Inevitable Flame

Her Fradgile Heart

It wasn't very often Eda had time to herself.  She had two whole hours to herself.  She would have thought she'd be hysterical just leaving her daughter somewhere, and she couldn't just go in a room to see if she was okay. 
But she was doing well, actually enjoying the time to herself. She got off work 2 hours ago and only sat to put her purse in her room and sit down. 

Her leg was bouncing nervously, constantly checking the time.

So much for a clean break

The stress was starting to get to her, and time was moving so slowly. 

The ginger woman sighed, and she stood up and grabbed her keys and her wallet.   
Her little scheme is to kill time and buy a little treat for her daughter. 

--

Once she was driving, her mind seemed to clear up.  She breathed a sigh of relief, her nerves starting to disappear. 

Once she entered a store, she simply picked out a few things. A yellow teddy bear, and a small bag of candy.  A few treats for her daughter for going to kindergarten for the first time. She wasn't exactly 5, but she would be in 6 months.

Close enough

Eda stepped out of the store, her arms laden with bags filled with carefully chosen items to surprise her daughter. Excitement bubbled within her as she imagined the joy on her daughter's face when she presented these gifts. However, that excitement quickly turned into shock and disbelief as Eda spotted Stephanie

Who she hated with a passion

walking in a nearby park with another man who was not Raine.

In that moment, time seemed to stand still for Eda as conflicting emotions swirled inside her concern for Raine mixed with an unexpected surge of jealousy and rage towards Stephanie. Without pausing to second-guess herself or consider potential consequences, she swiftly made up her mind. stashing the shopping bags in the car before deciding it was imperative to follow them and find out what exactly was going on between Stephanie and this mysterious man.

When Eda got close enough to them without being seen, she heard the unthinkable. Stephanie was leaning on his arm, giggling like a schoolgirl around her first crush. "Thank you for the jewelry babe!.. You're the best" she beamed, as the strange man chuckled egotistically. "Anything for you, babe. Besides it's not like that loser you with buys it for you"  the man said, making Stephanie chuckle.   

The audacity

Era's stomach churned with hatred after hearing this. She knows Raine would buy her whatever she wanted as long as they have the money, and if they didn't they'd work their butt off for it. 

She didn't even know their profession

"Stephanie.. What the bell is wrong with you?"  Eda asked, her voice softer than intended.   Stephanie looked back startled, then frowned seeing Eda. "Ugh... You again" she scowled. "I thought you would have learned to mind your own business by now" she scoffed. Taking an aback. "You're cheating on my best friend. That is my business" the ginger woman insisted, with a stern tone. "What I do in my free time, is my business, Italy... And don't you have a brat or something to deal with"   Stephanie asked waving her hand. 

Eda frowns, gritting her teeth. "I know you remember what happened last time you insulted my daughter" she scowled, glaring at the unfaithful woman in front of her. "Yes.. You assaulted me.  Try that again and il call the police on you" Stephanie threatened, glaring.   "Babe, who's this?" The strange man asked, with a confused tone.     "She's a nobody. Just a random girl who got knocked up"   Stephanie said, watching as her expression dropped.   "You don't know what you're talking about. " Eda insisted sternly.    "Whatever. Just keep your mouth shut and we won't have any problems"  Stephanie scoffed, starting to walk off

Eda frowned.

What happened to her friend?..

"Steph.. What happened to you?.."  Eda asked, her tone coming out too vulnerable for comfort.

Eda remembered the days they were good friends in high school, how much Eda confided in her about her feelings about Raine... The pain and anguish she felt when she found out Stephanie started dating Raine with the excuse

"The heart wants what the heart wants.."

Stephanie looked back with a smirk, then took a few steps towards the woman.  "I simply followed through on my plan and the thing is.. It was a lot harder to get you out of their roster"   Stephanie scoffed, with a snide expression.  Eda seemed surprised but kept her gaze ahead. "What are you even talking about?"  She asked sternly. Stephanie let out a small Minaicle giggle. "You seriously didn't know?  Raine. Like the fool they are. They had the biggest crush on you all through high school" 

Her eyes widened.   "Raine.. L-liked m-me?" She asked, in a weak shuddering voice. Hearing Stephanie laugh at her was the only confirmation Necessary. "Liked you? Eda, they were head over heels in love, the first well I met them, they wouldn't stop talking about how beautiful you are, how smart, and cool you are, ugh it got on my nerves" she replied in a mocking tone. 

Her heart started to achieve is it became harder to keep her composer. "You.. You knew how I felt about Raine.." Eda muttered, wrapping her arms around her stomach. ".. You were supposed to be my friend... Why would you even do something like that?"  Eda asked, holding back her shaking voice and bitter tears. "Well. girls gotta make a living for themselves. And it was a lot easier than I thought" Stephenie bragged, stroking her whiskey-brown locks, mixed with blonde highlights. 

Eda bit her lip to keep it from quivering.  She took a deep breath, keeping her gaze to the ground. "A whisper here, a whisper there.. And the best"

"She loves you, just not in that way"

Stephanie said in a mocking tone.  Her tears felt heavy. She didn't mean it since she couldn't even be forward with them about your feelings. "Don't think I won't tell them. Because I will"  she threatened.

An empty.. Threat.. But petty had to come out.

"A-and don't think I won't do something about it. Once they divorce you.. They'll end up laying down with me" she said, with a smirk, and her face rapidly turning red at just the simple thought.  Stephanie glared at Eda. "You'll keep your mouth shut if you know what's good for you"   the woman scowled. "My. My. Rainestorm is what's good for me, you spoiled, self-centered, arrogant whore"  Eda shot back. Her bluff was the only thing keeping her Fragile heart in place.   Stephanie's face grew red with anger. "I will ruin your entire life if I catch you with Raine"  she threatened. 

The ginger woman scoffed with a mischievous smirk. "Try it. Bitch" she replied, then turned around and walked off, her pride intact and ego slightly higher than before. 

Once she got to her car and buckled her seatbelt, her entire facade collapsed.  Her breathing was heavy, her heart seemed to be shattering.   Raine loved her.. And she missed her chance because she was scared of rejection.  Gaining her composer wasn't and would never be easy ever again.

Not like it ever was..

Thank you so much for being patient with me! Working is really taking out a lot of time out my day, and leVes me pretty tired, but I wanna keep up my quality so here you go!