Sweetest of dreams

bartering

*Feline*

I had really moved in with Kevin and Louise in the meantime, because they were not sure that I could manage on my own. Not because I was not independent enough, but simply because they were afraid. I had been barely sane for the first few days.

I had tried, very unsuccessfully, to drown the pain in alcohol. But it had pulled me actually each time only more down.

After the phase in which I had drunk, the phase had come in which I had only cried. No matter what had been, I had cried. I had not had my emotions under control.

I had nevertheless moved out again with the Magnussens, because I did not want to burden their family life. I didn't want to burden them with my problems.

After that, I had fallen into a phase of absolute listlessness. I had lacked the drive for everything. I had sometimes just lain in bed and stared at the ceiling. I felt nothing and just lay there.

I had forgotten to eat. Forgot to drink and had been in a deep hole from which I was just trying to fight my way back up when my doorbell rang. I put the folded laundry aside and answered the intercom.

"Yes?", I asked a little gruffly, because I wasn't expecting anyone.

"Open up, stupid cow," Kevin laughed.

A smile immediately slipped across my lips, it almost felt a little unfamiliar "Sure, asshole.", I pressed the buzzer and then opened the apartment door.

I could hear Kevin's footsteps in the stairwell. It took a moment, then he came around the corner grinning broadly, holding two large coffee mugs.

"Wanted to check on you," he said, holding out a coffee mug to me.

"Latte macchiato? With caramel?", I asked.

He raised an eyebrow "Do I look like a rookie?" he asked and then laughed before pushing past me into my apartment.

"Thanks.", I smirked and pulled the door shut behind him.

I followed him as he walked naturally into my living room and plopped down on the sofa. He was about to put his feet up on the living room table, but then noticed my gaze and put them on the floor.

"What are you doing this weekend?" he asked, leaning in.

"The way you ask, I'm sure you'll tell me in a minute," I laughed and flopped down next to him.

The apartment wasn't particularly big, but I liked it. I had always wanted to move to the sea and had now fulfilled that with the apartment in Nice. It was wonderfully warm and I could see the sea from my balcony. In the end, that's all I needed.

"It's good that you don't contradict me at all," he grinned "Tomorrow night there's an event  in Monaco. Louise is coming too. We got you a hotel room in Monaco because tomorrow we're popping the corks. We'll party like there's no tomorrow."

"An event?", I raised an eyebrow and took a sip of the latte macchiato.

"Yes. It's a Formula One event, but it doesn't matter. The bigger and flashier the better. Louise is arriving on the train with Laura in half an hour, then you're going shopping and I'm going to the beach with the little one. So you don't have a choice."

"No, Kev, I'm really not ready for that..."

"Come on. You just look pretty for one night and you'll immediately realize how ridiculous it was to cry over a jerk like Arthur. Oh, and tonight we're still burning the wedding dress on the beach. I've got something lined up."

"That was so expensive! We can't just..."

Yes we could. And I had to admit that it had been a damn liberating feeling. I wasn't really happy that Kevin dragged me to this event, though. I wasn't made for this kind of thing.