Tragic Magic

Chapter Nine

"So what are your plans for today?" Craig asks, pouring me a cup of coffee.

"Whatever yours are, if that's alright," I reply, twirling around on the barstool.

"Well you just became my plan then." He puts the coffee cup down on the island in front of me. "How long do you plan on staying here?"

"As long as you'll let me," I let out a forced laugh.

"I guess you're not leaving any time soon then. Let's go shopping."

"That actually sounds like fun," I sip on my coffee. "But wait, neither of us have our cars."

Craig laughs, "That wasn't my only one, Julie."

I roll my eyes and tease, "Rich kid."

"I'm not complaining," he teases back. "Now let's get going, we've got a lot to buy."

Wait. My phone is still in the guest bedroom. "I need to grab something real quick," I say and head up the stairs.

I could enjoy my day and not look at it, or I could be stupid and keep it close all day. Of course, which did I pick?

58 missed calls
26 new voicemails
39 unread messages

"Oh my god," I think to myself. It's even worse than I thought. Do I dare check them?

"Please pick up the phone."
"I'm sorry, Juliet, I really am."
"Just let me explain, please pick up the phone."

Thirty-nine messages, all under the same content. I soon find myself dialing the number and holding the phone to my face.

Wait, what am I doing?

Before I get the chance to just hang up, he answers. "Oh my god, Juliet, where have you been?"

I stand there in complete silence.

"Baby, it was a mistake. I was just having a conversation with an old friend from high school and then the white pills came out. I didn't know what was happening until it already happened. I'm really so-"

"Just stop," I interrupt. "If you were sober enough to find your way back home with her, you were sober enough to know what happened after that. I want you to know I'm not coming back this time. It's over." My heart is pounding through my chest.

"Please just listen to me, Julie. I promise I can make it up to you," Ronnie's voice gets quieter.

"Someone else already did." With those words still lingering in the air, I hang up the phone.

Of course, here come the tears again.
I drag myself back to Craig's bed and lay there in silence.

Things weren't like this before. Our relationship was really great before. We were fine before he went to prison and after. I don't know what switched. I know it wasn't the drugs.

Why do I let him get to me? He's just an asshole who thinks I'll jump when he snaps. Like I've always said, Once a cheater, always a cheater.

"Julie, you can't keep letting him walk all over you," I hear a familiar voice say. I roll over and see Craig leaning on the doorframe.

"I know," I mumble.

He tosses my phone onto the bed, "It's not going to get better, sweetheart. I've known this guy a long time."

"He wasn't ever like this before though," I sit up and stare at my phone. "I don't know what happened, and I don't ever want to know. All I know is I'm done. I won't let someone treat me that way after all I've done for them."

"I'm proud of you. I know this is hard, but I'll help you every step of the way," He says in a calm voice.

I toss my phone back to Craig, "Keep this for me. I'd rather be with just you today."

He smiles at me, "Radke really fucked up. I wouldn't want to lose a girl like you."

"And you won't," I get up and walk over to him.

He laughs awkwardly, "I didn't know you were mine in the first place."

"I am now," I pull Craig close to me and kiss him.

What is going on? This isn't right. I should be with Ronnie, watching Shark Week and drinking Mountain Dew. This is so wrong, but I don't feel bad. I feel better than I have in a really long time.

"Sorry," I pull away after I realize what I've done.

"I've been waiting a long time for you to do that," He laughs.

Craig takes my hand and leads me outside. "Avalanche or Harley?" he asks as we approach the garage.

"What?" I give him a strange look.

"Uh, truck or motorcycle?" he laughs.

"I don't know anything about cars, Craig," I roll my eyes and nudge him. "But I'm in a motorcycle mood," I say.

"Motorcycle mood? That's a first."

I pull Craig closer to me and laugh, "You know you love me."

"Of course I do."