My Other Half

Plan B

It took me hours to get ready, I was so nervous I could hardly keep it together. I was getting so frustrated because nothing looked good on me, or so I thought anyway. To make things even worse, I've barely been talking to Cordelia since she admitted the reason for our breaking up. It's not like I can really avoid her but I just don't spend personal time with her anymore. So basically I've been alone, which kinda sucks.

Once I've finally dressed myself decently and take some deep breaths, I head downstairs. I can hear Cordelia in the kitchen cooking dinner and I sigh softly as I make a detour that way. I know she likes to be alerted of when we leave and I'm not going to just disappear without saying anything. I get her attention and she turns around, a complex smile on her face that attempts to hide her true thoughts. I let her know I'm heading out and she nods, telling me to be safe.

I stand there for a second and we just stare at each other, so many unsaid words between us. I figure it does me no good to stand here like an idiot, so I wave quickly and transmutate to Billie and Audrey's front door. I knock softly and I hear very quick footsteps shortly after which I can only assume is Billie because Sarah isn't walking yet of course. We greet each other and she leads me in after closing the door, the smell of food wafting through the house.

"Do you want something to drink?" I notice the table is already set considering she ordered food that she only needed to keep hot. I run my fingers across the table, remembering the nights we sat here. "Water would be great" I answer, "apple juice?" She counters but it's not really a question. I smile and nod, knowing I'll get tired of the water but won't ask for anything else and Billie knows that too.

I don't know how she's learned to anticipate my wants and needs so well but I guess that's what happens when you know someone for so long. I help her bring over the food and then we sit, Audrey conveniently coming in with Sarah only moments later. I follow her with my eyes as I fix my plate, watching her put the baby in the high chair. She doesn't speak and neither do I.

I want to give her time to open up because I know this is sudden, even if she was warned beforehand. Still, I'm technically in her home so I feel the need to address her. "Hi, Audrey" she glances at me in acknowledgment but shows no other sign of returning my greeting. I held up my end of the bargain, along with my own personal beliefs of respect, so I keep my peace. Billie and I talk a little bit, mostly about Sarah in hopes that Audrey joins in on the familiar/shared topic.

Unfortunately she doesn't and dinner is soon over, with not a word spoken between us. I realize I'm going to be the one that has to speak up because I know Billie has exceeded her capacity. "You just won't speak to me?" She slowly raises her head to look at me, knowing my comment was directed at her because who else would I be referring to? "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all" she shrugs as though none of this really matters.

"So you have nothing nice to say to me?" I ask, to which she replies "nope." She says this firmly, almost with a scoff under her breath. I'm silent for a moment, not knowing how to respond to that. After all of the sweet words we've shared, hearing that she can't think of one good thing to say to me, it hurts. "I'm sure that's not true, Aud..." Billie's voice is soft with a hint of sadness, maybe even a little desperation. I know she wants this to end as much as I do, but Audrey isn't budging.

"You know, I'm about tired of you always sticking up for her — even when she's wrong" Her voice is level but the irritation reads loud and clear, she's getting worked up. Billie senses this too and I remain quiet, knowing that my voice won't help at all. "I'm not-" "you are! You're always taking her side and I get it, she's your best friend, but I thought I-", "you don't want to finish that sentence" they go back and forth like tug-o-war as they interrupt each other and I glance between them.