GirlxGirl Short Stories

Second Time

"Hey baby, how was the—"
I stop in the doorway. My blood goes cold. My girlfriend of three years was in our bed with another woman. I could tell by the state of the room the were getting into it; pants, shoes, and shirts forgotten, scattered at random across the floor. They both stared at me with a wild look of terror and surprise.

"Annie, it's not what you think," she says, jumping up from the bed, not bothering to cover herself. I could see the pleading look in her eyes. I turned and walked out, screwing my eyes shut. I could hear her coming after me.

"Annie, I—"

"What? Did you 'accidentally' fall into bed with her? Did you 'accidentally' start kissing her and letting her touch you? Please, Maya, explain to me how it's not what I think," I halted and turned to look her in the eye. She had tears welling up in her eyes. She moved to hug me and I stopped her. She looked up at me with a hurt expression.

"Just don't. Get your stuff together," I said, turning back to walk to the kitchen. I could hear her sniffling. I grabbed the bag of sunflower seeds I keep around and left our— my, apartment.

I make to the balcony and sit on the lawn chair that I brought up hear four years ago, around the time I first moved here and still smoked. I can clearly remember sitting here and watching the smoke rise up into the night sky, and thinking about my family refusing to talk to me after I came out. Those were rough times. My brother has spoken to me since then, but everyone else has remained silent. I sighed. Times like this made me wish I had a cigarette. I'm not gonna start up again over a breakup, though, I bemused to myself, cracking open a sunflower seed a popping it in my mouth. Some weed wouldn't hurt either. I chuckle to myself. My mind begins to wander and I think back to the first time I met Maya.

I sat on the bench at the park, taking a short rest from the jog I was on. I notice the girl next to me, a Hispanic girl with jet black hair in a long plait and long eyelashes most people would kill to have. Her eyes are a deep, rich brown and her lips are puffy and soft-looking. She looked over and caught me staring. She grins and I look away, embarrassed.

She waited a moment before speaking to me.

"Hey, if you don't mind me asking, are you new around here?" I whipped my head back to face her.

"Uh, yeah, I am, is it that easy to tell?" I laughed. She giggled and my heart stopped. She's stunning when she laughs, I thought to myself.

"Well, I know most of the people that live here and you seemed to be a new face. I'm Maya Muñoz, by the way."

"Annie Smith, nice to meet you," I smiled and she gasped.

"I should show you around!" She grinned and took my hands. I felt my ears heat up and chills rise on my skin. "There's this place that makes the best pizza you've ever had in your life, we should go sometime!"

From there, it was a blur of conversation and small talk. It ended with us exchanging numbers and the beginnings of a crush forming.

I heard footsteps and I closed my eyes and grit my teeth.

"Annie..."

"What? What is left for you to explain, huh?" I leaned forward and rested my head in my hands. I ran my hands through my hair and put my head between  my legs.

"I... I'm so sorry," I heard her whisper.

I let out a broken laugh. "Yeah, I'm sorry too. Sorry that I let myself trust you a second time."

"Annie—"

I pulled myself up to look her in the eyes. "What? Are you gonna say that it went too far? That it wasn't supposed to happen like that? Nothing you say will fix this."

"Annie, I know, I know. I just... I just wanted to let you know I'm sorry for hurting you," she cried. I twisted my face into a grimace.

"I can't believe that. Once isn't acceptable to begin with, but twice? Twice is worse. It's a slap in the fucking face, Maya. It's salt in the goddamn wound." I stood up and walk over to her. Her eyes are red and glossy from crying, and her lips and neck are bruised from her little 'friend.'

"I'm so sorry, Annie, it'll never happen again," she said, holding me by the shoulders and looking me in the eyes.

"Never again."

"I'll help you get your stuff together. Don't call me or contact me. I expect you to be out by tomorrow. I have someone that can house you a while until you find a place to stay, if you need it." I sighed. I reached up and touched her cheek, and she leaned into my touch. "I wish that you had loved me as much as I loved you, Maya."

A tear rolled down my cheek. I pulled my hand away from her cheek and walked away from her, heart heavy.