Sexual Frustrations

12. Reunited

Maddy pulled all the strings and organised for our group to catch up again. Although not the whole group. Just Tyler and Marty really. We'd agreed to all meet at the bar at 6 and I was beyond nervous. I had no idea what sort of reaction to expect from the boys, it had been such a long long time. Part of me was excited though, to hear about what they'd been up to in the past 3 years and find out if they ever did mature and grow up.

I was almost definitely sure that Carl would not make an appearance that night. I thought long and hard about what Lip said but I honestly didn't believe it. Yeah sure the old Carl would have raced here if he was jealous but this is a completely different person. It had been such a long time since Carl and I had anything romantic or sexual between us and I had no doubts all those feelings had vanished for him. Hell I was pretty sure they'd vanished for me too. There's no way he'd still get jealous over me no matter what the circumstance.

Maddy came over and we got ready together, we both wanted to look good. I know it was only Marty and Tyler but I wanted them to see that I was doing well. And okay maybe I wanted to look good just on the off chance Carl actually did turn up.

Once we were all dressed and ready Lip drove us down to the bar and we quickly ordered drinks and found a free booth.

"I'm glad we got here first." I sighed taking a big gulp of my drink attempting to calm my nerves.

"Don't be nervous you look amazing." She assured me. I dressed just in a simple black dress and boots, nothin fancy but I felt nice in it.

"Thanks girl. So Emma doesn't know this is happening?" I asked for the 10th time that day. I just wanted to be sure because I definitely was not ready to face her yet after finding out what she'd done.

"Well I only told Marty and Tyler and I don't think they have much to do with her anymore." She assured me but I completely froze when I realised what I'd done. My face completely dropped and she noticed straight away.

"I fucking invited Carl." I said feeling the dread sink in. How could I have been so stupid.

"So?" Clearly she wasn't understanding.

"Him and Emma are fucking. As in he probably would've told her." I groaned feeling an intense rush of regret. Why did I not think of that first. If I was willing to have Carl come I should've been willing to face Emma again but I really wasn't.

"Dude don't stress she didn't get an invite. And plus if I was fucking my best friends boyfriend I wouldn't want to face her either." She tried to make me feel better. I guess she did have a point. Emma was the one in the wrong not me. She should be the one too scared to see me not the other way around. But I knew Emma and she thrived off drama. I was just going to have to hope for the best. It's not like Carl was going to bother coming anyway.

I threw back the rest of my drink and just in time because over came Tyler and Marty strutting over to us.

"AVA FUCKING ROMEO." Marty cheered as he reached the table and picked me up in a huge hug. I couldn't help but laugh at how loud and vulgar he was. It was if he hadn't changed at all.

"Where the fuck have you been all my life?" Tyler gasped giving me a big bear hug as well. I had to give it to them, they managed to make me slightly forget about Emma and Carl. Also I felt a dramatic relief that they were actually happy to see me.

"Sit down girls were getting drinks." Marty said and they went off to the bar leaving me and Maddy back at the booth.

"Feel a bit more relieved now?" She asked and I nodded.

"I didn't know if I would get such a warm welcome." I laughed.

"You know what they're like." She rolled her eyes as the boys returned with drinks and sat themselves down with us.

"So...." Tyler began with a more stern expression on his face. "What the fuck happened to you?" He quizzed and I giggled. I genuinely did leave without an explanation. I spoke to the group over Facebook vaguely for the first year but after a while it just fizzled out.

"Where do I even start." I sighed taking a generous sip of my drink.

"Can I ask why you left for Australia?" Marty butted in looking really confused. I was relieved to see that they weren't angry just confused. Confused I could deal with.

"I had to get out of here." I sighed. "Mom up and left with that guy and she was doing pretty scary stuff and I just couldn't be here anymore." They nodded in understanding and refrained from asking anymore questions about why I suddenly left.

"So what have you been doing in Australia?" Tyler quizzed.

"Well I'm working in a TV production company at the moment." I explained and heard a communal 'oooh' around the seats. "It's not glamorous I'm just doing reception and assistant type work at the moment but I'm going to work my way up eventually." I explained and they seemed pretty impressed.

"Well why the fuck have you left all that to come back here?" Tyler laughed and just as I was about to make up some bullshit answer I saw the very reason I was back here walking through the crowd up to the table. I completely froze in shock not knowing what the hell to do. Carl was fucking here. Everyone saw my eyes wide and turned to see the man himself approach the table. They all looked as surprised as I did but not quite as shocked as me. He actually came.

"Oh my god." Marty cheered standing up and pulling Carl in for a huge hug. I judged by their happy reaction that they hadn't seen much of him in a while.

"The fucking man is here." Tyler hollered as he joined in on their hug.

"Yeah yeah." Carl laughed before making quick eye contact with me. "couldn't pass up a reunion." He winked and I felt the butterflies grow. Oh no. He looked good. Really fucking good. He was wearing black jeans and a white top and it was hard to tell how different he looked in his usual outfit. Almost like his old self if you didn't know about the underlying problem. The main point was that he actually came though. Lip was right. Maybe his reasons were wrong but he came and that was the main thing, this could be a good sign for him. This could mean things are getting better and progressing.

"Well since you're late you can get the next round?" Tyler suggested and Carl rolled his eyes. "I'll come help." And off they went to the bar while Marty sat back down. I was slightly shocked at his presence but overall happy. Maybe happier than I would've liked to admit.

"Oh my god I haven't seen him in ages." Marty sighed and this proved my theory that he hadn't had much contact with anyone...except Emma of course.

"Have you not?" I quizzed feeling eager to find out more about Carl's life without me and the choices he'd made.

"I'm assuming you know about the drugs?" He said bluntly which hit me like a tonne of bricks.

"Yeah so you all do as well?" I asked and he nodded.

"We were there for the early stuff. Party drugs ya know? Seemed harmless enough but then he got involved with that old crowd again. Things got a little heavy, we tried talking to him but he didn't want to hear it. So he distanced himself from us all and we only saw glimpses of how bad it was getting." Marty explained and my heart hurt a little with the old information If how bad things actually were for him. "But he seems better tonight."

Before I could respond Carl and Tyler returned with a tray of drinks and I took that as cue to cut the conversation short. I had a bit more insight now but I was still super proud of him for making an appearance tonight.

As they sat down I felt a sense of relief and began to chug my drink until a voice interrupted me.

"Sorry I'm late guys."

Safe to say I nearly choked.

...

Thoughts please guys? Having a little writers block but just want sling to check you guys are still into the story!
Lots of love xxxx