Suds - Season 1, Episode 23

… a mini soap opera that bubbles with Love & Drama

[Last time on Suds... Leilah’s radar picked up signs of anxiety in her BFF, Mira. Meanwhile, isn’t it cool how best girls can tell almost instantly when something is wrong with one another? True friends really do hear the unsaid. Awwww. Alright back to the update… oh yes, it appears we’re in time for a confrontation between Mira and Shantel. Shantel better watch out because a true BFF bond is thicker than anything written in Greek... or is it?]

Good, they’re gone, Shantel thought. Now, I can think this through. Darien lied to me, Leilah stole from me, and Terrance left me. I’m hurt. People should not hurt me. She bit her bottom lip as she stared into the mirror. I’m still pretty though. She smiled as she applied another coat of lip gloss. How can I fix this? Shantel twisted the cap shut and dropped the gloss into her bag.

She walked across the room, slid on her trench coat, and opened her door to leave.

Mira scowled at her in the open doorway.

Shantel clutched her heart. “Oh my goodness, Mira you scared me.”

Mira’s glare sliced through Shantel.

Repositioning her handbag nervously, Shantel chuckled, “I’m really not up for talking, Mira. Actually, I’m heading out…” She attempted to step out of the room, but Mira blocked the doorway like massive stone structure. Her marble eyes scrutinized Shantel.

“What?” Shantel asked innocently.
“What do you think?” Mira snarled. “You think can lie on Leilah and get away with it?”
“I did not lie on…”
“Shut up.” Mira’s soft soprano voice deepened, startling Shantel. “If you want to talk so bad, tell me why you’re involving the sorors in your child’s play.”

Mira stepped forward.
Shantel warily took a step back.

“What did Leilah do to you?” Mira asked in a low tone. “Huh? What did she do?”
“I don’t have time for this,” Shantel said, attempting to walk around Mira.
Mira closed the gap between them, speaking through clenched teeth. “I could care less about what you have time for.” The hate-filled glare bore holes into Shantel.

Shantel inched back, trying to remain calm in spite of Mira’s somberness.

“Tell me about your plan, Shantel. What is it? Do you want to girls the jump Leilah because you’re not woman enough to keep your men? Is that what it is?”

Shantel folded her arms in front of her.

“How did it make you feel to see Terrance drooling all over your roommate?”
“Terrance was not...”
Mira cut her off, “No, well then when did you stomp over ready to fight like Ms. Piggy?”

Shantel sighed rolling her eyes, “Are you finished?”

“You know he wanted her,” Mira continued, “Even I could see that.”
“Okay, he wanted her, whatever,” Shantel said unconvinced. “Now get out of my way.”
“You better believe he wanted her, but he’s not the only one, is he?”

Shantel’s body stiffened, her fists tightened, and she averted her gaze. Her eyes steamed.

“No, he’s not the only one,” Mira continued. “Dear, sweet Darien, can’t get enough of her. Can he?” Mira circled Shantel, whispering while she paced. Concern drained out of Mira, leaving behind shell void of consideration. “I wonder what they did last night. It must have been something noteworthy considering that she never came back.” Mira stopped pacing and stood in front of Shantel. She could tell Shantel was fighting back tears, but she kept pressing.

“You know I spoke to her, right?” Mira tilted her head to the side. “She was still with,” Mira paused when Shantel squeezed her eyes shut. A devious smile slithered across Mira’s face. She emphasized every syllable of the name, “Da-ri-en.”

Shantel gripped her head, burrowing her fingers across her scalp, weaving them through her hair.

Mira smirked, “Everyone knows he left you. I guess I can understand why you would lie about Leilah. She has the one thing you can’t have…”

“Get out,” Shantel screeched folding to the floor.
Mira laughed, “Don’t you want me to tell you what she has?”
“Get out, Get out, Get out,” Shantel curled into a ball, rocking back and forth.

Mira laughed harder, “You really are crazy.” Kneeling down beside Shantel, her flat voice silenced the frantic cries. “If you keep lying on Leilah, I will make sure you hear every bit of the truth. Every hug, every kiss, everything, and I will enjoy watching it tear you apart.”

Shantel’s bitter eyes rolled open meeting Mira’s taunting glare. She felt her insides twitch uncontrollably when she watched Mira’s slink into smile.

People should not hurt me, she thought.

[Stay tuned: Notable quote, "Hurt people, hurt other people"]