Stop While You're Ahead

Screw Ups

"Hey...it's been awhile, huh?"

   She glared at the phone's screen, immediately deleting the message. It wasn't right, it wasn't even close.

 ***

    She walked in casually, trying to push away the hard pit sinking in her stomach. Find Jean. Talk things through. Apologize. That's all.

  The restaurant, or shop, or whatever you want to call it, was small and (surprisingly) crowded. People lounged around, stuffing their faces or chugging their soy lattes. They talked loudly, exaggerating whatever stories they told with their hands, small groups bursting into mild murmurs and gasps. She shifted from foot to foot, unsure of where to go. This wasn't her usual hangout, just something she found on line and told Jean to meet her at. Luckily, he agreed without a fight, naming the time.

  So, here she was, exactly on time and looking out of place as vegans or vegetarians roamed about, ignoring her existence. She was thankful for that part, finding an empty seat and taking it quickly. She settled, slinging her coat over the back of the chair, grabbing a menu and begun flipping through it.

   She mentally scratched out all things that involved 'tofu' or 'soy, shuddering at the unwanted memories. She paused, before laughing quietly, the memories replaying like some old black and white film in the back of her head. Those were simpler times, when Jean and her...

  "Are you ready to order?"

She jumped at the sudden intruding voice, fumbling with the large plastic menu, "What?"

  The waitress seemed bored, pen behind ear and notebook balancing in one hand, "Are you ready to order?" she bit out, eying her.

  Well, then, no tip for you.

  "Uh, actually," she ignored the waitress rolling eyes, staring down at the table instead, "I'm waiting for someone. Could you come back a little later?"

  "Fine," and with that, Rae was alone again.

***

    She sat there for roughly a half hour, another waitress coming back, this one older and gentle, offering her a cup of water. She took it, smiling a 'thank you', before being left in silence again.

  "Come on, Jean," she murmured, swaying the cup, watching water slosh from side to side, "where are you?"

   She was desperate now, each cling of the door making her perk up, before she found herself disappointed and sinking back into her seat.

***

 The waitress from early twitched her way towards Rae, glancing at a few boys here and there.

   "Uh," she flinched when the waitress, (Alexis, if she went by the name tag), set a demeaning gaze her way, "just a few more minutes?"

   "Look, hun," was this lady seriously starting a conversation with her? "If he didn't come an hour ago, he isn't going to show up in the next one."

  Rae frowned, fiddling with her straw, "You don't know him. He would n-,"

   "I may not know him," Alexis cut her off, holding up a finger, "but, I do know when a man ain't coming. Face it," she smirked, leaning in slightly so her elbow bumped Rae's glass, "you got stood up."

 ***

   She walked home, the sky still a light orange in the snowy distance. Normally, she would stop and admire the scene, sunsets being some type of weakness for her. A weakness Jean only knew, and would constantly tease her about.

He stood me up.

  She huffed, stuffing her gloved hands into the depths of her coat pockets. It didn't matter anyway. He obviously was still pissed.

He could have rejected my offer then.

   She 'pfft' at the thought, knowing Jean as one to never turn things down. He was always there for her.

  Expect for today.

 Her phone vibrated wildly against her fingers. She quickly pulled it out of her pocket, flinging it open. Jean, maybe it was Jean. He got held off or something and that's why he was late.

Maybe it's Jean.

  One New Message from: Mitch

She shocked herself from groaning obnoxiously. It's her boyfriend, she should be happy. All the crap going on should just disappear at the sight of his name.

  But, it wasn't Jean.

  She brushed aside the thought, clicking read.

"Hey, where are you? You're mom said you went out for a bit."

She sighed, his concern bugging her almost. What should she tell him? That she's been walking around aimlessly for hours? Or, how her best friend stood her up? Or, maybe, how she just feels like breaking down and crying, oh god, crying, because Jean refuses to even talk to her?

  She went with no of the above.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to worry you. I'm at Jean's."

  She pressed sendwithout a second thought, strolling down a familiar avenue.

  ***

   "Hello Ms. Craig. Is Jean home?"

His mom seemed pleasantly shocked, mumbling a soft 'yeah,' then calling over her shoulder, "Jean, you've got company."

  There was a short, muffled reply.

"Come in, come in," she opened the door fully, beckoning her inside, "you must be cold? Like some hot chocolate? I know it's your favorite."

  Rae couldn't help the warm smile smothering her face, politely nodding, "That would be nice, Ms. C."

  "Good, good. Well, um, Jean should be up any minute. You know where everything is. Just make yourself at home and I'll get your hot chocolate ready."

  Rae nodded again, slipping off her coat and tossing it along the couch. She walked around the place, studying some of the picture frames and such. It's surely surprising how much you can forget or miss in just a measly week.

  "Mom, who's h-," he stumbled up the steps, stopping on the last one and staring, "Oh."

  ***

  End of that chapter.

This one is somewhat short, so sorry....

   I wanted to thank those of you who took the time of day to read this um...well...story of mine!! It means a lot to a small girl like me XD

  So, THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH!!!

  Oh, this was suppose to be a close 'forgive and forget' thing between Rae and Jean that didn't happen...

Read and enjoy!!