Texts Over the Holidays
1187 Words
RIDE OR DIES Group Thread—Friday, December 19th—9:42pm
Memphis: Alright, ladies. Gray and I have officially pushed our trip to Monday, which means this weekend is reserved for some much needed girl bonding. Shall we start with brunch at Mockingbird’s, 11am tomorrow?
Tally: I’m busy tomorrow, sorry.
Bridget: Really, Tal? Busy doing what?
Tally: Family stuff.
Bridget: Come on. Enough is enough. You need us, and we need you. Can’t we all just meet up and talk it out?
Tally: Talk out what? What is there to say? You’re gay, and Mem and I are both okay with it. Shocker.
Bridget: Could’ve fooled me.
Memphis: Easy there, girls. You’re both hurting for different reasons, and you both can help each other feel better. Bridget, I’m coming to get you. Tally, we’ll be at yours in 20.
Tally: What? No.
Memphis: It wasn’t a question. We’re fixing this, and we’re fixing it now.
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Memphis and Gray—Saturday, December 20th—1:42pm
Gray: Hey, beautiful. How’s Bridget doing?
Memphis: Bridget’s fine, actually. It’s Tally who’s the problem.
Gray: Really? She’s still mad at Bridget for the whole in-the-closet thing?
Memphis: Among other things. Turns out Kai knew all along. Bridget told him months ago. So that’s the real reason Tally’s so angry—at least, one of the reasons.
Gray: Wow.
Gray: I guess that’s a valid reason to be pissed, though I don’t envy Kai his position. I probably would have told you… but that would have made me a s**t friend to Bridget, at the same time. And Kai met Bridget first.
Memphis: I agree—Kai was between a rock and a hard place.
Memphis: Thanks for saying you’d tell me, though. I appreciate that.
Gray: Anything for you, baby.
Gray: Things are getting better, though? Tally's coming around?
Memphis: I think so. Lots of crying. You might not recognize me through all the puffy skin when you see me on Monday.
Gray: I’ll recognize you. And I’ll kiss each puff patch better.
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Bridget and Kai—Monday, December 22nd—10:30am
Bridget: Hey.
Kai: Hey.
Kai: Tally told you?
Bridget: Yeah.
Kai: Sorry if I got you in trouble with her. I was just trying to be honest.
Bridget: I know. It’s not you—I was already in trouble with her. This was just the icing on the cake. Anyway, we’re getting there. Working through it. We always do.
Kai: I don’t get it, Bridge. It’s not fair, how she’s acting. It’s not like her.
Bridget: It’s more complicated than that. Everything is with us.
Kai: I get that she’s been through stuff. But it doesn’t excuse her behavior—with you or with me.
Bridget: Did she say something to you? Something besides the obvious, I mean?
Kai: She did. And I don’t know if I could forgive her for it even if she asked me to.
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RIDE OR DIES Group Thread—Wednesday, December 24th—12:20pm
Memphis: Happy Christmas Eve, bitches!
Bridget: Look who it is! I didn’t know they had service in Bumfuck, Nowhere.
Memphis: Bumfuck?? Tell that to Dirty Dancing. Which, by the way, we’re due for a rewatch.
Bridget: How’s it going, anyway? Mr. Sexypants woo his way into your bed yet?
Memphis: I mean, technically we’ve been sleeping in the same bed for days now.
Memphis: But… no. Not yet.
Memphis: But I think I want to. Tonight.
Memphis: Anyone gonna tell me it’s a bad idea?
Memphis: Tally?? You there?
Tally: I’m here.
Tally: I’m the wrong person to ask about which boys to trust. But I support you, Mem. Just be careful. Please.
Tally: Merry Christmas.
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Bridget and Taylor—Thursday, December 25th—6:20pm
Bridget: Hey.
Bridget: Look, I know I don’t deserve a response here. Honestly, I’m surprised you haven’t blocked my number entirely.
Bridget: All I really want to say is that I’m sorry. I never should have said the things I did to you at that party. I never should have pretended to be someone I’m not.
Bridget: I told my friends the truth. I’m still not out to the school, or my family, but I’m working on it.
Bridget: I should have told you before. I should have been honest with you. The truth is, the more I started to like you, the more afraid I was to tell you the truth. You were so cool, confident, and collected, and I was… such a coward. I knew you’d never want to be with the real me, so I chose to keep on pretending. I've gotten really good at that over the years.
Bridget: Anyway—I’ll leave you alone now. Thanks for humoring me. Just wanted to say sorry, and thank you—you know, for not making a bigger deal out of it when you could have—and also, Merry Christmas.
Taylor: Thanks, Bridget.
Taylor: Merry Christmas to you, too.
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RIDE OR DIES Group Thread—Friday, December 26th—11am
Bridget: WELL??
Bridget: What’s with the silence, ladies? Tal, how was your Christmas? How are the bros? Mem, have you given our poor, patient Gray what he wants already?
Memphis: Ha!!
Memphis: I just showed Gray your message and he told me you’re officially his favorite. Sorry, Tal.
Memphis: I gave the man what he wants. And then I gave it to him again about… well, a lot more times.
Tally: Are you okay?
Bridget: There she is!
Memphis: I’m fine. How are you guys??
Bridget: Fine, other than Tal still being mad at me and denying it.
Tally: I’m not mad at you. I’m just busy. You know how it is with my family and the holidays.
Bridget: You’re right—I do know. Because I usually spend the holidays with you and your family.
Tally: I told you—I just needed some time. I promise we’ll get back to normal eventually.
Bridget: Can “eventually” start with New Year’s Eve? Because my parents won’t be here, and if you don’t hang out with me, I’m going to ring in the new year alone on my couch, and that’s just sad.
Memphis: Oh, Jesus. Please say yes, Tal. Otherwise I’m going to have to cut this trip short, and then neither of you will be Gray’s favorite people anymore.
Tally: Okay, fine. I’ll meet you at your place New Year’s Eve-ning, Bridge.
Memphis: Proud of you two, and love you both. Stay safe, and see you in the new year.
- Writer
