A few months later, Lucy was at her parent's home getting ready for the event in the evening. There was an international event, but the boss didn't know how to speak English, so she was called in to interpret his speech.
He already sent her what he would be talking about, so Lucy was calm. Only a few times before she was nervous. Once it was when the person speaking forgot his speech at home and then completely improvised. What didn't help was that he wasn't good at giving speeches, so her translation sounded like it was from a five-year-old.
And the second time was when she was sick and immediately after the event ended, she was hurried to the hospital with a high fever, and then she couldn't speak for two weeks.
Her phone rang. It was Lili asking if the con they had planned for next weekend was still on. Lucy once more looked at her mail and sent a confirming message. She had nothing this weekend. Nothing that would need immediate attention.
Lucy checked herself out once more in the mirror, just to be sure everything was how it was supposed to be.
Her makeup was light, hair freely flowing down on her back and shoulders, the dress she picked up for today was simple, black, the skirt flowing down on the ground with a slit that let her walk as needed.
Everything was subtle, so she wouldn't stand out and wouldn't overshadow the main host she would be interpreting for. Even that was hard for her, with the hair color of a freaking carrot. Hair that even Merida's was pale in comparison.
Lucy walked around in the high-heel and hoped the event would be done quickly. Because the dress was without shoulders, the sleeves started in the middle of her arms. She had to wear a strapless bra and the feeling of weirdness made her quiver as she felt it would fall down at any time.
Why did she even buy a dress like that? Because she liked that style. And somehow the thinking about functionality somehow evaded her.
Lucy sighed and got out of the flat and to her car, driving to her destination. Waiting backstage, getting ready, and going over everything with the organizer was what she was doing. Thankfully, everything was well organized, and she didn't have to worry at all.
The speech wasn't long, but it took at least five minutes. And she, staying on the side, wanted to appear smaller and not draw attention. But Lucy's gaze found a person that she wanted to see the least.
Determined to run away after the speech, Lucy grabbed her long skirt and wanted to walk away. But her arm was caught by her ex.
"Let's talk," he said, and dragged her to the side of the room. Lucy didn't want to make a scene, so she followed with gritted teeth.
"What do you want?" Lucy asked, once they stopped. From close, she noticed that Peter actually got more handsome. His skin was taken care of, his hair was healthier… he was obviously very sad they broke up.
"I miss you," he said as soon as he opened his mouth and Lucy was totally stunned. What happened to him? Did he fall and forgot everything?
"We broke up…" she whispered, looking around. If Peter was here, it was either with his mom or father. And yes, soon, a small round figure appeared from the crown, wide small on his face with gray hair, heading their way.
"Lucy, I'm so glad to see you again. I heard you have been in China for a long time, translating. Now, finally, when you are back home, you can move to Peter's house." Peter's father said at once and Lucy confusedly looked at Peter.
"You didn't tell him?" Peter looked at her with a horrified expression and the pleading gaze that followed showed that Lucy had an upper hand.
"Oh, in this case. I'm sorry Mr. Novák but we broke up. I won't move in with him at any costs. I have to go and prepare for something else. Excuse me. Goodbye." Lucy wanted to walk away from the stunned duo, but Peter woke up right away and grabbed Lucy by her arm.
"Where do you think you're going?" She only snickered down at the hand holding her and then back up at Peter's face.
"Let me go. I can go wherever I want. And if you don't let me go, I will kick your ass right here and cause a scene. I certainly think that your boss will love it. I think he is watching us already." She nudged to the table at the side with her head. There really was a guy watching them.
Peter immediately let her arm go, and Lucy snickered again. It always worked. Especially on someone riding a tail. But not for long.
"You changed since you started to hang out with that trashy friend of yours! I thought you loved me!" he yelled out. Startled, Lucy looked around and saw a few faces looking at her. Emotional threats? Lucy smirked. She wasn't someone you could just bully like that.
"Nope. I didn't. Mom said you are a nice guy, so I tried it with you. I never knew you belonged to the r/niceguys type of nice guy. Your behavior was rude, misogynistic, and you were too possessive of me as if you had ownership." Lucy pointed at her body and looked Peter right in her eyes.
"This body is only mine. No one else's. I will do whatever I want and certainly won't listen to someone who said my friends are rubbish. You see. Maybe you should carry yourself out and put yourself in a bin. Because I think you are the trash. And I knew Lili even before I knew you, so hold your mouth before I stuff it with toilet paper to stop the shit you are spewing." Lucy waited no more. She turned around and fled the scene. She tried to walk slowly, looking haughty.
"You look fat in those dresses," she heard one last sentence from Peter. It made her depressed again because her body was something she was conscious of.
Inside, her heart was running as fast as Usain Bolt and once she wasn't seen, Lucy breathed out in relief that Peter didn't follow her anymore. She waited for a few minutes before she said goodbyes to the organizer and drove her car home. To her own flat.
It was already a bit too late to drive further back to her parents' house, but as soon as she got into the apartment building and saw the notice of a blackout on the noticeboard, she knew she had to go back there.
And she wanted to cry so hard… Why was everything so hard in life? She was tired; it was late. Her emotions were so freaking agitated and now she even had no electricity, water, or warmth in her flat.
"Let me just die in peace," she sighed, not really meaning but relieving her emotions with sarcasm. Lucy got into her car and drove back home to hear all the things from her mother…