My forever

Chapter two

Trea stood behind the bar, throwing the bottles of vodka entertainingly around his figure. The people around the bar watched him intriguingly, his agile movements forming a unique dance. He threw a bottle over his head, letting it go behind his back for reaching his hand around and catching it perfectly. He brought the bottle forward again and poured the pretty lady a drink. She smiled at him, her perfectly applied lipgloss sparkling in the light.

"Wow, you're quite talented." She said a perfect smile plastered on her face.

"I didn't get this job because of my looks." He replied winking at her. She laughs, flicking her curly blonde hair over her shoulder.

"You surely could have." She teased. He smiled at her.

"You'd be put up to manager in a hour." She laughed again, a familiar sound that he was already getting sick of, but this was the role he had to play. Happy, flirtatious, carefree bartender. Not a drug addicted, alcoholic with one girl in the back of mind who he hasn't seen in 6 years. His life wasn't perfect. That's for sure. A guy to his left called out for a shot. Trea was secretly relieved for an excuse to get away from the girl, but he didn't show it. He poured the guy a drink then himself one, letting the rest of the night blur away.

••••••

She stood in front of her bedroom mirror, her fingers delicately tracing the bruises on her body. She knew she should leave Steven, but she couldn't. Every time she tried he immediately made her regret it. She sighed and dropped her arms to her side. Staring at her small frail body in the full length mirror made her want to cry. Her ribs were jutting boldly out if her skin, and her legs were so thin she felt they might snap. She knew she had an eating disorder, but she couldn't help it. You can't just stop something like that. She was so lost. So alone. She pulled on a loose long sleeved shirt and a pair of track pants. Cover your skin. Don't let anyone see. She let her hair down to help cover the bruises on her face that her makeup skills couldn't quite conceal. She took a deep breath, hoping her fringe made it look like the dark patches were just shadow. She turned and opened her door, stepping out into her shared flat. She walked over to the kitchen, praying that her flat mates wouldn't see her like this. They knew about Steven. Knew what he did to her. They tried to help her, but she always pushed them away. She grabbed a glass of water and a stick of celery. She didn't want to eat it, but she needed energy and that had the least calories in the entire flat. She shut the fridge and turned to hide back in her bedroom. In front of her she saw her three flat mates. They stood over the kitchen bench, frowning at her in concern. Looks she had memorised.

"Evie-" She cut Grace off.

"No stop. I know what you're going to say. I know what I'm doing stay out of it." A look of hurt washed over her best friends face, and she felt sorry for her for a moment. A moment. She hung her head, hiding her tears under her bangs. Kane stepped forward now.

"Look, Evie. We know you think you've got this under control, but every time we see you you look more and more miserable. We care about you, want you to be happy. We want the old Evie back."

"We can do this together. We are all here for you." Lucy said comfortingly, backing up her friends. Evie shook her head slowly at them.

"There's nothing wrong. I have this under control." She lied. She went to push past them but Grace stepped in the way, blocking the path to her bedroom. Grace looked up into her broken best friends eyes.

"Please. Don't do this to yourself. You are so much better than him. So much better than this." Her eyes are pleading, desperate. "You helped me through my storm. Now it's my turn to help you, but first you have to want to get out of the rain." Grace placed her hand palm up between them, wanting Evie to take it. Evie stares into graces eyes, considering everything. She didn't say anything just looked down, she gently pushed past her friend to her room. Closing the door behind her.

••••••

Trea woke up, head throbbing and tongue dry. He wasn't shocked to find out that this bedroom wasn't his, even though he couldn't remember how he got there. His eyes found their way to the sleeping figure next to him. The girl from the bar last night. He groaned and forced himself upright, dragging himself by his shoelaces. He staggered away from the bed, his skull pulsating. He left the girls house without her knowledge, collecting his clothes and climbing into his car. He pulled out of her driveway and went to where he normally went in these situations, and he was in them a lot. A twenty minute drive lead him to his coffee shop. A place that he had been to since he was a kid. A place where he didn't have to worry about his reputation because no one there knew him. Except for the owner, but she knew him better than anybody. Better than himself. He climbed out of his car and walked into the coffee shop, sitting at a bar stool waiting for service. The brown haired lady's eyes lit up at the sight of him. She was an older lady, a close friend of his mothers before she passed. He didn't bother to smile at her, he just wanted a god damned coffee. She walked up to him.

"And who's heart did you go breaking last night?" Trea only responded with a one worded groan.

"Coffee." She sighed and grabbed him a cup, pouring the black drink into it.

"You know you shouldn't be drinking this crap with a hangover. It'll only make you more dehydrated. Try a Gatorade." She handed him the coffee anyway, him taking it and holding onto it or dear life. She chewed the inside of her cheek. "You shouldn't do this to yourself, sugar. Filling the hole Evie left with other girls. It's not healthy-" Trea shoved his chair backwards, wincing slightly as the noise disagreed with his eardrums.

"What would you know about Evie, Sharon?" He snarls "What would you know about me? I'm over her. She's history. Probably doesn't even remember I exist." His face sadness momentarily at his last sentence, but hardens again almost as quick as it appeared. He grabs his coffee and turns to leave the cafe. Just before he does Sharon's voice reaches his ears.

"She remembers you, sugar. You are quite hard to forget." He walks out the door, letting it swing shut behind him.