Despair in the Departure Lounge

Chapter 8 - Baby I'm Yours

After a long sleepless night, I woke up, it was Thursday. Today I was going to go meet up with Alex to discuss our 'situation', I was so nervous and had been since we arranged it. I picked up my phone and carefully constructed a text to send,

"Hi al, hope you slept well, just wondering if we're still on for today and if so, what time? x"

Simple yet effective. I pressed send and stared at my phone, I knew I was making a far bigger deal out of this than it actually was but I just really liked him and hoped he like me as much. I sat staring at my phone, willing it to buzz with a new text, it didn't, I groaned and dragged myself out of bed and down stairs for breakfast.

I climbed up on the counter to get the cornflakes from the top shelf, I didn't really feel hungry but I knew I had to eat something. I found a clean bowl and spoon and went to sit at the table just as I was chewing my first spoonful of cereal my phone chimed and the screen lit up, "New message from Alex Turner". My hear skipped a beat and I almost choked on my cornflakes, I knew I had to calm down but this was important to me. I didn't want to text back straight away so he would think I was waiting for him, so, I tactfully waited to open it until after I had finished my cereal.

"Morning.. I slept well thank you, was thinking about half 2 if that works for u?X"

I felt so excited just by the thought of us meeting up, a planned meet up just the two of us, not just an accidental run in or a drunken realisation at 2 in the morning. My heart fluttered as I texted him back, "2:30 works for me xx"

Right now it was around 10 so I had plenty of time to get dressed and make myself look nice.

I went upstairs and ran myself a nice deep, hot, bubble bath. I lay there soaking in the sweet-smelling water with soft music playing in the background, the light streamed through the frosted glass window and onto my face, I closed my eyes and stayed still for a while. I climbed out of the bath and draped my robe over my shoulders and wrapped a towel around my wet hair. I carefully selected a flattering outfit, dried my hair and put on some light, pretty makeup. I went to the full-length mirror, not half bad, I thought smiling. It was after one, if I left now, I could get there early, it sounded like a better option than sitting at home panicking about what to say or do when I saw Alex.

By the time I got to the cafe it was already 1:55, not quite as early as I expected but it didn't matter, I pulled open the glass door of the cafe and scanned the room,

"Cara, over here." I heard a smooth voice call to me, I turned round, Alex beamed at me.

"Hi Alex!" I smiled back at him, he pulled me into a tight embrace, my arms hung loosely around his neck, his arms firmly around my waist, he had his face placed in the crook of my neck. I stepped back,

"I'm going to go order a coffee, d'you want anything?"

"Nah, I've already got, I'll wait 'ere for you"

I walked up to the counter and ordered a latte,

"I'll bring it over love" the smiley woman behind the till said.

I walked back to the table and slid into the free seat across from Alex,

"So..." I said with a slight giggle, "Where do we begin?"

"Well... I've thought about what you said that night and I've made a decision,"

My stomach knotted,

"...and?"

"Cara," he took my hand in his, "Over these last couple of days and I've come to the realisation that-"

"oops, sorry to interrupt, just bringing over your latte my dear, I'll leave you to it." she sat the coffee down on the table and waddled of, I sighed and smiled, my cheeks a little red from embarrassment of the waitress seeing us,

Alex laughed slightly, "where were we?" he grinned, "ah yes, I've come to the realisation that, ever since I left five years ago, there's been something missing in my life, I know we've both changed so much but I'm willing to give us ago."

He stood up still holding my hand, dragging me up with him, he pulled me into a soft kiss and held me tight in his arms. I couldn't stop smiling.

"oh Alex, I can't even tell you how happy I am right now, I was so worried you would've changed your mind ,"

" 'ow could I 'ave," he said beaming at me.

"Alex, I don't mean to ruin the moment but I can't just not ask, how did Arielle take it? Couldn't have been eas-"

Alex shifted and looked down,

"Oh my god," my face dropped, "You haven't told her, have you?"

He stayed quiet.

"HAVE YOU?" I almost shouted.

"No"

"Oh my god, Alex, how could you?" I could feel tears forming in my eyes, "You know why I din't kiss you that night and yet you haven't told her, you've cheated on her today Alex,"

"But today I knew I was done with 'er,"

"She didn't know,"

"I'm sorry."

"No, I'm sorry Alex because it looks like you've just lost both of us,"

"What?"

"Unless you don't plan on breaking up with Arielle now, you've lost both of us. In fact, if you don't, let me know if she still wants to go wedding dress shopping on Saturday , we can pretend this never happened."

"Cara-"

I picked up my bag, "Goodbye Alex."

I walked out into my car and rested my head on the steering wheel, tears rolled down my cheeks. Just as things were falling together, why did they all have to fall apart.