Torn

XIV

Chapter Song: imgonnagetyouback - Taylor Swift

June

A little over a week had passed since I last saw Nina. She'd gone on a trip, and I only managed to talk to her once over the phone, those ten days were like going through withdrawal. The Tuesday I knew I'd see her again I woke up at dawn from how excited I was. I couldn't fall asleep after, so I spent the following hours raiding my closet; in a quest to find something nice to wear out of my collection of baggy clothes. I probably looked the same as every other day, but my best accessory was how I shimmered with anticipation.

When I entered the lobby to the agency I couldn't keep still, looking around like a meerkat trying to find her. And so, I did, but she wasn't alone like I had expected, she was with Emma. Our eyes met and she walked towards me. Looking at her now was like night and day compared to how she was the last time, she didn't look hurt and frail anymore, now she just shined like the distant sun in the peak of winter.

"Hi! How are you?" She looked so happy; in a way I hadn't yet seen.

"Good, what about you? How are you doing?"

"Better, thanks."

"Um, I see your friend is here again. Emma, right?" I nervously pretended not remembering her name.

"Yeah, Emma." She answered, stepping even closer to Nina. They looked so perfect together, that I was reminded of Sara's words, about how Nina and Ren looked so good together it upset her. That's exactly how I felt as I saw them.

"She'll be here from now on, I mean next to me." What? Why? "I guess I might just tell you. For a few months now, there's been a man stalking me and lately it's gotten out of hand. So, Mandy decided to hire Emma as my bodyguard."

"I see..." My voice was trembling, so I cleared my throat. "I'm really sorry. I hope they catch him soon and that you don't get hurt again."

"Thank you. We'll get going but I'll see you around, yeah?"

"Sure."

I watched them walk away quietly, but inside I was in shambles, screaming like a witch at the stake. Jealousy wasn't enough to describe how I felt after they left. I felt envy towards Emma, deep rooted envy from the fact she could spend all her time beside Nina. And I was bitter after seeing them so close and so happy, so perfect. Why couldn't I be the one? Why couldn't I keep her to myself?

...

That day when I went back home, I laid in bed, vacantly staring at the with one resolution in mind; I wanted her more than anything so no matter what I had to do, we'd end up together.

With my newly found confidence and determination, I called her the next morning and asked her on a date, under the disguise of going for dinner that same week, Friday night. To my surprise she immediately agreed, it was still confounding the way a woman like her would give me the time of day. But since I was given the chance, I decided to pull out all the stops and use the attention she'd given me in my favour.

I chose the fanciest restaurant my savings could afford and went shopping with Sara, to get some good advice on what to wear. Of course I didn't tell her I was going to see Nina, that was something she didn't need to know, because if I spoke about it, she'd see right through me. We ended up choosing a tailored black suit, with draping on the bottom right side of the jacket. It was something I could see Emma wearing, but it suited me well enough to justify the choice.