Chapter 431: Central Perk

Monday, February 13th, Morning

Walking down the sidewalk, she paused outside the café and looked in the windows. Like in some old show, the people she wanted to see were collected in their usual spot. Most of them were there; the one she didn't want to see wasn't there. With a slight smile, she nodded and bundled herself up in her jacket. Like the bard said in Macbeth Screw your courage to the sticking place, she did and walked into the café.

Elizabeth "Ellie" Scott walked into the café and looked around. She made eye contact behind her sunglasses with the white-haired man behind the counter. He nodded, and Ellie kept walking towards her friends. Finally, Ellie flipped up her hood just as she came around them and took a seat in an upholstered chair.

"Excuse me, that seat is reserved," Jade Ambrose said.

"Jade, don't jump to conclusions," Hardy Groen, one of the other friends, said.

"Hardy, this is our reserved table," Jade said.

"I have a good feeling about this," Hardy said.

"Hardy, Jade is right," Jared Ambrose, Jade's brother, said.

"I'm with Hardy on this one," Justin Philip, another friend, said.

"You always take Hardy's side," Jade said.

"I'm usually right," Justin said.

"Also, loyal," Finley Graham, another friend and Justin's girlfriend, said, leaning over to kiss Justin.

"So, who are you, friend?" Hardy asked Ellie.

Ellie pushed back her hood and removed her sunglasses. The friends all looked at her in shock.

"Libby?" Jade asked.

"Oh my god, Libby," Finley said.

"Welcome Back, Libby," Hardy said.

"Libby, when did you get back?" Justin asked.

"What are you doing here?" Jared asked.

Ellie smiled, "I got in a few days ago; this was the first day I could make it down here," she said.

"So, what kept you so busy?" Finley asked.

"I booked a few runway shows," Ellie said.

"What?" Jared asked.

"No way," Justin said.

"I don't believe you," Jade said.

"Wow, cool," Finley said.

"Who did you walk for?" Hardy asked.

"CoB and I have another show soon," Ellie said.

"That's great, Libby," Finley said.

"Are we just going to ignore something here?" Jade asked.

"What's that, Jade?" Ellie asked.

"The fact you just went poof and were gone. Now, you went poof again, and here you are," Jade said.

"What do you want to know?" Ellie asked.

"Why did you disappear, and what's going on between you and Ainsley?" Jade asked.

Ellie sighed, "When we went out that night in the Meat Packing District," she said.

"That was a fun night," Jared said and laughed.

"Anyway, Ainsley caught a ride back with me to my place in the kitchen. Well, before I could even get the door unlocked, Ainsley kissed me," Ellie said.

"Libby, that's just Ainsley," Jade said.

"Well, I told her I didn't know my feelings for her, and I needed time and space," Ellie said.

"Let me guess, Ainsley gave you neither," Jared said, chuckling.

"Yes," Ellie said.

Jared chuckled again, "That's so Ainsley," Jared said, then checked his watch, "Shit, I got to go to work, later guys."

Jared got up and left. Ellie watched Jared leave, then turned to the rest of her friends. Jade checked her smartphone and shook her head.

"Libby, he's right that's Ainsley," Jade said, "She's always been that way." She stood up and left.

Hardy shook his head, stood up, and walked over to Ellie. He paused next to her, rested his big hand on her shoulder, and gave it a gentle squeeze. Ellie nodded, and Hardy left. The unspoken understanding between them was exchanged and reinforced.

Ellie turned to watch Justin kiss Finley. Once they finished, Justin stood up and looked at Libby. "They're right, it's something Ainsley does, but it's not right for you to take it, especially without your permission," Justin said.

"Are you saying consent is important?" Ellie asked.

"Yes, Libby," Justin said, "I'll see you later."

Justin left the café, and Ellie looked over to the sofa that Hardy, Jade, and Jared had abandoned. Shaking her head, she turned her head to see Finley still sitting on the chair's arm; the seat was left empty by Justin.

The white-haired man walked over to Ellie and placed a coffee cup and saucer down in front of her. Ellie looked up at him and smiled. "Thanks, Gunther," Ellie said.

"You're welcome, Libby," Gunther said, "I missed having you around."

"Really, Gunther?" Ellie asked.

"Yeah, you've been the most interesting person to be here since a blonde masseuse who played guitar," Gunther said.

"Okay?" Ellie asked.

"Don't worry about it," Gunther said and walked away.

Ellie shrugged and looked over to Finley. Finley shrugged, smiled, hopped off the chair's arm, and moved to the sofa; Finley smiled broadly and tapped the cushion next to her. Ellie sighed, got up, and moved over to the sofa. She grabbed the coffee cup and saucer and took a sip of the content.

"So, Libby," Finley said.

"Yes, Finley?" Ellie asked.

"So, is modeling a new thing?" Finley asked.

Ellie shook her head, "No, I did it a bit in college," she said.

"No, shit, you've been a model the whole time?" Finley asked.

Ellie shrugged her shoulders, "I guess you can say I am," she said.

"That's so cool," Finley said.

Ellie nodded and sipped her coffee. "I guess," she said.

"So, are you coming back to New York City anytime soon?" Finley asked.

"I have this big story I'm working on; once that's done, I'm probably coming back," Ellie said.

Finley smiled, "That's cool," she said.

"You're not working now?" Ellie asked.

"Well, technically, I'm always working, but well, I'm hanging with my model friend," Finley said.

"I'm not that cool, Fin," Ellie said.

"Libby, come on, you're a self-supporting writer, a solid nine, and a model; you're what makes others jealous," Finley said.

"I'm not hot shit, Fin," Ellie said.

"Libby, you are, and you know what?" Finley asked.

"What, Fin?" Ellie asked.

"We have to post a selfie on my feed; my followers will love it," Finley said.

"Fin, do we have to?" Ellie asked.

"Come on, Libby," Finley said.

"I'm not dressed for it," Ellie said.

"Bullshit, you have this awesome off-duty look going here, Libby," Finley said.

Ellie sighed, "Fine," she said.

Finley pulled up her smartphone; they got close together and posed. Finley snapped a bunch of pictures. Together they picked out the image. Finley started prepping the picture.

"Who did you walk for?" Finley asked.

"CoB and Banríon," Ellie said.

Finley posted the picture on her feed with the following caption:my model friend Libby, 2 Hotties. #LibbyScott #CoB #Banríon.