Something Good Can Work

Chapter Four

I stood in place for what seemed like minutes, although it was probably only a few seconds. I didn't know how to react without my anxiety making me go insane. All I could do was mentally repeat stay cool, stay cool…home

‘Oh hiya, Jamie’ is all I managed to respond. ‘How are ya?’

‘I’m great, surprised to see you here though! Kim told me you live in London now?’

 ‘Oh yeah, I have a flat in Maida Vale’. I desperately wanted to keep things short because I desperately wanted to get the hell out of the restaurant.

 ‘And why the sudden move back?’

 As Jamie asked me this, I could see Alex from the corner of my eye acting suddenly interested. I felt his stare burn through me, making me feel very uncomfortable. I didn’t want to answer this question, not in Alex’s presence at least. I didn’t want to admit publicly that I moved back because I was lonely, because I missed my friends, because I missed Alex. I didn’t even want to admit that to myself.

 ‘Oh, well you guys know Chris, right?’ I answered, pointing to the friend standing beside me. ‘He moved here to finish his studies, so it just seemed appropriate that I do the same’.

 ‘Still in your studies, yeah? How many years you got left?’

 ‘Too many,’ I answered jokingly.

 ‘Did Kim talk to you about our exhibition? You do remember Alex, right?’ Asked Jamie, a sly grin forming on his face.

 ‘Uh, well yeah…’ Everything was coming out as word vomit and I don’t think I could have been any more awkward. ‘Hiya, Alex’ is all I could say, fidgeting with my fingers. All I kept thinking about is how the wet hair look I was rocking earlier had turned into a humid hair jungle. All Alex did was return a slight smile. I guess this was his way of saying hello.

 ‘Kim did mention that she was going to attend your exhibition on opening night,’ I finally answered Jamie.

 ‘She has a plus one, so you should take advantage of that, y’know. I told her to invite you, did she not invite you?’ asked Jamie.

 I wanted to lie and tell them that Kim had invited someone else as her plus one, so I wouldn’t have to go. However, I was never really good at lying.

 ‘Well, I mean she did, but I declined ‘cause I just thought that it would be more appropriate for her to invite her artsy friends, ya know? So they could enjoy the exhibition more than I can, understand it more than I ever could…’

 As I said this, waiters and patrons grew annoyed by Chris and I considering we were blocking the walking path of the restaurant. Multiple sorries were said by Chris as he started walking towards the door to leave, clearing the path. ‘On devrait y aller, Em’ [We should go, Em], said Chris as he grabbed my arm.

 “I’m so sorry, we have to go before we cause a mess. It was nice seeing the both of you. We’ll catch up soon, yeah?” I started walking towards the exit.

 “I would really appreciate it if you came, Em. Sincerely,” I turned around to see Alex still sitting. He spoke so quietly that I almost didn’t even hear him. No amount of bullshit could save me from this. I didn’t want to deny him, so all I could do was make some kind of concession. I was good at making half-promises, considering I never kept my promises in the first place.

 “I’ll think about it, yeah?”

 “Please,” he answered, looking straight at me, sounding almost like a beg.

 “Sure, I’ll go. I’m sure it will be lovely, I don’t want to miss out on it,”

 “I’m sorry to break your little party here guys,” annoyingly interrupted Chris, “but we have to go. I’m afraid waiters will start throwing meatballs at us if we do not leave. If you wish to continue this little catching up, we’ll be at the pub down the corner so feel free to stop by.”

 Wide-eyed, I turned around and hit Chris in the chest. Jamie started laughing, breaking the tension that plagued us.

 “Bye guys, see you later at the exhibition!” I said, walking towards the exit.

 “Bye Em, don’t drink too much tonight, yeah? We know how you get when you drink!” answered Jamie. I turned towards their tables and gave Jamie and Alex one last smile before leaving. Finally.

 “No but what the fuck just happened?” I asked Chris.

 Chris just shrugged. “Let’s go get drinks, I think you could use one.”