Part 2

 

Taeyeon is slipping on her robe when she hears the musical tone of her cell going off in the bedroom.

It's been four days since she spoke with Tiffany and the mushroom should have been home that morning.

Hurrying into the bedroom, Taeyeon grips the phone and answers eagerly, "Tiffany! Fany ah?"

The line is crackling with static and for a moment, Taeyeon can't be sure if the other person is speaking.

She's been playing phone tag with Tiffany for days and the other girl's voicemail box is full; even angry messages haven't been an option. It's the kind of thing Taeyeon usually does for Tiffany when she's home. Otherwise, the mushroom goes for weeks without clearing the old messages and no one has any idea where Tiffany is.

There's a short burst of sound and then suddenly the line is clear and Tiffany's questioning confusedly, "Taeyeon ah? Taeyeon, are you there?"

Taeyeon cracks a grin and says, "I'm here. Where are you?"

There's a pause on the other end and Taeyeon, completely robed, sinks onto the edge of the bed as the silence grows.

"I'm still in L.A., Taeyeon."

The shorter girl presses the phone to her ear and manages to convey surprise even though she's half expected Tiffany to do something like this.

"Oh. Well, when do you think you'll be coming back to Seoul?"

Tiffany's voice is flat as she responds, "I don't know. I might just- stay awhile. I know I've been making things hard for you."

Taeyeon breaks; tears swimming in her eyes as she bends her head and wills herself to stand up to Tiffany. It's cosmically wrong for the girl to let Tiffany out this easily; even if the mushroom is uncharacteristically offering to shoulder the blame for the implosion.

"How long is awhile?"

Tiffany doesn't respond and Taeyeon just says, "Oh,"

There's not much more that Taeyeon can remember when Tiffany hangs up the phone.

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Los Angeles

A hand skims over the curve of Tiffany’s hip and she turns, her long extensions whipping gently against her shoulders, and smiles.

“Ian, there you are.”

“Sorry,” Ian apologizes, leaning in to plant a kiss on Tiffany’s cheek; she grimaces slightly as his stubble scratches against her skin. “I was just talking to the guys from MTV.”

“Aren’t you impressive,” Tiffany grins, giving him a playful swat on the shoulder.

“I’m the one with the new album out,” he says, feigning irritation, as his arm slips around her waist, “and yet the entire press line is infatuated with you.” They stop and pose for pictures and while the flashes go off relentlessly, Ian turns and breathes into her ear, “everyone’s infatuated with you.”

“Ian!” a reporter calls out. “Who’s your date?”

Tiffany smiles, letting Ian field the questions because it’s his night and she’s only in it for the free drinks. They tried dating once, but they were terrible at it. The first time they went to dinner, they ended up trading outrageous stories about their exploits and misadventures; drawing a crowd that monopolized three tables in the back corner of Nobu for nearly four hours.

Tiffany couldn’t help but eye the girl Ian was chatting up - beautiful, short shiny hair, and whenever she shifted in her seat, her skirt would ride up, showing a nearly indecent amount of skin; she reminded Tiffany of someone probably better left forgotten. By the end of the night, all Tiffany could think about was Kim Taeyeon, so she invited the short skirt girl back to her place. She felt bad the next day, but Ian was a surprisingly a good sport about it; he scored with the redhead by the bar after she left.

“Ian,” another reporter asks as they shuffle down the red carpet, “any truth to the rumors about you leaving the band and going solo?”

“Absolutely not,” Tiffany hears Ian say. Her mind drifts back to the girl from Nobu, who she never saw again; who she shamelessly used, while she tried to refrain Taeyeon’s name from spilling out all night.

She and Taeyeon still talk sometimes. More often, they leave each other voicemails; weekly ones became monthly, and then eventually, the contact dissolved into short messages on birthdays and holidays. It’s easier that way; easier for Tiffany to distract herself with friends and parties and random adventures.

Tiffany thinks it must be easier for Taeyeon, too, to throw herself into work, because the last message she got from Taeyeon was three months ago. 'Hey, Fany, Happy Birthday. I’m cutting it close, I know, but I’ve been trying to find a new assistant - SooSun had a nervous breakdown, and this is the first chance I’ve had to call all day. So, um, Happy Birthday, again.'

She follows Ian through the expansive doors and lets him guide her up to the furthest row. As they sit, a brunette across the aisle catches Tiffany’s eye. She smiles, offering Tiffany a quick wave, and as the lights dim, Tiffany thinks about the time she and Taeyeon had in the bathroom at random restaurant; by the time the movie’s over, she plans to be recreating that moment.

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

The polyphonic version of 'Halo' by Beyonce cuts through the air and Tiffany sinks to her knees, reaching for her cell. She checks the screen and smiles when she sees it’s Jacques.

“Hey.”

“Stephanie, thank God!” He sounds hysterical and desperate, but that’s nothing new for him.

“What?” Tiffany sits up, panting, and brushing her damp hair out of her face

“Oh,” suddenly there’s disgust in the voice, “did I…interrupt something?”

“No, Jacques,” Tiffany chuckles, scrunching her face up, “I was just out running.”

“Listen, I’ve got a shoot in an hour. One of the models can’t make it. Something about an OD or an ED, or whatever capital D drama.”

“You sound real sympathetic,” Tiffany comments dryly.

“Sympathy?,” Jacques scoffs, “I’m screwed. I need you and your gorgeous legs to meet me downtown.”

“Oh,” Tiffany groans half-heartedly, “I was going to stop by the studio and see Ian. You know, give him some moral support while he’s trying to get his demo together.”

“The hell with moral support! If I don’t find a hot replacement in 56 minutes, I’m going to get beat up...with my own camera and I will not enjoy it.”

“God,” Tiffany laughs, “you’re so dramatic. I’ll be there, okay?”