Tearing Apart the Hypocritical Best
Friend
Chapter 1
My so–called bestie, Ashley, wanted me to
tag along on a snorkeling trip while we were
on vacation.
We saw a crazy cool fish tornado, got some
awesome pics, and then the dive instructor
was all, “Hey, Ashley, wanna do a deep dive,
just you and me?”
I told her it was a bad idea.
He got all huffy when she said no, and then
took some other girl.
Turns out, they found some endangered sea
<
turtle or something, and everyone who was
with them got like a million bucks reward.
Ashley lost her mind.
She grabbed a kitchen knife and just started
stabbing me.
“You blocked my chance at a fortune! I hope
you rot in hell!”
Then, I woke up.
And there she was, all batting her eyelashes,
asking, “So, do you think I should go on that
deep dive with him?”
I shivered.
The memory of dying was still way too fresh.
<
I’d been so excited to show her my new “Best
Friends Forever” mugs, and she just snatched
one and smashed it over my head.
“It’s all your fault! If you hadn’t stopped me
from going deep sea diving with the
instructor, I’d be rolling in dough right now.‘
“Because of you, I’m still drowning in debt!
Give me back the money that could have
been mine, or I’ll kill you!”
Ashley was so blinded by greed; she was
completely oblivious to the fact that the
“deep sea instructor” made at least two posts
a month of finding endangered sea creatures
and getting millions in reward money.
I honestly think he could open a zoo with all
<
the endangered animals he supposedly finds.
But she wouldn’t listen. She was completely
nuts and just stabbed me over and over.
“Rory?”
Ashley’s voice snapped me back.
I rubbed my arms, getting goosebumps, and
realized I’d somehow gotten a do–over.
I gave my bestie a cold stare.
“You’re a grown–up, Ashley. Figure it out
yourself. Why are you asking me?”
If she was so desperate to chase some dumb
get–rich–quick scheme, who was I to stop
her?
Г
Last time, Ashley had asked the same
question, whether she should go with the
instructor.
It was the deep sea, and neither of us could
even swim! If he yanked off your oxygen
mask, you’d be totally helpless. I felt a bad
vibe and dragged Ashley away.
In the end, the instructor had taken another
girl from our group for the deep dive.
We happened to run into that other girl later
that night. She was being wheeled out of the
hospital, eyes glazed over, with cops asking
her questions.
Ashley had dodged a bullet because of me.
<
But all she remembered was missing out on a
million dollars, and she blamed me.
This time, I wasn’t getting in her way.
Ashley was already struggling with the oxygen
tank the instructor handed her, pouting under
her breath.
“Rory, are you just jealous that the instructor
only asked me, and didn’t ask you?”
Then, she looked at me like she knew
something I didn’t. “Or, come with us! The
other instructor can take you.”
I shook my head and waved at the instructor
walking towards me. No thanks!
く
Ashley scoffed. “Oh, so now you’re acting all
high and mighty? Waiting for a formal
invitation?”
Liam, the instructor, raised an eyebrow. “Our
deep dive shop has been around for years. It’s
super safe.‘
“And the truth is, the diving world is too
competitive nowadays. We want to attract
more customers by making videos of pretty
girls diving, that’s why we invite them to dive
for free.”
Ashley puffed out her chest and started
strapping an oxygen tank onto my back.
“Don’t be like that, Rory, you can thank me
later, if not for me, you’d have to spend a few
く
thousand for this.”
She was scared and wanted me to tag along,
I smirked.
“No need, just give me my phone, I’ll get a
cab to the hotel and wait for you.”
Ashley’s face soured. “How would I know
where your phone is?”
I rolled my eyes, stepped forward, opened her
waterproof bag, and grabbed my phone.
Ashley’s face turned sour, but she kept quiet.
Liam suddenly reached out.
CRASH! My phone went flying into the ocean.
“Are you crazy?!” I looked at him in disbelief.
Ashley giggled. “Okay, Rory, just come with
- us. I hear the fish tornado is even prettier
down there!”
We stood there for a few minutes, then the
other instructor walked up, grabbed me, and
tried to drag me towards the speedboat.
I struggled to break free, yelling, “Didn’t you
hear me? I don’t want to go!”
People started staring.
“Girl, don’t be ungrateful. They’re taking you
out for free!”
“Seriously, what an idiot.”
L
“Hey, can you take guys out for free? I’ll help
you make videos!”
No one helped me. I bit the instructor’s arm
as hard as I could.
He yelped and let go, raising his hand to hit
- me.
