The taxi pulled up next on the stony path of the Horseshoe, the nervous feeling I had gotten the last time we came here, for the reunion, had returned except much stronger now, when we got out the car I turned to Sarah,
“Maybe this isn't such a good idea, I could text Alex and say I’ve not been feeling great, if we call another taxi right now we could be gone befo-“
“Cara stop! we are not leaving now. Look, maybe it won’t be so bad after all, I mean if anything it should be a laugh, just try not to think of him as your high school sweetheart and think of him as an old friend, you didn’t buy that outfit for nothing.”
I sighed, why was she always right? “Well I suppose so, bu-“
“No buts Cara, we are going and that’s final.”
“Alright mum.” I laughed
“I do not look old enough to be your mother!” Sarah replied, sounding horrified.
“It was a joke Sarah, of course you don’t, we’re the same age. Forget it, let’s just go in.”
We walked into the old dirty pub and the smell of spilled beer and cigarettes surrounded us,
“This place is so disgusting,” Sarah stated, “why do we even come here?”
“I don’t even know if I'm honest, I mean there’s so many nicer places not too far, I suppose it’s just tradition really, we’ve been coming here forever.”
We soon found that Alex and Arielle were already sitting at a table in the corner of the room, laughing and talking. I clenched my jaw and fists, they looked so happy, I was definitely jealous, Sarah could tell
“Try not to kill anyone, Cara,” she said quietly, with a slight laugh.
I sighed, “I’ll do my best, can’t make any promises though.” I joked
We walked over,
“Hiya, so sorry we’re late, the traffic was a state!” I don’t know why I said that, we weren’t late, nor was the traffic a state. Sarah gave me a funny look.
Alex stood up, “ah, it’s so good to see you both, and Sarah, wow it’s been so long, you’re looking well,”
"As are you,” Sarah glowed, although I’m fairly sure she knew that’s just something people said when they haven’t seen each other in a long time, Sarah loved any compliment.
Arielle stood up too, “Cara, it’s so good to see you again,” she said shaking my hand,
“It’s good to see you too” I smiled, “Oh, and this is my friend Sarah”
“Nice to meet you Sarah, I’m Arielle,”
Sarah just smiled and shook her hand. We all sat down,
“So Alex, where’s this friend you said was coming?”
“He should’ve been ‘ere by now, must be caught up in that traffic you were talking about.”
I smiled awkwardly, “must be"
"Anyway, can I get you ladies some drinks?”
“White wine and soda please” normally I would’ve just asked for a beer or something but Arielle was drinking wine and I would’ve felt a fool sitting chugging a beer whilst she sat sipping wine.
“Alright, and what about you Sarah?”
She shifted uneasily in her seat, “just a coke please, I eh, need to get up early tomorrow.”
Alex walked off to get the drinks, it was awkward just the three of us, the girlfriend, the ex and the ex’s best friend, not a good mix, let me tell you.
"So how do you guys know Alex then?” Arielle asked trying to break the silence.
But thats when I realised that I had been right the the first time I met Arielle, Alex had never spoken about me, I mean it’s kind of hard to talk about someone you went to high school with without mentioning that you went to high school together. Sarah could see I was hurt and answered for us both,
"We all went to high school together, myself, Cara, Alex and Matt were basically inseparable for the last few years of high school,”
“Oh yea, that night we met was the reunion, how could I forget”
Just then Alex came back holding our drinks
“ ‘ere we go” he said, putting the drinks on the table.
“Alex, ehm, how is Matt doing?” Sarah asked hopefully.
Sarah and Matt had stayed in touch for longer than me and Alex, when I went to uni and Alex and I lost contact Matt and Sarah still talked, when I came back and Alex had moved away for a short while Matt and Sarah still talked, but as far as I knew, she hadn't heard from him in quite a long time.
I could tell Alex knew why she was asking and I could tell by how uncomfortable he looked she wasn’t going to like what he was about to tell her.
“ eh, he’s doing well,” Alex paused for a while, then sighed “he’s ehm, he’s got engaged”
“oh”
YOU ARE READING
Despair in the Departure Lounge
FanfictionCara hasn't seen her high school sweetheart Alex since he left with his band, the Arctic Monkeys, for five years until he is home visiting for a month. Cara is Delighted until Alex surprises her.
