The Break Up Plan

ONE YEAR, ONE WEEK AND FOUR DAYS

ONE YEAR, ONE WEEK AND FOUR DAYS

The hanger drops from my hand and I let out an involuntary squeak as the door to my dorm room bursts open.

I stare, dumfounded at the pair that stumble in, furiously making out.

I avert my gaze as they stumble to the second bed, oblivious to my presence in the room.

I have to make it known however, when she starts to take off his shirt.

"Excuse me?"

The two pull apart, almost as startled as me. The girl's eyes widen, her breathing heavy and rapid, "oh hey! Are you my new roommate?"

I nod, "yeah, I'm Isabella"

She grins, showing a mouthful of colourful braces. "I'm Oluwatobiloba but you can call me Tobi"

She slides down from underneath the boy and pulls me into a hug. I can't tell if the lemony scent is his or hers.

The boy clears his throat from her bed, "hey, I'm Ben" he greets awkwardly and I can tell that he's the shy one in the relationship.

"Hi Ben" I smile at him.

"So," Tobi beams, "freshman?"

I nod, "yeah, I took a gap year though"

"Oh that's cool" she walks backwards to join Ben on her bed, "after last year, I'd love to just drop everything and go on a trip round the world, anything to get away from all that homework"

I smile, "if you get a chance, I seriously recommend it"

Ben ruffles Tobi's short blue curls, "this one would probably get herself stranded somewhere with no service"

She punches him lightly, smiling, "you think I'd go anywhere without you? You're my GPS for life"

I look away when Ben leans forward to kiss her and the empty longing I've carried with me for the past year throbs.

A phone rings and Ben answers it, "hey man"

"Yeah?"

"Shit okay, be there in ten"

"Everything okay?" Tobi asks.

He nods and leans forward to kiss her cheek, "That was Cole, he says Coach is on his period again. I'll see you later yeah?"

He stands to leave and as he walks past me, he smiles again, "it was nice to meet you, Isabella"

If he notices my frozen state he doesn't comment as he walks out of the room. The lemony scent is his.

"Isabella? Are you okay?"

I turn to Tobi, still stunned, "Cole, the guy that just called your boyfriend"

She frowns, "yeah? They're on the basketball team together"

I gulp, "what's his last name?"

"Matthews"

One year, one week and three days since I last heard his name. It feels surreal, knowing he's somewhere out there, so close.

My heart rate increases with excitement, anticipation and fear. I've missed him so much but what if it's not the same with him? What if he took off the necklace?

Ben returns in the evening and he and Tobi cuddle together on her bed, watching Netflix.

At some point, Tobi reaches over and pauses the movie, "bathroom" she announces and leaves the room.