Arrays of Algolagnia

Chapter 9 I can't live with or without you

Frank Pov

I arrive at the party over an hour late, hoping to run into Mel. but I'm annoyed to find she isn't even here. Jack greets me at the door and the first thing he says is, "she not here yet." but he reassures me that she will be here. Mel has never been one to be late or not show to one of Jacks parties. If anything, she was always either one of the first to arrive, if she wasn't here already to help set up.

Before, it used to irritate me the lengths she used to go to for Jack. Now, I'm hoping our separation hasn't tainted that, since jack is the only link between us now. jack hands me his drink and says, "be cool. She'll be here. I saw her yesterday..."

"you saw her?" where is she? is she okay?"

"she's back at home. and I think this is harder on her, then she is letting on." we walk towards the bar, and I watch him make himself another drink. I hand him my empty glass and he gives me a refill and I ask, "you think she will be willing to talk?"

He sighs and says, "I think you will have your work cut out for you."

I nod in understanding and that's when I notice daphne walking toward us. I excuse myself, "I'm gonna check out the food." And before Jack could object or reply I slip into the crowd and disappear. When I reach the table of assortments, I pick up a plate and place a few things on there and then find a seat somewhere close to the door so I may see when Mel arrives.

I nibble on the food and sip my drink slowly as I scan the room. usually I'm up and walking around, meeting new people and drinking. Any other time,, I would have a few phone numbers by now or propositioned into meeting a pretty girl in a spare bedroom, bathroom or closet. Whatever aura I'm giving off tonight, its giving stay away.

Everyone steps around me and avoids eye contact except for a select few friends that knows me. a few people stop briefly to say hi and catch up but only one woman seem to be eyeing me from across the room. I ignore daphne as she seems to be watching my every move. I scoff and the woman that is talking to me stops mid-sentence to frown at my rudeness. I chuckle softly and apologize to her. I don't have it in me to come up with an excuse, so I just flirt with her until she begin to feel at ease again and continue on with her story.

I occasionally glance over at Daphne and I can see she is one of those chicks that don't seem to know what she wants. She plays games, she's dishonest and have no regard for anyone else's feelings. I know her very well, because I am her. the only difference is she thinks she is a good person. I know what I am. I am under no illusions of the damage I have caused my wife and best friend. she doesn't deserve jack, and I can't help but grimace as I watch her hang on his arm.

The woman, whose name ive already forgotten is still talking and for the life of me, I don't know what it's about. I smile and nod and try to listen to her as she talks about some writer whose name I can barely pronounce. I squint at the woman as I think, this all sounds familiar. The writer whose name start with a K, I think Mel was telling me about him not that long ago. I shake my head and when I look across the room again, I see Mel and Daphne talking.

"oh shit." I say softly more to myself than to the woman. I get up and walk over to the table of food and set my plate down. I watch as the two women talk and a part of me have half a mind to go over there and break them up, but that would be too obvious. I step to the side where there Is a column separating the kitchen and Livingroom and lean against it. I watch as Mel makes a face at something daphne says and then excuses herself before she says something that could be consider rude.

I put my hand over my mouth to conceal my laugh. she hates to come off mean or rude, but she doesn't know her face gives her away every time, no matter how hard she tries. She was never good at hiding her emotions whether she was sad, mad or happy.