Her Villian

TWENTY-THREE

Amara

5 minutes.

Cody should be here in five minutes.

I go to look back down at my lap as the jingle of the coffee shop's door rattles signaling someone has entered the small shop.

I glanced up and see Cody headed towards the table.

Well, at least he is early.

"Amara, thank you for meeting me." He says as he sits down.

"Of course. You deserved to be heard out I suppose." I force out.

He sends me a gentle smile and for a moment I see the Cody I fell for.

If only he had stayed that way.

"I brought you something." He says as he pulls out flowers, tulips.

"Oh, I...Thank you." Tulips weren't my favorite, but I never expected him to listen.

He lays them on the table and takes in a deep breath.

"Okay, I am going to get it all out and I just ask for you to listen, okay?" He asks.

I respond with a subtle nod of my head.

"I never planned on that thing with Maria happening, after the incident, tensions were high. It just happened. But I don't love her, I love you. And besides, we haven't had sex in a really long time, and I was frustrated, I had just watched a child die, Amara. A child. Maria was...she was there for me afterwards."

I grit my teeth together, feeling anger boil my blood as if I was gaining 3rd degree burns inside. I take a deep breath and let a sarcastic laugh out.

"Are you fucking serious Cody? You cheat and then you blame it on me? That is the best you can come up with. Grow the fuck up." I spit out. I am tired of staying silent and being a complete pushover.

"I did not have to come and meet you. I did it out of kindness. But clearly you don't deserve even that." I finish.

"I should grow up? Look at yourself Amara. You are still a 5-year-old dreaming of being an actress. It is never going to happen."

I roll my eyes, not letting his words affect me. "And what do you do? Run around in spandex with a day job of lying and cheating?"

Codys face instantly turns red.

I lean forwards and tilt my head. "Oh, did I hit a nerve? Are you having an allergic reaction to the truth?"

In an instant he leans forwards as well, now we are face to face. "Don't try and act all tough, we both know all I have to do is mutter some pretty words and you would have your legs spread for me tonight."

I laugh and lower my voice to a whisper. "Tryst me Cody, my legs will be spread tonight, but not by you."

He leans back, clearly shocked. "Are you seeing someone?"

I lean back as well, relaxing a bit. "Someone with enough balls to be a man and treat me right? Yes, I am."

He shakes his head. "Fucking slut. I knew it."

"Slut? And what do you call yourself? At least I had the decency to break up with you before frolicking around with other people."

That must have been his breaking point because he grabs the flowers and launches them into my face. Unfortunately for him, THAT was MY breaking point.

Standing up I walk over to his side of the table and punch him square in the face. Before he has time to react, I grab those same flowers and throw them right back at him.

"Never again will you EVER become violent with me. I don't know why I let you get away with so much while we were together but just know that I am not that same girl. For your sake, I hope you grow the fuck up and become a man sometime soon. Have a nice fucking life."

I turned and walked out of the shop and into an alley, the sun was setting and I needed to catch my breath. My adrenaline was so high, I had just caught the attention of the entire coffee shop and surely someone would try and call the cops about the encounter. But I wasn't worried about that. I was just shocked I actually stood up for myself instead of letting him walk all over me. I felt...powerful.

"Amara." I lift my head to see Jackson standing in front of me.

"Jackson." I say breathlessly.

I nearly forgot I had asked him to stay close by, just in case.

"How did It go?" He asks coming over and engulfs me into a hug.

"Horrible. He got upset, said some awful things, and then threw flowers like a child."

I swear Jackson stopped breathing for a moment. I lean my head up to look at him only he's looking behind me. I turn around to see Cody standing there.

I groan. "Cody, what the hell do you want?"

Cody walks into the alleyway and stops when he's right in front of us. "This is him?"

Jackson moves me to stand behind him. "I would advise you to go on about your day." he says calmly.

"This doesn't involve you man. This is between me and her." Cody says.

Jackson tilts his head. "Yes, and while I know she can take care of herself, you have disrespected her. And for that, you have made this my business." Jackson slowly walks towards Cody.

"Do you know why that is Cody? Because that is someone I care deeply for. And you should know I do not take disrespect to those I care about lightly.

Before I can process Jackson slams his fist into Codys face before pulling him against the wall by his shirt. "Now, I'm going to need you to talk a walk, preferably far away from us, before I do something I regret. Like letting Amara see what I leave left of you." He throws Cody to the ground and Cody stands up, a bit off balance as he points a finger at me.

"This isn't over."

And with those words he turns and runs out of the alleyway and out of sight.