The Upside of Heartbreak

Not How I Thought This Would End

Sorry this is a day late all. Just finished the last of stint of 14hr night shifts this morning, so yesterday was pretty much a write-off. Although I suppose it is actually early, since I wasn't even sure I would have another chapter ready until next weekend. Luckily for all of you, my hubby started watching a YouTube video about a ventriloquist convention. As a way to try and escape, I put on my headphones, turned on some music, and started typing. In short, I don't like dolls or puppets and I will now be having nightmares for eternity, but on a positive note you all get an update...

This one and its title are both heavily influenced by Enough by Beth Crowley, though it applies more to the end of the chapter than the beginning. I'm sure you'll figure out why when you get there :P Anywho, enjoy! Happy Sunday everyone :)

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Life had been a bit like a romance novel over the past couple weeks. Since their talk on Sunday, Hayden no longer spurred Astrid's affections. Of course they still kept their proper distance at the University. Behaving exactly as teacher and student should. Instead, they would meet in secret on the way home from school to share a few brief kisses after a long day of mostly ignoring each other. Always in a different spot, and always far from prying eyes. Then they would climb back in their respective vehicles and go their separate ways.

Hayden had been adamant that school nights were for studying and homework. Refusing (probably wisely) to come over to her place or bring her to his during weeknights. The majority of their interactions currently confined to text messaging or video calls. Submitting to his sensibility, Astrid settled for making up for lost time on the weekends. Honestly, she had already expected something of the sort anyways the moment she had decided to involve herself in a forbidden romance.

Last weekend had been wonderful though. Just like something out of a fairytale. Hayden had even thought to send a driver in a sleek black Mercedes to pick her up on Friday night. The middle aged man in his smart black suit climbing out to open the door for her. Smiling at her kindly and carefully passing her Stormfly's cage before loading the rest of her bags into the trunk.

As she had sunk back against the soft leather upholstery and gazed out at the traffic through dark tinted windows, Astrid couldn't help feeling a bit like royalty. She also deeply appreciated Hayden's thoughtfulness. The presence of the chauffeur helping to ease her nerves about just what she was doing. It was much better than parking her car a block or so away and sneaking down the street like a criminal as she tried to avoid being seen. This way, her car stayed clearly visible in the apartment parking lot - exactly where it should be. No one would be any the wiser.

Everything had been going so well up until now. Looking back, Astrid supposed that she really should have known that it was too good to last. Something was going to bring her fantasy crashing down. That fact was as inevitable as death and taxes. She had just been sure that she would have a little longer in this dream world before it all fell down.

Her and the girls had been reminiscing about that lunch scene all afternoon. The way Hayden had put Sabrina firmly back in her place had been wonderful to watch. Still laughing about it as they put away the dinner dishes, the ladies had just started on their homework when the security panel started buzzing. The sound repeating in an irritatingly frantic loop. Astrid, Heather, and Rachel all glanced at each other in confusion before Heather headed to the panel to see who it was and let them in.

Before she could say anything though, the sound of heavy footsteps could be heard pounding up the steps. Rachel barely had time to get the door open before Frank and Tyler were bursting through it. Both of them wheezing and panting as they struggled to catch their breath. "What is it? What's wrong," Astrid asked. Alarmed by both the sudden urgency of their appearance, and their overly flushed faces. Frank actually looking like he was on the verge of a heart attack.