The Moment | hs au

Time Machine

Liam's brick apartment building came into Margo's view. Her stomach is tight with anticipation and she hopes she looks all right. She pays the taxi driver, who then speeds away towards the tunnel. Turning to get out of the brisk air, she pushes in the key code and starts on the stairs.

Third floor.

Gripping the rail and wishing she hadn't worn heels, she flattens out her dress and reaches above the door frame for the spare key. Humming softly, she pushes the key into the hole and clicks the door open. She hears the shower running. Closing the door softly, she passes the kitchen door and heads straight into Liam's room.

Walking in, she turns ice cold. There, on the floor in a piled mess, is a pair of lace undergarments, a bra, and a particularly skimpy dress.

Steaming she goes to open the bathroom door, and when it's locked, she knocks.

In a sexy voice, "Is that Liam coming for round two hmm?"

"No, it's his fucking girlfriend ready for round one." Anger seeps into her voice, dripping with fury. The shower shuts off almost immediately.

A girl with makeup smudges under her eyes and her hair wrapped up in a towel open the door with a look of utter confusion and disbelief.

"What did you say?" She demands.

"I'm Liam's fucking girlfriend. Who the hell are you and why is your thong on his floor?"  She asks, pushing into the bathroom. The girl backs up but doesn't give up her ground completely.

They were played.

And suddenly it all makes sense. His distance, his lack of text messages, his random walks. He was probably walking home from this girl's house. Margo is furious.

"I'm Monica and it seems like our Liam is playing a very dangerous game." She pushes her lips together and heaves her chest up and down. Monica was played just as much as Margo was.

"How long?" Monica asks.

"How long what?"

"How long were you two together?" She finishes.

Margo racks her brain, thinking. Then she replies, "Eight months."

"That little shit." Monica turns and braces her hands against the bathroom counter.

"What?" Margo inquires, "How long has this been going on?"

"Liam and I have been dating for six months. That little shit. What are we going to do about this?" Monica turns to Margo, looking for guidance. Margo is clearly the tougher one here.

"I'm going to pour us a nice glass of wine, you're going to out that dress on, and we're going to set some things straight." Margo turns on her heels and walks straight out into the kitchen. She finds Liam's most exquisite, most expensive bottle of wine and pours two glasses. A few minutes later, Monica comes out, redressed and ready.

"Where did he go, anyway?" Margo asks.

"He told me to shower and he said he had to run to the store. I don't know why." She shrugs her shoulders. Margo notices her hands shaking and can't ignore her voice crack.

She sets down her glass and takes Monica's hands.

"You have to be strong right now. I know it hurts, but you have to be strong. He wronged us and you cannot cry for him. He does not deserve those tears. You're going to go out and find someone who loves you and only you. You are going to find someone who will treat you right." Margo says. Monica bites her lip and nods, taking her thumb and wiping under her eye.

"Strong." She agrees.

"That's the spirit."

They talk for about ten minutes before Margo hears keys rattling in the door. Monica crosses her legs and takes the glass of wine in hand.

Liam opens the door with a bag of groceries. He drops them after seeing the two ladies together. Milk drains across the tiled floor. His face is frozen.

"Hey Liam. Why didn't you ever introduce me to Monica? She's quite the catch." Margo says smoothly, taunting him and squishing her glass of wine around but not drinking it.

"And Margo here is quite the girl, why have you kept us apart?" Monica coos. And at that moment, Margo was very proud.

"This isn't what I looks like, I can explain just give me a minute." Liam comes forward with his hands raised.

"Stop right there." Margo laughs a cruel laugh and slides off her stool. She gets inches from his face then whispers, "This game you've played-well, you lost." She bumps his shoulder and doesn't look back until she's outside the door that he never shut. His eyes are still wide in horror. Monica seems frozen until she hesitantly follows Margo out the door.

"It's better this way, now you've got all the time in the world to jack off. And yes, I found your mess. And you should really clear your search history when you house sit." Margo slams the door.

Deep breath in.

Deep breath out.

Monica looks about ready to break down. Margo takes her hand again and gives her a sympathetic smile.

"Let's blow this Popsicle stand." Margo says, forcing a smile.

Monica just nods, her blonde hair drips slightly onto her dress.

Two girls, both heartbroken, step outside into the rain.