1.5 Departures

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I watched Bobby run a hand through his dreads and sit down next to Noah, Gary and Rahim at the table. We'd all gathered for a final breakfast and it was proving to be difficult with the clear hookups from last night. "Christ almighty." Hope mumbled, powering the love bite on her neck again. "Who's that from?" I asked wriggling my eyebrows at her. She rolled her eyes at me. "Umm Carl." She mumbled out and Chelsea nearly choked on her tea. "Hope!" She squeaked and we all stared at her in disbelief.
"What did you and Bobby get up to then?" She asked changing the subject. "Saw him in the elevator and it looked like you kicked his poor puppy heart." She said, nudging me. "We talked that's all." I replied and looked over at his table; catching him already looking over at me. "Yous getting back together then? You can tell he's still head over heels." Lottie laughed, bringing the mug of coffee up to her lips. "He wouldn't have looked like a kicked puppy if I'd said yes would he?" I grumbled and Chelsea flashed me a look, touching my hand. "Good. He wasn't there for you when you needed him." Was all she said and I nodded under the girls watchful eyes and continued eating.

We were finishing up when I excused myself, saying I needed the toilet and dashing out the open fire door near the toilets. I lent back on the brick wall outside and opened my carton of cigarettes, lighting one up and puffing on it. I sighed out happily, my bad habit soothing my tense shoulders.
"When did that start?" Noah's calm voice asked and I snapped my head up to look at him. "Fuck sake that scared me." I angrily said and he shook his head. "Didn't mean to."
I resumed leaning back against the wall and took another drag; fixing him with a stare. "When I was 17, I've mostly always been a social smoker." I explained and he stood beside me, also leaning back against the wall. "Bobbys not doing well. Ended up in my room last night." Noah spoke and I felt my skin go cold. "Im not sure why you're telling me this." I softly said and he looked up at the sky. "He's still in love with you, I don't know what happened last night - I'm gonna guess something happened though cause he's not been himself today and I feel like I'm watching him go through your breakup again." Noah explained and I felt my body sag with sadness. "Last night shouldn't have happened. I appreciate he still loves me but I just can't work through it right now." I said, straightening up and standing in front of Noah. He put his hand on my shoulder and pulled me into a hug, stroking my hair. "Yous never should have broken up." He whispered and I pulled away immediately, glaring at him. "Fuck off. Why do people always say that. We broke up for a good reason." I threw my cigarette on the group and pressed my foot down to put it out. "No Iris - you broke up with him for some vague reason." Noah said and I shook my head at him. "I'm sure he's told you his side of the story but you don't know my side. That night was a mess." I spoke and turned away to go back inside.

I stormed back inside, looking behind me at Noah who looked confused at my outburst. "Noah mate you around here? Gary said - aw fuck." His voice cut off and I slammed into Bobby, and fell back. He quickly grabbed my hips and steadied me and I looked up into his eyes. "Sorry about that." I said and brushed myself down, adverting my eyes. "It's fine." He mumbled and walked past me; clearly we were not fine.

"Where have you been!" Chelsea excitedly asked as I took my seat back at the table. "Oh I got stuck talking to Noah." I replied and fished around in my handbag for my purse, clocking the bill on the table. "Noah? About what?" Hopes possessive side emerged and I shot her a look. "Not anything about you." She sunk into her chair content at my response.
The waiter returned to our table and we all paid and put our jackets on before getting up to say bye to the rest of the islanders. "Well I'll see you around! Hopefully soon." I chucked to Marisol and she smiled at me, moving onto Lottie.
"Come on, let's get out of here." Chelsea said, exhausted and I linked my arm through hers and we walked out. "Oh wait, bye Bobby!" She yelled and spun us round. "I'll miss you!" He looked up from his chat with Noah and grinned at her; waving his hand and shouting back. "Sure thing Bunny!" My stomach dropped. Bunny? Bunny? When did those two get nicknames? I looked at her and she smiled sweetly back at me. "Oh don't do that, you know we're friends!" She chuckled and we exited the restaurant. "Hmmm." Was all I said and we stood waiting for Lottie and Hope.

We were waltzing round some shops later, my arms heavy with bags and me and Lottie were discussing what we would do tomorrow as I'd agreed to stay an extra day when I casually looked out the window. I turned my eyes back down to the lingerie in front of me when my brain registered seeing Noah. "Wait a second." I mumbled out and Lottie stopped sorting through sizes and looked at me. "What why?" She inquired and I searched through the crowd infront of the glass. My eyes fell on Noah's back across the street as he helped somebody out from a taxi and hauled the suitcase from them; Bobby stood up and bowed to Noah joking before turning round and I watched him, his mouth open with a laugh and thanking the driver. "Lottie hold my bags." I said suddenly needing to see Bobby and apologise. "No? Why?" She huffed and I turned to face her. "Lottie just do it please!" I begged and she rolled her eyes. I dropped my bags and hurriedly roughed out of the store, breathless with panic I'd lose him. I dashed up the street and went to cross, but the lights turned green and I groaned with frustration. I was going to miss him and never get to say my peace. There was a gap in traffic and I crossed the road, entering the train station and speed walked in, sorting through my surroundings trying to find Bobby and Noah. I walked further in, realising I'd lost them and trying to hold back my tears. Looking up, I saw Noah's slim figure standing, recognising the black jacket and dashed towards it; apologising to the people I bumped into. "Noah!" I yelled and he turned round confused. I finally reached him and looked around, trying to spot Bobby. "Where is he? I need to say I'm sorry and that I do still love him too." I spluttered out and Noah raised an eyebrow at me. "Knew it." He spoke before holding my shoulders and forcing me to look at him. "I'm sorry Iris, you just missed him he left on the train to the airport literally a minute ago." He explained and I swallowed, distraught. "I'll text him." Noah said and pulled out his phone. "No!" I shouted, grabbing it. "What?" He asked and snatched his phone back. "This is big Iris he needs to know." I looked at him and narrowed my eyes. "Don't. This never happened okay?" I said and he twisted his face. "Why?" He finally spoke and I sighed. "It was an impulse. I don't mean it. If you ever tell him I did this, I'll tell Hope you slept with Priya." I challenged him and he looked at me, shocked. "How did you-" He started and I shook my head. "I know things Noah. Now I'm gonna leave but this didn't happen." I said and walked away, leaving Noah still standing there holding his phone. I was too proud to admit anything and let Noah tell him.

"What the hell was that about." Lottie asked me when I walked back in and picked up my bags. "Oh I thought I saw somebody I knew." I replied, avoiding her questioning gaze.

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Stay safe out there kids, Covid is serious xxx

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