Infinite

Spring in Seattle- Part 3

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"Tyler, can you please just pick a dang movie?" Erika complained as Tyler finished watching his tenth movie trailer.

"They just seem so promising in the beginning," Tyler explained as he started another one.

Erika groaned as she hopped up off of my bed and came into the bathroom.

"How's it going in-" Erika began to say, but she stopped in the doorway and covered her mouth with her hands as soon as she saw me. "You look amazing, Rachel!" Erika held her hands out like she was taking a picture of me.

I styled my hair into long, tight curls that I brushed out to create large intertwining ringlets. My bangs curled away from my face and into my hair, adding definition to my cheeks and eyes.

"Our little baby is growing up," Artemis said as she stuck her lip out and cupped my face in her hands.

I blew a raspberry at her and she shushed me through a chuckle.

"Don't do that on your date, hun," she teased.

I rolled my eyes at her playfully and turned back to the mirror. I had on a black evening gown that stopped midthigh on my left leg, but had a piece of triangular fabric that continued slightly farther down my right leg. The rounded neckline showed just enough cleavage and had thin straps over my shoulders that connected to an open criss-cross pattern on the upper back. The lower part of my back was completely exposed.

A wave of guilt washed over me as I thought about Lucas.

What would he think about this?

I continued to worry as I regretted my decision more and more.

I'm not doing this to hurt him, I'm doing this because I've been alone for the last six months.

I hadn't heard a single thing from Lucas, and I still didn't even know why he left. It wasn't fair for me to sit around every day, hoping that when he comes back he would want to be with me. The uncertainty that I felt in my heart was debilitating some days. I had never experienced so much anxiety than I had since Lucas left. My guilt slowly turned into suppressed anger as I thought about it more and more.

"Hey, kid. Are you alright?" Artemis' voice brought me out of my daze.

I realized that I was squeezing toothpaste out of the bottle all over the sink. I sighed and set it down, trying to relax. Sam was going to be here any minute, and I still didn't know how to approach tonight.

"What if I officially ruin everything after tonight?" I asked quietly.

"Whatever is going on with Lucas isn't happening because of what you're doing tonight," Tyler said as he broke the silence. I turned to look at him, confused. He cleared his throat. "He already walked out. He doesn't get to come back and expect that you're sitting on the couch just waitin' for him," Tyler added, his voice getting slightly louder as he became more irritated.

"The life that you are living right now is yours and only yours, Rach," he continued as he rested a hand gently on my shoulder. "Do what makes you feel good right now, not what might make you happy in a few months."

Tyler's face was the most serious I had ever seen. I sucked in my bottom lip, trying not to cry at Tyler's sweet and inspiring words.

"Thank you, Ty. That makes me feel so much better," I said as I gave him a big hug. Erika and Artemis came over and joined in on the hug. I started giggling as my friends squeezed me.

Bum bum, bum.

Artemis quickly went to open the door.

"Well, hi there handsome!" she exclaimed as she moved to the side to let Sam in. He was about to greet her back when his eyes met mine.