Love is a Drug

Chapter 8

James had left. He had to have lunch with his father, the non-emotional-all about the law- no time for family- suit man, as James referred to him. Why did my heart ache when I didn't feel his arm wrapped around my shoulder? I couldn't possibly be in love! I'm seventeen, I know nothing about love.
"Lisa!" Cindy called from downstairs. "I have to have spend the afternoon dress shopping for Louis's wedding. Come down here so I can talk to you." I bounced off my bed and rushed down the stairs. Cindy was leaning on the marble counter texting. "Yeah you wanted me?"
"Yes," Cindy looked up," I noticed you will only be leaving as of the 25th of August and Louis's wedding is on the 20th of July, so as far as I am concerned you will still be here." Was Cindy hinting at me to go to the wedding? I hadn't ever been to a proper wedding except for an awful one where the groom refused to say 'I do' and instead stuttered 'no thanks' and then everything else escalated quickly on from there.
"So anyway, are you willing to go?" Cindy snapped me back to reality. I couldn't think of any reason not too! It seemed perfect.
"I'd love to!"
"Ok then w don't have much time. Come I have to meet Louis, Veronica and Caroline at the boutique." I noticed Cindy packing her phone and purse into her bag and lunging to the door.
"Caroline? Is James going to be there then?" Caroline was James's mother. She was very wealthy but cared a lot for her reputation. That's why she never really accepted me suitable for her son.
"Yes he is and I know." Cindy laughed. What could Cindy possibly know?
"Know what?"
"About how you are so desperately in love with James and ache when he isn't there but you don't want to tell him how you feel because you are afraid he won't feel the same way and things will be so awkward it will get to the point where you can't see each other anymore. Am I right?" I walked behind Cindy as she made her way to the car. I hated to admit it but everything Cindy had just said was completely correct.
"Yeah, what's your advice?"
"Tell him. He may not feel the same way but what if he does?" Cindy made a valid point. "I see the way he looks at you. Not every guy does that." Cindy really was the expert in love. I had to ask. "Why do you know so much about this anyway?" Cindy quickly unlocked the car and slid into the drivers seat and revved up the engine.
"I dated a man like James. A complete player. But changed." I slid into the front passenger seat. Listen intently. Absorbed. Paid attention.
"He treated me like a princess." Cindy laughed.
"What happened between you two?" I asked.
"He had an affair. The woman he had it with fell in love with him and he loved her. He insisted he stayed with me but.." Cindy paused for a moment before driving down the lane. ".. I couldn't come between them. And.... She fell pregnant with his child."
I gaped. My mouth fell open like a draw bridge. I never was a nosy person but had to ask who the man was.
"Can I ask who the man was?" The countryside passed us by with blurs of colours changing every millisecond.
"No. You will find out in your own time." I didn't understand this. Cindy was the most honest person I ever met, if my hair looked like shit she'd say "your hair looks likes shit" , if I smelled rotten she'd say "you smell rotten". Why couldn't she tell me this?

The car pulled into a parking space next to a boutique. It had big glass windows with wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, gowns, short dresses and shoes all on display on plastic maniquens. The walls were painted a faded pink colour and a large sign above the door read:" Laura's Boutique" in purple swirly italics with a red rose beneath the 'ou'.
I followed Cindy into the boutique. It had a light pink carpet with fuchsias couches in a semi circle. A low, round mahogany table was the centre of the crescent and a door way that led to changing rooms. There were two racks of colourful gowns and two racks with white gowns. To the left, a wall was filled with shoes. Some high with gold sparkles and some flat with purple bows.
"Cindy! Lisa! You made it." A tall, skinny woman with caramel coloured skin rose from a couch along with two other slender women. The tall woman walked to Cindy and I and shook hands. She had long brown/blond hair that came down in a curl. "I'm Louise." She smiled.
"Bride to be." Veronica, a short but slender woman pointed out and shook hands with me and Cindy.
"Hi!" I smiled at the two strangers before me but my eyes then lingered to Caroline.
"Hi Mrs. Moretz," I gave a warmly smile and waved.
"Lisa." James's mum raised an eyebrow but wondered on and shook hands with Cindy.
"Well, shall we get started?" Louise clapped her hands together grinning.
"First you have to show Lisa your dress." Veronica raised her finger and grinned with excitement. Louise laughed, "if you say so," and walked to the till. A short lady with glasses and a tight bun handed Louise a long plastic bag. Louise walked into the changing rooms but not without leaving a cheeky grin. I felt a very awkward tension between me and Caroline and tried to make peace.
"You look lovely Mrs. Moretz." I smiled but immediately Mrs. Moretz shot a glare at me and shut me up. I guess Cindy saw this because she quickly stepped in the conversation.
"Lisa here is a great admire of your clothes! Always asking can she buy some. I sometimes wonder if she'll ever shut up." Cindy laughed.
"That's great!" Mrs. Moretz smiled. I relaxed for a moment until she shot me a cold stare before turning and giving some friendly talk to Cindy. "I ment to ask you if you have the number of George Harrison from Bloom Ltd.?"
Cindy's eyebrows frown together, a crease curved its way into her forehead. "No. Why do you want George's phone number?" I was surprised by the surprise in Cindy's voice. I couldn't figure it out myself. Mrs. Moretz was with James's dad, wasn't she? Why would she want his number. I would've thought it was for business but she said it in a shy, flirtatious way. Besides, Caroline was in love with Andrew for many years and if I have been listening correctly to James, is still in love with Mr.Moretz.
"Well, it's just Chris is starting to bore me. And George seems really wild." Mrs. Moretz curled her hair and looked down at the ground as though she was in 8th class.
"Chris?!" Cindy seemed alarmed and frankly I didn't blame her. Why was Caroline asking about all these men? She had Mr.Moretz. I didn't know if I should tell James. He'll hate me. That's a given. And I don't want to lie to him. But I don't want to be without him.
"Well, yes," Mrs. Moretz let out the closest thing to a smile. "But get that number off of George? Great thanks . Oh and remember, you owe me this." She patted Cindy on the shoulder and walked towards the cashier. I stared blankly at Cindy but didn't see the need to ask questions. Seemed pretty clear to me. Mrs. Moretz is a slut. The slutty mother of my boyfriend. The slutty mother of my boyfriend who I love. The slutty mother of the boyfriend I love who I haven't said that to yet and don't know if I should tell him about his slutty mother.
Louise stepped out in a beautiful white gown. It had vintage lace going right up to her neck and a body con for most of her body except for her legs when the dress spread out across the floor and hid Louise's beautiful silver heels. A white veil trailed behind the dress for a meter and was attached to Louise's head by a small sliver tiara.
"You look gorgeous, you look fabulous, love the dress, Jonathan is a lucky man, beautiful." We all praised to Louise, after all, the dress was ,magnificent.
I slipped into a long, ankle length light green, silk dress with a v- shaped cleavage and a silver glitter like belt. It was a beautiful dress. Louise had done a wonderful job on her wedding arrangement, every little detail was spot on, beautiful.