It was Friday afternoon, I felt horrible about everything. I had called Sarah to ask if she could come and sit with me, to watch movies and chat, when I called she told me she had plans with Miles but when she realised I was upset about something said she would cancel and come right over, I tried to tell her it didn't matter, to go with Miles but she insisted. When she came over I had to tell her everything that had happened with Alex, I hadn't told her any of it so it was a long story.
“Oh Cara, I’m so sorry,” she said when I finished, hugging me, “I feel terrible, I’ve been so caught up with Miles I haven’t so much as called you recently, I didn’t even realise,”
“Don’t worry about it, there was nothing you could have done, anyway let’s just forget him. What about Miles, you seem keen on him,” I asked realising I had been so infatuated with the idea of me and Alex being together that I hadn’t asked her about much recently either.
Sarah’s cheeks flushed a little red and she looked down, smiling like a school girl, “Aw, I don’t even know where to begin, I’ve hardly known him but he makes me feel so special, I don’t think I’ve ever had such strong feelings for someone so quickly, ah Cara, I’m smitten.”
I couldn’t help being jealous but I smiled and hugged her again.
My phone buzzed, New Message From Arielle Vandenberg, Sarah saw the confused expression on my face,
“What is it? Who is it?”
“It’s Arielle,” I said quietly “oh no, I bet Alex has just broken up with her and she thinks me and him are still together, what am I going to say, what if she thi-”
“How about you open it first,” Sarah said, a shaky laugh in her voice.
I opened it, Hi Cara, just making sure Sarah and you are still up for tomorrow? Looking forward to it! x, My face dropped,
“Oh my god,” I said quietly,
“What is it?” Sarah said in an eager voice,
I handed her the phone, “He hasn’t broken up with her,” I said with anger rising up inside me.
Sarah carefully read the message, “The absolute arsehole,” she stated when she had finished,
”Tell you what Cara, I think you’ve dodged a bullet with him,”
I couldn’t say anything, I just sat there staring at the wall blankly,
“Do you want me to text her back saying no?” Sarah suggested.
I thought for a minute, “No, we’re going”
“What?!” Sarah asked bewildered.
“We’re going, but I’m going to talk to Alex now.”
“Do you want me to come with, y’know, for support?”
“No, I can handle him, go meet up with Miles now, I’ll text you later,”
She looked at me for a minute, concerned, “Are you sure? I don't mi-“
“Go, Sarah, I’m a big girl, I can handle Alex by myself… GO”
She hurried off, blowing me a kiss on the way out, “Good luck!” she called, the door slammed.
I texted Arielle back yes and looked at a text she had sent me earlier with their hotel address and room, and set off to find Alex. When I got to the hotel, I felt very uncomfortable in my casual clothes walking through the plush lobby with, large incredibly expensive-looking paintings hanging on the walls, golds and reds covering the walls and sofas to the elevator, when I got inside a formally dressed business man stood to the side and asked what floor, I wasn’t sure so I said floor 5, the last floor, since the room number was 50, the man pressed the button and stepped back to the corner of the elevator keeping his briefcase close to his side. I leaned against a marble panel on the wall and waited to get off. Bing!! The elevator stopped, floor 5, I got out and walked around aimlessly looking for the correct room, 46, 47, 48, 49, no number 50. Where was it? Just then I noticed an open stairwell, Staff Only, was printed on the door in bold, black lettering, I peered in the door. The stairs went up! So, I ignored the sign and climbed the stairs up. It took me to another door, it seemed like the staff entrance to something, maybe cleaning supplies, maybe another room, maybe.. Of course! The penthouse! Where else would he stay? I knocked on the door and waited … and waited … and waited, I knocked again, finally I heard movement, the door creaked open and out emerged Arielle, shock played on her face,
“Cara! What on earth? Come in.”
Inside I asked where Alex was,
“Oh you’ve just missed him, he went out, I’m not sure where, he seemed down, has since last night.”
“Thanks Arielle,” I said and rushed off.
Where could he be? I wandered round aimlessly, getting no where, when I realised, I knew where he was.
I started running, I ran and ran and ran all the way to our old School, I ran behind to the football pitches and over to a big bunch of bushes in the corner, I clambered behind them and stopped,
“Alex,” I said softly in a voice just louder than a whisper.
“How’d ya know, I’d be ‘ere?” he asked looking up, he didn’t seem surprised though,
“Where else?” I asked smiling and sitting down on the ground next to him. "You always came here when you were sad."
“I’m sorry about yesterday, Cara, I really am, I know I should ‘ave told ‘er but, I don’t know, I was scared that you would ‘ave changed your mind and…“
As he rambled on and I sat quietly next to him I realised, I wasn’t angry anymore, I didn’t really care at all.
“… I didn’t want to st-“
“It’s ok Alex.” I said, stopping him,
“Really?”
“Really.” I said looking at him and smiling a little, “I’m not saying we’re going to go back to the way we were before yesterday, no way. But I think you should reconsider your marriage to Arielle now, I’m not saying break up but I think you need to realise for yourself that it’s not her you want, you just want someone, anyone.”
“I want you. Only you, Cara.”
“I know, and until yesterday, I felt the same.” We sat quiet for a moment. I looked at how sad he looked, staring at the dusty dirt ground, picking at the little shoots of weeds growing up through the dry soil, sheltered buy thick trees and bushes from the rain, I almost wanted to kiss him but I outstretched my hand to him,
“Friends?” I asked, he looked at my hand silently for a minute then he shook it,
“Friends.”
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.
