Tears Among Friends~Scene From Tripping Prince Charming

“I just want someone to jerk my ignorant head off and tell me what to do." 

Carmella stood a few more minutes staring into the empty street, before pulling her phone from her pocket. She couldn’t believe Franklin had broken up with her. She needed to talk to Ivy, but before she could dial her cousin's number, the phone rang. It was Lillie-Rose, crying her heart out. While trying to comfort her and find out the problem, Ivy buzzed into the call, inserting her into the conversation by three-way; Carmella was disconcerted to also hear Ivy crying tragically through the line. 　　　　“Wait….hold on…stop, both of you. I can’t understand what either of you are saying. You're crying and talking at the same time. Are you saying you had fights with Bernard and Nathaniel? That’s so crazy, I just had one with Franklin. Is this some kind of conspiracy or something? Did the guys plan this as a joke?" Running her fingers through her hair in agitation, she paced a few steps. "I was just about to call you. This has turned out to be the worst day in my life. Can you come over here? Just pack a suitcase and come over here. We can have a damned pity party and discuss what we can do to fix this.”

　　　　After sharing a few more comforting words and agreeing to meet at seven, Carmella hung up the phone and ran into the house. She slammed the door and threw herself on the couch to cry broken-heart and alone. 　　
　　Forty-five minutes later, Carmella opened the door, quietly watching as Ivy and Lillie-Rose entered; each dropping their overnight bag to the floor of the foyer and solemnly continuing their trek towards the kitchen. 　　
　　“I thought we’d hang out around the pool and watch tear jerkers all night.” 　
　　　“Good, that’s the exact mood I’m in.” Lillie-Rose changed the direction she was walking in and followed Carmella. 　
　　　“Me, too,” Ivy agreed. “I just want someone to jerk my ignorant head off and tell me what to do." She stopped in mid stride, closing her eyes as if in severe pain. "Oh my God, Carmella, do you need to have Rhianna song on?” Ivy rubbed her fingers on her temples. “I’ve always thought Stay was the saddest song ever, but now, it just fits perfectly with my misery and I don’t think I can handle it.” 　　　
　“Well, I want to wallow in misery for the rest of the evening until I know exactly what I can say to make this right for me. I didn’t start having fantasies of living a Disney movie just to have my glass slippers thrown at my head.” Carmella flopped into the cushions of the large couch and turned on the television. “Grab whatever snacks you want and make yourself comfortable. We have a stack of movies to go through.” 　　
　　Two hours later, above the soft voices coming from the screen, the only sound to be heard was the sniffling of the three women huddled on the couch; each in varied positions of despair, none of them able to make the other believe they were crying over the heartbroken heroine in the movie.
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Smoke in the Mirror/That First Date~Scene From Tripping Prince Charming

Smoke in the Mirror 　　　　Carmella, elbow resting on the counter, chin in hand, leaned over the extensive research notes she had spread out across the counter in the kitchen. It was getting late, but she couldn't talk herself into going to bed. She was way too distracted, her thoughts running circles around the things she'd heard. It made her feel a little freaked out knowing Franklin had enticed his friend to pretend they didn't know each other in order to ‘watch' her. The entire idea was a little romantic and a lot creepy. She wanted to call Ivy and see if Bernard had shared anything with her, but decided to wait for her cousin's call. Within an hour, her wait was over and she had included Lillie-Rose on the phone's three way system to add her two cents to the conversation. 　　
　　"I take it your little date with Bernard went well." Carmella’s disappointment could be heard through the phone line. 　　　　
Ivy chuckled softly. "Of course, there's no way things could have gone wrong." 　　　
　"Of course." Carmella and Lillie-Rose agreed, laughing in unison. 　　　
　"What?" Ivy laughed. "What's the joke? You already know how I feel about him. He could have ignored me all night and just the fact he spent so much time with me, oh my God, my life is made." 　　
　　"Ivy you're crazy. You can't have just one conversation with a guy and decide he completes your life." 　　　　
Lillie-Rose snorted. "You're the one to talk, Carmella. Franklin hadn't had a hint of a serious conversation with you and you melt at the mention of his name. I can't believe how easily the two have you have dumped your entire outlook on relationships and turned into drooling man-hungry squeezers." 　　
　　Carmella laughed in denial, her long giggle light and infectious. "Lee stop. I never drool." 　　　　"You know what your problem is, Leelee? You need someone in your life." 　　
　　"Okay, let's stop right there, Ivy, and change the subject. I'm not interested." 　　　
　"Why not?" 　　　　
"Leelee, you know it's time to get over the past.” 　　　　"Listen, you two, if you can't change the subject I'm off the phone." 　　　
　"Fine, but I feel sorry for you. You can't let one mistake, horrible as it was, direct your steps for the rest of your life. 　　　
　"Carmella, I'm not having this conversation. Change it or I'm hanging up." 　　　　
“Okay, don’t get all puffed up. We’ll change it.” 　　　　"Besides,” Lillie-Rose, like a dog with a bone, had to gnaw a conversation until she was satisfied. “You know what's wrong with you, Carmella?" 　　　
　"Nothing is wrong with me, but I know you'll tell me differently, Lillie-Rose." 　　　　
"You have your mind wrapped in the pages of a romance novel and love doesn't work like that." 　　"Why not?" Carmella put down her pencil and moved to the living room to flop in a recliner. She could already tell this conversation was going to take the turn towards a therapy session. "Why can't I have a beautiful love story? Why can't I have Franklin fall in love with me the way those girls do in those books? Why can't I have one of those silly fairy tales your dad used to harp on, Ivy? I used to think they were really stupid until I saw Franklin. Why can't I believe it can happen to me?"　
"Because you are a Black girl, Carmella Candi.” Lillie-Rose stated her answer with a clap of her hand between each word. “Wake up, you’re dreaming. You have to work for the happily ever after. When you read those fairy tales, where was that pretty Black princess? You ever read a story where this little Black kid married a prince?" 　　　　
"At least we think she is." Ivy commented softly. She knew this was another sore point with Carmella. 　
　"At least you think I'm what? Ivy, I know you're not going there this time of night." 　　　
　In a flash the two cousins were in the middle of an argument about what makes a person Black - same argument they'd had all of their lives. The same argument that had been going on for generations in the African-American communities and it didn't help any that Carmella's mom was Asian. 　　　　
"Hey, hey, wait a minute." Lillie-Rose broke in. "Let's have that argument after I make my point. As I was saying, you're a Black girl and it doesn't work like that. We have to go and ‘get' our man." Lillie-Rose smacked her lips, the sound loud and irritating through the phone's receiver. 　　　　
"You think because I'm Black there's no guy going to come and sweep me off my feet? What does that mean? Go and get our man? Do I have to settle on being 'the baby mama' and call it my 'romance'? I'm not going to be part of some baby mama drama relationship." 　　　　
"No, girl, it's just that no sincere Black guy runs around with flowers and candy. That romance stuff is just a figment of someone's imagination. I told you all through high school about reading those idiotic romance books; they'll warp your mind. You passed up some mighty fine guys back in the day, hiding your head in those books." 　　　
　"You should've read some, Lillie-Rose, and you wouldn't be so cynical and hard when a man approaches you." "I heard enough about the idiotic romances when Ivy's dad used to read us those stories as kids. Didn't believe them then and I don't believe them now. When Prince Charming comes poking around me, he better just watch out. As for now, Ms. Carmella Candi, when a man approaches me then I won't be as cynical."

 Scroll through the posts and see what brings on this episode. Act 1: Scenes of a Breakup.

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Friends On Ruby Mountain~Scene From Tripping Prince Charming

　　　　"What's so funny Carmella?" 　
　　　Lillie-Rose poked Carmella's shoulder with her pointer finger. 　　　
　"Not a thing." Carmella sat up in surprise and looked into the eyes of her friends. She hadn't heard them approaching. 　　　
　"She’s probably thinking about Franklin, who else?" 　　
　　 Ivy flopped down in the middle of the flowers at the base of the tree house and began weeding. Lillie-Rose studied the bemused smile on Carmella's face and the twinkle in her eyes before sitting on the heavy iron bench next to her. 　　　
　"Yup Ivy, by the look in her eyes, I think you're right. Got something you want to share, Carmella?" 　　　
　Carmella stood, straightened her clothes before removing her sandals and stepping on to the low retaining wall surrounding the statue of the fallen prince. Slowly, walking with her arms spread wide she tried to keep her balance as she moved from the toes of the prince to his chest. Swinging her right leg over to straddle it, she sat on his stomach before answering. 　　　　
"Don't worry about me, Lillie-Rose we're here because of you. What's on your mind?" 　　　
　"That's what I'm wondering." Ivy moved closer to her friends, dropped to the ground and immediately dug her fingers into the soil. "It's not like she ever wants to hang with us anymore. Rarely calls, never comes out to play." She laughed. 　　　　
Changing her position to lay on the bench, Lillie-Rose stretched her limbs, flexed her toes, and relaxed. The coolness of the metal seeping through the thin material of her blouse and making her shiver slightly. She watched her friends giggling and slapping at each other like little kids unable to hold the secret they have on one another. She wiggled her fingers in Ivy’s direction before closing her eyes. 　　
　"Maybe it's because you always want to play in the dirt, little Miss Ivy Gardiner." 　　　
　"Ha, maybe it’s because you have a new playmate and you don't have any time for us." 　　　
　"Ha, or maybe it’s because you have a new playmate that plays different kinds of games.” 　　
　　Ivy and Carmella scoffed and laughed loudly before stating their own opinions between bursts of laughter. 　　　
　 “And they aren’t the kind of games you can play with us." 　　
　　Reaching down to grab a handful of clovers, Lillie-Rose threw them in her friends’ direction, the gentle breeze swirling and floating the petals over and releasing them on their heads, Ivy and Carmella laughed delightedly. 　　
　　"You aren't funny. Besides," Lillie-Rose closed her eyes again. "I was just with you in Beaumont."
　"You noticed she didn't deny having a new playmate." 　　
　　"Oh, I noticed alright." 　　　
　Lillie-Rose opened one eye at Ivy's tone. The other woman smiled smugly, the hint of the knowledge of a secret, evident in her tones. 　　
　　"So, Lillie-Rose." Carmella tapped a tune on the forehead of the prince, immediately receiving an admonishment from Lillie-Rose for her actions. 　　
　　"Wow, silly laugh and defending the prince." Ivy elbowed Carmella on her rear. "If I have to make a deduction, I'd say our girl has found her a man." 　　　
　Taking note of the way Lillie-Rose smiled before closing her eyes again, Ivy jumped off her perch, and rushing to the bench, she pushed Lillie-Rose's legs off and sat down. 　　　
　"Spill." 　　　
　"Yeah," Carmella joining her friends on the bench, pushed Lillie-Rose from the shoulder until she was sitting up. "Please say its Nathaniel." 　
　　　"Of course it's Nathaniel. Who else would it be?" Ivy leaned back triumphantly and folded her arms across her chest. “Those 900 bad blind dates were decoys, designed to make sure our little Lillie-Rose kept her mind and her eyes on the prize. Guess my plan worked." 　　
　　Reaching behind Lillie-Rose's back, Carmella swung unsuccessfully in Ivy's direction. 　　
　　"What plan?" Lillie-Rose looked from one to the other. Carmella and Ivy made a face at each other over Lillie-Rose's head. Each one unsuccessfully trying to shush the other’s words. 　　
　　"Don't mind Ivy, she’s talking out of her head. It wasn't really a ‘plan'. More like a wish." 　　
　　"What kind of wish?" 　　
　　"You know. I was building a relationship with Franklin, Ivy with Bernard and we didn't want you to be alone." 　　　
　"We just prayed for the right man to come your way." 　　
　　"Well, I think your prayers may have worked." 　　
　　Ivy and Carmella jumped up squealing and laughing like little kids. Chasing each other around the bench and then the statue, ending out of breath in front of Lillie-Rose they grabbed her hands and pulled her up to join them.. 　　　
　"Get excited, girl." Carmella bounced a little in her excitement. 　　　
　"What makes you think our prayers were answered?" Ivy put her hands on her hips, tapping her right foot in impatience. “I don’t see a ring on that finger.” 　
　　　“He gave me this.” She pulled the necklace from inside her shirt. “He says the one petal means he loves me and I don’t have to throw petals off the bridge anymore.” 　　
　　“That’s sooo romantic.” Ivy crooned. 　　　
　“It really is sweet, but I had my heart set on seeing a ring.” Carmella fingered the chain before letting it drop gently back in its place. 　　
　　Smiling from ear to ear, Lillie-Rose pulled a small box from her pocket. Without even looking inside of the box, the two friends repeated their crazy whooping run. By the time they returned in front of her, Lillie Rose had already put the ring on her finger. 　　
　　"I love it." Carmella caressed the diamonds with her index finger. "This is one awesome design. Two heart shaped diamonds, and does the crown in the middle of one heart mean he's your prince charming?" 　　
　　"I believe so. No," Lillie-Rose pressed her hand to her chest, covering her heart. "I know he is." 　　　　Both women wrapped their arm around Lillie-Rose. 　
　　　"I'm so happy for you."
      "Me too. I think Franklin is going to propose to me tonight." 　
　　　"Really, how do you know?" 　
　　　"Yes. I can tell by the way he's been acting. Since tomorrow is Valentine's day I'm cooking a meal at home tonight so he can plan whatever he wants to do for tomorrow. I think it's something big." 　　
　　"I get that impression from Bernard, too. He's been secretive and the way they all have suddenly started hanging out together...gives me goosebumps, just wondering what they're planning. Maybe they have a special dinner all set up." 　
　　"I hope so. Wouldn't it be nice if we all get engaged this weekend and then we could help plan each other's wedding."

Before you leave, please take some time to do this…

Write down a couple of quick notes for:

Ways this post or blog held or lost your attention.

Is there a way I can enchance it visually?

Did you find any interest in the featured book?

What social network would be best for you to share this information?

I'd love it if you told me your answers in the comments below so I can know how to serve my readers.

Would you like to read a sample of my writings in other genres? Download a free copy of, " WHEN ONE DOOR CLOSES" At Smashwords HERE Put in code: MP63V

Read More