DRAMA QUEENS

Martha ran towards the waving Nancy who was smiling at her, her heart confused. What she felt was different from the tiny guilt she used to feel in the past when she saw Nancy after a rendezvous with Richmond, now it was confusion. She ran not because she was eager to reach Nancy, rather she was eager to put what had happened behind her.

As she ran lost in her own thoughts, she collided with someone and they both fell. She immediately stood up and began to pull the model-like lady to her feet but got a slap immediately. Shocked at the action she stared at the lady who glared at her.

"Are you blind? If you have eyes why don't you use them?" the lady asked her angrily. Despite her spitting fire, her silky bluish-black hair cascaded down her face making her look gloriously beautiful.

"I didn't mean to run into you, it was an accident." The confused Martha tried to explain.

"Yeah right, because the day is dark and the sky is dim? Or is it because this beach is so crowded that you can't avoid running into me?" the lady asked sarcastically again her mouth set in a scowl.

Martha opened her mouth despite her shock to defend herself again but was cut off by Nancy, who had already reached her closely followed by Lucy.

"No need to be rude Evelyn, we saw clearly. It was an accident." Nancy said immediately, going into defensive mode.

Ha! Why am I not surprised that the blind girl is one of Nancy bloom's new dog train." Evelyn said staring mockingly at Martha. Martha's eyes widened in shock as she wondered if she heard her right

"Don't you dare insult my friend!" Nancy said getting angry.

Nancy was naturally a calm-headed and good-natured person. The only thing that reeled her up was someone bullying her friend and of all the friends she has had, the only person that ever got bullied was Martha, her calm and gentle friend who saw the world in colors.

"How typical? I should have known since Nancy has a reputation for breeding helpless puppies." Eva said ignoring Nancy's warning, as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"What did you say?" Nancy said as she moved forward to slap Evelyn but is pulled back by Lucy.

Evelyn only rolled her eyes at her antics, indicating it was not the first time they have been caught in a situation like this.

Evelyn Noosa had been Nancy's one and only major rival since university, they had met at the freshers' party and the bad blood among them had started almost immediately continuing the feud between the families because Evelyn was none other than the daughter of Steve Noosa. CEO of Noosa Inc. and rival of the Blooms.

She was a terrible bully and didn't mind making a statement of it wherever she appeared. Wise people who knew of her antics avoided her, everyone except of course Nancy who was up to the task not only in wealth but beauty and class.

While Nancy could be described as the Fairy of Hillwood, Evelyn could be described as the evil witch. Nancy was admired and loved by many people and thus was everything she, Evelyn was not. Thus, they were officially rivals.

"What's going on here?" They suddenly heard Nicole say as she walked into the circle of people that had now gathered around them, as much as the crowd would have loved to put this little scene on social media, everyone who attended Nick's party knew taking of videos or posts on social media was not allowed.

Lucy groaned inwardly as she saw Nicole arrive taking in the whole scene. She had actually been praying hard that Evelyn would walk away before Nicole arrived because the arrival of Nicole only meant one thing, trouble.

"Well if it is not Evelyn Noosa." Nicole said as she walked in front of everyone to face Evelyn who rolled her eye at her.

"You're still alive I see," Evelyn said to Nicole, her eyes spitting fire of hate. Anyone who saw her would know she was most displeased at seeing Nicole there than she was at seeing Nancy.

She understood Nancy's temperament well. Nancy was a good girl, she didn't know how to get into trouble even if she wanted to, if she got angry her friends would hold her back. Even if she wasn't held back, she couldn't win a fight against Evelyn. Evelyn knew this and took the joy in taunting her so that she can at least have a chance to beat her up.

But the story was different for Nicole. Nicole didn't give a shit. As much as she was the CEO of her own business and couldn't stand against Evelyn when it came to wealth, she didn't mind starting a fight or two. Evelyn didn't know what fueled this annoying woman's courage because even she had to be the one pulling away from a fight whenever Nicole was involved and here she was again getting involved.

"I didn't know your tight schedule gave you the chance to attend idle parties such as this?" Nicole said as she eyed Nick who had come to join the crowd. It was obvious that she didn't mind hitting two birds with one stone.

"How about you darling? Shouldn't you be busy acting as a tour guide to your pathetic travelers?" Evelyn said her words laced with venom bent on hurting Nicole but Nicole smiled.

"Na! I have capable hands who are in charge of that. You see that's the benefit of being a CEO. I heard your daddy has no plans of making you the CEO of Noosa Inc. no matter how much you slave for him that must be very upsetting." Nicole fired back in a sweet tone and a lot of people snickered making Evelyn's blood boil.

She ran her eyes around the gathered crowd taking mental note of their faces and deciding to deal with them later, her eyes fell on Richmond who had now joined the crowd and had put his hand around Nancy.

"At least I am doing the duties of a responsible daughter who's taking care of her father's business. Aren't I better than some people who sit at home doing nothing while an absolute stranger takes over her father's business? Am sure the Bloom's predecessors would turn in their graves if they see the mess their daughter has created by with a pauper." Evelyn said and got a gasp from the crowd as a reward. She smiled.

"A pauper you say?" Nicole said matching her antics with one of her own. "At least a pauper is a man. When was the last time you went on a date, Evelyn?" Nicole asked and Evelyn's eyes turned to sauces, "No, wrong question. When was the time you caught a man's attention? Tsk. tsk. Tsk. All this nice shape and curves." Nicole said as she looked Evelyn up and down.

"And no man? At least Nancy is getting married this weekend."

"You bitch!" Evelyn flared up, making to grab Nicole's hair but was held back, Nicole tried to launch her attack too but was pulled back by Nick, while another guy pulled Evelyn back.

"I am going to kill you!" Evelyn screamed as she struggled to get to Nicole. Nicole was also struggling to get a hold of her.

"Let me see you try. Let go of me! I am going to deal with her and shut that stupid mouth up once and for all." Nicole spat and struggled as Nick pulled her away from the scene, but she still heard the angry Evelyn screeching

"I am going to ruin you. I am going to ruin all of you." she said as she was taken away too.

...............................................

"Let go of me!" Nicole said angrily as she pushed Nick away the moment she got to their parasol, Nick only sighed and sat down on one of the beds. While Nicole turned to him angrily, "why did you invite that psychopath to your party?"

"Well, you didn't give me a list of people you didn't want me to not invite." Nick said calmly as he threw his hand behind his head lying comfortably as he regarded the angry Nicole.

Her feisty temper was the one thing that attracted him to her and always kept him amused, he tried his best to put on a poker face when internally he was grinning from ear to ear.

He had thought Nicole would never speak to him again after seeing that blond Irish girl kiss his cheek but of course, luck was on his side as Evelyn seem to have diverted the attention of her anger.

"So, I need to tell you specially before you realize that, she's a bitch who causes a nuisance to me and my friends whenever we meet?" she fired back and before Nick could reply Lucy who had just arrived with Nancy, Martha and Richmond interrupted.

"Stop being mad at him Nicole, you are in no position to tell him if or if he should not have anyone as a guest at his party." she said and Nick saw Nicole's countenance fall briefly before she masked it up with a lifted chin.

"You're right." she shrugged and he felt a dull pain throb in his chest.

"Damn you Lucy." he thought silently clenching his jaws.

"Are you okay, I saw she slapped you." Nick said staring at Martha who nodded as she gained everyone's attention.

Nicole made sure to take a quick glance at Richmond but found his face was expressionless. She frowned in confusion at it,

"She slapped you? Ha! I should have__" Nicole said as she made to go back in search of Evelyn but was pulled back by Lucy.

"No more troubles Nicole please," Lucy said then sighed, "In times like this, I wish Mara was here." Lucy said as she sat down. Nicole only glanced at her grumbling a little before seating beside her and placing her head on her shoulder pouting.

Lucy sighed at her action she knew Nicole was trying to make peace with her

"Let's pack our things Martha, or we'd be late for the dinner with Dad." Nancy said as she placed an arm on Martha's shoulder.

Martha nodded slowly and walked to where her bag was, glancing at the silent Richmond before as she did.

"Babe can I borrow your phone for a while." Richmond quickly said.

"Sure," Nancy said as she gave it to him, he walked away a bit as he got busy with it while the ladies parked their things.

"I don't think we've met." Nick said still glancing at Martha from where he lay. Nicole raised her head from Lucy's shoulders and narrowed her eyes at him, Lucy laughed at her silently.

"Oh, I'm Martha."

"The name is Nick. I'm Nicole's boyfriend."

"No, you're not!" Nicole retorted immediately even though she blushed and immediately looked away.

"Yes, I am baby," Nick argued looking at the smiling Martha.

"I am Nancy's friend." Martha replied.

"Oh?"

"We've been friends since high school," Nancy said proudly, obviously taking pride in the length of years that they have been friends as she hung her bag on her shoulder waiting for Richmond to return with her phone.

"How come I have never seen you around?" Nick asked again to Nicole's irritation.

Nicole saw no reason why Nick should be curious about Martha.

"Because she was studying abroad. stop interrogating her." she said angrily before Martha could reply and stood up, "Are you girls ready, let's go."

"So soon? We haven't even had a chance to talk." Nick protested seating up as he turned to Nicole who only batted her eyes at him feigning anger. Lucy shook her head at her friend as she watched them, a knowing smile on her face.

Just then Richmond came back with the phone and handed it over to Nancy "I'll call you babe." he said as he kissed her cheek, his eyes on Martha who looked away.

Nancy nodded and turned to her friends. "Let's go girls."

"Oh come on! Can't you stay a little bit, Nicole?" Nick said like a child as he followed after them, "how about a date. Hmm?" he stopped following when he saw Nicole didn't respond and stared at her with longing.

Nicole looked back briefly to glance at him before leaving and he smiled as he knew she really did care for him, even though she was too stubborn to admit it.

"I'll call you!" he shouted after, a smile gracing his lips as he did.