One Week Later
“Babe do you really need this much stuff?” Mel asks me as she puts another one of my “probably maybe need that top” in my suitcase.
“Let’s just say I like to be prepared,” I respond back to Mel.
Tomorrow I meet with the buyers from Barneys in New York and Mel has come over this afternoon to help me pack before I fly out with Em tonight. I’ve worked especially hard this week preparing for the meeting, and the nerves have finally kicked in for tomorrow mornings’ outcome. To have my range in New York would mean I’d finally cracked it and made it big. And a lot has been riding on this.
“Pfff. You call three suitcases being prepared for a week’s trip? Seriously? I’d hate to think what a month would be with you.”
“Ha ha. Funny. Well because I actually WEAR clothes, you know, ones that actually cover my body, it does happen to take up more space,” I say sarcastically back to her.
“Screw you bitch,” she says rolling her eyes at me before throwing a pillow to my face
“Anyway! How are things with you and Nate, seems to me you guys are pretty serious now?” I say in a happy voice
Mel stops folding clothes in my suitcase and sits down on the chair next to my bed.
“How are you holding up babe?” she says changing the subject.
I continue folding clothes ignoring her comment.
“Soph? Don’t give me the silent treatment.”
I stop pretending to fold my clothes and look up at the celling. “There isn’t much to say Mel. Jase was an asshole. And we’re finished. And that’s that.”
“Yeah, but stop acting all tough. Em and I can see straight through you. Don’t act like it’s not bothering you anymore,” she says earnestly.
“What do you want me to say Mel? That I’ve cried all week? That I’ve missed him like crazy?” I say exasperated.
“I was a fool. He had a girl all along. A girl he loves. I don’t know how I didn’t see it. He used me. And I was naive enough to fall for his shit. He played me. He got what he wanted, and I let him, and he cut it off with me. I always knew it would end. So it’s my fault really. He never promised me anything. I guess I just thought deep down in some insane part of me he would be different. That I would change him and he’d fall for me too. But who am I kidding. I always said he could do better than me, that he was probably wasting his time with me. And I was right. He had a girl all along. I don’t know why I kept seeing him and letting it go further. If you want to know if I’m still hurting, then yes Mel. I am. In a big way,” I say with sadness in my voice.
“Soph, don’t ever say he could do better than you. I’d kick his ass if he were here right now. I just can’t believe he could love someone else. And who is Sarah? It all sounds so suss to me.”
She stops to look at me for a second before continuing. “Have you been sleeping Soph?”
“Yes I’ve been sleeping fine,” I lie.
“Liar,” she snaps back immediately.
I smile at her. Damn she shows me well.
It was true though. After my last run in with Jase, I hadn’t slept properly all week. I cried myself to sleep mostly every night and I felt the darkness upon my shoulders again. He hadn’t called or texted me since. Not a single form of contact. That’s how little I meant to him. And it hurt. I could’ve sworn he was falling for me too. I was so sure he was. And I was so sure he had said he was falling for me too. How did I get it so wrong? How did I not see that there was someone else? I already went through this with Steve, and I promised myself I wouldn’t get caught up with a guy like that again. But I did. And now, I’m left with nothing but a broken heart. It was crazy how quickly I fell for him. I was so caught up in this infatuation with him-with us. I used to think people were full of it when they said they fell in love only after a couple of weeks. But I guess I’m the person who is full of shit, because after only a few encounters with Jase, I fell. And I fell hard.
“I just want to put it behind me,” I say back to Mel.
“Okay babe. Well I better get going; I know Em will be here soon for your flight. Call me the minute you land, I want to know everything. And I know your meeting is going to be just fine. You’ve got it in the bag,” Mel says warmly to me.
I smile at my friend. I look into her eyes and see all the trust, love, and support you could ever need from a friend. She’d do anything for me. I give her a long hug and a kiss on the cheek before we say our goodbyes.
“Night Soph,” She says before slipping out my house.
“Thanks Mel. Thanks for your company,” I say back to her.
She smiles at me again before leaving.