Sentient Puppet (sentientpuppet) wrote, @ 2004-02-12 18:10:00

another creative soul shared

This is a story written by my best friend in the entire world! I'm only posting it for a few people I've come to adore here, two are on my mind at this moment. I hope it will take you away for a few minutes, give you the same chuckles it did me.
Much love to you both! Please stay strong!


Drink of the Non-Blondes

An immediate chill went up Olivia’s neck when she saw Jon with the stunning blonde. It was the same blonde she had seen him with a not even a month before, the day after they last slept together. The day after seven months of him telling her he couldn’t commit because he wasn’t ready for a relationship.
It had been his thirtieth birthday party, and the blonde had been his date. Olivia had realized it was only her that he couldn’t commit to. She had listened to everyone all night say how happy they were because Jon had been into the blonde for so long. Olivia had felt like a joke. No one that night had any clue that she had been the one in his bed that morning. That he had told her he loved her. That she had sacrificed all self-respect she had waiting for him to be ready. She reached up and felt her un-highlighted brown hair. Jon had always said he didn’t go for blondes.
“Fuck the blondes,” she thought to herself as she went to sit down. Olivia thought about an article she had just read in one of those how-to-be-beautiful-magazines that always made her feel anything but. The article discussed the supposed “beauty curse.” How unfortunate it was for extremely beautiful women. Olivia believed it could only have been written by one of them – the beautiful.
Olivia Jonsy did not think she was beautiful. She did not think she was ugly, either. She just considered herself in-between, average. The most horrible of all places to be in her mind. She would have rather been extremely ugly than average. At least then she would have evoked a reaction. To the outside eye she was beautiful, however. A classic beauty, not exotic. More of a Bodicelli painting than a cover girl waif. She had curves that many women went under the knife for. Olivia never noticed the men who stared when she entered a room. She never noticed how their eyes followed her moves, her hips back and forth with an unmistakable rhythm. The way her collar bones were defines just so when she took a deep breath. The way men were moved almost to tears by the way her lips would naturally form a crooked, wicked grin curving more to the left. She never was able to see how others saw her. It was her own misfortune, her miscalculation of her own self.
Olivia watched the stunning blonde. This particular sample was nothing special. Just your typical perfect body, hair, and face she though. She soaked in every little mannerism. The way the blonde moved her lips sensuously as if to say “kiss me now.” Olivia thought her own lips moved in a snarling fashion. She watched the way the blonde daintily pushed the ice in her drink that she exclaimed was too strong. “Right,” Olivia muttered, “like you need help to get in bed with him.”
“What were you saying?”
“Oh,” Olivia startled at her friend’s sudden appearance and her own sudden memory of the reason she was here, “nothing, just thinking out loud.”
“Is that who I think it is,” began Dani, one of the few who knew the truth about Olivia and Jon, “Well if he wants her he can have her. He’ll be crying within ten years about how she took him for everything he had.” Dani was beginning the divorce process and was the last person Olivia wanted to ask for advice in the romance department. Dani was very pretty, but never used it. She had grown up the only girl among many brothers. The womanly, wily ways was a sorority Dani had never been privy to, which was why Olivia liked her. Not pretentiousness, just straight in your face. That was Dani. Her brothers had taught her to throw punches first and ask questions later. She approached everything in life as such and had become very successful in the process. The thing that Olivia valued most, however, was Dani’s unflinching loyalty.
“Well, shit, girl. I got some catchin’ up to do,” Dani moaned as she threw her arm into the air and began snapping, “I hope I didn’t keep you too long.”
The waiter, of course, appeared immediately and took her drink order-double Jim Beam on the rocks. Dani hated expensive whiskey. It was Jim or nothing. Olivia looked at her own glass. She had finished off an entire Stoli Vodkatini without even realizing she had ordered it. “I think she needs another,” barked Dani at the terrified young waiter.
“Wait,” Olivia snapped as he began to leave. She looked over at the blonde. A Martini glass sat in front of her perfectly manicured face.
“Dani, do you think she’s a gin drinker,” She whispered, leaning in to her friend so the waiter couldn’t hear.
Dani followed where her finger was pointing. “Humph, that’s what you’ve been thinking about? You want to know what she drinks?”
“Answer the question.”
“Not a chance in Hell that slut is drinkin’ gin.”
Olivia straightened herself back up to look at the waiter, “I think I will have the same as my friend, with a shot of Tequila.”
“Um, did you ladies want to start with any appetizers?”
“No, thank you,” Olivia answered before Dani had a chance, “I think we’ll be drinking our dinner.”
Dani smiled. She liked it when Olivia got drunk with her. All the other women in the city just droned on and on about money and clothing and what plastic surgeon tucked this and that. “I think we are in for a night,” she said as she fumbled in her purse for the Benson & Hedges Menthol Lights that were (along with Jim) her lifeblood.
“What are you thinking about?”
“You.”
“Me? Ha! Why would you be thinking about me?”
“What would you do if you were me? And he was here. With her.”
“You know how I feel about advice like this. I’m not you. I can’t tell you what to do.”
 “I know, I know.
“I know you know,” her Jim Beam delivered and halfway gone in one gulp, “He is a fucking prick. There is not anything special about him. Why would you give him so much energy?”
“I know he’s a prick. There are times I truly, deeply, know that.” She fondled the tequila for a moment before slamming it down and chasing it with the entire glass of water in front of her. “It’s just that there are times that he looks at me, you know. He has this look. Like I am the only woman in the entire world. Like he really thinks I am special. Like he only wants me. Like I make him happy.”
“You really want to make him happy?”
“I mean…”
“I know what you mean. But I’m asking you. Are you more concerned with making him happy than how happy he makes you?”
Olivia stared at the only person in the world who could put things in such a way for her. She stared at the woman whom she depended on for her sanity. She didn’t leach off of Dani, she just trusted her completely. “I never really thought about it that way before.”
“Yeah, I figured as much. Now you think about that for a minute,” Her hand was already in the air snapping for the waiter. Olivia would have been mortified to be in the presence of anyone else acting that way, but somehow Dani got away with it, “Now I suggest you drink up cause we’re about to get another round. Olivia put the glass to her mouth, trying to oblige her friend. She hated whiskey. She had only ordered it because the thought of drinking the same liquor as the blonde repulsed her. She needed a new drink. The drink of the non-blondes. Whiskey seemed like a good choice a few minutes ago.
When the waiter reached the table Dani quickly motioned for another round.
“No, wait, I think I’ll have a margarita,” Olivia caught him before he disappeared.
“Like Hell you will.”
“Dani, I can’t drink any more whiskey. It will make me sick.”
“Fine. Just pick something else besides tequila. You had your one shot.”
“But I like tequila. I can drink tequila.”
“You can also start crying into your glass. We will not be having any of that tonight. Pick something else. Why not a screwdriver.”
“I am not drinking Vodka.”
Dani smiled. “Having a little personality crisis, are we? Why not wine?”
“Oooh, no, I’ll get a headache.”
“Bourbon?”
“No dark liquors.”
“Sir,” Dani smile at the waiter, “She’ll be having a Corona. And please bring us something to nibble on. Something loaded in carbs”
Olivia thanked her friend as the waiter ran to get the next round.
“No problem. I think you’ll be needing some food in a little while when that whiskey and tequila hit you.” Dani always knew what would be needed in a little while. “Now, what do you want?”
“Beer is fine I guess.”
“No. I mean, what do you want? We were just talking about you making him happy but him not making you happy.”
“Oh, right,” Olivia looked back at the table where Jon and the blonde sat. They were totally engrossed in each other. Jon was smiling at the blonde the way he had smiled at her, elating her, so many times. “I want to be the girl at the table with him.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to be the one he is smiling at. The one he is happy with.”
“Yeah, well, we always want what we can’t have, right? So really now, what do you want?”
“I just told you.”
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why do you want him?”
“Because. Because he has such a great sense of humor.”
“He’s a fucking dick.”
“Because of the way he makes me feel.”
“He’s a prick.”
“Because when I was with him I felt beautiful.”
“Aha,” Dani slammed her palms on the table, “Now we’re getting somewhere! You deserve another shot for that little revelation.”
“Dani..”
“Don’t you Dani me. I heard what you just said. You can’t take it back now. We are gonna run with this.”
“I mean, well, I mean that he has this look.”
“Screw the look.”
“But..”
“But nothing. You said he makes you feel beautiful. So, what, you think that without him you’re not?’
“Well..”
“Now is this without him, exactly? Or without any man to fill the void?”
“What void?”
“Girl! You are just achin’ for love. It is so obvious. And it makes men just run the other way. You are a walking trap to them.”
“I’m not a trap.”
“To the lesser species you are.”
“Oh, spare me all the feminist shit. You’re just angry cause Greg is leaving you for that little blonde assistant.”
As soon as the words had left her mouth, Olivia wished she could reach out and grab them back. Dani took a moment with her drink, staring downward at the table.
“I’m sorry, Dani, I didn’t mean it.”
“I know sweetie.”
“Dani, Greg’s a fucker.”
“They’re all fuckers.”
“Well, here’s to the fuckers,” Olivia toasted. The two allies raised their glasses and finished off the last of their drinks just in time for the next round to arrive. “Dani, how are you doing?"
“I’m fine.”
“You’re always fine.”
Dani smiled at her friend. “I’m pissed, okay. This is what it’s like. You want someone so bad? Well, thank god it ended for you now. You think it hurts to see him over there? Girl, you didn’t marry the son of a bitch.”
“I’m sorry Dani.”
“Don’t be. I’m just glad to be getting it over with now. I mean, I still got a few years left with the good looks right? So, tell me, how’s the dating pool around here?”
“Ha! Move to Alaska.”
“Here’s to fucking Alaska,” Dani toasted.
The two friends raised their glasses and laughed the way only two soul sisters could. The way men would never understand. To bystanders, they looked like two drunken girls having a night out. To Dani and Olivia, this was sacred.
“Fuck Greg,” Dani sang, “And fuck the blondes!”
“Fuck the blondes,” Olivia returned as she wiped a tear of laughter from her eye, “What is it about blondes, anyway?”
“They have more fun?”
“Obviously. With our men.”
 “Ha! That little bitch can have Greg and his little dick.”
“What?”
“Oh, I thought I had told you! I could have sworn I did,” Dani held up her hand with her pinky extended.
“No,” Olivia laughed, “Please tell me it isn’t true!”
“Five years of my life. Of my fucking twenties! Dedicated to a man I could barely feel.”
“Good riddance, right?”
“Yeah, I suppose. But, you know, I’ve been thinking lately. It has been so long since I’ve had a proper lay, that a normal dick would seem enormous to me now. It might even hurt a little. I feel like I’ve been revirginized.”
“Well, at least you’ve got your innocence, right?”
“No shit. But, well. Never mind.”
“What?”
“Oh, fuck, nothing, just the Jim talking.”
“Spit it out bitch.”
Dani laughed at Olivia, and her newfound confidence thanks to Jim. But the laugh was not wholehearted and her grin gave way to something else that Olivia had never seen before. It was a look of uncertainty.
“What is it?”
It’s nothing. Silly stuff.”
“If it’s so silly then why did you stop?”
Dani opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out so she quickly shut it again. She grabbed her drink and finished it off, slamming it back on the table. She wiped the Jim off her lips with the back of her hand, taking the last of her lipstick with it. She placed both hands around the glass tightly and stared at it. Olivia gently reached across the table and placed her hand on Dani’s. This caused Dani to look up and meet eyes with her friend.
“It’s, well,” she began quietly, “It’s just that I am a cool chick, right?”
“Absolutely.”
“And Greg is a little dick slime ball, right.”
“Abso-fuckin-lutely.”
“So why did he leave me?”
Olivia didn’t have an answer. She rarely did on these occasions. Dani was the one with answers. “Dani..”
“I know, I’m sorry. I’m just pissed, you know?”
“I know.”
“ I mean, I gave that motherfucker everything. I really loved that shit head. Five years and not a single orgasm that I didn’t have to give to myself. And he left me?”
“Dani..”
 “Seriously. If that’s him, then what the fuck is wrong that he would have to leave me?”
“You’re not 19 and blonde?”
“Yeah. No shit. And don’t forget the implants.”
Olivia smacked herself in the forehead. “No shit, the implants! I had completely forgot,” Olivia looked over to the blonde who had Jon’s complete attention, “definitely paid for.”
“Oh, yes they were.”
“What is the deal with that?”
“With boob jobs?”
“Yeah with boob jobs! Guys could have natural and they always pass it up for silicon. But they always say they think natural is better.”
“Yup. They lie. Jon told you he loved you, right.”
“Yeah. Why?”
“You have proven my point.”
This time it was Olivia whose hand went into the air, snapping. Which cause Dani to giggle uncontrollably. The waiter came and went before either spoke.
“Oh, what the fuck got up your butt?”
“Nothing.”
“Aw, fuck, don’t give me that shit,” it was Dani’s signature line when she knew she had said something to upset Olivia.
It took a moment before Olivia managed to mutter, “He did love me.”
“Love? Is that Love,” Dani pointed at Jon and the blonde, “When was the last time he said he loved you?”
“Dani…”
“Answer the God Damned question!”
Olivia stared at her. She didn’t see anger in Dani’s eyes. She saw her own pain. The common pain felt by all women passed over for walking Barbie’s.
“Three weeks ago.”
“So he loved you three weeks ago, huh. Well, seems like he sure is having a hard time getting over you.”
“Shut up.”
“No. You stop kidding yourself. He didn’t love you. They never love you, us. They put up with us until the next thing come along. Or until they get their very own Barbie doll.”
Both women contemplated Dani’s outburst. Nervous waiter boy came by and took the signal for yet another round.
“If it’s any consolation, Dani,”
“What?”
“Barbie’s getting a…,” she continued as she held up her pinky.
Dani smiled, “Yeah, she sure is. But she also might be getting a hell of a lot of my money.”
“No!”
“Yes.”
“But how? That’s you’re money. He can’t take it.”
“We can thank our feminist sisters for that one. They wanted equal. Now we are the ones paying alimony.”
“I just can’t believe it.”
“Believe it.”
“When did everything go so wrong? I mean. When did it get like this? I want to know why things are so hard now. Our grandmothers didn’t go through this. Most of our mothers didn’t go through this. Why is our generation so screwed over?”
“I don’t know. I can’t really blame Hefner for everything. Then there’s always Larry Flynt. But it’s hard for me to be mad at a guy in a wheelchair whose love of his life was played by Courtney Love, you know.” War brides
Olivia giggled at that. Dani always had the best one-liners.
“But besides that,” Dani continued, “we are all screwed, you know. I mean, guys don’t have it easy either.”
“What! This coming from you?”
Dani watched the mortified look on her Olivia’s face before bursting out in laughter, “Ha!”
“Oh shit.”
“You are such a sucker.”
“You had me scared for a second. I thought it was invasion of the body snatchers or something.”
“Nah. Guys have it so easy and we are paying the price. I totally understand why someone would want to be a lesbian. I’d much rather deal with the shit girls give out. I mean, at least I’d be able to understand it, you know.”
“I couldn’t. I mean, not the understanding part. Just the lesbian part.”
“Oh please! When did you become a homophobe?”
“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it. But just the whole, you know. I enjoy having it. I just couldn’t…”
“You couldn’t eat another girl out?”
“Yes, thank you. Do we have to advertise to the entire restaurant?”
“Sorry. It was the ol' turrets.”
“Whatever. Can we please use at least some decorum? We are in a public place.”
“Yeah, yeah. Fine, have it your way, little miss muffet. I came here tonight to enjoy myself. If all you want to do is talk about men and cry into your drink, then fine.”
“I do not want to just cry into my drink. And I have plenty to talk about other than men. Not every conversation has to revolve around men.”
“Okay. Then what shall we talk about?”
“Umm, I don’t know. How was your day?”
“My day? My day started off with my male lawyer calling to tell me about some crap that Greg’s male lawyer is trying to pull. Then I went to see my male hairdresser for a trim. Then I went to a meeting with some male clients. My male assistant actually kept my day pretty damn full. Then I went by Barney’s to shop for a birthday present for my male cousin. Then I went home for a bit, saying hello to the male doorman, before catching a cab here. Oh, and the cab was driven by a male. Then I was shown to my seat by the male maitre de before sitting down and ordering a drink with my dear friend from the male waiter. So, how was your day?”
“Funny.”
“I thought so.”
“I didn’t catch your point.”
“I didn’t really have one. I thought it was a silly question to ask when you really don’t want to hear about my day. And I didn’t want to talk about it.”
“What did you want to talk about?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Art, politics, literature..”
“We can’t talk about Literature.”
“And why not?”
“The last five books I’ve read have been from Oprah’s list.”
“Boo!! Get your own damn personality girl!”
“That’s why we can’t talk about literature.”
“Point taken. What about art?”
“No.”
“And why not?”
“The last time I went to a gallery was five years ago. I wouldn’t have anything to say.”
“You really are a sad creature.”
“I am not.”
“Yes, you are.”
“That was very hurtful, Dani. I didn’t appreciate that.”
“Sweetie. It’s the truth. You are incapable of talking about anything other than whatever boy has occupied some corner of your brain. You don’t have much else going on.”
“Yes I do.”
“Like what?”
“Well, there’s work.”
“You want to talk about work?”
“Not really.”
“Politics?”
“We agree on pretty much everything.”
“So?”
“So, that doesn’t leave much for discussion.”
“Fine. What was your dream last night?”
“Are you serious?”
“Yup.”
“I don’t remember. It’s rare that I actually remember a dream.”
“Fine. Fashion.”
“What?”
“We can talk about fashion.”
“Um, I don’t think most of the crap they print in magazines is worth a discussion. No one would actually wear that crap in real life. Besides, those magazines just make me feel bad about myself so I don’t think talking about them is gonna be a great idea.”
“Well, I’ve come up with plenty of ideas. I don’t hear you offering much.”
“I don’t know. Well, I guess there is one thing I read in a magazine that we can talk about.”
“What would that be?”
“I read this article that talked about the beauty curse.”
“That’s considered a curse now?”
“That’s what I thought!”
“So we can’t hate them because they’re beautiful. But now we’re supposed to feel sorry for them?”
“Yeah. It was talking about all these poor models and how people don’t treat them like normal people with real personalities, that all they are good for is being pretty.”
“I’m supposed to feel sorry for someone because they are so pretty people pay them huge amount of money just to have their picture taken in designer clothes all around the world?”
“Yeha, they were saying these poor models can’t live normal lives anymore because people are waiting on them hand and foot all day. Like a poor little rich girl kinda thing.”
“That’s bullshit. Some bitter former model probably wrote it.”
“Thank you! God, I just felt like crap after reading that. I mean, these are the same people who make it so difficult for the rest of us. They are the ones who are setting these unrealistic expectations and making our lives hell, yet they get the pity?”
“Yeah, they cause bulimia but are the real victims.”
“No shit.”
“Well, I’m officially pissed now. What do you say we go find a model and egg her.”
Dani watched Olivia actually contemplate that idea, “You know I was kidding.”
“Yeah. But it would be fun.”
“Fuck ‘em. Maybe we should feel sorry for them.”
“What? Why?”
“Because we have something they don’t.”
“And what would that be, exactly?”
“Reality.”
Olivia thought.

Apparently what we have to offer just isn’t good enough anymore.
(this is all I have so far.)

	grayeyes 2004-02-13 00:11 (link)
	I really really liked this. usually that much dialogue makes me lose interest pretty quickly but that was great, it flowed really well. Tell your friend that she rocks. though, whoa, I couldn't drink with a girl like Dani. I can't deal with that sort of reality-check when I'm drunk (Reply to this) (Thread)

	sentientpuppet 2004-02-16 10:53 (link)
	Thanks doll! She so does rock! (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)