~Mia's POV~
My eyes fluttered open and I squinted from the throbbing pain in my head while forcing myself to sit.
"Drink this" Aleecia offered, handing me a cup of water and two pills. I took them, skeptically threw them down my throat and swallowed the glass of water.
"Thanks" I managed, handing her the empty cup and she sat on the bed beside me.
"What happened in there?" she questioned and I closed my eyes trying to get rid of the memory.
"Nothing. I fell." I dismissed, waves of pain stringing their way through my body.
"You know, you can lie to me all you want but you won't be able to lie to Ray. Actually, I think he's going to kill someone if his conscience lets him" she gambled
"He wouldn't" I defended
"And normally I would agree but I have never seen him so pissed off by anything." She said distastefully
I studied her for a second, wondering if she was going to be the bitchy girlfriend who knows about the affair but chooses to be a bitch instead of confronting, because she knows that she'll have the guy in the end, regardless. It didn't matter how I perceived this, I'd end up right where I started- without him.
"He'll never find out who"
"I thought you fell" she sassed talked, getting up. "You don't know much about Ray do you?" she scanned me gingerly "I would think that since you're fooling around with him…" she paused and I swallowed hard.
'I guess she was going to be the bitch that confronts.'
"Look, love. You're not special. Ray's just looking for a high and you gave it to him. You think this is the first time?" She leaned in so that our faces were equally lined "Ray will never belong to you, the moment this is over, we'll be moving on to some other girl, in another country. Ray belongs to the company. That's just how it is. You are temporary and Ray's just doing his job."
I broke eye contact and she straightened herself and smiled "No hard feelings but move on" she said slyly and I watched her close my door after she left.
My chest tightened and forced back tears. It wasn't like I didn't know. I knew more than anyone that Ray wasn't mine. Hearing it though, had a different effect than I thought it would. It stung a whole lot more. To add to my dismay, I had never given a thought to what would happen if my threats ended. I rested my head in my palms, retracting sobs as the weight of Aleecia's words laid heavily on my shoulders.
'What the hell was I doing?'
Eventually, I couldn't hold back my tears anymore, the pain I felt was overpowering. All I could hear were her words repeating in my mind.
'Ray will never belong to you, Ray's just looking for a high, it's not the first time, you're not special.'
I couldn't help thinking she was correct; that she knew exactly what she was speaking of. I was temporary. I tried to avoid it but that was all I was.
I wiped my eyes, sucking up my stupidity and gathering myself. I got up from the bed. I couldn't allow myself to feel the way it wanted to or I might never recover. I paced the floor. I needed some air; I needed to get away from Ray and Aleecia for a while. I needed to get away from my life- My foolish, idiotic life. The life that wanted to get rid of me so badly. No one was really in my corner. Mal was right. I was better off dead. I should have never gone in the driver's seat. My mother- Mallory's mother would still be alive and all this could have been avoided.
I remembered Miss Ven and though my hands trembled, my eyes watered, my chest tightened and I struggled to breathe, I decided that a place where I could remember her pep talks, was better than a place that only brought burden and heartache.
I took a bath and jumped into some fresh clothes. It was almost morning so I waited until eight to sneak out. That was the time the restaurant usually opened. I made sure to walk along the trees so I wouldn't be spotted by anyone or by Ray. It wasn't until I reached the restaurant that I came out and made my way towards it. All the while holding my breath.
As soon as I stepped inside, the sweet refreshing aroma of fried chicken filled my lungs and my heart squealed with excitement. I swayed to the counter and sat at my original spot waiting for someone to greet me like Miss Ven used to. It had been my first time back since she died and I wondered who was running the kitchen.
Everything seemed the same, like nothing had changed. Majority of the tables were occupied with satisfied or waiting individuals, the colors were the same and the atmosphere was irresistible. The only thing missing was Miss Ven. Just then Mal pushed through the backroom and behind the counter, with a framed picture in her hand. I figured she had taken a job here after Miss Ven's tragedy. She wore a light blue waitress uniform and an orange and blue cap. The uniform was definitely different.
I waved nervously at her but she pretended not to see me as she hung the picture in the center of the wall. I sighed heavily as she made her way back to the backroom without acknowledging me. I looked up at the picture, it was a lovely painting of Miss Ven. I smiled even though sadness filled the air around me and Mal's words echoed in my mind from our previous conversation.
'You ruined my life. You killed my mom and then you stole my only friend. Aren't you satisfied?' I cowered my head in embarrassment and pain. How could my day get any worse? Almost immediately, a guy dressed in all white came waltzing through the backroom.
"Mia?"
"C-Caleb" I blurted in astonishment and he took off his chef's hat. "W- what are you doing here?"
I could see his features a lot clearer than I could last night. He was tall, a little rough around the edges but boyishly handsome. He had glossy, hazel eyes and had tied his long hair into a neat ponytail.
"I work here. This was my mother's place"
"O. I'm sorry" I curled my brows in confusion, remembering Miss Ven's file from way back. I was almost positive it said she had an abortion. Why would he lie? I scoffed at my stupidity. Maybe she had another son or… she lied.
"It's okay. I'm a little bummed that you walked out on me last night though. I feel like you should make it up to me"
I nodded briefly "I'm sorry about that too"
"Better be" he eyed me, putting the cap back onto his head and I could hardly recognize him. "So what for you Honey Bear?" He asked soothingly and I scrunched my face and shrugged.
He ruffled my hair. "No worries, I know just what to get you" he scanned me over "Don't go anywhere" he said flirtatiously and I rolled my eyes, a bit intrigued. Caleb was something.
"What was that, who was that?"
I jumped in my seat, my heart escaping its cage and residing in my throat. It was Ray.
"How long have you been standing there?" I questioned, trying to steady my heartbeat and he sat beside me with displeased eyes.
"Long enough" He muttered, he was dressed in all black, which I found weird but it was the least of my problems.
I frowned, I was angry about so much but the only thing that truly mattered was what Aleecia said. I felt my chest tighten and I grunted as the pain I was running from flooded my insides and the blood in my body decided to stop flowing. Even so, I kept my mouth shut. I was so afraid that if I were to open my lips, my eyes would take over and flood the room.
"You left home without anyone to protect you? What were you thinking?" he began, looking me over and I held my breath trying to blot him out. Caleb appeared in front of me with a bowl of chicken pasta and I couldn't even be happy about it.
"What the frig? What are you doing here?" Ray fumed
"You must be the asshole"
"Nice to meet you, Toilet paper" Ray rebutted tetchily
"Stop" I begged and they both ceased their gibbering for a brief moment
"Let's go home" Ray ordered and I took a deep breath
"As you can see she's eating" Caleb huffed. Ray chuckled briefly, his face becoming dull and deadly as he shoved the bowl to the ground
I got up and slammed my fist to the counter, anger surging through me like electricity. I took deep breaths but they were useless as Aleecia's words circled the depths of my mind
'You are temporary.' 'Not special.' 'Not his first time.' 'Will never belong to you.' 'Moving on to some other girl, in another country.' 'Ray belongs to the company.'
"Amelia?"
"Are you okay?" Caleb enquired and I looked up at him. I needed to be the asshole just this once, I needed Ray to hurt because I was tired of being hurt by his stupid careless words and actions. I needed to not feel this way.
"Amelia" Ray repeated and I did it, I did the unthinkable. I kissed Caleb.
I pulled back a moment later in fright, having no idea what I had done. I looked over at Ray, shock written all over my face and he got up, his features cold and unreadable. He stared at me and for a brief moment, I could see disappointment and hurt painted across his eyes. My insides screamed as he walked away and I looked between them both before running through the door and after him.
"Ray!" I called but he didn't acknowledge me, I ran up to him and hung onto his arm.
"Stop" I pleaded and he halted, searching my face for understanding. I shrunk trying to explain but my words came out as fragments and gibberish. I stopped speaking and he raised his eyes, intimidatingly. I groaned inwardly. We stood there in silence until I let go of his arm; he continued walking but I couldn't let him leave. I swiped my hands across my forehead in confused frustration.
"Stop!" I demanded and he shoved his hands in his pockets and unwillingly turned to face me once more. I strode up to him, letting my anger take control of my lips. It was the only way I could speak to him without shattering to a thousand pieces.
"You called me a frikin baboon, you attached a fart bomb to me, you won't let me touch you and Aleecia's your girlfriend; how is what I did any different from what you do with her daily?" I asked above a whisper, trying not to let my hurt show.
"Is that what this is about?" he investigated dismissively and I inhaled sharply. He made everything seem so simple and unimportant, it boiled the anger inside me. All the words piled up in my throat and I tried holding them back.
"You kissed a guy to what?" He asked, irritation surging through his words and I held my breath
"To what Mia?!" He yelled and I snapped
"Tell me I'm not temporary Ray." I screamed back, glaring into his eyes and he struggled to find his next words "Tell me that when this is over you won't move to another country with another girl" I dared him "Tell me that in the end, it will be me. Not Aleecia, not your stupid company" I begged and he pinched his ear in defeat because- he couldn't, he couldn't say it. I muffled a sob and he looked away.
"Tell me why I shouldn't go back to that really nice guy in there?" I whispered and his eyes grabbed mine once more, ice casing his features. He straightened himself, his face becoming unreadable.
"Go" he summed up with a level of calm and sincerity that made my heart freeze. I scanned him in bewilderment and awe.
"What?" I whispered in disbelief
"I said go" He pushed, using his head to signal the way. I felt the earth around me shake, getting ready to suck me in and the tears I was holding back crawling down my cheeks. I inhaled with my mouth and nodded, before wiping my eyes.
"Mia leave, go, move!" he screamed like he couldn't stand to be in my presence anymore and I stepped back, a bit frightened before turning and walking away. And just like that, Ray and I were…Over.