Craving Scarlett

|18|. All for One and One for All

We were currently sitting at a quaint, little cafe downtown with panelled walls and cosy booths. The sun was at its peak. One could tell by the hustling and bustling of the Londoners traversing across the streets, hurrying off to God knows where, their overcoats lying over their arms. It was October for goodness sake, and yet the weather was not grey or overcast like my mood but instead sunny and bright, I thought glumly taking an unhealthy slurp of my tea.

As if the sun could hear me, she smiled even brighter, seemingly mocking me with her radiant smile.

Loud laughter greeted me from across the booth. "I can't believe it. This is hilarious. Oh my God. He sent you flowers and love letters? 'Your best friend'?" There was a pause then another round of loud, certainly unladylike laughter that dragged the attention of several of the patrons of the cafe to us.

I had just finished telling them the story of what happened this morning. And as you might have guessed, I was already regretting it. "Will you shut it, Venita? Everyone is looking at us!" I wanted to faceplant on my watermelon soup - I was that embarrassed - but my mum taught me not to waste food so I settled for drilling her with the force of my laser glares.

It must have worked because she stopped laughing and shrugged, biting into her apple cinnamon roll with wild abandon. "I don't give a damn," she replied while still chewing. "They can stare all they want." And as if emphasising her point, she popped her index finger into her mouth to lick off the frosting. She hummed in satisfaction. "This is really good though."

To my right, a middle-aged couple made disgusted faces at Venita, looking like they could gag at her atrocious behavior and in public too! I didn't know whether to remain angry at Venita or laugh at the couple's expression. Fortunately, Mary saved me the trouble.

"Ven! What are you doing? Stop that at once!" Mary told Venita hotly. Now while I had no problem with people who talk while eating, it was one of Mary's pet peeves. Especially, when you were also chewing as loudly as Venita was at that moment.

Venita pouted her lips sulkily and huffed. Nevertheless, she stopped. You do not want to awaken the kraken, trust me.

The lull at the table was broken by Rose's giggles. "This is fun. I mean not the part where your Tom bought you flowers and love letters. Certainly not that. But it feels good you know to hang out with you guys, you know."

I and Mary shared uncomfortable looks. We'd had no idea that unconsciously, we had been pushing Rose away. It wasn't intentional but it had happened anyway. Even during our lunch breaks, she didn't join us and we'd never offered. I was never too close and personal with my employees and Venita and I had become friends through sheer force of will (hers) and because I often frequented the cafe where she worked.

Quite truthfully, the only reason she was here at this table was because she and Venita had been shopping when we called her. And the only reason she was even with Venita in the first place was because Mary and I had refused to go. Now, reflecting on my past, I saw that my reservedness might save me from a world of hurt but has shut me off from some pretty amazing friends.

I stretched my hand across the checkered tablecloth to place them on hers. "I must admit I and Mary are pretty shitty people." That earned me an eyeroll from Venita but I plowed on. "And I understand if you don't like us. Quite truthfully, I would hate me too. But I want you to know, I'm sorry, so very sorry, for everything. I guess I was so used to being independent, I didn't realize that I was hurting people by pushing them away and I am really sorry for that."

"And," Mary interjected, stressing the word and placed her hand above mine. "I'm also very sorry. I just realised now how unfeeling I must have come across. Yeah sure we greeted each other but I didn't really know you and for that I'm also really, truly sorry."