Intertwined

Chapter Eighteen

It was summer in Santa Monica. People had made their way to the beach to have some fun. Jay sat beside me on the damp sand as we watched the showcase of red and orange colors all around us. Jay moved closer to me, his hand almost touching mine. He seemed to want to start a conversation but I was just lost in the magnificence of the sunset – a huge ball of light slowly saying goodbye. Suddenly, a memory hit me like a truck. I remembered watching the sunset with Charles during the first week we'd been together. He called me beautiful then. I felt a surge of tears coming so I quickly shook my head to get the memory out of my head. Fuck Charles. He didn't reply back to my response to his birthday greeting for me. I just wanted to choke him once we saw each other again.

"You still love him," that fucking little voice inside my head always said. No, I didn't anymore. Charles gave me hell for two years, how could I still find paradise in him?

"Don't deny it," my subconscious said.

"Fuck off!" I didn't realize I said it out loud. Jay looked at me, confused. He raised his eyebrow, waiting for an explanation.

I quickly reasoned out, "I'm sorry. I, uhh..." Shit. What was I supposed to say? Jay was still staring at me. I looked more of an idiot already. Luckily, I was able to speak again. "Just forget that I had said that." I let out a nervous laugh. Could I go on a day without making myself look stupid? Jay just shrugged and laughed at me and I joined him.

"Do you want to go to your friends?" he asked me.

"Yes." Oh thank god. I just wanted to get out of this awkward situation.

We made our way to where Mackenzie, Phoebe, and John were which was at this bar and they were drinking tequilas.

"Already?" I asked them referring to the tequilas.

Phoebe replied, "It is never too late or too early for tequilas darling." John handed Jay and me drinks and we all sat down at a table.

John started the conversation, "So where are you working Jay?"

Jay sat up straight and cleared his throat. He then boasted, "I am now a writer at Fox." A smirk formed on his lips and I saw everyone rolled their eyes.

"You should write movies here in Hollywood, Vie! You'd be great!" Jay said as he touched my hand.

I smiled at him. Of course, I was flattered. Before I could respond to Jay, I felt someone tap on my shoulders. I turned around and saw those brown locks and dark brown eyes that I always dear. I excitedly got up and wrapped her in my embrace.

"Julia! I'm so glad to see you again!" Julia hugged me tighter.

"How are you Vie?" I looked at Julia and she was radiant as ever. Her brown eyes glistened with exuberance.

I told her, "Well, still beautiful as ever!" We both giggled at that self-praise of mine. She then narrated to me her working experience here in Los Angeles. Apparently, she was working on a record label as of the moment and I was so excited for her. I stopped her midway in her sentence when I saw a huge sparkling diamond ring on her left hand. Oh my god. I screamed so loud that everyone in the bar turned their heads towards me. They all looked at me as if I was a lunatic. I raised Julia's left hand and shouted, "She's engaged!" My companions applauded and congratulated Julia while the rest just turned away, not caring about the news. Julia's face turned really red, red as a tomato. I laughed seeing her face.

"Stop it Vie!" Alright, I needed to stop. But I couldn't just stop laughing. This time, Julia joined in.

We went outside the bar to get some fresh air. I jumped up and down like an excited kid at a toy store. I was still elated from the news.