Next Time, Take the Subway

“Taxi! Taxi!” Ariana called out, waving her arms around like a lunatic.  “Please! Come on! I have a date!” She yelled as a yellow cab passed her, not even bothering to slow down, and sprayed her with street sludge.  “Oh my god, no!  No, no, no!” She wailed, as she frantically tried to wipe the dirty water off her favorite cashmere sweater.
Ariana wanted to cry over her damaged sweater, but she spent extra money on her Maybelline matte concealer that she bought to impress Mark, her boyfriend, and she had to look good for Mark!  Seeing a taxi slow down, she wanted to jump for joy.
Ariana hopped into the faded yellow car, that appeared golden under New York City’s streetlights. She reached into her purse to grab her cash and said,
“Hello sir! West Central Avenue, please!  And make it snappy, would ya?” The driver, an older fellow who smelled strongly of pistachios, nodded and asked,
“Ja dame, een specifieke plaats?’’ (Which meant, “Any specific place?’’)
“No thanks, I'm not interested in buying plates.  Can you hurry up, I’m supposed to be on a date!” Ariana demanded, fixing her hair, for the twenty third time today.
All of a sudden another voice coughed.  A small head peaked out from the shadows.  She had blonde hair, green eyes, a small upturned nose, and a dimple on her left cheek.  And a name Ariana would never forget.
“Sydney.” She whispered. The memories came flooding back to her.  Sydney, her best friend, helping her with makeup. Sydney peering through the window in the door. Sydney ripping her designer dress down the side, leaving it in pieces. Sydney running away and tarnishing a beautiful friendship. “What are you doing here?”
“What are you doing here?  And what's up with that butt ugly dish rag you’re wearing?  It looks grosser than a kindergartner's tissue during flu season.” Sydney replied snarkily, biting her lip and raising an eyebrow snootily. You little brat!
“Well at least my sweater doesn't look like a Glad trash bag that was thrown up on by a baboon. And let's not forget that your zits are so bad, you look like a ‘before’ photo in an acne commercial.” Ariana snapped back, glaring out the window.
“You know, I don’t know why you're so upset at me, you little dirtbag. I was just trying to protect you from that jerk-” Sydney began, but then stopped mid-sentence.
“What are you even talking about, Sydney?’’ Ariana asked, rolling her eyes.
“I’m talking about Mark! He was kissing Lindsey Perkins.” She snapped.
“Sydney, does your butt ever get jealous of all the c--- that comes out of your mouth? Cause Mark would never do that to me! Taxi, stop!” Ariana shouted.
“No I sorry, we is on bridge with many cars, in storm. No leave, I sorry.” The Dutch driver said in his best English.  Ariana turned around and saw Sydney give her sympathetic look. That looked real, Ariana thought. That looked genuine. Ariana’s eyes filled with burning tears as she quietly whispered something she hoped was wrong.
“It's true?” A simple nod from Sydney sent her into a whirling spiral of sadness and sorrow.  All this time, Ariana thought that everything was going her way.  She was rich, had a ‘loving’ boyfriend, an apartment overlooking Central Park. She had it all.  But what she really had was a cheating boyfriend… And an ex-best-friend that was just looking out for her.  “Oh Sydney, I’m sorry for the awful way I’ve been treating you. Please forgive me.” Ariana whimpered, trying to hold back tears.
Sydney nodded and simply said, “I forgive you.’’ Suddenly a thought struck Ariana.  She checked Mark’s snapchat and saw he had been at Del Amor for the past three hours. Ariana quickly checked Lindsey's snapchat and she was also there, with the same background, like they were sitting together.
“He’s there, with Lindsey.” Ariana mumbled, pointing to her iPhone 6 screen. Sydney covered her mouth with her hand and whispered an apology, but Ariana felt stone cold inside. “I need to break up with him, right now.”
“No, let's get him back. Like we used to do.” Sydney smiled slyly, and Ariana felt something in her heart lift.  She realized that the absence of her best friend left a cloud over her heart, and when it was gone, it was like a million pound weight was lifted.  They discussed their plan, while the traffic disappeared into the night.
“Oh darling, please sit down.” Sydney said, in her faux bodyguard suit as she pulled out a chair for so called ‘Gracie Morina, Hollywood Actress.’  Adjusting her sunglasses, Ariana sat down and began to mimic fawning over the decorations the restaurant had.  She motioned towards Sydney to grab Mark, who was on a date with Lindsey, to invite him over to her, and he eagerly came like a puppy wanting a treat.
“Hello darling, I’m Gracie Morina, single Hollywood actress.” Ariana threw in a fake high pitch accent, half hoping he wouldn’t like it and ditch both girls. “And you are?”
“My, my, aren’t you lovely? Mark Manchester, single and ready to mingle.” He said with a grin, and a charming wink of his warm chestnut brown eyes.
“Well you most certainly are!” Ariana declared, furious and bitter, ripping off her shades.  Mark looked shocked, and Ariana fumed. “I can’t believe you! You cheated on me, and flirted with someone you just met! We’re over, Mark! Go find someone else to be your little doll that you think you can do whatever you want with, cause it sure as heck won’t be me.” Sydney looped her arm through Ariana’s and dramatically walked out the exit, shoulders shaking with giggles.  They walked outside and into the pouring rain.  A taxi slid by, coating them with street filth, but this time Ariana didn’t care about her cashmere sweater or her matte concealer.  All she needed was her best friend, and she was right there next to her, ready to take on the world.
“I was thinking we go sweater shopping, we could use some new ones.” She said looking down at their grimy sweaters. Laughing, they both walked away, reunited at last.