then realizes how she sounds and says, "Not that you're scraps, Liv."
She smiles as she replies, "No offense taken Abs, I get your point. And I agree with both of you. He's certainly not the highest character guy for sure. But anyway, if that wasn't enough to push my buttons. He caps it off by using information I am certain he got directly from Mellie, to attempt to secure some type of dirt on Eddie, for a trashy article he's writing no doubt to save his lousy job at the Enquirer. Oh, and he got fired from the Chronicle, and blatantly lied to me about it.."
Stacy shakes her head in disgust as she responds, "That son of a bitch! Liv, why didn't you throw his ass out?" Abby chimes in, "Agreed, he needs to go. He's clearly looking to make trouble for a dollar."
She hears them, but manages to calm them both down as she replies, "Ordinarily, I'd agree with you. But honestly. I'd rather he stay here so we can keep an eye on him. Because despite what he attempted to do, something tells me that's just the tip of the iceberg." Abby nods as she responds, "So you're thinking keep your friends close and your enemies closer, huh?"
She nods as she says, "Exactly. And I'm hoping I can count on some help from my friends to make that happen." They smile at her as they both say, "Of course." She grins as she says, "Thanks. I think we're going to need the guys to assist on this one too though. Especially after I just told Jake to stay away from me. I'd likely make myself look offly suspect by now trying to talk to him." Stacy replies, "Good point. And, from what I am seeing, it looks like the guys are already doing their part unprompted."
At first, she doesn't understand what she means; curiously, she turns to look in the direction they're facing, and she hears Abby say, "Oh damn. She's right. Looks like Fitz is getting all the scoop."
As she focuses on what they're both looking at, she sees Jake talking with Fitz, Drew, and Harry." Although it doesn't look super intense, it does appear that they are indeed in full conversation mode.
Thinking about the possibilities of how the conversation could go wrong; her heart rate quickens a bit, and she says, "Oh God." Stacy understands her concern as she says, "Girl, Oh God is right. Because if we saw him piss you off, it's possible they guys did too. So, you know Fitz has got to defend his bae." As soon as she says it, she covers her mouth as she says, "Oh boy, I'm sorry, Liv."
Abby looks at Stacy, and then Olivia, Stacy feels terrible that she let the news slip. And Olivia feels her anxiety; so in an effort to comfort her, she replies, "It's fine Stacy. Abby already knows about us." She then takes a breath as she says, "Oh thank goodness. I thought I spilled the beans."
Abby then responds, "Wait, how long have you known?" Stacy crinkles her nose as she innocently replies, "Uhm, I don't know, for a few weeks maybe?" Olivia sees Abby getting upset and she intervenes, as she replies, "Abs, it's not what you think. Drew figured it out and talked to Fitz about it early on, and I'm sure he then told you, right Stacy?" She nods as she says, "Right. That's exactly how it happened. Drew told me in confidence."
Abby's feelings of betrayal dissolve quickly, as she replies, "Okay. That makes sense. Is there anybody in the group that doesn't know?" Stacy candidly replies, "Since Fitz told Harry on the way over here; I'd say the only odd one out is the master of disaster herself, which to me is fitting. Given her possible role in this."
Abby agrees as she says, "That's a fact. Liv you mentioned you thought Jake got information from Mellie. But I didn't realize they talked to each other." She responds, "I know. Me either. But according to him he ran into her today when she got lost in the building, looking for her car after leaving Fitz's."
Stacy nods as she replies, "Ahh, that makes sense. She was hotter than fish grease when she stormed out of there. And let's face it, nobody plays the role of damsel in distress better than her." Olivia and Abby both nod in agreement, as Abby asks, "What exactly did she tell him?"
Olivia replies, "I can't be sure of everything she said, "But given Jake's remark about Jasmine being someone I know. It's clear that she talked to him about me and Eddie, which makes me wonder what more she said about me that I shared with her in confidence." Stacy replies, "That's unacceptable. What was she thinking?"
Olivia's realization of what Mellie's done fuels her frustration, as she says, "She likely wasn't thinking. She never does when she gets like this. She only cares about getting even and winning the petty award, not the fallout left behind; which is when the damsel in distress comes into play. And she's the victim somehow."
Stacy shakes her head as she replies, "I've said it before, and I will say it again. She has some serious psychological issues." On that they all have to agree. As Abby then replies, "Well, speaking for myself. I would've loved to see her pissed off. She got just what she deserved in my book. Man, ain't karma a bitch?"
She claps her hands as she laughs out of pure disgust, appreciating Mellie's emotional unrest. And while Olivia and Stacy laugh at her remark; Olivia still tries to keep the peace, and roll back her own annoyance from rising to their level, as she says, "Come on Abs. Be nice."
Abby rolls her eyes as she replies, "Liv, with all do respect, fuck her. Fuck her, and all the fuck shit she stirs up for no reason. Her petty ass has most likely told Joke from State Farm, and yes I meant to say joke, because that's what he is, some shit that's piqued his curiosity so much, he's trying to infiltrate our home, where we deserve to be peaceful and happy. But instead, we have to be on our p's and q's because of his sneaky ass slithering around. All of this, because she got told no for the first time from her parents. You know that's not right Liv."
She can't refute her words, she's right. Mellie has truly compromised the sanctity of their peace, within their home with her latest shenanigans. And potentially more harm is on the way, given what she's likely disclosed to Jake. Olivia's thoughts are interrupted as Stacy adds, "She's telling the truth, Liv. This is all because of Mellie. And her refusal to own her shit. She got mad at her, Fitz, and her parents because they stood their ground against her." Abby chimes in, "Exactly, and enough is enough. Just like you and I were talking about earlier Liv."
Olivia nods in her direction, acknowledging their previous conversation. And Stacy nods as she says, "I agree. Truth is you didn't have anything to do with why she's pissed, but yet she's managed to pull you into the mix by inviting Jake here, knowing he has a thing for you, and you and Eddie just broke up. Then she discloses information to Jake, you shared with her in confidence regarding your relationship with Eddie, knowing you signed a NDA so you couldn't talk about it. But yet she gets to blab your business to whomever she wants, because she's in an emotional upheaval at the moment. Who does that Liv? Certainly not a good person. Or someone with good intentions. She did it to make you feel uneasy, because she's feeling uneasy right now. It's all about manipulating the situation to get power and control over other people."
Abby cosigns as she replies, "Girl you're preaching a whole fucking sermon, bring it home." They all laugh at Abby's peanut gallery comments, as Olivia says, "Abs, you're a nut." She shrugs her shoulders as she says, "Hey, I am just stating what we all know to be true, but are ignoring."
Stacy nods as she says, "That's a truth bomb for sure Liv. We've got to hold her accountable for the shit she does. You just said it yourself, she never thinks about the people who end up getting hurt as a result of her antics. Think about it, this whole party is literally her having a huge tantrum; the only bright spot so far is that we are actually enjoying the atmosphere, due to yours and Abby's excellent last minute planning skills, and help from friends. Despite the fact she was hoping we'd be miserable." Abby slaps hands with Stacy as she says, "Girl, I gotta give you a high five on that benediction." Again, they all smile, and Olivia considers all that's been said.
They see her in thought, it's remarkable how she can find a way to concentrate even in places of full chaos, like a party setting. But, when she snaps out of her thoughts, they both listen as she says, "You are both right. She is to blame for the craziness that's going on, and what's to come when she arrives. I don't disagree with you. But honestly, my concern is that we don't know everything she told Jake; which means we don't know what his full motivation is for being here. And that is more pressing than worrying about checking her for the anarchy she has instigated, including leading him here, for now. Can we agree on that?":
Both Stacy and Abby look at one another, and then at her as they nod in agreement, and in concert say, "Agreed." But Stacy follows with, "Can you clarify what drama is set to jump off when she arrives?" Abby responds, "She's dating Nick, the waiter from Pink's that served her and Fitz the last time they went out on a date." Stacy rolls her eyes as she replies, "Oh hell no. Does Fitz and the guys know about this?" Olivia responds, "Fitz knows. I made sure of it. He wasn't going to be blindsided like that on my watch. But, I don't know if he's shared it with them or not; I will let him handle that."
She replies, "Damn, she's ruthless as hell for that shit. Kudos to you Liv for having his back." Olivia smiles as she says, "Of course. Always." They all smile as Abby chimes in, "More like she's desperate as hell if you ask me, verses ruthless. And the only reason that doesn't bother me so much, is it will all be for not. Because we all know that Fitz has moved on." They all nod in agreement, her big moment definitely won't be what she was expecting for certain, now that they know what to expect.
Tired of the looming cloud, Olivia responds, "Hey, it is what it is at this point. I'm just ready for her to show up already. It's almost 7:30." Abby looks at her watch as she replies, "Yeah, I'm ready to see what all this fuss is about myself. He better be fine as hell too, or I'm going to clown her ass hard." Stacy replies, "Girl who are you fooling? you're going to clown her ass hard regardless of what he looks like."
They all chuckle and drink together, enjoying the change in mood. Happy cooler heads are prevailing, at the moment. Olivia smiles as she says, "Thanks for coming down off of that emotional hill with me ladies."
Abby jokes as she replies, "Oh we aren't fully off of it, we are just not allowing it to lead us into battle at the moment. When this is over, she will be getting all of my mouth Liv. And this time, I don't care how it ends. Because I refuse to continue to live like this. This is absolutely insane on every level, and it has to stop."
She feels every bit of her response, and knows she's not being emotional, she means every word she's uttered. It's clear she's reached her limit with Mellie's behavior, and she'd be hard pressed to argue against her position at this time. Respecting her view, she replies, "I hear you Abs. Let's just deal with one issue at a time though, okay?" She agrees as she nods and replies, "Okay. So what's the plan?"
Olivia pauses in thought and then responds, "So far, I'd say the plan is to engage the guys, and keep Mr. State Farm busy; that way he can't collect any more information, that would help him vet details for the bullshit story he's likely writing.''
They chuckle at her remark, but agree as Stacy replies, "Well, looks to me like they're one step ahead of you so far; they're still talking to him. And based on his body posture, he's gotten a few drinks in him too,"
She looks over in their direction and sees, she's right. Although a few more people have joined their huddle, it does appear they're still engaging him, and the conversation looks relaxed and civil to boot. Which gives her a strong sense of relief. But still she says, "I'd love to know what's being said over there."
Abby nods as she replies, "Well, given the fact that Joke from State Farm is still up right, and appears to be laughing and drinking, I'd say they've done a good job of keeping things kosher. Which is rather impressive, given Fitz noticing Jake clearly pissing you off earlier, and looking like he was going to hammer his ass like a nail in a block of wood."
They all grin as Olivia nods, but begins to think to herself as she replies, "True. Damn this is getting stressful." Stacy agrees as she replies, "Yes it is. But, we are in the perfect setting to combat that, aren't we?" Abby agrees with her, and she falls in line with her response as she encouragingly replies, "Yes. We are. So let's do just that!"
Olivia has a look of confusion on her face at first, until Stacy takes her hand, as she says, "Let's dance diva. And enjoy our jam." It's at that moment Olivia realizes one of her jams is blaring from the speakers. And, she decides she's earned the right to jam at her own party; afterall, everyone else has been eating, drinking, and having a good time for the last few hours. So, why shouldn't she join the scene too?