Page 4 of Barbi and the Villain

“And of course, that means you’re out of the scene. You can still watch, though.” She shrugs.

“What?” I sputter. “But… I prepared the decor. I paid for everything…”

“And because you paid for everything you should always get Lady Jocelyn?” She raises a brow. “You didn’t even agree to the kiss and it’s in the book!”

“But—”

“You are the one who wanted it to be a faithful depiction of the scene in the book, but you changed the kiss to a hug,” she continues.

“But that’s not a reason to kick me out without even letting me know,” I add in a small voice, doing my best to keep the tears at bay.

“Face it, Barbi. You know no one wants you around. You’re a stuck-up bitch and no one even likes you.”

I blink slowly.

“Do you think so too?” I address the other people.

Clarice crosses her arms over her chest as she comes closer to me.

“Of course they do. Everyone’s friendly with you because you pay for everything.” She rolls her eyes. “Who would ever want to listen to you blabber about your stupid-ass delusions for free?”

“W-what…” I croak.

Her lips tug up in a mocking smile as she points a finger at me.

“Don’t make this worse than it has to be. We all know I’ll make a better Lady Jocelyn than you,” she adds smugly.

I stare at her unblinking. My throat clogs with emotion as tears stab at my eyes.

I don’t understand. I really don’t. What did I ever do to deserve to be treated like this? Publicly, too?

“Why?” I whisper. “Why would you do this to me?”

She leans in to whisper, “Because you’re pathetic. Not even the expensive perfume you’re wearing can hide the stench of desperation coming off you.”

I inhale sharply, her words doing the intended damage.

My heart beats loudly in my chest, echoing in my ears. A tremor goes down my spine, my limbs shaking uncontrollably.

“I thought you were my friend. All of you.” I look at my other two friends—correction, former friends.

“Another delusion.” Clarice shakes her head, feigning a pitiful expression. “Maybe you should get that checked out, Barbara.”

She takes a step back as she laughs.

The others join in, all laughing at me.

My corset suddenly feels too tight, my heels too tall. The makeup on my face is too heavy. I stick out like a sore thumb when all I want is to hide away and disappear from the world. My breathing intensifies. The seconds trickle by and I won’t be able to keep the tears at bay much longer.

PomPom releases a loud howl as she senses my distress. She wiggles in my arms until I let her go. That little encouragement is enough for her to jump on Clarice. She bites onto the tips of her wig, pulling with enough force that the entire thing falls off her head.

She cries out loud.

“Get your goddamn dog off me,” she yells, pulling on her wig.

PomPom hisses at her.

“Avenge me, PomPom,” I tell her as I push my chin up.

---