@vimiller | Late Evening, February 24th, Outside the Kiss on The Lips Party
He has his list - the betrayed, the confused, and the forgotten. They pile up on his mental rolodex, ranked first by the extent of the wrong and then by the potential to make amends. Despite the circumstances of his return, he chooses to control what can be controlled. In this case, it’s the relationships that can be salvaged after a year of ghosting. Then again… Vienna Miller has forgiven worse things than a series of unanswered text messages and a PR scandal to help clean up. Especially from the likes of him.
Admittedly, he bides his time. Old friends as they were, Vienna is predictable to him now. She could lord over party goers and schmooze among the best of them, but inevitably, she’d come out for air. Glamorous events may sparkle and shine, but they could suffocate as well. Elliott hangs back, lit by the streetlight and visible from the front entrance. The twinge of pink on his cheek is present, and Gossip Girl’s influence is fast and furious. He can already see a few iPhone’s taking shots of his still-pink cheek. Whatever. It’s not like he’s a stranger to scandal and ridicule these days. He turns his shoulder away from them, catching Vienna right as she’d stepped into the January frost.
“I got you one of those tacky, souvenir magnets while I was away.” Elliott calls out, as an olive branch and a too-easy word of endearment. Talking to Vienna has always come easily. “I was in Vienna, and the opportunity was right there. So,” he shrugs, leaning up from the brick wall. “Can we talk?”
The night was supposed to have been yet another dull, but somehow important event. What had once been a beloved tradition had become like any other gala or ball thrown by the city’s elite. She had her obligations to show up - if she ever hoped to be the next Anna Wintour, being at every event was a must, plus the host was one of her oldest and closest friends.. most of the time - she’d mingle, have a couple of drinks, comment on everyone’s look for the night, but ultimately the excitement of these types of nights had plummeted when Gossip Girl went silent.
Oh, was she wrong? What may have started as a typical night in the New York social scene blew up with one simple notification. She was back. And in typical Gossip Girl fashion, it didn’t take long for the drama of the night to follow. She saw Brie first and then the too familiar face that she was headed straight for. She watched in stunned silence as the echo of Brie’s hand hitting Elliott rang through the room.
A good friend would have immediately rushed to Brie’s side and spit venomous words at the snake who broke her heart and humiliated her, but being a good friend had never been her strong suit. No, instead, she turned on her heel and wished for the boring droll of rich men and economics rather than the flood of memories that came whenever Elliott was around.
In her brief panic, Vienna headed for the outside door. The air had become too thick and she needed to step away from it. That is until she heard that familiar voice behind her. A smile that she shouldn’t have pulled at one corner of her mouth. She bit her lips closed to hide it before turning towards him, “You were in Vienna?” One perfectly manicured brow lifted, “That’s news to me.” She pushed her brown locks behind her ear, “Let me guess, it’s a shot glass? Or maybe one of those t-shirts that say my best friend’s ex-fiance went to Vienna and all I got was this stupid shirt?” She questioned, trying to remind him and herself where they stood. “What’s there for us to talk about, El?” She asked.