The Reality of a Relationship

3

One week later

This caramel macchiato actually tastes really good. I've been coming to the same old Starbucks for many years now. It holds a lot of memories to me. Both good and bad. Ever since I left the apartment, I've been coming here way more than necessary. Like five times a day to be exact. I even take some shifts for my good' ol pal Pete for a few extra dollars. Being a regular customer here, I ended up befriending the baristas. It's a nice group of people actually.

"Hey, we're gonna close up soon. You'll have to go back. I doubt Brett will walk through the door at this time," Pete tells me.

I nod in response. He's probably right. I guess you've figured it out, I'm not here for the very good caramel macchiato. I come here in hopes of even catching a small glimpse of Brett. It's a week since I've seen him and it's only making me wear his hoodie that I stole a bit too much. Megan forced me to take it off so she could wash it. I wore it everywhere, everyday. She thinks that I need to get a life and go clubbing to get my mind off. As for Shelley, when I told her she just thought that it'll blow over and be back to normal before I even know it.

Yeah right. It's been a week. That's seven very long days and nothing's back to normal. The only thing I do is go to class, come here, and then go to Megan's apartment when the shop closes. I've started to pitch in with the rent as it's not fair if I stay at her apartment and not even pay for it. Sure, we're friends but something tells me that I'll be staying there permanently. If that happens, it'll be good for Megan. She was looking for a roommate anyways.

I got up and threw my trash away. Before leaving, I tipped Pete since he always has to close up later than his shift because of me. I get into my car and drive off. The whole drive, all these what ifs about Brett were going through my head. What if he never wants to see me again. What if he found someone better. What if he hasn't even thought of me since I've left, like I have of him. What if his life is better without me. When my car pulls up to a stop, it's then I realize that I had driven to Brett's complex. I didn't even realize where I was going.

Oh Willa, what are you doing with your life? This isn't where you live anymore. Remember, you messed up your wonderful relationship?

Stop being so negative Willa. You apologized remember?

Since when was I such a pessimist? Oh right, since Brett left. Wow. He meant so much in my life and I just let it all go.

Taking in a deep breath, I start the car to drive away, but not before one longing look towards the building.

Wait what's that? Is it him? It just might be your only chance to get a glimpse of him.

It was a figure walking towards the building. I quietly get out of the car to get a closer look. Once I have made it to be in hearing distance I notice that there's actually two figures. A very Brett like figure and a female figure. The girl is wearing a short dress. The kind you'll wear to a club. I can see by the way they're waking that they're both drunk. That can already tell me that it's probably not Brett. He never drinks enough to get drunk, but I still have my doubts. It's a girl thing, we like to know for sure.

"Oh babe how much further do we have to go. I can't resist you any longer," the girl slurs out.

I cringe at the way she's talking. That is the sleaziest thing to ever say. I just hope that it's not Brett-

"It's okay baby, neither can I. You're so sexy," Brett's voice interrupted my thought.

This whole week I've been moping over Brett and he's been getting drunk and hooking up! I don't know if I'm more hurt or furious. This is what he meant by "space and time." All I want to do is slap the both of them silly. But I know that if I do that, I'll be the psycho ex-girlfriend.

Just as quietly as I came, I went back to my car and drove off. When I got to the apartment, everything was dark meaning Megan was already asleep.

I stomp all the way to my bedroom and try not to slam the door shut. None of it is Megan's fault, so her sleep shouldn't suffer. I go out to the balcony that is connected to my room.

I can't believe that I was this stupid. I've been wasting my time feeling sad over him and he doesn't even give a damn. Overwhelmed with all these thoughts, I get the need to scream at the top of my lungs and get it all out. And that's exactly what I do. I scream. A scream of anger that eventually turns into a sob. My legs are getting too weak to hold me upright and so I slide down to the ground. Tear after tear escapes. I know then, that this is it.

I'm not gonna let myself break over Brett. I'm gonna get my life together because I don't need a boy to make me happy. I've got many friends. Shelley, Megan, Hunter, and even Reese. After everything happened, Reese apologized a few days ago, even though it wasn't his fault. He gave me some support and cheered me up and we've been good friends since then.

I walk back to my room and take Brett's sweatshirt. With all my strength, I swing it over the balcony to make sure I never see it again. Every picture, every memory I have of us together, I get rid of it. I had a week to say goodbye to him and that's it. No more time thinking about Brett. No more time wishing about his presence. It's officially goodbye to Brett.

Brett's P.O.V.

I wake up only to find that Willa had once again left. I was alone again on my bed. There was no one there.

The day after Willa left, when I had my surge of inspiration to win Willa back, I did exactly that. I had a whole plan set out to get her back.

I was gonna surprise her on campus, and sing her a song I wrote myself. Every lyric described what I felt about her. I knew how to sing and play the guitar ever since I was little. My mom and dad taught me before they separated of course. I was the lucky child of musicians, but their separation hit me so hard, that I didn't like music anymore. It was the first time in years I had picked up my guitar and only for Willa. Everything I ever do is because of Willa.

With my song perfectly practiced, I made my way to her campus. I saw her sitting on one of the tables outside a cafe and with my guitar in hand made my way towards her. Only someone beat me to it. Reese. I could tell he was apologizing to Willa. After a minute or so they both started laughing. It looked like she seemed so much happier with Reese than she did with me. Defeated, I made my way back to the apartment.

An hour later, Reese stopped by. I decided to bring up Willa.

"So have you talked to Willa recently?" I casually asked him.

"Yeah actually I did just today. I already apologized to you so it only made sense for me to apologize to her as well. I feel bad for coming in between your relationship," he replied.

"How was she?"

"Sad. Her eyes didn't have the same glow they did when she was with you, but I got a laugh or two out of her. You should really talk to her," Reese suggested.

"Yeah. I guess so."

And that was the end of our conversation. Reese managed to make her laugh and I only managed to let her down. I was drowning in my own emptiness. So every night I went to drink away my sorrows and brought Willa back home, but whenever I woke up she was gone. 

I get out of bed to go make myself a cup of coffee. The pounding headache I had from my hangover didn't help my mood. I noticed a pink sticky note on the fridge as I opened it to get the milk.

I don't remember putting that there.

Had a great time last night. Had to leave for work. Call me anytime   (203) 567 8945
-Nina <3

Nina? Who was she?

Shit, shit, shit! It was never Willa. It was a different girl every night. I got so drunk I believed everyone to be her.

I felt ashamed. Completely ashamed.