Haunted

November 28th

It was the late hours of Sunday evening. The plane had just landed and I knew that Becca expected me to be at work at 9:30 on Monday morning.

Finn had left his car at the airport which was a good thing because it meant that we didn't have to wait around for a taxi or a bus.

We walked into the arrival lounge. People who had got off the same flight as us were running to hug people; family, friends and began to tell them about their trip to the "Big Apple."

Finn and I trudged tiredly towards the door with the exit sign glowing a bright red above it.

We reached Finn's car and he unlocked it. We placed our suitcases in the boot. I was about to chuck mine in before I remembered that there was breakables in it.

We got in and Finn drove off. I looked out of the window up at the sky. The stars were shining brightly. It was a clear night and there was not a cloud in sight.

"Lola." Finn said breaking my bubble.
"What?" I asked sleepily.
"Are you picking up Shannon?"
"Really Finn? You think Emma and Mark are going to be up at 2am so I can pick up my daughter." I cried.
"Sorry I didn't think."
"No I'm sorry. I'm so tired."

We sat in silence for the rest of the journey.

29th November
12:50am
Finn pulled up outside of my flat.
"Do you think he'll be here?" Finn asked.
He being Jack.
"I hope not but then where else would he be?" I said.
"Do you want me to stay out here for a bit?" Finn asked.
"No it's okay. I'll deal with him." I said.

I opened the door and shut it slowly as not to wake anyone with a loud bang.
I went round to the rear of the car and popped open the boot. I pulled my suitcase out.

"If I find anything of yours I'll just bring it round."
I nodded in agreement.
I put my arms around Finn.
"Thank you for coming with me. Thanks for everything this past month I don't know what I would've done without you."
I felt Finn put his arms around me.
"It's all in the job description." He said laughing lightly.
"What job?" I questioned.
"Of being your best friend you idiot." Finn said pulling away from my embrace.
"I would do the same for you."
"I know you would." Finn said kissing the top of my head.
I smiled.
"Now go to bed." He said.

I walked to the front door and opened it with my key.
I heard the purr of Finn's car get further away.

I walked up the stairs and into the living room. I flicked on the light.

I turned around and got a shock.
"For fucks sake Jack! Why are you sitting in the dark?" I exclaimed.
"I was waiting for you to return from your romantic trip with your lover boy. Where is he?"
"He went home and it wasn't a romantic trip it was strictly business. What are you even doing here Jack?"
"I pay rent on this place."
"You did until about a month ago when it almost seemed like you had disappeared off the face of the earth." I spat.
"I told you I was staying Lola."
"I would've remembered Jack. You wouldn't have booked an anniversary dinner if you knew you were going to be away."

Jack looked towards the floor.
"Despite what you think I'm not thick in the head Jack."
"Whatever. I'm back now are you happy?"
"Surprisingly no."
"What's wrong with you Lola?" Jack said sighing.
"There's nothing wrong with me. I just want to know when you're going to STOP taking me for a mug!" I shouted.
"Says the one who has obviously made a mug out of me by having another MAN in MY FLAT for the past month."
"If you got over your bitterness with Finn, you would realise he was here as a friend to me, as a godparent to Shannon and nothing else."
"Whatever just be with him if that makes you happy."

"Why are you like this?" I cried despairingly.
"Am I not living up to Mullins' standards?" Jack spat.
"The only standards you're not living up to are the ones you set yourself when I first met you."
"I'm not 18 anymore Lola. When will you realise that!"
"I know that Jack. But back then you respected me, you treated me better than anyone had ever done. Now you just take me for a mug. All I'm saying is that you made me believe that you were this amazing man who would love and respect me but you're not."
I breathed in and sighed heavily.

"We're going through a rough patch that's all." Jack said, trying to make it sound like every girl was treated like this.
"Do you know where I've heard that before?" I spat.
"Where?" Jack replied.
"That's what Harry said. A few days later he beat me half to death."
"Oh your little fantasy that you were in an abusive relationship."
"I don't care what you think about Harry. It happened Jack, it was real."
Jack shrugged his shoulders .
"Now I'm in a relationship with a liar." I cried.

"Again I told you I was staying. I told you I wouldn't be home. I booked that dinner for you to take someone else. Sally, Beth, Amy someone that wasn't fucking Finn Mullins!" He was trying to cover up, forgetting that he had basically admitted that he had intentionally booked the dinner for us.
"You didn't Jack! Did you book the dinner to soften the blow that you were getting under someone else?" I cried.
"I DIDN'T GET WITH ANYONE!"
"TELL THAT TO THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO SAW YOUR INSTAGRAM!"
Jack stopped and walked around the room. He shook his head and ran his fingers through his hair.
"Really Lola? They were just locals."
"I justified those pictures to girls I had never met, that you had never met saying that you knew them because I didn't want the people that might become my new colleagues to know that I was in a relationship with a man who gave me zero respect."
"That's your problem not mine." Jack said smirking.

"Finn has been here for the past month, yet I've done nothing with him. I'm being honest Jack. I was waiting for you to come home because I thought there might be a reason why you were fucking with my head!"
"You don't fool me." Jack said laughing,
"Yeah and you don't fool me." I replied. I pulled the ring off my finger. I threw it in frustration at Jack.
"Have it. Give it to whatever new bird you want to. Now get out of my flat."
"Where am I meant to go? Unfortunately my dad doesn't live cosily around the corner."
"Fine. You can stay here but don't expect me to pay any rent. It's your place now."
I picked my handbag off the floor and picked up my suitcase.
"Wait Lola!"
"Fuck off Jack and I mean it! I don't want you anywhere near me or Shannon!"

I stormed down the stairs.
I opened the front door and slammed it shut. I was too angry now to be in consideration of the neighbours.

I extended the suitcase handle and began to walk in the direction of Dad's house.