Unlikely Conditions

Chapter 14

Meadow sat on the floor of her shower, the hot water hiting her skin as she hugged her knees to her chest. She could already feel her hair starting to curl from the water. She leaned back against the tile wall with a heavy sigh, tilting her head back to allow the hot water to fall onto her face. It was relaxing to escape the chaos the day had brought her but she expected nothing more from her mom's summer BBQs. She heard the bathroom door handle turn as the door flew open as Declan entered. He locked the door behind him as Meadow turned her head to watch him get undressed. She pulled herself up with a sigh as he opened the shower door and climbed inside. She turned her back to him, holding her hands under the water as he crept up behind her, gliding his hands across her skin as he softly kissed the back of her neck.

"I'm not in the mood." She sighed as Declan pulled away from her without a word, searching round for his shower gel. It was usual for him to not comment after Meadow had told him she wasn't in the mood. He'd totally given up on fighting her on it. They both continued their shower in complete silence.

Meadow dried her hair with her towel as she entered her bedroom. Declan zipped up his duffle bag, turning to look at her. He looked her up and down, she was stood wearing Keegan's shirt that she had let her borrow only a day before the BBQ along with baggy pyjama pants that had mini cacti printed on them. She threw her towel in the laundry basket, her eyes meeting with Declan's confused glare.

"What?"

"I've never seen that shirt before." He commented as Meadow groaned with an eye roll. She approached her side of the bed as she sat on the edge of it.

"Why are you and Nicole suddenly invested in the shirts I buy?" She snapped. Declan frowned back at her, rubbing his temple in frustration with a heavy sigh.

"All I said was I've never seen the shirt before! What's the problem?!" He hissed back at her. Meadow felt her body tense up from the sound of Declan's attitude. Tonya was right, this relationship was going nowhere and definitely wasn't going to improve any time soon. She dived to her feet, glaring back at him. She was filled with adrenaline and ready to scream all the emotions that have built up for too long.

"I'll tell you what my problem is! It's you! You've given up on our relationship! The only time you bother to show any attention is when you want sex! I'm your girlfriend not some sex doll!" She hissed back at him. Declan stood in shock from the anger that was coming out of Meadow. He sighed heavily as he shook his head at her.

"Fine, you're right. I stopped loving you a while ago and if I'm honest I've been seeing someone behind your back for a few months now.." He sighed as he shook his head in disappointment. Meadow felt her body go numb as she lowered herself back onto the edge of her bed. All the adrenaline in her body had run out and all she felt now was emptiness. She couldn't bare to look at his face so she stared down at her floor, tightly gripping the sheets on her bed to stop her body from shaking.

"Get out my fucking room! We're done!" She seethed, not lifting her head to watch him leave. She simply listened to the click of the bedroom door as he left. She felt her body finally relax, all her emotions coming out in one go. She curled up into the fetal position on her bed as began to cry uncontrollably. She grabbed her pillow, burying her face in it to muffle the sounds of her cries.

She slowly unrolled herself from the position she had been laying in for what felt like hours. Strands of hair had stuck to her tear stained face, she was exhausted but not exhausted enough to sleep. She felt numb and empty. The world felt like it was piling on one problem after another. She rolled onto her stomach, reaching for her phone from on top of her dresser, turning it on to read the time. 2:36am. She opened her texts from Keegan, her thumb hovering over the keyboard for a moment before pressing the call button and holding it to her ear. She nervously listened to it ring before hearing her finally answer.

"Sup." Keegan said down the phone. For the first time in hours Meadow finally smiled from just hearing her voice.

"D..Did I wake you?" She asked nervously, rolling onto her back as she held the phone to her ear.

"Nah, I was up smoking weed. Are you okay? It's quite late." Keegan replied as she placed her joint gently against the small dish on her beside table.

"I- Me and my boyfriend broke up..he told me he's been seeing someone behind my back for months.." Meadow sniffled, holding back her tears as she wiped her eyes. Keegan sat up in her bed as she tried to process everything.

"Want me to kill him for you? I don't mind!" She asked with a slight chuckle. Meadow giggled at her, the first genuine laugh to escape her lips in a long time. She suddenly stopped as she remembered the promise her mom made during the interview.

"T..There's something else actually.."

"What is it?" Keegan asked curiously.

"I..I never told you but my mom is running for mayor and she's planning to knock down your apartment complex.." Meadow stuttered nervously. There was a pause before Keegan responded with a chuckle.

"I wouldn't worry, anyone in that area makes false promises constantly. Besides, I'll find a place to stay if she does go through with it!" She exclaimed as Meadow smiled, letting out a sigh of relief as she sat up in her bed. She pulled her knees to her chest as they both sat in a comfortable silence for a moment.

"Um-"

"You should sleep bambi. Rest after the chaotic day you've had." Keegan suggested as Meadow sighed for a moment before responding.

"Alright, goodnight.." Meadow sighed.

"Night bambi!" Keegan said happily before hanging up. Meadow stared down at her phone before burying her face in her knees.

"Fuck.." She said under her breath quietly.