Rifts

As Eleanor stepped out of Emily's house, her mind raced with anticipation. She fumbled for her keys, her heart pounding with each passing second. Despite the lingering haze of the weed, her determination to see Whitney drove her forward. She slid into her car, the engine roaring to life as she sped off towards the city. The neon lights of the bar beckoned in the distance, casting an eerie glow against the night sky. Eleanor's palms grew sweaty as she parked the car, her pulse quickening with each step towards the entrance. She pushed open the door, the familiar scent of alcohol and laughter washing over her.

There, amidst the crowd, stood Whitney, her eyes locking onto Eleanor's with a mix of surprise and apprehension. Eleanor swallowed hard, steeling herself for the conversation ahead. She made her way over to Whitney, her heart hammering in her chest.

"Hey," she began, her voice slightly shaky. "What's up? I've been trying to reach you, but... you've been ghosting me....no calls, no texts.... I just... I need to know why."

Whitney's gaze faltered for a moment before she spoke, her voice tinged with regret. "I'm sorry, I've been dealing with some things... personal stuff. It's not about you, I promise."

Eleanor's heart sank at Whitney's words, a wave of disappointment washing over her. "What kind of stuff? Whatever it it, you can just tell me? We could have talked about it."

Whitney hesitated, her voice barely above a whisper. "I... I got into some bad debt. It's been overwhelming, and I didn't know how to tell you."

Eleanor's anger dissipated in an instant, replaced by a surge of empathy. "Oh, dear... I had no idea. Why didn't you tell me sooner? I would've helped however I could."

Whitney sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I know, and I'm sorry. I should have been more upfront with you. I just... I didn't want to burden you with my problems. But I couldn't keep it from you any longer. I missed..you"

Eleanor reached out, gently grasping Whitney's hand in hers. "You're not a burden. Whatever you're going through, I want to be there for you. And I missed you more...I was worried sick, you had no idea."

A small smile tugged at the corners of Whitney's lips, gratitude shining in her eyes. "Thank you, That means a lot to me."

Eleanor's lips curved into a tentative smile as she shifted the conversation, eager to share some positive news amidst the tension. 

"On a brighter note, I have something to tell you. I got promoted at work."

Whitney's eyes widened in surprise, a genuine smile breaking through her previous distress. 

"Seriously? That's amazing! Congratulations!"

Eleanor's smile widened at Whitney's genuine excitement, a sense of pride swelling within her. 

"Thanks. It came as a bit of a surprise, but I'm really happy about it." I'll be working as a supervisor now, can you believe it? And the role came with an official car and my own office!"

Whitney's jaw dropped in amazement, her eyes wide with disbelief. 

"Wow, that's incredible! You're moving up in the world."

Eleanor nodded, a proud grin spreading across her face. "Yeah, it's a big step up for me. I never imagined I'd be in this position, but I'm ready to take on the challenge."

Whitney reached across the table to squeeze Eleanor's hand, her expression filled with genuine happiness. "I'm so proud of you, dear. You've worked so hard for this, and you deserve every bit of success that comes your way."

Eleanor felt a warmth spread through her chest at those words, a sense of validation washing over her. "Thank you, Your support means a lot to me."

"Well, I think this calls for a celebration, don't you?" Eleanor exclaimed, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Let's toast to my new promotion and to your long-awaited return after weeks of ghosting!"

Whitney's cheeks flushed slightly at the playful jab, but she laughed and nodded in agreement.

 "Absolutely! To your impressive career milestone and to my triumphant comeback!"

With a shared grin, they called over the waiter and ordered a bottle of champagne, the anticipation of the celebratory moment adding to their excitement. As the waiter returned with the chilled bottle and two sparkling glasses, Eleanor couldn't help but feel a rush of gratitude for Whitney's presence by her side, it felt familiar and natural...like Rosa.

With practiced ease, the waiter uncorked the champagne and poured it into their glasses, the effervescent liquid glinting in the dim light of the bar. Eleanor raised her glass, a smirk playing at the corners of her lips.

"Here's to climbing the corporate ladder and dodging the ghosts of our pasts," she declared, her tone laced with playful sarcasm.

Whitney chuckled, clinking her glass against Eleanor's with a smile.

 "To facing our demons and emerging stronger than ever," she added, her eyes meeting Eleanor's with a knowing look.

They both took a sip of the crisp champagne, the bubbles dancing on their tongues as they savored the moment of camaraderie and celebration. For a brief instant, all worries and uncertainties were forgotten, replaced by the simple joy of being together and raising a glass to life's victories, both big and small.

Their laughter subsided as Eleanor noticed Alex approached their table, his expression dark and his footsteps heavy with purpose. 

Hey, Eleanor," Alex began, his voice tinged with bitterness. "Why haven't you been picking up my calls?"

Eleanor's stomach tightened at the accusatory tone in Alex's voice. She glanced at Whitney, her expression a mixture of concern and confusion, unsure of how to navigate the sudden tension between them.

"Sorry, I've been busy." Eleanor replied, her voice strained with the effort to keep her composure.

Alex's frustration boiled over, his words sharp with accusation. 

"Busy? Nice to see you're not too busy to be drinking," he shot back, his voice rising with each word.

 His sarcasm hung in the air, a stark contrast to the celebratory mood moments earlier. Eleanor's heart sank as she braced herself for what was to come.

Eleanor met his gaze, her tone defensive yet measured. "It's really not that serious, I've been busy. I've had a lot on my plate lately," she replied, trying to keep her composure.

"But you're never too busy to come crawling back to me whenever you need something, right?" Alex continued, his tone dripping with resentment. "You're always so selfish, Eleanor. You only care about yourself."

Eleanor's breath caught in her throat as his words cut through her defenses like a knife. She struggled to find a response, her mind racing with a whirlwind of emotions.

"No, I'm not selfish, it's not like that," she finally managed to protest, her voice wavering slightly. 

Alex was beyond reason, his anger consuming him as he lashed out with reckless abandon. "You're just nothing but a user, Eleanor," he accused, his voice echoing through the tense silence of the bar. "You only come to me when it's convenient for you, and then you toss me aside like yesterday's news."

Eleanor's heart sank as his words hit their mark, her mind reeling with the weight of his accusation. She struggled to find a response, her throat tight with unspoken words.

"If you want a relationship with me," Alex added bitterly, "be straightforward about it. Stop confusing and hurting my feelings, and stop using me to satisfy yourself."

Alex stormed out of the bar, his parting words hung in the air like a heavy cloud, leaving Eleanor speechless and shaken. Whitney turned to her with a furrowed brow. 

"Who was that? What was that all about?" she asked, her tone tinged with curiosity and concern.

 Eleanor hesitated, unsure of how to explain the sudden outburst from her friend. 

"He's just a friend I've been hanging out with," she replied evasively, hoping to downplay the intensity of their encounter. 

But Whitney's expression darkened, her eyes narrowing with suspicion. 

"Just a friend?" she repeated incredulously. "So because I had issues and ghosted for a while, you've already replaced me with someone else?"

Eleanor's heart sank at the accusation in Whitney's words. "No...no, how can you say that?" she protested, her voice tinged with desperation. "I didn't mean to—"

But Whitney cut her off with a sharp wave of her hand. "Save it please, I've had enough for tonight" she snapped, her frustration boiling over. "I can't believe you'd do this to me. Maybe he was right about you being selfish."

Eleanor felt a pang of guilt shoot through her chest at Whitney's words, her mind racing with a flurry of emotions. 

"No, he's not right, you can't just judge me like that," she insisted, her voice trembling with the weight of unspoken words. "I've just been trying to—"

But Whitney shook her head, her expression hardened with resolve. "I don't want to hear it," she interrupted, her voice cold and distant. "I thought we had something...real, but clearly, I was mistaken."

The tension between them hung in the air like a heavy fog, suffocating the once jovial atmosphere of the bar. They argued for what felt like an eternity, hurling hurtful words at each other with reckless abandon. 

In the midst of the chaos, Eleanor's heart shattered into a million pieces, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "I can't do this right now, Whitney, " she whispered hoarsely, her voice barely audible above the din of their argument. 

And with that, she turned on her heel and fled from the bar, tears streaming down her cheeks as she stumbled blindly into the night, leaving behind a shattered friendship and a heart heavy with regret.