Parted On Bad Terms.

No one expected Tabitha to be so blunt. Her words made Graham, Tyree, and Brentley all feel extremely awkward.

"Tabitha, what are you saying?" Tyree shouted at her, his expression agitated.

"Why does it matter to you how I talk? Isn't this guy just a trash picker? Graham and I are going to the bar to meet my friends. What's wrong with not wanting to bring him along?" Tabitha retorted arrogantly, pouting.

"You..."

Tyree was at a loss for words, unsure how to respond. After a moment of hesitation, he grabbed Brentley's arm and said quietly, "Brentley, let's go."

"Yeah," Brentley agreed. He wasn't particularly interested in going to the bar in the first place, and seeing that Tabitha didn't seem to welcome him only strengthened his desire to leave.

"Brentley, Tyree, wait a minute!" Graham quickly reached out to stop them. After all, he had gathered everyone to introduce Brentley to a potential girlfriend. If Brentley left now, what would be the point?

"What's that Tabitha just said? If she looks down on Brentley so much, why should we go to the bar with you?" Tyree shouted at Graham, still agitated.

Graham's face showed helplessness as he responded softly, "Tabitha didn't mean anything by it. Don't take it to heart. Can't you just do me this favor?"

Tyree looked at Graham, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. After all, Graham had invited them. Even if they didn't want to give Tabitha face, they should at least give Graham some respect.

"Graham, isn't that guy just a trash picker? Why are you bringing him along? It's embarrassing!" Tabitha interjected again, her tone filled with disdain.

At that moment, Tabitha Jordan crossed her arms and sneered coldly.

"Tabitha, can you just say a bit less?" Graham exclaimed with a look of utter helplessness. He then walked over to Tabitha, pulling her aside. "Tabitha, come with me for a moment. I need to talk to you..."

"What do you want to talk about? There's no way I'm going to the bar with that trash picker. If my friends find out, they'll definitely laugh at me!" Tabitha shouted at Graham, clearly displeased.

"Brentley is treating us to drinks at the bar tonight. If he doesn't go, who's going to pay?" Graham asked, his tone filled with resignation.

"He's treating us to drinks?" Tabitha's eyes flashed with surprise at Graham's words. "How could someone as broke as him afford to treat us? And didn't you say you wanted to introduce my roommate to your friend? That friend isn't Brentley Carter, is it?"

"Yes, it's Brentley Carter," Graham nodded.

"Are you crazy, Graham? Brentley is just a trash picker. There's no way my friend would be interested in him. Just send him back already, so he doesn't embarrass us!" Tabitha's voice rose again upon learning Graham intended to introduce her roommate to Brentley. Students passing by turned their heads to look at Tabitha, Graham, and the others.

Tabitha's voice was loud enough that she didn't care about Brentley's feelings at all.

"Tabitha, can you keep your voice down? Brentley is my best friend. He just went through a breakup, and I wanted to cheer him up..." Graham whispered through gritted teeth.

"Why are you even friends with someone as broke as him?" Tabitha asked, utterly baffled.

"Tabitha, don't you think you're going too far today?" Tyree finally couldn't hold back anymore and shouted at Tabitha, his eyes filled with frustration.

"How am I going too far? Everything I said is true, isn't it? Anyway, I don't care. If Brentley is going to the bar tonight, I'm not going. There's no way I'm introducing my roommate to someone like him!" Tabitha crossed her arms, her tone dripping with arrogance.

"Graham, why don't you guys go without me? I'm not going!" Brentley, who had been standing quietly on the side, finally spoke up.

"Brentley, don't leave!" Graham quickly reached out to stop Brentley, then turned to Tabitha with a blank expression. "Tabitha, if you don't want to bring Brentley to the bar, then you can leave."

Tabitha was stunned by Graham's words, her face showing utter disbelief. "Graham, what did you just say to me?"

"I said, if you don't want to bring Brentley, then leave. Brentley is treating us to drinks tonight. If he's not going, then I'm not going either!" Graham repeated, gritting his teeth.

"Graham, are you out of your mind? You're actually kicking me out because of a trash picker?" Tabitha couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"Tabitha, I've told you many times already. Brentley is my best friend, not a trash picker. I do like you, but that doesn't mean you can keep insulting my friend. If you think none of us are worthy of drinking with you, then you should leave!" Graham, who had been silently enduring, finally exploded, shouting at Tabitha in a low voice.

"You really want me to leave? Fine, Graham, I'm leaving! Do you think I'm scared of you?" Tabitha shouted, then turned and stormed out.

Brentley watched as Tabitha left, feeling a bit guilty. He stepped forward and softly said to Graham, "Graham, you didn't have to be so harsh. I wasn't that keen on going to the bar anyway, and even if we went, it's not like the girls there would be interested in me. Maybe you should go after Tabitha."

"She crossed the line with what she said today. Let her reflect on it for a while," Graham replied in a low voice.

Brentley stood there, unsure of what to say. No one had expected things to escalate like this today.

"Forget it. I don't want to ruin your fun because of me. I'm not going to the bar. You two go ahead," Brentley said, his mind preoccupied with Phoebe meeting the hacker. Tabitha's departure gave him a perfect excuse to skip the bar, so he turned to leave.

"Come on, just because Tabitha's not here doesn't mean we can't have fun. There are plenty of girls at the bar. I'll introduce you to a few!" Tyree quickly grabbed Brentley's arm.

Meanwhile, Tabitha had barely walked fifty yards when her phone rang. She hesitated for a moment, then answered, "Bonnie, what's up?"

"Tabitha, where are you? Wynter and I are already at the Sunset Bar near Sunshire City University.

Weren't you going to introduce us to some cute guys? Why aren't you here yet?" the girl on the other end asked cheerfully.

"Introduce what cute guys? Just some trash picker. Wynter would never be interested in someone like him..." Tabitha muttered under her breath, unable to hold back her frustration.