The Coincidence

Chapter 13 - sisters before misters

"SHE WHAT!!" Jessica's voice is louder than the music coming out of my car.
"Oh god. You told her?" I slapped my face and snatched the beer from Danny's hand before sitting next to them. I found a hand hitting the back of my head. "Ouch!" It's Jessica.
"Sorry, M." Danny shrugged and snatched the beer can back from my hand.
"How could you not tell me all of this?" Jessica is now scolding me.
"I don't know." I shrugged. "I thought it wasn't a big deal." I sighed.
"Not a big deal?! This is a HUGE DEAL!" She said emphasizing every letter of the word. Danny let out a petty laugh and looked at the sky.
"I never thought we would be celebrating the success of the runway here, where we first met. Do you remember guys?" Danny looked at both of us and we off course remember. It was simply that my car broke here, my old car, and stopped in the middle of the night. I had to call Danny to call a cab and come pick us as it was kind of out of the city. It wasn't long before we started The White Tulip. hat was when Danny and Jessica met, since I was their common friend, anyway. It has been our escape since then. 

"By the way, if your car broke again, we have no one to call in this case." Danny poked my arm.
"What do you mean? That's what fiancés are for! Off course he won't leave me here! Although I am not sure if he is going to pick you guys up too, now with offending his best friend." She mocked and took a sip of the bear in her hand.
"Woah! See, Danny! Sisters before misters, Jessy." I grabbed the bear from Danny's hand.

He yelled at Jessica and me for snatching his beer. "Hey!" he was a bit offended, I guess. Jessica and I exchanged looks, laughing and hugging Danny.
"Danny." I called him quietly.
"Ahuh?"
"I am sorry." He didn't look at me.
"Me too." He said after a long pause. "I should have been there more."
"What! No, you did what you had to do. I was the one who got mislead due to her affairs." I started fighting back when Jessica stopped us both.
"Guys. Guys. It's over. Even though that drunk princess, and the fact that the media is going to be all over us for sometime. Thank heavens you both are good at what you're doing and it worked.  You guys did it! You launched your first international line and I am getting married soon. So I think we should focus on that part now for a moment that you are done ok?" I exchanged looks with Danny, then we both looked at Jessica and laughed.
"What?! I think that's my right, now. I waited for you guys to be done. Besides you get to see your Prince Charming more now, huh?" She winked at me.
"Geez, Jessy! I've been dying to tell you! Welcome aboard!" They both started hugging and getting excited over my misery.
"Guys! Seriously.." I frowned and dropped my head to my hand. Danny hugged me from the back.
"You know. Somehow, I liked him a little today." He admitted.
"What?! Are you kidding me?! Thank goddess that Emily and our PR team was prepared for any Tom incident, or else we would've been done for good." I argued back and Danny was about to argue back but Jessica stopped us.
"Guys, one question though." We both looked at her. "How did the drunk princess know about you two?" She was looking at me and I didn't have the time to think of it.
"Maybe she just suspected it and was drunk enough to make a scene?" Danny suggested it.
"But why would she even have the thought?" Jessica asked.
"It's not.." I couldn't have the guts to finish the sentence and fell back flat on my back. He didn't tell her, did he?
"Not what?" Jessica and I looked at Danny and thankfully after a whole 30 seconds he got it. "PRINCE CHARMING?" I hit his shoulder.
"Ouch! But if it's him. M, he is in loooove." He sang it along the music. I got up on my feet and started going back and forth and in circles. I didn't know what I should do so I opened another beer, then another one, then another one until I could no longer think, feel or stay awake for that matter.

I woke up the next morning with a killing headache, I headed to the kitchen to get water. I could hardly walk or move. I am even seeing things like, Adam sleeping on my couch. Wait. ADAM SLEEPING ON MY COUCH! I hurried to the couch and pinched him.

"Ouch! Is that how you wake people? Pinching them?" His eyes were still shut.
"You are for real?" Okay, how? When? Why did I get that drunk? I think I am about to cry but instead I sat on the table across him and just stared at him in disbelieve. He opened his eyes, sat upright and started rubbing his eyes and running his hand through his hair. Then he gave me a smile.
"Morning." He simply said and somehow I was again under his spell for a split of a second. I am no longer made at him. As if yesterday never happened, but just for a split of a second. I sighed and hit my idiot head, and I forgot that I already have a headache.
"Hey. Hey. What are you doing?" Adam held my hand away from my head. I was lost again in his eyes but not for so long, the pain reminded me of it all. I got up without saying a word and went to the bathroom. He was not there, I kept telling myself this lie as I was showering, drying my hair, brushing my teeth, brushing my hair, and dressing up. It was a new day, nothing happened yesterday, and he was not out there. I beamed at myself in the mirror and opened the door to my bedroom and he was leaning there by the kitchen bar. Worried? From me or for me? I was not sure. I tried to pretend that he was not there so I just went to the kitchen and poured myself coffee and started humming a song that I love. I got out of the kitchen, and he was watching me. I know even though I am not looking in his direction. Maybe he will get bored and leave. I grabbed a book and sat by the terrace and started reading it.
"How long are you going to ignore me?" He asked, still leaning by the kitchen bar. I didn't look up or respond. 
"Mandy!" He yelled. My rage was building up as well. I clutched to my book and started humming again, louder to calm down. He snatched the book from my hand and threw it on the sofa and stood there in front of me.
"Why?" It left my mouth unexpectedly. I didn't want to talk to him, not yet. However, he didn't look like he was going to leave without talking this through.
"Why what?" He asked back. I look up at him.
"Why did you do it? Yesterday? I thought we had a deal? I THOUGHT WE HAD A DEAL, ADAM!" My voice started to rise as well as my body. However, he didn't budge. I kept staring at him until I was tired.
"Yes, we had a deal. My mind did agree on, but my heart-" he took my left hand and placed it on his chest, I could feel his heartbeats beneath my hand. "My heart didn't agree to this. I tried my best. I really did, but-" he sighed. " I couldn't, Mandy." His eyes were going darker, sadder. Just like a flower that withers. I took back my hand and looked through the window. He approached me in small but soft steps and hugged me from the back and rested his chin on my shoulder. "I am sorry." He whispered. For a moment I had dreams, dreams of us together on a Sunday morning having breakfast together and laughing. But us laughing wasn't enough, as we would not laugh all the time. What if we had a fight? What if we started throwing our regrets at each other's faces? What if we keep reminding each other of what we gave up for us? What if we regret this? I took a long cold breath and broke away from his embrace and looked into his eyes. 

"What happened since that night by my aunt's house, Adam?" I asked and his looks changed. His mind was racing I could tell. He finally pulled up a fake smile and simply left to the kitchen.
"I believe I deserve a coffee before I get kicked out, ain't I?" He was pouring himself coffee, I grabbed my cup of coffee as well, walked to the kitchen bar and sat on the stool next to it.
"You told her, didn't you?" I asked.
"I am sorry?" He was buying himself sometime. Then his eyes laid on a plate next to the coffee machine. "Cake! Perfect!" He started getting himself a piece.
"Adam" I called him again urging him to answer. He let go of everything and leaned over the bar and let out a long breath.
"I did and not only her, but my parents too." He said it so simply.
"YOU DID WHAT!" I yelled. He help up a hand in the air, telling me to wait.
"Not like that. I told them that I am in love with another girl, and that I am not marrying Emma. That's all." I kept looking at him for any signs that he was lying, but again why would he? He just did it in front of everybody yesterday.
"Then who told her it's me?" I leaned forward as well, we are so close that we both are having the same look, thankfully he broke away. I sat back upright in my place and took a sip of my coffee.
"Right. So how did she know?" He started walking back and forth. That's when it hit me.
"TOM! Off course! How couldn't I think of it earlier?!" Adam looked at me.
"Tom?" He asked.
"You really haven't seen the news, did you?" I am afraid that I might need to tell the whole story.
"No. What news?" Great, just what I didn't want to do. I told him the whole story and to my shock he didn't react at all. Instead he calmly listened to it all.

 
"I see." He started thinking of my words and drinking his coffee. 
"Wow, look how calm you are." I said under my breath. Was I annoyed? I was arguing that we are not a fit and impossible, yet I was acting as if we were a couple for real. 
"Pardon?" He asked.
"Nothing! You keep thinking!" I gave him thumbs up and a silly smile. Could I be more embarrassing? He smiled at me and did as I told him. Then it hit me!
"Hey, Adam. How come you were sleeping on my couch this morning?" He stopped and looked at me.
"You don't remember?" He was so serious and I was getting worried.
"Remember what? Wait! I didn't call you, did I?" I stood up and waited for an answer. Terrified of it.
"Yes, and kept going on and on about how much you love and that's how I knew you were drunk and picked you up." He shrugged.
"No, no,no. God." I turned around and covered my face from embarrassment. "I didn't do that! I never do that! Yeah I can get hilarious while drunk but not like that!" My Voice cracked at the last word as I turned around. He was standing so close to me smiling.
"You're right. You didn't call me. You came home and I was waiting for you by the door." He was breathing heavily. "I - I didn't know where to find you, I searched for you everywhere like crazy, called your phone and it was switched off. I assumed that sooner or later you will be home, so I waited for you." He was a step closer, and rested his forehead on mine. "I am sorry, Mandy." He said softly. I closed my eyes for a second, enjoying the moment. Then looked back at him.
"What am I going to do now?" I asked and didn't expect and answer, however I got a smile instead. 

"I think we need to talk to that Tom of yours first." He grabbed his jacket, ready to go.
"No, I am going to do it on my own." I stopped him and when he was about to argue, my landline rang. "Hold on." I told him and went to pick up the phone.
"Hello?" I answered. Adam's phone rang as well and he picked it up.
"Mandy, come home. Now!" That was my father. I looked up at Adam who looked shocked too.
"What? No, I-" he hung up the phone, before I could protest.