Just my cup of tea

Haze

"What's happening?" Hayleigh whispered to me from the corner of her mouth. I managed to turn to her and whispered back, "I think I have to go."

I cleared my throat in and attempted to say something but at first it came out in a sort of broken squeeze. "Exc...s." Fuck me! Try again. "Excuse me everyone, I had no idea. I mean, I'll just be on my way. So sorry about this." "Hales, can I just speak to you for a moment in the..out the...just come." I turned around and went straight out the door with Hayleigh on my tail. "I'm so sorry I can't stay here, I'm going to ruin everyone's night. In fact I think I kind of did that already! Shit I hope I didn't create a problem for her." Realization hit her like a flying brick. "ooooooooh, what are chances??" said Hayleigh as she pointed back to the house. "Look, we don't have to stay! We can go! I mean I wasn't very keen on seeing my ex anyway!" I turned back to her, "No no absolutely not! You have to stay and make sure I didn't totally ruin the night for everyone. Just be your awesome self and make sure she is-I mean make sure everyone is cool."

Hayleigh eyed me suspiciously. "Everyone is ok huh? Ya ya sure sure everyone. And why should I say you left so suddenly? " Well it was already obvious to everyone that we all knew each other already. "Well I don't really think anyone is going to ask now, but if they do just apologize again on my behalf and make some lame excuse." "Fine, but I really hope they don't ask."

Hayleigh's POV

I waited for Alice's cab and then headed back inside. What an awkward situation. "Hales, is your girlfriend ok?" shit a brick! I had completely forgotten we already introduced her as my girlfriend! "She's totally fine! She just realised she had to finish up some things for her Visa." I managed to spit out the first excuse I could think of that was completely transparent to everyone. I had one job and I had failed instantly. "Visa? Is she not from here?" Lena asked. "oh no no she is, she just got a job overseas and will be leaving soon." I grabbed a drink and sat across from Kate and her boyfriend as I desperately tried to get the topic over with. Again I was failing. "oh wow, won't that be difficult for you guys?" Lena probed. "Aah no, actually I think things will be fine." I am a horrible liar. This was a terrible decision on my part. I knew literally everyone could see right through me.

Thankfully the conversation ended there and we spent the rest of the night drinking and playing board games. After getting to hang out with her for a bit I realized why Alice was so drawn to her. She really is beautiful and has this way about her that just made you want to be her friend or be close to her. She caught my eye a few times throughout the night and gave me a look that made me feel like she had pressing questions she wanted answered.

Mostly she looked happy. The way she looked at her boyfriend as though they had spent lifetimes together. It pinched my heart a little because I thought that's the way Alice looked at her. He was a pleasant and funny guy whenever he did speak up. Mostly he wasn't that talkative but the air around them was settled and I think the appearance of Alice hadn't disrupted it. She would be happy to know that so I decided to excuse myself to go to the kitchen and text her.

I had just finished sending my text when Kate walked in and put some plates in the sink. "Hi." She smiled akwardly and unsure. I had the feeling that those questions were lingering at the tip of her tongue and she was trying desperately to let them fall out. "Hey, enjoying the night so far?" "Yeah definitely. The food was good. I think we will be heading out soon though." We both smiled and nodded as I waited a little longer to see if she would finally ask, however she caught herself and was about to head out. "You can ask you know." She turned back abruptly. "I know I'm a terrible liar." I said. She looked towards the living room unsure if she should continue or not. "I'm not sure what you mea-" "I don't know exactly everything that happened between you two but I definitely know you can tell nothing is happening between her and me..well like I said I'm a terrible liar. Although some of what I said was true."

She looked downwards and folded her arms across her chest. "Where and when?" She whispered the question as though she were admitting her darkest secret in a whisper. "China, a week from now." She looked back up and in that moment her eyes fluttered ever so slightly and she almost looked like an entirely different person, just for a second. "That's great. I'm glad for her." She breathed out and when she took a breath back in she became the Kate I met just a few hours ago. "Well, it was great meeting you and hope we will see you again soon!"

We walked back to the living room and he stood up, "ready to go?" "Yes let's go." They got their coats and headed out while we stood in the doorway to see them off. They walked hand in hand and when they got to the car he opened the door for her and ever so lovingly gestured her to get in. They drove off and naturally Lena wanted to know what in God's name had happened earlier so I explained a little while we finished off the wine. Before falling asleep I got a reply from Alice.

"Thank you for letting me know they're alright. I'll be off to bed now. Sorry I couldn't be a good girlfriend tonight. haha."