Annie
“Thanks again, I’m really sorry to ruin your night.”
“It’s fine,” Caroline assured me. “We had a great time anyway, and it’s more important to see you home safe.”
We were just outside my apartment, having travelled home by taxi. I wasn’t sure what time it was, but it was dark outside, and there were few cars on the roads. Caroline had coerced Seth to accompany us, saying that I shouldn’t have to travel home alone. Of course, Caroline and Seth were inseparable, so they both left with me.
Thankfully, I hadn’t seen either Bella or Nathan on my way out. Ryan had been by the bar, chatting up a girl, and had waved as we went.
I thanked Caroline and Seth once more, before saying goodbye, and retreating into my apartment.
I took my time to shower and get into my pyjamas, wiping off my makeup and trying to put the night’s events behind me. Dinner was supposed to be before we went to the club, but we’d been late, so I’d skipped it. My stomach growled hungrily in protest, and I settled for some microwaveable Mac ‘N Cheese.
This was had in front of the TV, with old episodes of Seinfeld allowing me to relax. Shows like that were easy to watch, they didn’t require much attention or concentration, and I found myself unwinding in no time.
That night, it took a long time to fall asleep. My mind kept ticking over the night’s events – despite my best efforts at distracting it – and all of the little details that were so easy to worry about. Sometime in the middle of the night, I drifted into sleep due to my overtiredness.
The next day I wasn’t working, so I got to sleep in. It was 11am when I woke, and I managed to make a fried breakfast of eggs and bacon. Greasy food had a way of cheering me up.
I didn’t feel like going out, so the day was assigned to be a ‘pajama movie day’, and I kicked it off with the first Avengers movie.
It was times like this that I wished Florence was here. She was my best friend in high school, and I needed a familiar face to talk to, someone that knew me well. Caroline was lovely, but I’d only just met her, and it wasn’t the same. Florence was also a fan of these comic-action movies, and they brought with them a pang of nostalgia from rainy days spent watching the series.
I was halfway through the movie when a knock sounded at the door.
“Who is it?” I called out, too lazy to move. I paused the movie to hear the response. It was probably Caroline checking in on me; she could be sweet like that.
“It’s Nathan.” The gruff voice was hard to hear through the wood, but I recognised it instantly.
“What the hell,” I whispered under my breath, fighting the anger and betrayal that surged up. I’d just started to stop thinking about last night, and here he was, bringing it up again.
I was still in my pajamas, and my hair was a mess. Furthermore, I was definitely not in the mood to see that man, no matter how I looked. With relief, I remembered that I’d locked the deadbolt, and he wouldn’t be able to get in with force. Thank God.
“Please, I need to talk to you,” he was pleading, but I didn’t allow myself to capitulate. I felt the need to stay mad for longer, to make him really feel the consequences of his actions. It was a childish notion, but I was too proud to let him in.
“Go away,” I said, rather immaturely.
“I’m not leaving, I’ll sit outside your door if I have to.”
