The Apartment Gets Full

“Wow~, looks like you guys had fun.” Viv comments, after seeing the people Becca brought with her.

Becca’s assistants—Tricia, Paige, and Lizzie—are all still in their outfits from last night, but with a lot more creases and stains than when you last saw them. Behind them is Mercy, who is the exact opposite of the other three. Despite still wearing the same outfit as she did the previous night, she still looks immaculate. Last, and most surprising of your new guests is…

“Riley?” You ask in surprise.

“Hey~, Mr. Craig.” Riley shyly greets from behind Paige. You immediately feel the stares from your girlfriends after Riley greets you like that. Maddy’s is the most innocent of looks despite the most knowing, while Stella’s and Viv’s looks are more teasing. Brooke, Tanya, and Cassie are more curious than anything, unsure why Stella and Viv are looking at you like that.

“Hi, Riley! Nice to see you again!” Maddy greets her.

“Hi! Um… I don’t think we’ve formally met.” Riley greets back in embarrassment.

“Oh! I’m Maddy. I was in the car when um…” Maddy tries to explain, before hesitating to explain why she’s so giddy to see Riley again.

“OH!” Riley exclaims in realization, before chuckling in reaction to the awkwardness. “Hi~” Riley greets Maddy again, unable to hide the amount of embarrassment she’s feeling.

“You were in the car when… what?” Tanya asks out of curiosity.

“Are your daughters not here, Tanya?” Becca then suddenly asks, distracting everybody with the suddenness of her question. You can’t help but notice the sigh of relief that Riley releases after getting the spotlight taken away from her though.

“Why would they be here!?” Tanya asks in shock, her mind clearly going back to what transpired here last night, resulting in her misunderstanding where Becca’s coming from.

“It seems I forgot to tell Jay that I’m also inviting them to breakfast.” Becca says, ignoring Tanya’s question.

“Why~?” Tanya asks in suspicion.

“Paige, can you get them for me please?” Becca instructs Paige. Again, ignoring Tanya’s question. “They’re in the apartment across the hall, yes?” Becca then asks Tanya for confirmation.

“Can you answer my question first?” Tanya replies. “And it’s not that I don’t like having breakfast with them, but—” Tanya tries to explain why she’s curious, but Becca cuts her off.

“You’re right to be suspicious, Tanya. Yes. I do need them for something.” Becca nonchalantly confirms.

“Need them for what?” Tanya asks, obviously not appreciating the suddenness.

“We’ll discuss it after breakfast.” Becca tells her.

“Uh~, no? How about we discuss it now?” Tanya rejects Becca’s assuredness.

“I believe it would save repetition if—” Becca tries to explain, but Tanya doesn’t let her finish.

“If it’s so important, you’re gonna have to repeat it so we won’t forget anyway.” Tanya insists. Becca closes her eyes and takes a deep breath in order to not start something with Tanya. It’s clear to everyone, including Becca, that she won’t get her way this time.

“It’s about my family’s meddling.” Becca finally explains. “They need to be made aware of the dangers.” Becca adds.

“They have nothing to do with your family’s bullshit.” Tanya replies, clearly angered by what Becca’s implying.

“Tell that to my family.” Becca says, her tone filled with a plethora of emotions. You can sense anger, disappointment, regret… but most of all, and what you think Tanya senses too, is shame. A sense of shame that she has brought upon this trouble to all of you. And that’s why Tanya doesn’t prod her any further.

“I’ll wake up the girls myself.” Tanya concedes, but still unable to hide her frustration.

“Thank you, Tanya.” Becca tells her, and Tanya mutters a frustrated ‘Yeah’ under her breath.

...

“Do we have to do this now, Becca?” Cassie asks, after Tanya exits the apartment.

“Unfortunately, I believe so. The sooner we have a plan, the sooner we can execute it, and the sooner we can all move on from this.” Becca responds.

“What do I have to do with this?” Riley chirps up.

“I requested your presence today since I believe you can help us, Ms. Vanderhoff.” Becca answers.

“Okay. Yeah. Sure… how though?” Riley asks.

“I believe it would be best to explain everything once everyone is here.” Becca answers.

“And who is ‘everyone’?” Cassie asks, and it’s her question that makes you take into account the extended group of people that are in your apartment right now. If your group is here to discuss how to address Becca’s family problems, then why include people who aren’t aware of the app yet? Does Becca want you to tell everyone about the app?

The more you think about it, the more you realize that one of them shouldn’t even be here right now unless Becca specifically asked her to.

“Yeah, about that. What’s Dana doing here? It’s a Sunday. We only meet on weekdays.” You ask Becca.

“I… I got a text to… check up on you.” Dana answers for Becca.

“Who asked you to check up on me? Mrs. Sachs?” You follow up, before glancing at Becca to imply that she’s also a possible answer for Dana.

“We’ll get to that part in a bit.” Becca answers for Dana.

“So you did invite her.” You conclude.

“Partly.” Becca cryptically corrects you.

“What does that mean?” You ask.

“It means I didn’t invite her… directly.” Becca confusingly ‘clarifies’.

“Can I speak to you in private, Becca?” You ask her as politely as you can, while still making it clear enough that it wasn’t a request.

“Of course.” Becca answers, and is even the one to direct you to your bedroom as the place to have that discussion. You haven’t even taken one step towards the bedroom before Viv tries to lighten up the tension.

“Oooh~, Mommy and Daddy are fighting.” Viv jokes.

“I thought Tanya was ‘Mommy’?” Stella jokingly asks.

“Don’t let Tanya hear you say that.” Brooke continues, just as the apartment door opens.

“Don’t let Tanya hear you say ‘what’?” Tanya asks right on cue.

“That you’re our ‘mommy’.” Viv answers.

“EW!” Sofia and Nelly react in unison.

“It’s too early for this.” Sofia adds.

“I’m going back to bed.” Nelly continues.

“Juro por Dios que si no entráis en esta habitación…” Tanya immediately says in Spanish, and you can only assume it was a threat since Sofia and Nelly immediately run inside your apartment.

“And you don’t get to call me ‘mommy’!” Tanya shouts at Viv.

“Why the fuck not?” Viv asks.

“Because we’re about the same age!” Tanya shouts in annoyance.

“That ‘about’ is doing some heavy lifting.” Viv continues to joke.

“Are you calling me old?” Tanya asks, her eyes bulging in accusation.

“Of course not! You’re not old!” Viv replies, getting Tanya to calm down. But in typical Viv fashion, she just said that to lower Tanya’s guard.

“Just old…der.” Viv says her punchline, and Tanya immediately beelines for Viv. Thankfully, you’re near enough her path that you can wrap your arm around Tanya’s waist to stop her from possibly getting physical with Viv.

“Tranquilo, mami.” You tell Tanya sweetly, and it quickly disarms her and calms her down.

“Viv.” You then call out to Viv.

“What?” Viv asks, feigning innocence.

“Viv.” You say more authoritatively.

“Fiiiine. Sorry, T.” Viv apologizes. “You know I was just joking, right?” Viv asks, and Tanya waves the apology off and apologizes for getting riled up as well.

“A true man of the house.” Mercy unsuspectingly comments, making you glance towards her. What greets you is a flirty look and smirk from Mercy that makes you shy away immediately.

“I know right?” Riley and Maddy both swoon. Riley immediately catches herself and pretends she didn’t say anything, while Maddy just giggles.

…

“If you’ll excuse us.” Becca then says, remind you that you requested to speak with her privately.

“Where are you guys going?” Tanya asks.

“I need to discuss something with Becca.” You answer.

“Just the two of you?” Tanya asks with a raised eyebrow.

“You’re not just gonna fuck in there, are you?” Viv jokes again, having been quickly freed from the short leash you placed her on.

“Is this your first time hearing them be so nonchalant about sex talk?” Lizzie asks Dana, who quickly nods in response. “You’ll get used to it.” Lizzie jadedly tells her, leaving Dana even more confused.

…

“Actually, now that everyone’s here, may I place a suggestion?” Becca asks.

“You and I still need to talk first, Becca.” You preempt her.

“I’m well aware, and I won’t avoid that.” Becca tells you, and you give her a look that says she can go on and make her suggestion.

“Ladies, my co-girlfriends and I will just have a quick discussion in private. There’s enough food for everyone. Have some breakfast, get to know each other better, and we’ll be back to speak with you shortly.” Becca tells the others, who just stand in place, still unsure with what’s going on.

Becca glances at Mercy, and Mercy immediately goes towards the dining table to get some food. With one of them breaking the ice, the other girls join her to get breakfast as well.

“Will my fellow co-girlfriends please join Jay and I in the bedroom.” Becca announces.

“We’re not going to fuck in there, are we?” Viv jokingly asks, but her disappointment is genuine.

Appendix:

Mrs. Sachs - Miranda Sachs, head of the publishing house for Jay's book and Dana's boss.