Flesh.

006

Belle's POV-

I clasp my hand around the cold, metal handle of the yellow cab, pulling it open with a burst of strength. I slide into the leather seat easily. The rumble of the tires against the road fills the silence.

"Where to?" Says the driver in a thick jersey accent.

I pause, knowing I have no where to go. "Actually, could you pull back in?"

She may have ruined my evening of love and laughter but I will not give her the satisfaction of ruining my evening overall.

"Thank you," I add as the driver's scowling face meets my eyes in the rearview mirror. The cab pulls to a halt and I step out into the chilled evening.

Now what? The rational part of my brain questions. I walk into the restaurant and instantly the spices in the air make my eyes water. The tinkling of the bell alerts the hostess to my arrival.

"Welcome to Cha-Da Thai. How many will be dining today?" Asks an asian waitress speaking in pigeon english. The answer is obvious as I am the only one in the entryway.

"One," I say politely.

She holds up a finger in a wait gesture. She leaves just as the tinkling of a bell sounds. It's Luna and . . . and another girl. My heart stops. Luna is dressed in black jeans that fit snuggly. Her white T-shirt does nothing to hide her black bra. Her friend wears a blood red blouse and blue jeans. I see her head thrown back in laughter. Their hands are entertwined. Time slows. The girl kisses her on the cheek and her eyes pivot to where I stand. I stagger backwards. I can't feel my legs. I can't feel anything. Jealousy strikes me with the strength of a cobra.

"Oh hey. Told ya I'd come back," she says cheerfully, not even attempting to hide to edge in her voice.

I clear my throat, regaining my composure. "Yeah," I manage in a small voice, "Yeah you did."

"Emma," She gestures to me, "This is Belle. The old friend I told you about."

Old friend. That's all I am now. An old friend.

Luna's POV-

Of course she's still here. She has nowhere else to go. Bad planning on my part, yeah? Yeah. I sigh. But maybe this is necessary. For her to see that I've moved on. I'm not her's anymore. I'm not the same girl I was. I can see her visibly shaken when Emma kisses me on the cheek. This is for everything you did to me, Belle.

"Well, let's sit, shall we?" I say boldly.

The hostess appears behind her podium. "This way ma'am." She gestures to Belle. She shrugs at us and follows the waitress into a back room of tables. The room behind us is full.

"What was that about?" Emma asks curiously. She doesn't have to know the truth.

"Oh. I don't know . . . She gets dizzy sometimes. We've been friends for a long time. I know her," I say carefully.

"Oh okay," Emma responds.

The hostess reappears. "You come too." So we followed her into the room where Belle sat in a booth with red cushions.

She shifts uncomfortably in her seat as Emma and I slide in across from her. A low hanging light casts a shadow across Belle's face, highlighting the jagged scars across her cheekbones.

"My last day here," she mutters.

Emma coughs to break the tension. "So . . . What's your name?"

"Belle."

"Your last day here? Where are you from?"

"Georgia," she says curtly.

"Oh really? That's where Luna is from. Oh!! That must be how you know eachother! Any old stories to share?" She looks exceptionally happy to have made this connection.

Belle and I lock eyes for a moment. Long enough for unspoken words to pass between us.

"No," we answer in unison. And that ended our discussion on that.

The rest of the evening consisted of pleasantries and an underlying tension that probably confused Emma.

"I feel a little nauseous, honey. I'm going to take a cab home. You can stay and hang out with Belle since she's leaving tomorrow," Emma said, slurring her words slightly after three glasses of wine.

And then it was just me and Belle.