Apartment 17B ◈

Eight

EMMA

It was the middle of the day on Thursday and I couldn't help but be excited about hanging out with Luke tonight. He seems like a great guy and I could see us becoming great friends. Honestly, if I wasn't dating Michael, I could see us becoming more than friends, but I don't want to get ahead of myself. And plus, why would a guy that looks like him want to be with a girl who looks like me? That just doesn't make any sense.

After laying in my bed for two hours after waking up, I got myself up and in the shower. I washed my hair and body, shaved my legs and armpits, and scrubbed my face with face wash; feeling like a new woman after stepping out of the water. I wrapped a towel around my body and one in my hair. I turned my TV on and started playing Pandora loudly throughout my apartment. I played the Nirvana playlist, because I was in the mood to listen to them. I removed the towel from my head and dried it off slightly before running a brush through it. I didn't bother drying it, that took way too much effort and time that I didn't want to spend.

I remained in my towel as I started applying makeup to my face and sang along to the song that was playing loudly; Sex and Candy. I'm sure Luke was able to hear the music, but at least I was playing good music. After finishing my daily makeup routine, I decided it would be best if I started getting dressed. I settled on a pair of dark skinny jeans, a plain white t-shirt, and Michael's red and white flannel over it. Since it was the middle of November in New York City, it was starting to get freezing; so I put on a large parka coat over the flannel and a black beanie on my head. Lastly, I slipped my feet into my black Vans. Grabbing my purse, phone, and keys, I made my way out of my apartment. I was planning on going to the liquor store to get a bottle of some type of alcohol since I would feel bad if Luke was the only one supplying it tonight. As I walked down the cold and busy streets, I felt my phone vibrate in my coat pocket. I got it out and saw a text from an unknown number.

Unknown: Hey it's Luke (neighbor guy, obviously)! I realized that I never actually texted you so you had my number because I am an idiot (even though you probably already knew that) so I'm doing that right now hahaha

Me: Hey! You're not an idiot, Luke. It's okay! Are we still hanging out tonight?

Luke: Of course we are! Your place or mine?

Me: Doesn't matter to me. Probably yours though because mine is kind of like really fucking messy and I don't want to clean it.

Luke: Lmfao okay sounds good. Come over at like eight I guess?

Me: Okeeee see you then!

I locked my phone and put it back in my pocket. As I continued to walk down the street, I saw Michael's red hair from afar, I was about to speed up my pace and yell his name so I could catch up to him, but I stopped in my tracks when I saw he was with a girl. It wasn't Mallory; his ex-girlfriend. It was a girl I have never seen before. Before jumping to conclusions, I thought that maybe they are just friends, maybe they work together or something, but I was proved wrong when I saw him lean in to leave a kiss on her lips. My breath hitched in my throat when I saw the huge smile on both of their faces. He looked so happy because of the gorgeous girl in front of him. Of course I loved Michael, I've been with him for a year, but I wasn't in love with him. I was starting to think that our relationship would end soon, but I never thought that he would cheat on me. I don't understand why he wouldn't just break up with me instead of going behind my back. That's what hurt the most.

Before Michael could see me, I turned around and started going the opposite way. I felt tears prick my eyes and blinked so they were running down my cheeks. I quickly got my phone out of my pocket and unlocked it to text Luke and cancel on him. I wanted to do nothing but get drunk by myself and cry and feel bad for myself. Before I could text Luke, he texted me first and after reading what he said, that's when I knew I couldn't just cancel on him.