In case anyone cared, I was listening to You Call It Madness by Nat King Cole while writing the "flashback".
I walked into the room, expecting to see Kyle waiting for me. It was our one year anniversary, Christmas Eve, and I decided to do something 'special' for him. We had only gone all the way a handful of times, and I felt this would be a great surprise. Peter and him were great friends, so when Peter told me Kyle loved the cheesy lingerie, I had gone to Cirilla's and picked up a little lingerie set, all to surprise him. I hoped to see him studying, which he always did, but instead I saw Kyle and Alyssa on top of each other.
"What the fuck?!" I was absolutely shocked. Alyssa, one of my closest friends, someone I went to about Kyle all of the time. She was on top of him.
"Babe, it's not what it looks like, I-"
"Reg, he came on to me!" As she climbed off of him, I saw him tucking himself back into his pants, and that's when I knew it was more than just kissing.
"J-Just get out of my house! Both of you! Get the fuck out!" I yelled, tears began streaming down my face.
"Reg, babe, we can figure this out, you know I love you."
"Reg, this is my house too! I live here." Alyssa said, coming towards me.
"Not anymore. Get. Out. Now." I backed up and continued to yell at both of them, crying, throwing Alyssa's shit at her as she ran out. Just then, as they both left, Jake came home. He knew what happened without me even having to explain everything. I kicked Alyssa out, and had no intentions of ever seeing her again. Her or Kyle.
"Jake, let's leave this place." I said in between sobs. I was heartbroken and done with everything. Jake had convinced me that watching Les Mis and drinking would be a good idea, so instead of being in my room alone, I was with my best friend, a bottle of Absolut, and Les Mis.
"Where would we go? Mexico? Reg, it was hard enough for your people to get here, why go back?" He always knew how to get me to laugh, even if it was a goofy slur.
"Nooo, let's go to New York."
"How would be afford that AND alcohol?"
"Damn... Let's go to Chicago! We've always wanted to go! Ever since we started college! And then, when my boyfriend cheats on me again, I can kill him and the broad."
"Now, now.." Jake paused, and with a sigh added, "you know what? Yes. Let's do it."
"Really?"
"Well, maybe. Court and Peter have to be up for it. I doubt they could afford this place with just the two of them, and we wouldn't be able to afford Chicago without them. Mike and Ashley are moving in a few months anyways, to Chicago, we could go house hunting with them, see what we like."
"Let's do it. I just, don't want to be here. I don't want to see Lyss or Kyle again."
"We'll have to do it for more than just that reason, you know."
"We'll find another reason."
And then, I drifted off to sleep on the floor. I knew Jake wanted to leave Indiana, I had also always wanted to leave, and now I didn't have to worry about a boyfriend back home if I didn't have one.
"Ohmygosh, Lyss, what are you doing here?" I ask, trying not to show how little I cared.
"Peter texted me when you guys moved here", I shot Peter a look, and he just went back to eating, "and he gave me your address so I could visit you guys sometime! SURPRISE!" and she gave me another hug.
"Do you think that's a good idea?" Courtney chimed in.
"Well, yea! Because I have some exciting news, and, oh, who's this?" Alyssa asked, pointing to Joey, giving him a flirtatious wave and smile.
"Nobody. What's the news?" Jake chimed in.
"Well, it's been an exciting year and a half, and well...I'm engaaaaaged!" She squealed, I walked to stand by Courtney while Peter and Jake went over to her, being the only ones interested in what she had to say, me and Court just rolled our eyes and started to walk away, until I heard:
"To who?!" Peter asked.
"Kyle of course!"
I quickly turned around, ready for blood, and I guess it was obvious, because both Joey and Courtney grabbed my shoulders.
"Lyss, come to my room. NOW." Jake demanded, trying to keep it to a hushed tone. He took her down the hall to his room, Court and Peter followed.
"Reg, you ok?" Joey turned me to him, and I nodded slowly, already calm from his touch and just by looking into his chocolate brown eyes, "you don't have to lie."
"I just, I need to go lay down. You guys just help yourselves to food and I'm gonna take a nap." I wasn't sure why, or how, I went from pissed as shit, to sad and mopey, but I had.
"Guys, pack it up. We'll resume another time!" Joey yelled, then turned to me, "mind if I stay? Help you clean up, hangout with you the rest of the day?" His eyes showing concern, looking into mine. Gosh this boy was wonderful.
"That sounds great. Thank you."
