Absent

Final Chapter: Not-so-perfect relationships

Author's note. The title is self-explanatory.
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"There's going to be a dinner tonight, in honor of Lindsey officially ending her program, and everything must look fancy." Mary says, storming into my room and examining my closet  disapprovingly. "Don't you have better dresses?"

I move my books aside and remove my earphones, leaving Bart Baker to sound like a distant buzzing. "You never buy me any."

"Well, go get one." She demands.

"I'm not going to waste my savings in-"

"-Stop the fuss, I'll give you the money." She dismisses me, leaving 100 dollars on my nightstand and storming out. I grab my phone and call Jimmy. "I need a drive."

"Where to?"

"I don't know... I need a dress and-" I'm brusquely interrupted by someone screaming on the other side.

"We're going to Forever 21!" Vicky announces, clearly excited.
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"This looks nice." I say, holding a turquoise dress. I expect Vicky to shake her head and threaten me with burning me alive because of my painfully terrible taste, like she has done for over 19 times. Instead, her eyes light up and she smiles.

"A sleeveless dress with a femme floral lace yoke and scalloped necklace."

"I like dark turquoise." I nod.

"Go try it out!" She exclaimes, pushing me to the dressing room. I change into it and find that it fits perfectly. Vicky, luckily, agrees with me and decides it'll definitely do.

We're waiting on the line, when I hear an all-too-familiar voice. I turn to face Gissele and Alex.

Hit 1: They're laughing.

Hit 2: They're holding hands.

Final hit: He kisses her.

And then they notice me there. I try to fake a smile, but I can only feel pain. I'm on the verge of breaking, but even if I waste all of my strength in it, I keep my aching hidden inside.

"You're wearing matching outfits." I comment, after a moment of silence. She's wearing a tight black top and shorts copying jeans' material. Alex is back with using his motorcyclist jacket over a black shirt, and a bleached pair of jeans.

"Heather, I-" Alex tries to explain, without actually letting go of Gissele.

"-What are you doing here? Like any of this could look good in you." She interrupts him.

"Gissele, why don't you go ahead and shop without me?" Alex says coldly.

"But, baby, you're not calling me Gissy anymore."

"Go."

She walks away reluctantly, but I notice she's trying to stay close to us.

"You didn't need to ruin a date-" I begin, trying my best to keep my voice low.

"-You don't deserve to go through that."

"Who says I care?"

"So, don't you love me anymore?"

"Does it even matter to you?"

"You're not answering me."

"Neither are you."

Alex sighs and pulls me by the arm until we're close to the exit of the store. I cross my arms and have my defenses alert for any attempt of kissing me. I'm not going easy with him.

"This isn't how it's supposed to go between us."

"What do you expect me to be like when you fucking ignore me 4 months and move on-?"