Love & Other Possibilities

Chapter 3 - Winter

      Music poured over my earbuds as I stared out the bus window. It was a cool September day, and I admired the way the leaves hanging from the trees were beginning to change. 

     I took this bus to and from work every day, and I was familiar with the scenery that passed by as we ran noisily down the rout, but I couldn't help but look anyways. I'd finished my book during break, so I was reduced to sight seeing. 

      As a man's melancholy voice sang about a lost love over my headphones, I couldn't help but let my mind wander to the conversation between Ross and I earlier this morning. How he said Molly and him were going to be moving in together. Well, not in so many words, but basically. I don't know why I was genuinely surprised - Molly was a beautiful girl, and Ross was absolutely smitten with her. They'd been dating for a few months, I suppose the next step would be expected. 

     My chest heaved in a heavy sigh, and I pushed away the disappointment that weight in my stomach. I had no claim to regret concerning him, I knew. I guess part of me always hoped that something would happen between us... But I should have known better. Besides, I clearly doubted it would have worked out anyways. He's too good.

     I did my best to push away the thought of him, and grabbed my phone as it buzzed a notification of a text message. It was from Erika, the closest thing to a best friend I had. 

"What are you doing tonight?"  She asked.

My thumbs typed at the keys, describing my plans of Chinese food, wine and Netflix and sent it away. Moments later she responded a statement that no, I was going out with her tonight. I inwardly groaned, tapping at the letters to ask her why and where. In just another moment she replied that we were going to get dressed up, go to a coffee shop that also happened to serve alcohol, because they were hosting a band that ended up canceling so she had a last minute performance. 

     I dropped my head back against the metal bar of the bus seat in exasperation. Of course, it hurt, and I instantly took that as a sign from the universe that I should stop being such a selfish introvert, and be there for my friend. Even though I didn't want too. 

     I typed out a reluctant but accepting reply and within seconds she sent me a message that consisted of more exclamation marks than letters, and said she would pick me up at a quarter to seven. I checked the time - 5:53. No time to even prepare myself mentally for the changed plans. 

I groaned and shoved my phone in my purse. My stop was in just a few blocks. 

      I was home and getting dressed by ten after six. I'd decided on wearing a black, three quarter sleeved impulse buy from a few weeks ago I hadn't worn yet. The lace on the shoulders had sold me as I was on my to check out and I'd barely had enough time to find the right size before I practically dashed to the register. I always had a way of talking myself out of things. This though, I probably should have decided against, I thought as I pulled it on. I had noticed the bottom section was a black sheer material, but I hadn't realized that the solid only fell just beneath my naval, leaving about three inches of barely shrouded skin above the waistline of my low rise jeans. I let out a sigh and looked back towards the chaos that was my chest of drawers - stuffed and spilling over, I knew there was no way I wanted to search for an undershirt or a different pair of jeans. Besides, I doubted anyone would even be looking at me anyways. I looked at myself in the mirror - It didn't look that bad. Satisfied, I quickly changed out my brown boots for my dark burgundy faux suede pair that rose just a little higher over my knee, and grabbed loosed the tie from my hair, letting it spill down around my shoulders.

      I went to the bathroom to give my long brown locks a quick curl with the straightening iron, and caught a glance of my face in the mirror. I looked tired, but beneath that my features were pretty good. And my suede boots always made me feel good - I grabbed out my liquid liner from my makeup drawer and painted a subtle wingtip liner above my lids, and grabbed out the matte lipstick I'd bought simply because they were the exact same color of these boots. Feeling pretty and satisfied, I grabbed my bag and walked to my small living room to wait.