If Love Really Does Exist

The Sound of Glass Hearts Shattering

I woke up to the sound of Yeah Boy And Doll Face playing through my phone. Jaime. I flopped over my bed so I was lying on my stomach and reached over my night stand to grab my phone.

"Jaime, what? I'm still sleeping." I groaned into the phone.

"Whoa, sorry but you got to get up. Get dressed and I'll meet you at Starbucks at ten. I have something important to tell you. I've been waiting weeks." He said, excited. Before I could protest he hung up. I looked over at my clock, it was nine fifteen. I had forty five minutes to myself before I'd have to leave.

"What is it he could possibly want?" I said to myself. I looked through my closet and decided on white V-neck top and black skinny jeans with ankle high boots. I quickly brushed through my long wavy brown hair. I brushed my teeth, put on a little makeup, and changed with in twenty minutes so I decided to just go early. I grabbed my purse and my phone and got into my little Chevy Cruse. It took me fifteen minutes to get to Starbucks, leaving me with ten minutes before Jaime wanted to meet. I pulled out my iPhone and went through my photos. I had a few photos of my boyfriend and I but most of them I was with Jaime. We have been friends since high school. He's twenty seven now, while I'm twenty six. I got to my favorite picture we were at a park and Jaime took my phone and threw his arms around me and took a picture of us. It was only a few months old. I hadn't seen him in a while, not since I moved in with my boyfriend. Jaime didn't really like him too much. He'd have a reason if I told him everything but I didn't, I couldn't tell him.

"That really is a great photo of us." A familiar voice said behind me. I turned around while jumping out of my seat and hugged Jaime. He held onto my lower back tightly. Jaime was in a band called Pierce the Veil and it had been weeks since I last saw him. Luckily, he when had time off so we'd spend time together when Ryan was busy. "Hey Rosa." He finally said into my ear and let me go.

"Jaime, I've really missed you." I admitted.

"I've missed you too, Carina." He put his arm around my shoulders and walked me to the line for coffee. Once we sat back down, Jaime bit his lip like he couldn't hold back what he had to say. That was the best thing about Jaime, he always was childish.

"Okay, spill it's killing you." I said, smiling at him.

"As you know, we're going to Warped Tour but the best part is you can visit when you want to." He blurted.

"Jaime, that's great!" I said, genuinely happy about the news.

"We're gonna get to hang out with the guys from Sleeping with Sirens. They're cool, you need to meet them." He smiled, touching my hand.

"You know how I am meeting new people." I said.

"Trust me, I could never forget." He laughed. Jaime is my best friend now but there was a time when he'd try to talk to me and I'd run away. I don't like people and I don't like getting attention. I'm barely able to talk to Jaime's band mates. They try so hard to be nice to me and I just push them away. I even hid my face in Jaime's chest most of the time. I don't trust a lot of people. Too many bad memories come from trusting people. Of course, Jaime always tried to get me out of the shell I live in but I'm too awkward. Even though I'm twenty six, I'm still not as outgoing as I'd like to be. Jaime's phone rang and he headed off to talk privately. When he returned he seemed reluctant.

"The guys want to go and have a 'Last night before tour life' thing and I should probably go." He half mumbled.

"I understand. I'll see you before you leave." I said, standing to hug him good-bye.

"You can come you know." He stated, knowing well enough that I would rather just be home.

"I know." was all I said before I headed to my car

Spending time with Jaime always made me happy, so naturally I drove home smiling and blasting music, Second & Sebring to be exact. I was so caught up in my good mood it took me longer than usual to notice the dark cloud rolling in, metaphorically of course. I pulled into my driveway and took notice of Ryan's car. He was supposed to be at work.

I quietly entered my apartment and immediately I felt queasy. In the back of the apartment, I could hear Ryan throwing things around without a care and completely oblivious to me coming home. "Fucking done with her pathetic bullshit." I heard him mutter. My head fell down as I stared at the floor. I entered the room and before I could comprehend what was going on Ryan threw a bag at my feet.

"Get out. I'm tired of your face." He scoffed at me.

"Where do you expect me to go Ryan?" I yelled back. Yelling was a bad idea. He pushed me, causing my head to slam into the door frame.

"Does it look like I care?" his voice was cold. Nothing I wasn't used to.

"You can't just kick me out! This is my place to. You can't even afford rent on your own. You need me." My voice came out small and weak, the exact opposite of what I wanted it to sound like. He just laughed grabbing a cigarette and putting in between his lips.

"The only reason I'd need you is if I wanted to continue living with a pathetic bitch that is no good in bed," he started, "there's a new girl. She's better than you. I'm going to Eric's. I'd be gone when I get back if I were you." And with that he walked to the door slamming it shut. I didn't know if I was relieved or hurt. I loved him but he hurt me. He hurt me in ways I never even told Jaime. I never would either.

I fell to the floor and my eyes became blurred with tears. I was crying so hard I couldn't see. I pulled out my phone and tried my best to find Jaime's contact. The phone rang three times.

"Hello?" I was crying too hard to answer back immediately. "Rosa, are you okay?"

"Please, get me." I managed to choke out.

"I'll be right there." He said, with urgency. I could tell he was scared. I started throwing my clothes in the bag Ryan had thrown at me. Eventually, I stopped crying and Jaime showed up, walking in the door like it was his place. It no longer belonged to me either. "What happened?" he said, taking in my swollen eyes.

"I just want to go." I said, standing up. Jaime ran up and hugged me with one hand on my shoulder blades and the other on the base of my neck. I forced back more tears. When he finally let me go we headed to his car. "I'll get my car later." I told him, sliding into the passenger seat and throwing my stuff in the back. He nodded.

"I need to know what happened." He said once he pulled out of the driveway and was a whole street away from that place. I didn't answer him until we were at his building.

"He pushed me to the side like I was nothing, Jaime." I caught sight of the look in his eyes before he quickly shielded them. He was mad but I couldn't exactly tell why. Did he understand exactly what I meant? Was he mad at Casey or was he mad at himself? I got out of the car and followed Jaime into the lobby of his apartment building. When we reached the elevator he seemed calm enough to talk to. "It's okay I guess. I can start over, you know? I won't have to depend on anyone." I tried to reason.

"It's unfair to you. To give that sleaze ball all you've got and for him to just treat you like you're just some girl." Jaime said. I decided to drop the subject.

"Jaime," I whispered as he was unlocking his door, "can we just watch some movies? I don't feel like talking much."

"Yeah." He said, almost defeated. He flipped on the light and I took in his apartment. It wasn't much but it was familiar and I hadn't been in that room for so long. Jaime sat on the couch and gestured to have me sit with him. As I did, he put his arm around me and I leaned closer into him as he started up his Netflix. We watched The Crow, the Brandon Lee version, Little Monster, Toy Story One and by the time we got to Jaime's second favorite movie, Forest Gump, I was asleep.