Level the Playing Field

Show You Off.

A/n: Eh, shorter chapter again. Enjoy?

I didn't stand a chance, did I?"

That's the only thing that has been rattling around in her brain since those words left his mouth. Is he really implying...

She shakes her head in an attempt to get rid of the thoughts that are trying to creep in. She doesn't need more delusion in addition to what she's already feeling for him. It's all too much. She hastily drags her jeans up her legs with awkward little hops to get them on. She needs to be in town before 2:30 and it's now 1:22; she overslept because of her watchman duties last night to make sure her friend didn't puke and accidentally choke on it. The pharmacy closes earlier on Saturdays and doesn't open at all on Sundays. She could technically wait until monday; according to the readings she did, taking it within a 72 hour timeframe is fine, but she doesn't even want to risk it.

"Do you need anything in town?" Sadé calls softly to her friend who's currently lying face-first on the couch.

"Uh, could you get me some tea bags maybe? Ginger preferably. And some spicy ramen." Mikayla grumbles miserably. Sadé giggles, handing her another bottle of cold water.

"Keep drinking water, I'll be back in a few."

Mikayla gives her a thumbs up as she leaves their flat.

****************

Sadé manages to get to the pharmacy five minutes before 2 pm. She shivers slightly as the sterile smell of the small, cluttered space reaches her nostrils. Sadé rounds the shelf at the front filled with cards and gift bags to step further into the aisle subtly scanning for what she's looking for. The bell above the door jingles and Sadé cringes internally. She was so glad to be the only one in but now some stranger is going to see her buying morning after pills and they'll know she had raw, irresponsible sex. The footsteps are audible above the music playing at low volume throughout the space and they're clearly coming her way. She pauses at the aisle she's in, pretending to be interested in crisps and almond joys. Why is this so embarrassing? She holds her breath waiting for the person to pass by her and head to the window to pick up medicine or go to another aisle. Instead, the person stops right by her side. She tries peeking subtly in her peripheral but his scent reaches her nose before she needs to. Her spine stiffens, for some strange reason, it's now even more embarrassing than before.

"You like almond joys a lot, Sadé?" Jude whispers directly on the shell of her ear. She shivers.

"What are you doing here, Jude?" She's still staring at the nutrition facts on the packet of fucking almond joy. She doesn't even like the candy bar.

"Same reason you are I assume, you have to ask the pharmacist by the way."

"Of course you would know." She can't help that her tone is bitter. She drops the candy bar back into the box with little care and turns to stomp towards where he directed her. Jude grabs at the crook of her elbow to halt her movements.

"Are you seriously mad at me for that?."

"No! I'm mad at myself for allowing you to put your unwrapped dick inside me knowing how much you get around. Who knows if you've given me something?" Sadé knows it's unfair, she knew about his ways before they started having sex and she was the one who begged to feel all of him. But she's jealous and lashing out.

"Don't insult me, Sadé." He says it so coldly that she flinches. "I've only not used a condom with you and Annita and I get tested regularly, hell I recently got tested as part of my medical for the club. I haven't had sex with anyone else for a while now either." He side-steps and goes around her frozen form and heads straight to the pharmacist's window at the end of the aisle.
Sadé stands back uselessly watching him order and pay. He comes back in her direction, shoving the brown paper bag in her hand before marching for the exit. Sadé finally moves at the sound of the bell, jogging to catch up with him.