Elephant in the Room

Confident & successful screenwriter Lola and many from her past, including her ex-best friend, get invited to a mutual friend's wedding. Lola is forced to face her friendship break up years later.

Lola stares at a black sculpted mini dress, a long mauve crochet dress, and an olive green two-piece crop top with a long slit skirt set on her king-sized bed in the center of the 180-degree floor-to-ceiling window primary bedroom of her apartment. In less than 20 hours, Lola will be face-to-face with her old peers, most of which she hasn’t seen since graduating college eight years ago.

In college, Lola was well-known. She had a popular newsletter for college students on a budget, sold students her notes for Global Modernism class (a highly-favored elective), wrote scripts for the football and men's and women’s basketball teams promotional videos, wrote and directed a modern screenplay of Death of a Salesman for her senior thesis that landed her a screening in the Tribeca Film Festival and got several gigs as a copywriter for business students who started their own companies. Ten years post-becoming a hustler, Lola is a wildly successful screenwriter and up-and-coming director. She’s proud of the life she’s been able to create for herself and is the most confident she’s ever been, but she feels some anxiety around seeing the people she once knew.

She’s nervous to see Peyton, they were once good friends, but two years after they graduated she realized Peyton’s negative outlook on life affected their relationship more than she’d thought. Causing her to “quiet quit” the friendship.

She’s excited to see Sarah and Holly. They were party friends, so her connection with them has never been deep, which is perfect because a wedding is essentially a big party.

She’s apprehensive about seeing last summer’s fling, Jordan. He’s gorgeous, athletic, kind, and funny, but his wandering eye left a stale taste in her mouth. She understands being a wide receiver for the Ravens comes with temptation, so she didn’t end things dramatically, just suddenly. Though that was over a year ago, he still attempts to spin the block every few months.

She’s cordial with everyone else, meaning she likes to say “Hi” or “Congratulations” by hearting their stories on Instagram. Except for ex-bestfriend, Nikita.

Nikita and Lola were inseparable from 8th to 12th grade, having weekly sleepovers, being in a constant text conversation, and going on family vacations together. Lola went to college at NYU, and Nikita went to Columbia University. A 31-minute Uber, but what felt like worlds apart for them. They continued having weekly sleepovers, texting daily [but less], and fostering their relationship. They even got an apartment together in Lincoln Square during their senior year to have an equal distance commute to campus.

They never thought anything would rip them apart—until it did. Just under two years ago, Nikita and Lola got into an argument that ended their friendship for good.

Six months before their relationship ended, Lola had broken up with her long-term boyfriend Jaden because they were no longer growing in the same direction. Between the two of them, Lola was much less vulnerable than Nikita, but her failing relationship caused her to open up, confide in, and lean on her best friend.

During this period, Lola began to realize that Nikita wasn’t being open or vulnerable about her long-term relationship. Nikita says it was because her boyfriend wanted to keep their relationship between them, which is understandabl…y shady. Still, Lola respected her wishes because she had her own issues to worry about.

Once Lola began to move on and heal, she realized many of the symptoms she felt pre-breakup were being reflected in Nikita. Nikita continued to act as if the relationship was perfect even though Lola noticed she regularly had puffy eyes from crying, ate less, wasn’t as vibrant, and became more distant. Lola worried about her friend constantly, but she was having major wins in her career and refused to let that bring her down, especially since Nikita was gatekeeping her feelings.

One random, rainy Wednesday, Nikita came to Lola’s apartment, unannounced, and spilled the tea on everything. Damon, Nikita’s boyfriend, would let his friends stay at their apartment for days or weeks at a time without talking to her about it, he would get upset when she expressed that she felt unheard, he rarely wanted to be intimate, and he hosted gatherings every weekend even when she asked him not to.

Although Lola knew Damon was no prince charming, Nikita finally confirmed it. For hours, Nikita ranted about deserving better, feeling disrespected, and toyed with the idea of leaving him if there were no changes soon. Lola agreed with everything she said, backing her on deserving better, doubling down on the disrespect being intolerable, and supporting her in her journey to find better. After months of emotional distance, Lola finally felt connected to Nikita again.

“I’m so happy you trusted me enough to tell me this. I love you, and I want the best for you.” Lola said.

“I know I’ve been distant. I don’t know how to ask for help when I need it. But I’m so grateful to have you in my life.” Nikita responded.

The two hugged—and that was the last vulnerable conversation they’d ever have as best friends.

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For two weeks after their conversation, Lola tried reaching out to Nikita to make plans and catch up, but Nikita became distant again. After a few days, Nikita would text saying how busy she was and that she had hoped to hang out soon.

To Lola, this was worse than the feeling she got when she went on a great date with a guy she liked, and he became distant shortly after. Lola knew Nikita decided to stay with Damon, but Lola couldn’t understand why she was being ex-communicated. Was it because she joined in on the shit-talking? Was it because Nikita told Damon what she said, and he wouldn’t let Nikita hang out with her anymore? Nikita was known for giving men more power [over her] than they deserved. Was it because Nikita felt dumb for staying with Damon? These questions consumed Lola’s thoughts until she decided to stop trying.

Lola knew the cannon event that is building the courage to leave your first real relationship, and she wouldn’t be able to beat this lesson into Nikita’s head. Though it hurt, she gave Nikita space to deal with it alone.

For five weeks, they didn’t speak. The longest they had ever gone without communicating. Until Lola got a text from Nikita saying:

“Hi! I’m so sorry I’ve been distant lately. Life has been crazy, but I wanted to let you know Damon and I got engaged last week!!!! We’re having an engagement party three days from now, on Friday, at Elephant in the Room at 8:00 p.m. I miss you! I know this is short notice, so RSVP whenever you can <3”

Lola. Was. Heated. & Hurt.

Not only was she left out of the loop for an entire week about Nikita’s engagement, but she got a text message about the news and didn’t even get a photo of the ring! For two days, she debated responding to the text, going to the engagement party, and asking for a sit-down meeting to discuss their mysterious issues. Even if they made up, Lola knew their relationship would never be the same.

That Friday at 11:33 a.m. Lola responded to the text by saying:

“Omg, congratulations! I have a prior engagement, but I should be there around 8:30.”

Lola didn’t have a prior engagement. She wanted Nikita to know there would be an elephant in the room at Elephant in the Room. She wanted the “Omg, congratulations!” to feel like the response of a mutual friend. She wanted Nikita to know how she was being treated was unacceptable.

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Lola arrived at Elephant in the Room at 8:30 p.m. sharp. She was wearing black leather split hem bootcut pants, a strapless leather maroon tube top, a tiny black Jacquemus purse, black strappy stilettos, and a 24-inch, bone-straight, middle-part bustdown.

The moment she stepped through the door Nikita’s family greeted her with open arms. They asked her if she was excited about the wedding, if she helped Damon pick out the ring, and asked how she’d plan the bachelorette (assuming she’d be the maid of honor). Lola smiled and nodded but had no answers for them. She saw Nikita near the bar surrounded by her college friends, so waited to say hi. Moments later, Damon bumps into her in an already drunken state.

“Oh, shit! My…bad. How are you, Lola?”Once he noticed it was Lola he became dry.

“I’m great! How are you, Mr. Fiancé?” Lola responds, trying to act like she didn’t notice the energy shift.

Damon pulls Lola to a private corner of the bar.

“I know things are weird with you and Lola. I know that you don’t like me. And I know there was a time I wasn’t the best to Nikita. But you should know that we’re happy, I’ve changed, and we really want you to be a part of this next phase of our lives.” He says.

Lola stares at him blankly. She’s never blatantly said she didn’t like Damon, she doesn't even know why things are weird with Nikita, and she’s barely had time to process their engagement.

“Listen, I have no idea what conversations you two have behind closed doors, but I never said I didn’t like you, and I don’t even know why Nikita is acting weird,” Lola responds.

“I don’t want to come between the two of you. She loves you a lot, and I’ve probably said too much. I just want us all to have a great time.” Damon said as he hugged Lola.

Still confused, Lola stood there, not hugging him back, but certain that her best friend was no longer her best friend.

Lola immediately went to the bar to order a drink.

“Can I have a glass of Freakshow please?” Lola asked the bartender. A red wine with an ABV of 15%, she only orders it when she’s trying to escape something or someone.

“Lola, you made it!” Nikita said from behind Lola.

Lola gulped her wine before turning around.

“Nikki, congratulations,” Lola said trying to sound happy for her.

They hugged each other, but it was awkward. They were two feet apart, but it felt like eighteen. For the first time, they had nothing to say to each other.

“When did you get engaged?” Lola asked.

“Last Friday, so a week ago today!” Nikita said excitedly even though she knew the question implied something deeper.

“Nice! Well, I told your sister I’d take a shot with her, so I’ll let you get back to your other guests,” Lola said walking away.

“Lola, wait. Can we please talk?” Nikita asked.

Lola turned around, “Do you want to do this here? Today?”

“You’re the first person I wanted to tell when I got engaged,” Nikita said.

“Well, you didn’t. So, that can’t be true.” Lola responded.

Lola has always been more direct than Nikita. Lola always asks the right questions and doesn’t take shit from anyone. That’s something Nikita loved about her until Nikita was the one being called out.

“It’s just complicated. Can we please talk outside?” Nikita asked.

As Lola downed her glass of Freakshow, she tried to stay positive, but she knew this wouldn’t end well. Lola had seen Nikita choose the men she dated over her friends for years, and while Nikita never placed any man above Lola, she knew that it was finally her turn to be tossed aside. Instead of going to the patio, Nikita led them out through the entrance. Lola couldn’t help but feel this was calculated.

“I know I haven’t been speaking to you. After I had that meltdown at your apartment, I went home to talk to Damon and we talked everything out. I shined a horrible light on him. After Damon and I talked about the conversation you and I had, we thought it’d be best for me to take some space to focus on fostering my relationship.” Nikita said.

Lola was speechless. For at least 100 seconds, Lola stared at the ground digesting what Nikita had said. What is with the sudden switch-up? Is Nikita being fake to Damon or Lola? And why would Nikita decide to have a conversation with her boyfriend about cutting Lola off?

“So, was everything you said about Damon a lie?” Lola asked.

“No, there was some truth, but I was being dramatic, hormonal, and ranting. I didn’t mean a lot of it.”

“What didn’t you mean, Nikita?” Lola asked plainly.

“I didn’t mean to say he didn’t respect me or when I threatened to leave him. I love him and I know that true love takes hard work.”

“So, what about any of that has to do with me?”

“Because ever since you broke up with Jaden you’ve been the ambassador of women being single.”

“How?”

“I don’t know. You’ve only been talking about your career and it kind of feels like the guys who actually like you you discard. And I’m in an opposite phase of my life right now.”

“So, you’re ghosting me because I enjoy my career and know how to communicate with guys who want more than what I want? And then you’re gossiping about my personal life to Damon so that the two of you can judge me as a pastime? Do I have that right?” Lola said calmly.

“I’m not ghosting you. We’re growing in different directions and I’m trying to maintain the peace. This is an exciting time in my life and I can only have people around who are excited for me.” Nikita said.

“You came to my place unannounced. You gave me information I didn’t ask for. You told Damon I didn’t like him when I never said that. You stopped talking to me because I agreed with what you said. And now you’re blaming me for the distance that you put between us because of the gossip session you had with your fiancé? If you want to marry someone who doesn’t even have the decency to ask your opinions on who he lets into your home for days or weeks, that’s on you. If you want to marry someone you said doesn’t respect you, that’s on you. We’re supposed to be best friends and you didn’t even tell me you got engaged. Now, you’ve made up in your head that I wouldn’t be excited because of what you told me. For once, take accountability for your actions. This has nothing to do with me. This is about YOU.” Lola said (if there were a microphone, she would’ve dropped it).

“Don’t act like you weren’t eating up everything I was saying! It was as if you couldn’t wait for Damon to fuck up. And I went to YOU because I thought you’d tell me it’d all be okay. I went to YOU to confide in YOU, but YOU turned my situation into a gossip session!” Nikita yells back.

“Yeah, I was eating it up! You were being fake for weeks acting like you were okay when I could tell you’d been crying. Letting me spill my relationship troubles to you and you acting like you were in a relationship with Jesus Christ himself! No one is perfect, but you wanted nothing more than to paint the picture that he was. And I’m not going to tell you everything will be okay. How are you going to get mad when I don’t respond the way you want me to? He knows what he’s doing. He’s a grown-ass man! From the last time we spoke, you deserved better. I don’t take back anything I said. But I’m starting to realize I deserve better, too.” Lola said.

“Is everything okay?” Damon asked walking out of the bar towards them.

“Unfortunately, not. Lola was just leaving.” Nikita responds.

Damon wrapped an arm around Nikita and escorted her back inside. That was the last time Lola and Nikita spoke.

Part 2: June 30th