In a fortnight

Chapter 11

   I decided to call him back, I grabbed my stuff off the floor, I didn't want to leave Tom like a one nightstand, but I had too. I texted Neil the address and walked out.

As I walked down the hall I decided to call Ewan, it was too early, I didn't think he'd be awake. The phone didn't even ring once and he already answered on the other line.

"Mara? Hello?" He voice sounded loud, almost angry or frustrated. A knot formed in my throat as I tried to speak, I didn't want to, but I knew I had to.

"Explain Ewan. Please." My voice came out more pitiful that I had expected, I looked down at my moving legs and I started to feel somewhat dizzy.

"She was just a friend Amara. I've told you how I felt about you. That wasn't gonna change." I held my breath. She's just a friend?

"Then WHYD YOU KISS HER? I saw you Ewan, you kissed her then stared at me in my eyes." I said the last part in almost a whisper I'd really hoped he hadn't hear. The the call hung up.

I pulled it from my ear and looked at it, i wasn't surprised at all. I was just disappointed. I walked out of the building and Neil was parked waiting for me.

I opened the door and set my items down before climbing in, I felt exhausted. I lay there in the backseat, rethinking everything that has ever happened to me. Why me? Why was everything so complicated. As I exhaled I felt my worries wash away, my eyes became heavy.

****

It had been days since I heard from any of them. Tom had told me not to worry about it, yet it was still heavy on my mind. Tom had asked me out to dinner but I declined.

I felt terrible, my life came crashing down and he wanted to go to dinner? I just couldn't believe it. I'd wanted to reach out to Ewan a bunch but it seemed as tho he fell of the face of the earth. I knew he was private but I didn't know to what extent.

I'd press his contact, but I knot appeared before I could type a message. I sulked, day in and day out. What was I to do? It felt like all I could do.

Then it dawned on me, instead of feeling as though my heart had been violently ripped from my chest. I'll go enjoy a drink, with friends of course. Maybe even with..Tom? I wasn't sure of the exact details, but I knew I was to have a drink.

I grabbed my phone and searched my recent text chats, most of them threats from Tom fans. Until I found a mostly neglected groupchat of all my friends. Neglected because I had been avoiding the answers of my newfound "love."

Mara❣️: meet for drinks?;)

As I sat there waiting for a response, I took the liberty to message Tom as well. The girls responded faster, all with agreements but followed by more questions about Tom.

Tommy🫅🏼: for when?

I have no idea why, but my heart started to beat faster, my breath caught in my throat.

Mara❣️: tonight? Me and some friends are going to a local pub. I'd love for you to be there!

The minutes I waited for his message felt like an eternity. I was going mad checking my phone every minute. Until he finally responded.

Tommy🫅🏼: yea, ill be there x

I don't know why, but I felt slightly nervous. I've only had a few scenes with him, so we were never close. This is like new territory to me.

****

When me and my friends entered the pub I felt my stomach turn into a gigantic knot. I looked around seeing no sign of Tom. A part of me was relieved beyond belief. But I couldn't help but feel disappointed.

"Hello, Lovely lady." I felt a presence behind me, I kind of jumped. Until I realized it was only Tom.

"Adorable line." I told him sarcastically as I stood to hug him, he smelt of cedar wood and mint. It was a weird combination but smelt almost delicious.

He chuckled and hugged me back. It was a quick hug, but enough that I didn't want to let go. I turned to my friends, who all had odd expressions on their faces I couldn't quite place.

"Mara, who is this?" Jenn said sarcastically pointing him up and down. I stared at her in disbelief. Tom moved to shake her hand and plant a side kiss on her cheek.

"You've never seen the greatest actor alive? Shame. This is Tom, Tom meet Jenn." I introduced them, Tom laughed at my comment. He greeted the rest of my friend group and sat down beside me.

"Tom what do you do when you aren't acting?" Jenn spoke, I could tell she was into him. I honestly didn't mind. I stared at Tom and he seemed to be into her as well.

"I just stay home. Watch the TV or sleep." He chuckled, they stared very intensely at each other, which made me feel a tad bit out of place.

Almost the entire night I felt ignored. Which I had not right to feel, me and Tom weren't dating for love. I sat there, staring off, which I didn't even realize I was doing until I felt a hand grab mine from under the table.

Tom took my hand and gave it a squeeze as he continued to talks to Jenn. It made me feel better, but not really.

I played with his fingers, staying quiet the whole night. I'd fold them inward, move them in circles, draw shapes on his palm. All while drowning out their conversation.

Thankfully, it didn't last forever. Jenn left not a while after the other girls did. So it was just me a Tom, I still had his hand in my lap.

"Mara, you ok?" He asked, I'm guessing he'd been trying to get my attention for a while. His face close to mine.

"Yea..I'm fine."