A Defining Mistake

Chapter 8 - The Sellout Single

She swallowed audibly, the conversation around her blurring into the background, as she stared at the phone in her hand. Ada's good mood, elation at getting to spend time with her best friends for the first time in weeks vanished in a second because of one photo. Anger, disappointment, sadness, irritation and a tiny bit of relief swamped her. The repeated call of her name brought her back to the present. Ada hummed in response, swallowing her emotions that had formed in a difficult lump. She dared herself to let this ruin her reunion with her friends, who had taken time out of their busy lives to visit her, miles from their own homes, to another country no less. Plastering a watery smile on her face, Ada turned to her tall redheaded friend, Maeve, who was staring at her intently.

"I said would you like another drink? Are you okay, you were miles away?" Maeve asked, attempting to peer at Ada's phone.

"I'm fine," Ada snapped her phone to her chest, standing up and walking briskly up the stairs, leaving everyone looking around in confusion in her wake.

Alone in the bathroom, Ada opened her phone again to study the image. It was largely grainy and dark but she could make out a red Hawaiian shirt clad person merging into another blonde person wearing a white dress into what was supposed to be a kiss. Ada swiped the photo away, opening her message thread with Luke to study the photo he had sent her the night before. He was wearing a red Hawaiian shirt and in the background of the photo, Ada could just make out a blonde woman in a white dress. A noise, something between a sob and a sigh, huffed its way from Ada's chest and she stared at herself in the mirror, clenching her teeth, daring the tears to fall.

"He. Is. A. Dick!" Ada told herself firmly. "You're better off without him."

Unlocking her phone again, she sent a text to Luke: 'I've seen the photos. We are done.' After blocking his number, Ada rang her sister.

"Luke cheated on me." Ada blurted out before Ashley had even managed to get through her greeting.

"What? Shit! That little pri- are you okay?" Ashley stuttered.

"I thought you were going to say I told you so," Ada sighed with relief.

"Don't be ridiculous," Ashley replied sternly. "Are you okay?"

"I don't really know," Ada said. Her throat was beginning to hurt from trying not to cry. "I feel okay I think. I'm not really surprised; I just feel stupid."

"He is the stupid one, not you. If he can't see how wonderful and amazing you are then it's his loss. What are you doing tonight? Are your friends still visiting you?"

"We're going to some club tonight and I'm currently hiding in the bathroom."

"Tell them what's happened and then get really really drunk and just have a good time with your friends. Forget about him, fuck that dickhead, you deserve so much better. Seriously, Ada, are you okay? Call me if you need me, no matter what time it is."

"Thank you," Ada whispered, the kindness from her sister forcing out the tears she had tried so hard to control. She took a deep breath and swallowed, speaking slowly to control her voice. "I'll be okay once I've had a cry and a big glass of very strong gin."

"That's my girl," Ashley said. "I love you so much. Have a good time tonight and if a cute boy looks your way, don't be so quick to turn him down. Although, judging by your Instagram, I suspect you've still got a little crush on Jordan."

"What-" Ada began, but Ashley was gone, leaving her burning with shame. If Ashley, who was a hundred miles away, had figured it out, had everyone else? Had Jordan? Had Jordan's girlfriend? "Oh shit." A sudden banging on the toilet door brought Ada out of her panic.