Love Triangle

Chapter 2

The club the girls decided to go to was already packed with drunk people grinding up against each other. Zoe already felt like she was 18 again from only 2 drinks, laughing and dancing with the girls. Two men who looked like they were close to 25, complimented on her outfit and tried grinding up against her, but Kira being the hero she is, grabbed my hand and pulled me over to her.
'Told you that dress would make you look banging!'
I look down at my outfit and decided that Kira was right. I picked out a short, black dress that does up around the neck, leaving a small split down the front where my cleavage shows with a triangle cut-out at the back. I paired it with black lace up platform heels and curled my hair. Kira done my makeup, doing an amazing brown smokey eye look and finished it with a dark cherry lipstick. I haven't felt this pretty in a long time, and it feels amazing.
'Thank you for inviting me out Ki. You look absolutely amazing tonight!'
Kira went with an olive colored long sleeve mesh dress that stops above her knees and paired them with black platform lace up heels. Her hair being just above her shoulders, was straightened and her makeup was a black smokey eye look and cashmere lipstick.
'No, thank you for coming out! Seriously, you need to get out more Zo! You can't deny that you're feeling absolutely amazing and free right now.'
I smiled at her and realized she was right. The last few months, I've been feeling trapped and lonely, not knowing what's happening with Caleb and I and work being extremely busy with the new magazine issue launch that's about to happen. It felt good to just relax, unwind and dance with my amazing friends.

Finishing my third drink, I waved to Kira to let her know I was going to the bar and walked over. Just as I was about to order, a familiar voice whispered in my ear.
'Zoe Blake, looking sexy as always.'
I froze, unable to move. It can't be. I haven't seen him in 5 years. Not knowing what else to do, I slowly turned around and there, standing right beside me with that devilish smirk he was always good at, was Axl Carter. I couldn't help but check him out. He was 6ft with short, black hair that sits up at the front with blue eyes that I was always drawn to. I notice he has been working out. Through the tight black t shirt he was wearing, I could make out how fit he was. It took all my strength to not reach out and touch him.
'Axl Carter, you are the last person I thought I would crash into tonight.' I said, trying to sound confident and not like an idiot.
I watched him as he ran his eyes over my body. The last time I seen Axl, I was overweight and definitely not wearing short dresses like the one I was wearing tonight.
'You've been working out. I like it.' Axl said, his eyes landing on my cleavage. 'Not that I didn't find you hot the last time we seen each other and I'm pretty sure I made myself clear that night as well' He continued, but this time he was looking into my eyes.
It was true, five years ago, I was at an old friends wedding with Caleb. I had ran to the bathroom after the ceremony and ran straight into Axl. We have known each other from school but hadn't seen each other since we graduated. We use to have a thing for one another, and the chemistry between us was so strong, it was hard to stay away, but we never did anything about it.
At the wedding, he made it clear he still had a thing for me and even though he knew I was with Caleb, he pushed me against the wall and kissed me, then left. I haven't seen him since. Until tonight.

'What are you doing here?' I asked.
'Am I not allowed to go to a club and have a few drinks?' Axl smirked.
'You know what I mean Axl, why are you here? Back in Melbourne? Aren't you living in Queensland with your new girlfriend?'
Axl kept smirking at me and stepped closer. 'Someone's been keeping an eye on me. Are you jealous?'
'What? No! I'm happily still in a relationship with Caleb.'
'Ah, Caleb.' Axl said, leaning towards my ear. 'Then where is he?'
Just as I was about to answer, he winked at me, turned and left.
I eventually found my voice and ordered another drink when my phone went off. I looked at my screen and seen a message from a number I didn't have saved. It said:
"It's Axl. Just to put that cute mind of yours at ease, me and Sophia broke up and I have moved back to Melbourne. It was just fate that we ran into each other, but I sure am glad I did. I'll be thinking of you, just like you'll be thinking of me. Let's go out for a coffee some time, I'd love to see you again."
Why do you make me feel this way Axl? I thought to myself.
I put my phone back into my bag, decided to not even think about Axl or Caleb tonight and went to find Kira. It was time to dance.

The next morning when I woke up, I felt like I was dying. The events of last night came crashing back. Axl, the devilish smirk of his, the text. I did nothing wrong, so why do I feel like I have betrayed Caleb? Speaking of Caleb, Zoe looked over to his side of the bed and noticed it was empty. She looked at the time on her phone which read 7:00am. He must have stayed out all night, she thought.
Trying not to overthink, Zoe got out of bed, took some Advil and jumped into the shower. Once she was out and dressed, she phoned Kira.
'Please tell me you were being serious when you said I could bring as much disgustingly good fatty food into work today?' Zoe asked, as soon as Kira answered.
Zoe heard Kira groan. 'Please bring Advil and a bucket as well. I feel like death.'
'Why don't you stay home today and I'll go to work myself? I don't feel as shit anymore.'
'I can't, I have a heap of paperwork to do and you my dear bestfriend, have some talking to do.'
'What do you mean?'
'Oh don't play stupid, I seen you with the gorgeous guy last night when you were getting another drink. From what it looked like, you two knew each other.. Extremely well.'
'There's nothing to tell. I knew him from school, we were friends and that's it.' I lied.
Kira was quiet for a while on the other end. I knew she didn't believe me, but I really didn't want to talk about Axl, not today.
'Uh huh. Get me a coffee and one of those really yummy donuts they sell on your way to work. I'll meet you there.'
Kira hung up before Zoe could answer, which meant she wasn't buying it and would literally do anything to get Zoe talking.
Zoe groaned. It's going to be a long day.

'Good morning, Stacie!' Zoe says, as she walks into the gallery.
Stacie is another employee at the gallery, but she only works Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
'You look like complete shit. Big night?
'You could say that. Is Kira in yet?'
'Yeah, she's in her office, sleeping.'
Zoe rolls her eyes and walks to Kira's office. Just like Stacie said, Kira was hunched over her desk, asleep.
'KIRA, WAKE UP! THERE'S A FIRE' Zoe screamed, watching Kira fly out of her chair in panic mode.
Zoe started laughing so hard at the sight of her bestfriend, tears started forming in her eyes.
'What the fuck, Zoe! Seriously, one of these days you WILL give me a heart attack!' Kira snapped.
Zoe continued to laugh, handing over Kira's coffee to her.
'I'm sorry, it was just the perfect moment. Your face was priceless!'
'Yeah, well, fuck you. We have work to do.'
'Oh come on Ki, you agree it was funny'
'I'll agree that it was, when you start talking. Who was the guy from last night?'
Zoe groaned. She knew she won't get out of this until she starts talking. Taking a seat, she turns to Kira.
'His name is Axl. We went to high school together. I had the biggest crush on him and I knew he liked me back, but none of us did anything about it. When we graduated, we lost contact, until 5 years ago, when Caleb and I went to a wedding. I crashed into Axl and, well, he kissed me. Then left and I haven't seen him since.'
'Wait, he kissed you? And you were with Caleb? Does Caleb know?'
'No. I never told him. I was going to, until I seen on Facebook that Axl moved to Queensland with his new girlfriend. I didn't think it was necessary to bring it up to Caleb because Axl was gone and I knew I wouldn't see him again.'
'But you did, last night. Zo, I seen the way you looked at him. Do you still have feelings for this guy?'
Zoe could see the worry in Kira's face. As much as she wanted to lie to her bestfriend, she couldn't.
'I don't know.' Zoe whispered, with tears forming in her eyes. 'I really want to say no, but I can't because I don't know.'
Kira takes Zoe in her arms. 'I think you need to have a long talk with Caleb, figure out what's happening with you guys and then sort out this Axl mess. Caleb is your first priority, remember that. He is the one you're with. I don't want you making a mistake that you won't be able to undo.'
Zoe knew Kira was right. She has to sort things out with Caleb first. After all, she was with him and loved him and not Axl. Right?