if he was mine

What a shit show.

L U I S

char ❤️

09:03
char??
im sorry babe u know i had to leave.
please answer

14:43
u there???

21:27
u could've at least said something, anything before taking off in the middle of our make out???
get a grip luis, and stop texting me.
we can talk abt this tmr.

22:34
char wait
forgive me, im sorry okay?

____________________________________
no answer. figures.
I slam my phone down in defeat, deciding to give it a rest and let her come around in her own time. At least I know she's coming to my brother's party tomorrow. But I swear if she wrecks it by arguing with me, I'm so fucking done. August doesn't deserve that.

"Luis, give your present to Auggie when we're done with the cake so he and the boys can play with it."
"Sure Ma, I'll get it in a sec."

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!" The chorus of high pitched squeals finish serenading my brother, watching in awe when he blows out his candles. I grin to myself just watching them, oh to be five years old again.

One afternoon in primary school, we were all playing in the sandbox together. Well me and Migs were, Ria had once again tagged along instead of playing with her friends, who were making daisy chains on the field. I didn't mind her playing with us though. Miguel ran inside to grab something, so it was just me and her left. She had this serious look on her face, trying to build a sandcastle but struggling to stop the walls from collapsing. I don't know why, but for some reason I just had to impress her.
" You're doing it wrong, let me help."
But she was a stubborn little thing and insisted on doing it herself. After a while, the castle caved again, and she just sat there pouting.
I didn't like seeing her upset, so I scooted over and helped her fix the walls without saying anything.
Her face lit up, and she gave me this huge smile, like I was her hero or something.
As her brother came back, she looked at me and asked,
"You're my friend too, right Luis?"
Miguel laughed and rolled his eyes at his baby sister. I paused for a second, thinking about how I was supposed to be friends with her brother, not her. But something about the way she said it made me smile, so I nodded and said,
"Yeah Val, I guess I am."

I smile fondly, shaking the memory away from my thoughts.
"Hey Augs c'mere." I yell, picking my brother up and slinging him over my shoulder, taking him to where his presents lay. I set him on the ground and crouch to get to his level.
"You get to open your super secret special present from me right now!" I fake whisper to him.
"Woah really?" He looks at me, "Lemme open it right now."
The boy tears open the wrapping paper to reveal two brand new football goals and a Lamine Yamal shirt, from his favourite team, Barca.
"Yo, this is awesome thankyousomuch!" He grins in delight.
"No problem kiddo." I ruffle his hair, "Now you don't have to use my old ones-"
"Luis." A tall, leggy blonde approaches us.
"Char." I grunt. Now is really not the time for this. "Augs, go show your friends yeah? I'll come destroy you in a game later." I wink at him, patting his shoulder to signal he should give us a moment.

"So what's up then?" I speak in a low tone to my girlfriend. I had led her to the edge of the pool near the back of my garden, where no little kids were to overhear us.
"You know what's up."
I sigh, "Char, I said I'm sorry, okay? What else do you want me to do, say that I should've just stayed with you and let her get raped by that fucker?"
Our voices grew louder and louder and as I grow more angry, I lose more awareness of our surroundings. I didn't notice Ria approaching us, and I didn't notice how close we were standing to the pool.
"Hey guys could yo-"
Char's hands fling to the side in frustration and almost as if it was in slow motion, Ria gets elbowed into the pool.
My heart begins to pump faster, which is completely irrational as I know she can swim. One second passes and she hasn't emerged, so without listening to my head once again I rip my shirt and jumper off to dive in straight after her, dragging her to the edge and placing her on the side of the pool. Ignoring everyone else, I check to make sure she's okay.
"I'm fine Luis, you know I can swim." She smiles gratefully. But her cheeks flush bright red with embarrassment as she takes in the scene behind me.
I slowly turn around, removing the dripping wet hair from my eyes. Mine and Ria's parents are looking concerned, I snort as Miguel tries to avoid eye contact in embarassment. All the kids were staring at us, their little mouths gaping wide open, and some people who I recognised from school -siblings of a couple of August's friends- had filmed the whole damn thing, most probably posting it online at this very moment. I shuffle in front of Ria protectively, shoving her my jumper to cover up her now completely see-through white shirt. And to top the whole thing off, I turn towards Char looking at us in disgust.
"You always have to put her first, don't you." She spits out, storming off to get away from us.
What a shit show.