Escape | Updated Weekly

30

I went for a drive after Tom had shared his big news. I was so happy for him, but also dreading having to see Mac. I was doing so well and I knew just one look from him with those handsome eyes of his, it would undo it all. 

I was pulling up onto the beach front before I even realised where I had gone. He was still in my mind all the time. Even when I'm trying to escape him, he's there. I stood on the stone beach, looking out at the waves that we used to watch. Thinking about how I'd cuddle up in his arms as he kissed me and we'd talk about everything that was going on with us. 

Now I was here alone, the one person I want to talk about how I was really feeling, is the one person who made me feel this way. Maybe I wasn't fine like I had thought, maybe I'm just being petty now. Either way, I couldn't shake that eerie feeling that Mac would have an effect me for the rest of my life in one way or the other. 

I knew I couldn't come back to this place after today. All I could see here was my memories of him. So I took one last look at the amazing view and walked away, hoping I could leave Mac behind along with it. 

I got into my car and sat there for a few minutes, playing around with my keys and not wanting to leave. That's when someone knocked onto my window making me jump. I looked out, stood there was a tall man with brown short hair. He looked familiar but I couldn't quite find a place where I had seen him. I rolled my window, but not all the way. 

"Sorry, I didn't mean to make you jump" he said. He was holding his hands up and took a step back from my car. It made me feel at ease a little, but it didn't explain why he was knocking on my window in the first place. "I was wondering if you had a phone I could use? My car's broke down and my phone is dead. It's a bad night for me". I looked up him, trying to figure out if he was genuine or not. Behind him was his car, the driver door had been left open and the hood was popped up. I looked back at him.

Wait.

"I know you" I said and rolled my window down a little more. He squinted at me and the the realisation hit him. "Oh! You're that girl in the bar... with the creepy boyfriend" I rolled my eyes "He wasn't my boyfriend" he made an awkward face "Oh. Sorry". It had been so long since me and Lyle had that awful encounter, I nearly didn't recognise him. He was the one to get Lyle to back of and stole a chair from our table.

"I'm Josh" he introduced but he didn't try and give me his hand to shake. "I'm Eve" I said back. Now I fully rolled my window now and unlocked my phone, offering it to him. "Thank you, I appreciate it". He dialled a number and then began talking to some recovery team. I made sure to listen in as much as possible to make sure that is who he was calling. When he got of the phone he handed it back to me saying thank you again. 

"You go to that uni don't you?" I stared at him, wondering how he would even know that. "I've seen you there a few times"

"Oh. Do you go there as well?" he laughed "No, I just use their gym sometimes". I wasn't aware that the uni gym was open to the public too. "I'll let you go" Josh said "Thanks... Again" he laughed as he walked back to his car. "Maybe I'll see you around" he called and then he got into his car, waiting for his recovery team. 

I felt bad for just leaving him there, but I'd already been here longer than what I was supposed to, besides he was in the car he clearly didn't need me hanging around. I put my keys in the ignition and left. The drive game me the time to think properly, I knew I was going to be there for Tom no matter what. I doubted that Mac would even pay attention to me anyway. I doubted he even thought about me as much as I was thinking about him. 

I got back to the house and my phone started to ring. I didn't even look before I answered it. 

"Eve? It's Alice"

Fuck.

That'll teach me to not see who's calling.

"Oh... hi"

"I know it's late, I'm sorry about that. I was just hoping you would reconsider about my offer"

I was taken a back. I had turned that offer down a few weeks ago. I did it the cowardly way and emailed her, but still. With Mac moving in I assumed she would know the reason.

"It was a really kind offer. I just don't think it's right for me"

If eye rolls were audible, I definitely heard hers.

"It's for your whole class. I know you and Mac have ended but there's no reason we can't work professionally"

Wow. She just says it as it is. 

"Don't let any man get in the way of your dreams Eve. Especially the ones who have hurt you the most"

I was genuinely shocked. This woman was ruthless, even about her own son. It made me think what Mac told her, or maybe she was making her own assumptions.

"I really don't know, Alice"

"Come to my office and we'll talk. Tomorrow at 10?. Great, see you then"

She hung before giving me a chance to say no, I guessed that was her plan. Chloe came into the living room then, she took two seconds before saying,

"fuck me. Who died?"

I told her about my phone call with Alice, she looked very amused. "Well you can't no go. Not showing up to a meeting with a publisher is on the list of things you don't do as a writer" I sighed "Even if that publisher is the mother of your ex boyfriend?". Chloe nodded furiously. "Well, I'll play her at her own game then" I said, standing up from the sofa. Chloe looked worried "What's that meant to mean?" I grinned "She says this is meant to benefit our entire class" I thought she would understand what I meant, but clearly she wasn't catching on. "You're gonna come with me, and you're not allowed to say no".