Breanna Michelle Santana

"Thanks for agreeing to meet me here." I sauntered over to my friend with coffees in my hand. Before, I wasn't much of a coffee drinker, but given the circumstances.

Joey sat up and smiled, his eyes glistening as the noon sun shone in through the stain glass window high on the wall of the new hispter café.

"No problem, I'm surprised you called. Thought you said - and I quote - I would 'never get another chance'." What he said made me laugh nervously and feel quite guilty.

"I'm sorry," I mouthed, blowing the hot drink.

"It's been a while," he said to me warmly.

My head nodded. "A month since that whole... fiasco — that I never got to apologize for."

"Seems like you keep apologizing, when will it stop?"

"When I stop hating myself for what happened." I sank in my seat, feeling small and ashamed but Joey put his hand on mine and smiled faintly. He was so understanding and collected, it really humbled me. I needed that stability in my life.

Sitting up, I breathed in and put my chin in the palm of my hand. Mumbling, I said,"I thought I could fall for him. I thought, for some reason, that he could change me and I'd finally be able to love someone. And I mean,  love without all the bullshit, ya know; the arguing, the miscommunication, the jealousy-"

"Brea, that's just how relationships are," Joey chuckled.

"So I've been told," I let out, pushing the coaster away from the edge of the table.

"It's not me you have to apologize to, I'm still here for you. Let's not talk about it anymore. How about we go to a movie?"

"At twelve o'clock?" I curled my face at his suggestion. Joey nodded and grinned, not seeing the problem with his idea.
"It'll only be old people," I laughed before it clicked. That was the point; cheaper tickets, no lines.

"Alright," I agreed, standing,"let's go."

======

Joey and I walked into the movie theatre, laughing in each other's faces at something he said.

Honestly, I was having such a great day with him and was feeling much better - more like myself than I felt in a while.

"Two tickets for," Joey started to order our tickets for the new horror movie he wanted to see but I couldn't focus on his words after seeing the person on the other side of the glass. Leila.

"Oh. H-hi Brea," the movie theatre employee spoke to me, her voice shaky. She adjusted her stance and swallowed the lump in her throat.

Awkward was an understatement. I was noticeably uncomfortable and felt like we needed to talk but I thought it wouldn't be the best idea as it probably still wasn't the right time.

Joey looked back and forth from Leila and I until he asked me in a whisper if I wanted to go to which I agreed.

As soon as the doors parted and let me out of them, I breathed in the fresh air and gathered myself.

Well that was horrible, I thought. A whole month later and I still wasn't sure how I felt about the girl, even after the whole thing with you-know-who took place! I was just glad she wasn't hostile to me because I didn't have the time or energy. I was in a different place now than a month ago.

"Are you okay, Brea? I didn't know she worked there."

I did, but it wasn't his fault. "Don't apologize. It's okay, but I rather just not go in there."

"We can go to the mall?"

"I have a few errands to run actually, but can we meet up some other time?"

"Of course," he said kindly,"I wanna ask you something, too."

"Shoot," I prepared myself to answer.

"Not yet, when you're ready." He told me, rubbing the small of my back.

Whatever that means, I rolled my eyes and sassed him in my head.

Chuckling, he threw his arms around me and gave my body a squeeze before we parted ways.

======

After having left Joey, I did go run those errands. First, I went to the hair salon where I cut my hair off a few inches (it is now a wet and wavy bob, parted in the middle when not pushed back and to the side).

I had just entered and grabbed one of the carts in the front - one that looked the least germ-infested. After wiping it, I waited for the electronic doors to part and let me into the heart of super center.

Once everything I needed, and more, was in my cart, I pushed it past the long lines only to discover that they were all long.

"Why are there only five people working?" I raged to myself as I scoped the candy wall to my right.

After a lengthy wait, I began to put my things on the checkout belt and bounced impatiently as the cashier rang them up without greeting me.

I looked up from the register, already aggravated, and locked eyes with someone I hoped I'd never encounter again.

Great, I thought angrily in my head. First Leila, now her. As if I need anymore drama in my life.

To my surprise, without invitation, she clicks her heels in my direction with wide eyes.

"Breanna, hi. Do you have a minute?"

"Hi, Bethany." My words came out sharp and harshly.

"I heard about you and Grayson," she let out,"Holland said it didn't end well. How're you holding up?"

I ripped my eyes to the cashier who was too busy being nosy to continue ringing my items up. She cleared her throat and looked down, whistling as if to suggest she was no longer tuned in. When I turned back, I stopped myself from cussing Bethany.

"I'm fine. Jesus. Why?"

"This is me apologizing," what she said made me curl my face and roll my neck. She continued, though."for coming in between you and Grayson. After you two... ended things... we started booking up again. Jared found out and left me."

"Great. So, you admit you fucked him while we were together? Noted." With that, I rotated to shun her but she put her hand on my shoulder and spun me back in her direction which obviously took me back and warranted a look on my face that said ' don't touch me '.

Bethany sighed before telling me,"If it makes you feel any better, he left me for some young bimbo."

Leila? I wondered. Had to be. AKA, our replacement.

"You're right, that does make me feel better."

"Forty-two, seventeen." Said the cashier, chewing minty gum.
I whipped my debit card out and inserted the chip.

"What's your problem with me?! I heard you two weren't even a real thing."

I stopped myself again but only for a brief second before I just let whatever come out of my tight mouth.

"Grayson broke your heart, too?" I faked a pout. "Boo-fucking-hoo, I could just cry. But I won't. What, you thought we were gonna kuumbaya? Be sister-wives, huh? You're a whore, we are not the same. So, j-just... fuck off and run along; if you act fast you might be able to get your little fiancé back, but don't plan on it. Frankly, I don't know what anyone sees in you. But hey, whatever you're doing's workin' because you took my man from me."

I snatched the receipt and my chucked the plastic bags into the cart before storming off.

As I paced down the aisle, I heard Bethany call out,"Breanna, I'm sorry!" I just shook my head and made my exit.

That was too much to take in, especially after having ran into Leila, earlier.
He's probably still with Leila, too, I thought. I didn't want to risk another possible encounter with the Jansen's or any of my " ex's " ... exes?

"God, I gotta get out of this town!"