The moment Mia saw her, her whole world changed in an instant. She had to talk to her and this time, she didn't want to make a seedy proposal or share. As she left Reece sat at the bar, she knew that she was playing with fire, this was never the deal. The mysterious woman was looking right at her and enticing her with her eyes. Her long black hair was swaying beautifully as she danced, while her red dress clung to her body. Once Mia had reached her, the woman immediately put her hands on Mia's waist and pulled the red heads body up against hers. They didn't speak before they kissed and as soon as their lips met, Mia knew that she'd made a mistake.
When she finally returned to Reece, she was alone. He'd been drinking by himself for over an hour now and she sat down next to him, she saw how dejected he looked. She knew that deep down he hated their arrangement but he'd convinced himself otherwise. Mia would often remind him that he was living a lot of men's dream life, causing him to nod along before watching her leave to find another temporary playmate. This wasn't his dream life and it wasn't hers either.
The next morning, Mia woke early and immediately got herself ready for the beach. The woman she'd kissed the previous night had told her that she'd be working the next day at the beachfront cocktail bar, before suggesting that Mia come and see her. As the red head looked in the mirror, she felt slightly ashamed of herself. She'd chosen a black bikini that left very little to the imagination. Although she'd brought it with her, she hadn't really intended to wear it because truthfully the idea of Reece drooling all over her made her feel sick. As she wrapped her sheer black coverup around herself, she wandered over to the bed where Reece was just beginning to stir. "I'm going down to the beach" she said coldly, before leaving the bedroom.
Once she'd settled herself on the sand, Mia started reading her book. She couldn't concentrate however as any movement close to the cocktail bar would make her heart race. Why was she so desperate to see this woman again? Why was she desperate to impress her? Mia had been sat on the beach for over an hour when she finally saw her and once again, her heart was in her throat. She knew it was ridiculous, she'd only just met this woman but that didn't really matter. Suddenly, Mia had found a lifeline and for the first time in her life all she wanted to do was put her own heart on the line. Maybe she could be happy, loved and free, if only she had the courage to walk away from Roger and his games.
She waited until they made eye contact naturally, before looking away and waiting. Moments later, a she heard a sweet voice asking "can I sit with you?" Mia nodded and as the most stunning woman she'd ever seen sat down beside her, the red head quietly asked "what's your name? I didn't catch it last night." She was met with a smirk as they both recalled their previous encounter, before the woman responded "my name is Arabella. What's your name darling?"
"Mia." The red head was used to being approached by both men and women, but this time she felt so nervous. When Arabella began to tell Mia all about Antigua and what it was like to live there, Mia's mind began to wander. Fleeting thoughts were flashing through her brain and they were making her heart ache.
"I don't even know you, but I think I could love you."
"We could walk on the beach together, you could hold my hand."
"If you held me, I know my heart wouldn't hurt anymore."
When Arabella asked Mia about her life, her eyes sparkled with genuine interest. She wanted to know more about Mia's hopes and her dreams and as beautiful as she thought the red head was, to Arabella her looks were the least interesting thing about her. Neither woman could explain it, but they didn't really need to. Two lonely hearts had connected and now, both women believed that they could escape.
Eventually, Arabella placed her hand gently on Mia's thigh before saying "my shift starts soon, but I'll be back, alright?" Mia nodded enthusiastically and as she watched the beautiful woman walk away, her heart skipped a beat. "What are you doing?" She was jolted from her thoughts by Reece's voice and as she looked up at him, she could tell that he was angry. He flopped down beside her and narrowed his eyes before snapping "can't you just leave it for once Mia?" She looked back at him, confused and asked "leave what?" He rolled his eyes aggressively in response "you don't have to open your legs at any given opportunity. We come on holiday together and you spend half the time trawling around practically selling your body. I can't do this much longer, I'm so sick of it." As soon as he'd finished his rant, he regretted it. He wanted to take it back.
Reece's words slammed Mia back down to earth violently, forcing her to resist the urge to cry. She didn't want this life either but no matter how hard she tried, Roger always dragged her back into his web. To others, Mia appeared confident and self assured but really the depths of her self loathing knew no bounds. Nobody had ever valued her beyond her body and her looks, so she played to her strengths despite the fact that it made her feel seedy. Reece hadn't meant to hurt her, he'd just felt frustrated and she knew that. That didn't matter however as she started to scream at him, insulting him and belittling him. Strangers were starting to stare as their shouting match began. When Mia briefly caught Arabella's eye, she realised just how trapped she still was. She couldn't have what she truly wanted because she wasn't brave enough to break the cycle. The connection her heart had felt was slipping through her fingers.
There would be no dreams coming true for Mia, no soft touches or candlelit dinners. No forever person or happy ending. How could anyone love the monster that Mia had become?
"Goodbye, my almost lover
Goodbye, my hopeless dream
I'm trying not to think about you
Can't you just let me be?
So long, my luckless romance
My back is turned on you
Should have known you'd bring me heartache
Almost lovers always do"
- Goodbye My Almost Lover (Men In Drag)
YOU ARE READING
THE LAST LEAVES OF AUTUMN - (TNN - PROM NIGHT- AUTUMN/REECE/MIA)
Fanfiction**WORK IN PROGRESS** What really happened before, during and after prom night? How did Roger's treatment and manipulations affect Autumn, Reece and Mia?
