FRIENDS

TIFFANY

I was at a table at Corki Cafe. I was waiting to meet Matt. It sounded stupid out loud, so for my sake I wasn't going to keep thinking about it. Matt's been texting me for about a week straight now, maybe it was just time I faced the music.
The crowd started clapping after a girl finished ready her poem. I was barely listening; even when Matt and I came here as a couple I wasn't very interested. Poetry was kind of his thing. I had decided to come early. Only to order a drink, not because I was excited or anything.

Plus to get the window seat, there was this tiny table I loved with a perfect window view. I sat here everytime, or used to. This was strictly business, and to get him to stay out of my inbox, stop sliding into these DMs, and never to hit my line again. I was slowly sipping my tea when someone tapped my shoulder.

"Oh uhh hey Matt!" I put on a pretend enthused voice. He came in for a hug and I put my hand out for a handshake. He looked confused and mostly hurt.

He slowly shook my hand and took a seat. "Yeah hey Tiffy." He said with an eyebrow raised.

"Listen Matt I have a boyfriend, these calls and texts have to stop."

He looked surprised how fast I jumped into it. No time to be wasted here. "Well thanks Tiffy I've been fine, how about you."

"Sorry but you have gotta stop, what if John were to see all of these." I held up my cellphone scrolling through his endless tries at a reply.

"John, that douche with a motorcycle." He mimicked John. I used to find it funny when he mimicked people, and tiny part inside me giggled a little.

"Yeah John, the one who makes me happy." I interrupted his mimicking with a stern voice. It was stern enough to make the girl reciting her piece stop and start over.

"Are you trying to say that he makes you happier than I did."

"I'm not trying to say anything I am saying that he's made me happier." I said, thinking back to our crazy night on the first date and seeing red every time we kissed. I could see Matt's fist clenching harder on the table. There was a long pause of chatter and a moment of people clapping for the girl onstage.

"Why couldn't you leave with me?" He asked and he looked so hurt he couldn't even meet my eyes.

I sat back in my chair sighing. "We been through this already. I wanted to stay close to my family and friends." I looked down at my black nail polish and started picking at it, just to give myself something to do.
Just then a barista with aqua blue hair came over to the table and put her hand on Matt's shoulder. "Your on next." She pointed towards the stage where a girl was speaking her poem to the crowd.

He started to get up and paused. "You know you were so caught up with family and friends you forgot I was your boyfriend too." He marched into the crowd and up on stage while the crowds claps for the girl before died down.
I decided to sit and listen from my seat, mostly cause I felt bad and somewhat to see if he'd gotten any better.

He took the mic and waited until it was silent.

To the girl with Polaroid camera.

I suddenly realized that this poem was for me. He looked at me as he started reciting.

You were a special one, you took pictures of everything.
So ready to take on the world, as if you had a chance in the ring.
You showed me that life was an adventure, and each day a new start.
But then you had to go and successfully break my heart.
Click!
You snapped a pic of us together at the park in July.
You told me you were so happy you could just die.
Click!
Were in the ice rink next to the mall.
You held me so tight and close because you were so scared to fall.
Click!
I wanted to get out of this city.
But you wanted to stay and be trapped in this pity.
Click!

Your kisses sting on my cheek as we sit in the December snow
As the temperature drops our love continues to grow.
Click!
Who would've known this was the last picture we'd take.
When you let me leave I should've known that the only love between us was fake.

From the boy who you've trapped in your Polaroid camera.

The crowd started to go wild with clapping and finger snaps. I wiped my eyes on the sleeve of my sweater.

It was strange to think that Matt had seen me as the girl who got away or the girl who stayed in this case. He gave a few high fives to enthused audience members and came back to the table.

"Listen I-" I started but he cut in. "There's no need I've learned to cope." He smiled and his face was so adorable. His smile perfectly alligned to his small dimples. He was staring at me too, his eyes just as lustful, maybe even more.
I leaned in to kiss him but caught myself, I started to pull back. I found myself being pulled back into the kiss by a pair of hands. Matt pulled me in for a kiss, and all I saw was blue. Vivid shades of a lightning blue. It was calm yet exhilarating. I could feel my knees begin to shake and wobble. I felt like I'd tip over.
Just then a bright flash went off on the other side of the window, outside. Someone had taken a picture of us kissing! I looked to see who it was that snapped the pic but by the time my eyes could focus all I saw was a girl with a bright red pony tail turn and leave. Cece.

Looks like I was the only girl with a Polaroid camera.

***********

Ohhh shit, she took a pic! Sorry for the late update been kinda busy.