♥ DECLINED!!! It's Literally The Worst Feeling, Ever.

[Arianny DeLise]

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♥ Tuesday, September 13th 2016 - Starbucks

“Like what was the point in cutting off our power? I don’t get it. And the water? How the hell are we supposed to take showers? I don’t know what Shawn is trying to prove, but he is really pissing me off. Like, I can’t even deal right now.”

Arianny Blake was on a rampage and Riley Calix and the visiting Harlow Winter were the two brave souls who had decided to accompany her on this trip to Starbucks. Ari had been rampaging since she had woken up to no hot water or power inside the mansion. Shawn DeLise had apparently gotten both utilities cut off and customer service had refused to speak to both Arianny and Mondae Chaos because their names had not been on the account. It had been total bullshit and blowing up Shawn’s phone hadn’t yielded any results either. His voicemail was full, thanks to Arianny, and she had sent him more than a hundred angry text messages voicing her displeasure over the situation. She gave no fucks if she appeared ‘crazy’ or ‘desperate.’ She was pissed off.

“Who in the hell does Shawn DeLise think he is?” Arianny continued, slamming the door shut on Riley’s 1968 T-Bird, literally the ugliest car Arianny had ever seen in her life besides her own. Riley cringed, not sure how someone so small could slam a door shut so hard that the windows actually rattled. He shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans and followed the girls. Riley was also wearing a pair of sneakers and an old Nirvana T-shirt.

“He’s an egotistical and chauvinistic asshole, Ari. I don’t know why you’re so surprised.”

Harlow led the way to the door of Starbucks. She was currently passing through town while she worked on the great Hilary Clinton’s campaign for Presidency. The tall, stunning brunette was dressed in a pair of skinny jeans with holes in the knees, a ‘Fuck The Patriarchy’ tee shirt, and converse sneakers. Her hair was pulled into a sloppy bun.

“Since day one, he has exhibited classic abusive behavior. He's using the fact that you’re not financially stable right now to control your emotions and have you lash out. You made the mistake of giving him the power in your relationship and now he is using it to make you want him and need him. Shawn is a grade A manipulator and nothing more than a piece of shit. Why do you care if someone who prides himself on being a bully and talks down to people is slowly cutting himself off from you? He hit his sister, Arianny. That man should be in jail for assault and battery. Georgia was a terrible excuse for a woman but she did not deserve to be struck in such a vicious, violent manner.”

Arianny and Riley exchanged looks, and Arianny rolled her eyes. She wasn’t in the mood to hear one of Harlow’s feminist rants, no matter how tame and polite it had been. Arianny stopped the group outside of the door and checked her reflection in the glass. Despite the fact she was full of piss and vinegar at the moment, Arianny still looked flawless. Her form-fitting, strapless tea length dress was a custom piece designed by Alexander McQueen. It was black with delicate gold and pearl designs all over it. Over top of the dress, she wore a black fur coat made of actual real fur from a group of useless dead animals. On her feet were high-heeled, black Jimmy Choo lace-up gladiator sandals and her blond hair was pulled back from her beautiful face with a pearl headband that matched her dress. She just oozed money and wealth, and made Riley and Harlow look poor by comparison.

When Arianny was done admiring herself, she motioned for Harlow to open the door and the group headed up to the counter. Neither Riley nor Harlow cared much for Starbucks, but Arianny looked like a kid in a candy store as she glanced at all the pastries and goodies that you could order in addition to your favorite beverage.

Once the person in front of Arianny finished giving their order and paid, the princess moved to her rightful place in front of the line. “Pumpkin Spice Latte, please. Venti. No whip. No foam. Low-fat milk. Two ice cubes.” The barista took the order and rang it up. “Seven-fifty, please.”

Arianny dug around in her Chanel bag and pulled her matching wallet out. Handing over her Visa card, she stifled a yawn and turned to Harlow and Riley. “Did you guys want anything?” Both of them grabbed a bottle of water and sat it on the counter. “Add those.”

The barista did as she was instructed and when the new total was displayed on the screen, she ran Arianny’s card for her. It didn’t go through.

“Ma’am? It says your card is declined.”

Arianny’s smile froze in place and her eyes widened. “What?”

“Your card. It says it was declined. Would you like me to run it again?”

“Obvi! There’s literally no way it can be declined. I just used it last night to buy a pair of Louboutins online.”

The barista gave Arianny a sympathetic smile, almost as if she were saying that’s probably why Ari’s card wasn’t working, and ran it again. It was still declined.

“Would you like to try an alternate form of payment?”

Ari’s pale cheeks flushed. She felt her anxiety building and her pulse had started to race. Gritting her teeth and fighting to keep that smile in place, she produced her debit card and handed it over.

A few seconds later, the barista nervously looked back the princess. “Ma’am? This card also says declined.”

“That’s impossible!”

There was literally no way Arianny’s bank card was declined. It was directly linked to Shawn’s account, which was now RSW’s account. Her stomach did a somersault. Surely, he wouldn’t cut off her credit card AND freeze her access to his bank account.

No.

“Try it again.”

The poor barista, bless her heart, ran the bank card three more times. Each and every time the result was the same. Harlow and Riley exchanged looks. Riley started reaching for his wallet.

“I got it, Ari.”

“No!”

Arianny refused to believe that Shawn would stoop so low as to humiliate her like this.

“Clearly there is something wrong with this bitch’s machine. Run the card again, you whore. And this time you better make sure it works.”

“Look, there’s nothing wrong with the machine. Perhaps you exceeded your daily limit. That happens a lot, especially having made a large purchase already.”

The barista was being polite but Ari literally saw red.

“Excuse me?” Arianny jerked her bag up on her arm and placed her hands on her hips. “I’m not fucking poor and working some minimum wage job. My bank account doesn’t have a fucking limit. Get another barista over here to fix the machine so I can pay for my pumpkin spice latte and these bottles of water. I am the last person you would ever want to piss off.”

Arianny clapped her hands. “Hello?! Can someone please come fix this stupid machine?”

Everyone inside Starbucks was staring at Arianny, Harlow, and Riley. Harlow looked horrified that the situation had spiraled this far out of control and Riley just looked amused. Jace had warned him, in detail, about Arianny and her temper.

“I assure you that there is nothing wrong with our credit card machine. It’s been working fine all day. Perhaps you would like to pay with cash?”

“Hello?! Do I look like someone who walks around carrying cash? I don’t want to get robbed, you idiot. Where’s your manager? I will get you fired for this.”

Harlow took Arianny’s arm. “Lets just go. It’s not worth it.”

Arianny jerked away and glared at her friend. “Not worth it? Let me tell you something, Harlow. I realize that we haven’t been friends for that long but pumpkin spice lattes are literally one of the few things I enjoy in life. During fall, a pumpkin spice latte is the single thing that keeps me going throughout the day. You do realize that the only thing I’ve put in my body since September first has been my daily pumpkin spice latte?! I don’t eat, bitch. Do you see what food does to your body? Look at the obese cows walking around here!”

Arianny wildly gestured around Starbucks.

“Pumpkin spice lattes are my thing. They are my goddamn life blood. So pardon me if this moron behind the counter, being totally incompetent and unable to run my freaking cards properly, makes me angry. Do not ever tell me a pumpkin spice latte IS NOT WORTH IT!”

Harlow backed off and thankfully for everyone the manager finally appeared. Arianny turned back towards the counter and sighed with relief.

“Thank God. Can you please fix your credit card machine so I can pay for my drinks and get the hell out of this awful place? Thank you… whatever your name is.”

Arianny snapped her fingers so the people waiting on her would spring into action. They didn’t.

“I’m sorry but I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

“WHAT?!”

Arianny looked at the manager like he had just lost his mind. “You can’t ask me to leave. I’m Arianny Blake. Do you know what that name means?”

The manager picked up the phone and started dialing a number. He ignored Arianny and looked directly at Harlow and Riley. “I’m calling the police if you don’t remove your friend.”

“Call the cops? Bitch, I’ll give you a reason to call the cops!”

Arianny dropped her bag and lunged for the throat of the offensive barista who couldn't work the credit card machine. Riley managed to grab Ari right before she could wrap her hands around the shaking girl’s neck, and he slung her over his shoulder.

“I will fucking murder you, bitch! I will kill you and your whole family! I just wanted a pumpkin spice latte!”

Arianny fought him the whole way and Harlow collected Arianny’s things and began profusely apologizing as she backed towards the door. Once Riley got Ari into the parking lot, he let her down and forced her back against the car.

“You’ve got to relax.”

“WHERE’S MY PHONE?!”

Harlow appeared with Arianny’s bag and the irate blond snatched her phone from it. She typed in her passcode and dialed Shawn’s number.

Nothing.

Surely he didn’t.

Arianny closed her eyes and clenched her fist at her side. “Harlow call me.”

Riley and Harlow both knew exactly what was going to happen once Harlow dialed that phone number. But she did it anyway, and Arianny’s worst nightmare was confirmed.

“That. Asshate.”

Shawn had shut off Arianny's phone.

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