Sitting on the bench by the arrival gate, Emily nervously picked at the hem of her denim shorts while her knee bobbed up and down, causing the buckle on her wedges to jingle. Today was the day. It was time. People passed by her unaware of the massive change that was about to occur within her life. No one knew she was feeling sick with nerves or that she bit her lip a little to hard in preparation for the pain she knew she was going to filled with.

Maybe it wasn’t the right thing, if it was would she feel like this?

“Are you ok Ariel?” The little girl that had been standing with her mother just to the side of where Emily was sitting wandered over and climbed up onto the bench beside her. “I’m Melissa” The tiny hand was extended to Emily and she carefully shook her as it leg stopped bouncing and a curious smile appeared on her face as the large brown eyes looked at her worried.

“I’m fine thank you Melissa” Emily glanced down at her t-shirt, realising she had a vintage The Little Mermaid top on she had picked up during the week in an op-shop. No wonder Melissa had called her Ariel.

“Then why do you look so sad. Do you miss the ocean?” The girl’s mother kept her daughter in sight, making sure she wasn’t bothering the red head she had gone and sat beside.

“Well, that is part of it. I am waiting for my Prince to come back from being away on his royal duties” Melissa’s face lit up at the mention of a Prince yet it only made Emily feel worse. “But ssh! No one must know he is a Prince!”

“I promise I won’t tell anyone!” The girl’s mother appeared and extended her arms, lifting her up from the chair as people started to pour into the terminal.

“Sorry” The woman mouthed but Emily only waved, dismissing it and looked for Greg fully aware of the little girl still watching her. Sure enough he came through towards the back of the crowd, his phone already in his hand he barely glanced up to see her.

“Hey” Emily wasn’t sure if she should hug him, kiss him or shake hands but he didn’t stop long enough for it to be an issue.

“Hey babe” He kept on towards the baggage pickup and she followed behind, catching a glimpse of the pout now on Melissa’s face. It was clearly not what she was expecting from her Disney heroes. “Why is that kid staring at us?”

“She thinks we’re Ariel and Prince Eric” Emily laughed and looked back to see Melissa still looking at them.

“Why does she think that I wonder?” Greg rolled his eyes and grabbed his bag, taking her hand in his they headed towards the car park. Disappointment fought against her nerves as they were silent on the way to the car and as Emily hit the freeway Greg finally spoke.

“I think we should move to Sydney”

“What?” Emily braked hard as she became distracted from the car in front of her and now stopped at the traffic lights, turned to look at him in complete shock. She knew that tone, it wasn't a suggestion or something she would be required to answer as his mind was made up.

“I’ve been offered a job over there. I think it will be a great opportunity for me. I was thinking we could go there this weekend to find a house and ….” Emily turned back to the road unable to listen to what he was saying. Greg had it all worked out, it was a great move for them and glancing over he could tell she wasn’t listening. “Emily”

“Yes?”

“I’m serious about this” He moved his hand to rest on her knee, and her frown only deepened.

“I know but Greg. Sydney? I have work and all our friends and family are here” She didn’t like where this could do. She wanted to sit and talk with him about ending things and not already have him defensive.

“We can start again over there. Your family will visit and it’s a part owned business. Hire a new manager and they can run it” His tone was final, it was never going to be a discussion about moving he was only informing her of what he had decided.

“Let’s talk about this later ok?” Emily gripped the steering tightly.

“No. We’re talking about it now Emily. One day you’re going to have to grow up and branch out from your family. You’re always doing everything for them; can’t you see they just take advantage of you?” Greg sighed heavily, turning to look out the window as they headed into the city and his apartment.

“No one takes advantage of me” Emily snapped, this was going south quicker than she could control and she didn’t have it in herself to just agree with him.

“They do. Since Scott died Carla has you running around after her, your parents rely on you to much being their own child and…”

“Stop! That is not true and you know it!” His words were hurting, she knew his game. He would make her feel so bad she’d given in. He’d apologise with some grand gesture and then things would be fine till next time. She didn’t want fine anymore. She wanted something else, something she knew she deserved and as he went to open his mouth with his next blow, she beat him to it. “I think we should break up”

The words hung between them as Greg stared at her in surprise, before he fully registered what she had said and he couldn’t find a response. Emily stopped in the street, pulling up in a free space outside his building neither made a move to get out. Was she serious? Greg panicked; she wouldn’t actually go through with it. Would she?

“This isn’t how I wanted to do it but Greg, I don’t want to marry you anymore” Emily closed her eyes and a stream of tears rolled down her cheeks.

“How did you want to break my heart Em? You’re not serious are you?” His words were heavy with disbelief but she couldn’t bring herself to talk. “Answer me, you don’t say that and then shut up!”

“I love you but come on; things haven’t been good for us for some time” Emily wiped her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to keep a hold of her emotions.

“People go through rough patches, you work through them. It’s just a stage, come to Sydney this weekend and you’ll see how good it will be. It can be our new start” His desperation was clear now, she was serious.

“I don’t want to go to Sydney Greg! Listen to me! I’ve been thinking about it for months, every time I try to talk to you, you don’t listen or change the subject or just try and prove me wrong. This isn’t a relationship anymore; we’re just to people together because we don’t know any other way. We both deserve something better than this!” Emily finally managed to look at him and her gut twisted with guilt at seeing his eyes full of his own tears and disbelief was etched all over his face.

The car went quiet apart from her sobbing, the hum of the traffic went by and the world kept on turning. At that moment Emily’s phone vibrated from where is sat in the cup holder between them and glancing down Jacks name came up above Carla’s. Emily hadn’t even realised she had any messages from them on the drive to Greg’s apartment and ignored it. She’d deal with them later but Greg had other ideas, snatching it up his heartache turned to anger and instant betrayal.

“It’s because of him isn’t it, you fucking him behind my back?” Greg was beyond furious and threw her phone back against the console so the screen cracked and the plastic of the gear stick split before he got out of the car. The windows shuddered with the force used to slam the door so hard Emily had no idea how they didn’t break and the car swayed from the same effort being applied to closing the boot of the car.

“Greg! It’s not like that! He is a friend! Only a friend! I’d never do that to you!” Emily screamed at him as she managed to get out of the car and followed him up the stairs of the building where he entered the pin code to access his building. She could have stayed in the car, left it at that but not like this.

“You expect me to believe that? You have this whole nice act sorted Em but I see what you really are. You’re an insecure fake who will whore around with any guy that gives you the attention you want while I’m not here because I am working to set up our future” He laughed bitterly, shaking hi head. “What was even the fucking point of that?”

Emily covered her face with her hands as she couldn’t stop the tears anymore and tried to comfort herself with the fact she knew it wasn’t true and he was only doing it to hurt her because she was hurting him. “Please just listen!”

She stepped up the stairs to stop him as he turned back to face her, his arm swinging out dramatically he never meant for it to hit her, he didn’t realise how close she was and quickly grabbed her before she stumbled on the step. “Oh shit! Em?”

“It’s fine,” She snapped, holding her cheek where his hand had connected.

“No, its not” Greg took a deep breath, hanging his head sadly before putting his arm over her shoulders. “Come inside ok?”

Emily nodded and let him guide her inside as her cheek started to throb. It hadn’t been hard or on purpose but that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt and as they entered the apartment she had been in a million times, she felt more like an outsider than ever before. This place had never felt like home, she had always just been a guest and that hurt more anything.

Sitting Emily down on the overstuffed leather sofa Greg went and got a bag of frozen peas from the freezer, wrapping a cloth over them he passed to her and she rested it on her cheek. “Thanks”

“Em, I didn’t do that on purpose. You were in the street and I turned and…”

“It’s ok. Really. I know it was an accident. Greg, I would never do that. You know me and even if you think that..” Greg knelt in front of her and moved the peas where a small bruise was promising to appear.

“I don’t think that. I was just being an asshole,” He admitted cutting her off and feeling about the size of one of the vegetables in that bag. “Emily, I do love you but if I’m honest I see what you mean” There wasn’t a particular event or conversation that took place but it was in the way her smile never made it to her eyes when she saw him now and how their life seemed more like a routine compared to the spontaneity of years before. There was no heat in their kisses, no passion with their affections and he knew he had been taking her for granted and he realised to late.

“I’m sorry” Emily sniffed; putting down the cold pack she wiped her eyes as he stood up in front of her, frowning as she slipped off her engagement ring and handed it back to him. This was really happening.

“I have to tell you, this is the weirdest break up I’ve ever had or heard about” Greg laughed, pulling her up in a hug. “You’re a wonderful person Em. Don’t doubt it”

Nodding Emily went to leave, the fact they could simply walk out of each others life so easily told her the right thing had just happened and she was glad it wasn’t the bitter ending outside had promised. “What now?”

“I’ll be going to Sydney, earlier now I don’t need to convince you. We’ll keep in touch ok?” He walked her down to the lobby, knowing he couldn’t just be a friend to her and the move couldn’t have come at a better time.

He had nothing here now.

“Look after yourself ok?” The hugged for one last time and it was if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders as she went back to her car. Looking back before driving home, he was already gone from the entrance. Her hands were trembling as she joined the flow of traffic, not wanting to go home yet she ignored the buzz from her phone. She needed some time to think.

“Hey Jack, heard from Em?” Carla put Anna down in her crib and took the phone from where she had it wedged between her shoulder and neck.

“No, I messaged her this morning but haven’t heard anything. Everything ok?” Jack instantly got nervous as Carla only sighed. It was nearly four in the afternoon and he knew she spoke to Carla every day.

“Yeah, just, never mind. If you do see her or anything can you ask her to call me?” Carla went into the kitchen and tried to ignore the worry she was feeling. Had she done it?

“Sure thing, bye” Hanging up Jack sat back in his chair, finding Emily’s number he tried calling and checking the message it hadn’t been seen yet. Going past her home on the way to his her car was missing from the carport and there was no sign of life there. But today was Greg’s fly in day and it all made sense, she was never as available when he was home and so it should be. She wasn’t his girl and seeing Paul at cricket training that night didn’t help him either.

“Hey mate” Paul stretched beside Joshua as Jack headed over to them but their conversation ended with his arrival.

“Everything ok?” Jack was getting paranoid now; all around everyone seemed to know something he didn’t. It wasn’t just in the way he was being avoided but the looks they all gave him too and he had no idea why he was suddenly being judged.

“Why wouldn’t it be?” Paul slapped him hard on the back and Josh didn’t speak as the trio headed to the centre of the oval where the captain was setting up their training. Jack pushed himself harder than usual and by the end Paul was exhausted, as he had tried to keep up.

“So heard from Em yet? Carla phoned this afternoon to see if I had” Wiping the sweat off his brow Jack didn’t miss Pauls face drop or the fact the others near them all slowed down to hear Pauls response like gossiping teenagers.

“Yeah it’s fine” He forced a smile and got out his bottle of water making sure he took a big gulp and not a sip to stop Jacks questioning. “Well I better get home, Carla will have dinner waiting”

Taking off his sneakers, Jack gave a small wave as Paul bolted to his car and the others all headed the same way. “Josh, wait up”

“Sup?” Joshua shifted uncomfortably and closed his boot after putting his cricket bag in the car, looking around he was on his own.

“What’s going on?”

“Nothing” He answered to quickly and Jack raised an eyebrow at him suspiciously. “Fine, you’re going to find out anyway I’m amazed this bunch of girls didn’t let it slip during training. Em and Greg broke up”

“You’re kidding?” A rush of emotions went through Jack as he leant against the side of his car and Josh rubbed the back of his head shaking his head. “Wow”

“I know, Jonno works with him and saw him at the pub this afternoon. Picked him up from the airport and did it on the drive home and just dropped him off. Bye bye. Mate, rumour has it she was cheating on him and everyone is looking at you” Well that explains the looks everyone was giving him.

“But we’re just friends? Nothing has ever happened between us” Joshua shrugged, knowing it was true but he had seen the look on his friends face when he heard the news and like everyone else in their life had seen them together. It would be easy to put two and two together.

“I know that, but Greg and Em were solid. Their split wasn’t expected and people talk” Feeling for his car keys in his pocket, Joshua opened his door. “I’ll see you around man”

Was this why she was avoiding him? Had she heard those rumours to? It explained Carla’s worry and Paul had practically been avoiding him which kind of hurt. He expected more from him if he believed the rumours too.

With his mind made up he got into his car, he had to see her.