CURIOUS ( MADELAINE PETSCH ) ✓

TWELVE

TWELVE | THE
EVENT

REAL LIFE

ZEE SMILED AND LAUGHED AS SHE PASSED THROUGH THE PEOPLE IN THE LARGE HALL, STOPPING A COUPLE OF TIMES TO HUG OTHERS AND TRADE A FEW SENTENCES BEFORE CONTINUING. She was making her way to the round table covered by a red cloth where her good friend Tom sat. After manoeuvring through people dressed from head to toe in pristine jewels and dresses and suits, and beautifully arranged tables; she finally reached the table he was sat at, hunching over the empty china plates as he spoke to someone on the opposite side. Once he saw the tall girl he jumped out of his seat and pulled her into a hug, the pair laughing as she breathed in his familiar scent. When he let her go she felt empty and wanted to tug him back in.

He pulled her chair out and she thanked him as she sat gently on the white cushion. She felt alone even though she was in a room full of people. She needed to tell someone about Madelaine; and Tom was the only she wanted to speak to about it. He knew about Madelaine but not her name or really anything about the girl personally, just the situation and how it all made Zee feel. She was worried about what he'd say when she told him that she had met up with her. But really she was more frightened he'd tell her it was a bad idea and talk her out of seeing her again, when deep down she wanted him to give her the excuse she yearned for to reconnect with Madelaine. Tom laughed at something someone said across the table but when he felt Zee's careful hand place itself on top of his on the table, he turned to the girl.

"I need to talk to you" She whispered quietly, her voice shaky and bare. The tone made Tom feel concerned but he nodded and was about to pull her into another hug, knowing she needed it; when a cheerful voice spoke above them.

"Zee!"

They both glanced up suddenly, taken aback. Above them stood the happy ginger girl, beaming a beautiful smile; the same girl that was running around in Zee's brain, pouring pestilence across her lobes.

Zee jumped up and plastered a smile on her face, before Madelaine yanked her into a jovial hug.

"Told you you'd look amazing" Madelaine whispered in her ear, the warm breath sending shivers through her body and forcing her hairs to stand on end.

"Thank you, you look great as well" Zee said as they parted, Madelaine's arms lingering for a moment too long. Zee ran her eyes over the long black dress that clung to Madelaine's body, she was breath taken. Madelaine looked way better that great.

Before the girls could continue talking a lower voice emerged from behind Madelaine.

"Hey! Can we sit with you?" The man was the tall Travis Mills and as Zee looked at him she found her stomach burning, she didn't like him even though she knew he must have been a sweet guy for Madelaine to date him. She felt a feeling towards him that made her angry and hateful, but there was no reasonable meaning behind it.

"Of course!" Tom exclaimed from behind Zee, she had forgotten he was even there. Travis looked to her with pretty eyes and a kind smile, waiting for her to answer. She nodded in response and his grin grew as he outstretched his hand for her to shake. She couldn't not like him. Why did Madelaine have to date such a nice, impossible to hate, guy? 

"Travis" He introduced, Madelaine shuffled nervously beside him, fiddling with her long hair and diverting her eyes across the clean floor.

"Zee" She said, taking her hand from his and holding it beside her thigh, her fake smile sad.

Travis pulled the chair out from beside Zee - who had sat back in her seat, uncomfortably scooting - for Madelaine who gently perched on it, thanking her boyfriend as he pushed her in, then moved to the seat next to her; oblivious to the air radiating between the girls. Zee wondered if she'd ever mentioned her and the relationship to Travis. But then mentally shook herself, she obviously hadn't when she pretended it had never happended.

Madelaine was just as uncomfortable as Zee and she felt like this was unfair and mean, she didn't want to do this to Zee, she never wanted to make her feel any pain or sadness. Even if it was too late for that. But she couldn't say anything, make any excuse to sit at a different table with different people without questions arising from Travis; questions she couldn't answer. But the uneasy feeling wasn't obvious as she leaned into her boyfriend, talking with a large smile that crinkled her eyes and pulled her painted red lips too far up that it was clear to Zee it was fake; even if no one else could tell. Zee still knew the girl better than anyone else, even after all this time.

Zee watched the ginger girl with sadness evident in her eyes, a painful urge pulling at her heart. As the lights dimmed, a solidarity, bright spotlight beamed on the stage, a glamorous woman walking elegantly to the microphone, her silver jewels sparkling and blinding the front row of people. The audience erupted into roars and applause, before quietening back down. As the woman began to confidently speak into the microphone, Tom slid his hand across the table; enclosing it over Zee's once again, a sudden understanding crossing his brain.

"It's her, isn't it" Tom whispered in her ear, but it wasn't a question, just a statement. His tone was empathising and caring.

Zee just sighed and nodded slightly, scared her voice would give away how upset the scene of the happy lovers made her. She wanted that; she wanted to be Travis more precisely. Because it was her. It definitely was her. It had always been her.