"This time, I actually took leave to come hang out with you guys. Even when the gala invited me, I didn't go. Aren't I loyal?"
Hayes Edwards arrived and immediately started buddying up with Jack Stewart and Edison Lynch.
Lucy Taylor had also come early and casually exposed Hayes Edwards' lie, "Oh, that's not you turning it down; that's you being too embarrassed to go. Tone-deaf superstar, am I right?"
"Who says I'm tone-deaf!" Hayes retorted indignantly, "I'll pick a song later, and you all better listen when I sing."
James Landon sat off to the side and adjusted his glasses, "Last time you got drunk and sang, you nearly got us kicked out by the restaurant owner."
Edison Lynch chimed in too, "Exactly, exactly. I still have the video. I'll show it to everyone later!"
Feeling utterly wounded, Hayes Edwards could only seek comfort from Hannah, but after just two sobs, he spotted Arnold Simmons coming out of the kitchen and quickly changed course.
"Roy! They're bullying me!"
