Ambre, Mon Coeur

Suspicious

Time-lapse: 20 minutes

AMBRE

I wiped my tears away and tried to not feel too terrible. I could just break up with him now. Over the phone. Even though that was also pretty shitty. Nelson picked up on the second ring. My breath caught before I could say anything. And then I began crying again like a fucking idiot. " Hey, hey, hey Ambre. What's the problem is everything alright? Are you hurt?" His voice was worried. Kind, loving. Nothing I deserved. I had to say it. " Nelson I've cheated on you! I've kissed another man! Please don't be angry." The last sentence was a whisper.

My heart thundered in my chest. The anticipation of awaiting his reactions was killing me. But it never came.  At least not the way I expected it to. "It's alright Ambre I still love you. I'm coming right now." The click of the phone turning off sent dread coursing through my body.

No. Stupid man. He obviously was programmed wrong. Now he was coming to try and soothe me as if that was the answers to this predicament. My door burst open way too early for my liking. "Ambre, dear stop crying. I still really love you. Don't worry. We will be together forever." Nelson's tone was soothing and sweet. The opposite of what I wanted to hear. " Wait- Nelson, I was just trying to say that...that I want this to be over." I felt a huge burden leave my shoulders when I let those words come out.

Nelson looked confused for a second before he understood. "Yes I know honey it will. After some time you won't feel so guilty. Don't worry yourself." Nelson pulled me into a tight embrace. What the fuck? No that's not what I meant. I pulled away so that I could correct him but then he put a finger against my lip. "Don't worry I will forever love you." He whispered to me before bringing me back into the tight embrace.

I tried to make myself say it again but I couldn't. My confidence was shattered.

AUTHORS NOTE: A glimpse into Nelson's head 

NELSON

I felt disgusting holding onto her. I would never love her. But I had to...just for a little while longer.

EZRA

I had gone to see Nevaeh but she was already discharged. The front desk lady handed me a paper with loopy handwriting. Signed by Nevaeh. I smiled at her greeting.

Nevaeh's letter:

What's good hoe!?  Here is my number: 987-654-3210.

Call me. Or else I'm going to cut off your glorious golden curls. * laughs evilly.

Real shit, thanks for saving my life. I will forever be in debt to you.

Ps: I shed a tear writing this so CALL ME.

The one and only,

Nevaeh💙

I couldn't help the little smile that tugged at my lips. The walk home was peaceful and tranquil. The usual loud traffic of New York was surprisingly on the lower side of the meter today. A 3 out of 10. The breeze was nice and cool it feel great against my skin. The smell of pizza wafted into my nose as I passed by a pizzeria. So, I stopped for pizza. Because, why not? Azure began to meow loudly when I entered the apartment. I could hear and smell that my mom was cooking something. The pots and pans were banging around loudly. My little sister Dasiy screeched happily at the tv screen as colorful characters danced around. Then she turned when she saw me. Her smile grew even bigger. "PIZZA! AND IT'S EZRA TOO!" She ran over grabbed the pizza box and stood on her tiptoes to give me a peck. She ran to the kitchen with Azure following quickly behind her.

I followed them as well. "Mom Don't worry about dinner I bought pizza. Also um- Dad called." My mom turned abruptly. Dropping one of her pans resorting to scaring Azure and making her dash under the table. Daisy grabbed a slice of pizza and joined her under the table. My mom's face was stern. "What does he want? Money?" Her usual happy and sweet face was red with anger and annoyance. I sighed. " Don't worry mom he only said he wanted to see me. And we all know Dad doesn't need money. We've all seen his home. Remember that just because he looks more financially stable doesn't mean I will love him more." She calmed down visibly and put her face in her hands. She shook slightly.

What the hell was it with the woman I know crying today? I hugged her and brought her to my chest the smell of the marinara clinging to her kitchen smock. At 4'11 my mom barely grazed my shoulders. " I love you more okay? Also, I'm gonna be staying a little longer. I've been feeling a little lost and I need more inspiration. I think that Califonia can bring me that." She pulled away and looked up at me with her little heart-shaped face. She looked like she was trying to stop her tears but still a little tear made its way down her cheek. She smiled "Of course honey. Do what's best for yourself. Also, I know you bought pizza but Daisy's eating it all and I'm making dinner, and it's almost done. Sit and eat with me?"

She asked me kindly with a little smile on her lips. I wasn't going to say no. " Sure mom." 10 minutes later dinner was done and plated. We started to eat in comfortable silence but then mom started to ask me all types of personal questions. " So do you have a girlfriend- Or perhaps a boyfriend? And are they close by? Will I get to see them? Will they go with you to California? You know how to use a proper condom right? You are 24 I'm sure you do...right? " She relished in my uncomfortable blushing. "I'm only playing Ezra. You don't have to answer that not unless you want to." We were back to silence but it wasn't as comfortable as the first. It was starting to get nice again when my mom had to speak. "Okay, so I want to tell you something." She took a deep breath and then whispered as if we were school girls.

"So I have a boyfriend. His name is Corey and I think I'm in love. Maybe, maybe not." I was taken aback by what my mom was saying. She was always home. What was she talking about? Maybe she was joking. " What does he look like." A shock of surprise passed through me when mom showed a picture of a man with a kind, careful smile. He had salt and pepper curls.  She stood next to him, giving him a peck on the check. The feeling of protectiveness swarmed my body but then I looked closer to her face. She looked so happy and ecstatic. This was what she needed. Instead of frowning, I smiled. " I am so happy for you mom. He looks very kind. Maybe I can meet him some time?"

She smiled and nodded her head. 

AMBRE

Time: 10:30 pm

I laid on my bed tiredly. I'm beginning to drift off to sleep when my door swings open. "Ambre! did you cheat on Nelson? Why? He is so nice!" Anais stormed over to me and pulled my comforter away from my body. Anger coursed through my body. My yelling was on the brink of sounding hysterical. "You think I don't know that?! I'm already beating myself up! I don't need you to make me feel worse! Get out of my room!" Anais looked hurt for a second before a cool and collected look passed over her features. She squared her shoulders and rolled her eyes. " Well, whatever. If it was me I would watch over such a kind man!" She turned around on her heel and proceeded to stomp out of my room. 

"He's not even perfect he literally talked the whole time on the date! Sheesh, y'all make him sound like a saint! Made me think he was more than I perceived!" I wasn't prepared for the look that Anais had when she turned around. " He. Is. He cares about me-Us. Aimee and the twins. You are so selfish and ungrateful." Every word that passed Anais's lips was pushed through clenched teeth. She was seething. What the hell was her problem? I tried to ignore the dark look on her face. " Whatever." I turned around and closed my eyes. I tried to sleep but I felt the eye of Anais still on my back. I began to have a scared feeling in my stomach. I whipped my head around to find that she had already left but the door was left wide open. "This stupid bitch." I huffed and then I got up to close the door.

Hey, y'all! This chapter was a little all over the place but bear with me. Please vote and comment if you can! I didn't really know what to name the chapter so I wrote down the vibe it was giving me. ❤️❤️💙💙-Ruby