The First Week
Leo
How are you?
Text ignored.
The Second Week
Clara
Drinks on me.
Text replied to. Invitation declined.
The Third Week
Jamie
Movie night?
Text replied to.
Ally
W/o alcohol?
Jamie
With obviously.
Invitation accepted.
The Fourth Week
Clara
Found a hunted house guided tour. Yes or no?
Invitation accepted.
One Month
Clara
Clubbing?
Invitation happily accepted.
Ally liked the loud music, the pink gin and tonic in her hand, and Clara's and Jamie's sweaty bodies around her. They had formed a small circle, protecting her from wandering hands and sleesy suggestions. She felt happy, contempt. That was until they stepped out the club to smoke and saw Amiri, Theo, Nicola, Leo, and Verónica.
Verónica.
The sight of her made Ally's stomach drop. Was that what he had done? Run back to her the second he became single, unattached to her? He saw her a few seconds after she saw him. He noticed the jealous look she gave Verónica and slowly shook his head, mouthing that he wanted to talk to her.
She stepped on her cigarette, let Clara pull her inside, and left him standing in the queue.
"Are you okay?" Clara asked as the three of them squeezed into a small bathroom.
"Was that the girl from the cinema?" Jamie pulled Ally into a hug.
"Yes was it?" Clara gave her a long look when Jamie let her go.
She nodded.
"Yes, that was Verónica. He's seeing Verónica again. He dumped me and is now seeing Verónica."
Every time she said her name, she could feel her body temperature raising until her blood started to boil. It was good. Anger. Not pain. No sadness. Just anger.
"How dare he?" Clara exclaimed. "It's been a month and he's already back to dating?"
"Yes", Jamie agreed. "Insane."
Ally shrugged. Their pity made everything worse.
"I don't want to talk about it", she snapped. "I want to dance and drink and not care about anyone or anything", she said, this time much more gently. "I'm sorry", she said referring to her earlier attitude.
"Girl." Clara gave her a hug before unlocking the bathroom. "Lash out all you want tonight. We can take it."
They stepped out of the crowded, stuffy space.
YOU ARE READING
He's Fire and She's Playing with It - Mafia Version
ChickLitShe fell of a ladder at work. He caught her. He's a colleague and they have never spoken. Until he scolds her for putting herself in danger by grabbing her chin and turning it up to him: "I told you to get down." He's had his eyes on her for some ti...
