you stupid bitch.

he sputters in surprise — “yes,” he spits. “because you slept with my father to get my attention, and now you have it.” he hisses. “so what? was it worth it? did you enjoy having my father’s dick? did you think of me?”

     “I didn’t sleep with your dad because I want you to notice,” she sighs. It’s comprehensible that Greg’s angry, but it still hurts being treated like someone who just enjoys messing with people’s lives. “I don’t expect you to UNDERSTAND. I — I was drinking at your study drinking bar. You called and I was so excited to talk to you and, maybe, having someone by my side.”

“YOU WERE GOING TO MARRY MY BEST FRIEND, WHAT — DID YOU WANT ME TO JUST ACCEPT THAT AFTER EVERYTHING?”

        Wow, she was feeling so called out right now. Maybe that was one of the things she LIKED about Greg -- Josh called her out only when his family was in danger ( and she feels deeply sorry for everything ). At least now she was back at home -- for a couple of weeks, but meeting with her mother again is making her THINK about everything she did when she ruined her friendships in West Covina. And apparently, also the one she had at Emory.

          Okay, so apparently Marco Serrano was not only a bad hook-up but also he told his son about it. What the hell was wrong with him? What the hell was wrong with her? She had enough with that WALK OF SHAME after realizing she had hit rock bottom and alienating herself from everyone -- she had to screw that small chance she still had with Greg, at least, to be her friend.

It was knowing he was HAPPY what drove Rebecca to sleep with Marco -- and also that butt dial. She was already broken, but that was the cherry on the pie. After all, he was old Greg. He told her he understood what she was going through. He cared about her, at least for a couple of minutes.

“you underestimate me. i’m the king of saying NO.”

There’s that familiar voice, the perky-yet-brilliant young lawyer she remembers. The one who came up with a clever solution to the legal morass her insurance company had to sort out back in New York. The one who’s now telling her what she already knows….

“Yeah, it is shitty,” she agrees dryly. “Not gonna lie. And— I know it’s not your… thing.” She had Googled Whitefeather and Associates, after all. “But I’m relieved to hear you say you’re in. I just…” she trails off helplessly, uncertain how to proceed. This is a bridge she thought she’d never have to cross.

“I’m not actually in West Covina, no,” Anna admits, cradling the phone between her jaw and shoulder as she lights a cigarette. “I live in downtown LA. And I know there are a lot of law firms closer and more well-known, but I just…” want to disappear. Want to pretend this isn’t even happening. Want to imagine I’m in some other world. She winces, pausing to suck on her cigarette. 

“But it’s only a twenty-minute drive, a straight shot on the I-10, and I want to go with someone with whom I’ve already established a working relationship,” she exhales at last. “And I can’t believe you’re out here now! How’d that happen?”

    “Of course I’m in!” Rebecca exclaims, more happy now that she knows it’s definitely not her mom the one who’s calling. After all, she’s used to DIVORCE, not by herself but she’s seen what happens when two adults end the marriage: see Silas and Naomi Bunch. “Men are TERRIBLE, so I will help you as much as I can.” Okay, not all men -- Josh Chan is sun, happiness and all great things, but the rest of guys are the worst. 

    It’s also weird for Rebecca talking to someone from her past and NOT DISLIKE them -- it happened with Audra, it happened with her mom and all that bunch of relatives and friends from Scarsdale when she attended her cousin’s bar mitzvah. Yeah, she doesn’t remember that much about Anna, but she knows she was, at least, cool. However, she’s not going to ask about juicy details about her divorce, but Rebecca can notice by the phone that she’s struggling. “Oh, LA. That sounds fun, but it’s nice you want to do it with us -- Whitefeather and Associates. They’re great people.”

      “… WHAT are you eating? what is that? it looks like a heart attack waiting to happen. just because flip-flop ran off to become a priest doesn’t mean you can start shoving literal garbage into your body.” || @schmoopiepie

@schmoopiepie liked for a starter

                  Leaning against the counter, Heather took a bite out of her apple and eyed the woman on her couch. AKA her roomie Rebecca. “It’s been, like, three days now and you still haven’t moved from the couch. Can you not do that anymore? It’s messing with the flow of the room, and kind of weird. Plus I’m pretty sure that you’re supposed to actually go to work.”

he is shaking – WHY is he shaking? (”i need to see results, nathaniel. this is becoming aFAILED EXPERIMENT.”) nathaniel grimaces briefly before laughing it off. “me? shaking? what do you TAKE me for, a damsel in distress? i’m not some little prey animal – not some cutesy little rabbit scared to death by a leaf. i’m a man. men don’t shake. my father says those who tremble are the weaker of the species and should die off like the cowards they are.” he’s saying it with an off smile. because something is wrong. of course something’s wrong… but he’s not going to tell HER, especially since it seems she’s making light of it. this new persona is really jarring, but it makes him want her more. in a way.

      “you’re merely IMAGINING things.”

     “are you sure, sweet poor nathaniel?” rebecca couldn’t care less about nathaniel right now, but there she is. he’s still her boss, even though his attempts to make her fall for him are very DESPERATE -- and that comes from someone whose attempts to get josh chan back have been very desperate. “remember about the status reversal thing i told you when you came into my place? of course -- of course YOU shake. all this manly crap is actually weird and also kinda sad.” this new persona can bring some bad stuff, but at least she gets to say whatever that crosses her mind, and all those speeches in which nathaniel talks about his father are the worst. like her own father. actually, men are the worst -- except for darryl and white josh.