The Other Woman

Mark rubbed his watery eyes earnestly. He hated the month of June, when every allergy causing flower was in bloom, when it rained endlessly, when the Miami humidity was unbearable.
“I can’t do anything about him Jennifer,” he huffed while petting the growing kitty Jasper on his lap. “I barely sell anymore. I don’t want to get involved with that guy, he’s dangerous.”

Jennifer knew very well that Mark would be of no assistant to her or the depleting Serenity. She wanted Mark to somehow trap or tell this Jose person to back off from their dear friend, but that would probably lead to a bullet being punctured into his brain.
“I didn’t know it was this bad though,” he remarked whilst shaking his head in disappointment.

It was true. Serenity Reynolds had definitely changed. She wasn’t herself anymore. She didn’t seem to care about her appearance and would often to go to work or anywhere for that matter dressed like she were going to bed. Her over all demeanor was almost ghostly, sometimes Jen swore she could see Serenity gliding gloomily towards her bedroom or the bathroom. The amount of weight she had loss was phenomenal. She resembled a recovering anorexic. The only small trace of fat she had was in her stomach…

“She doesn’t even speak anymore, Mark. I’m worried about her. Cant that stuff end up killing her soon?”
He nodded, closing his eyes in melancholy as Jasper purred against his palm.

“What happened to the band? I heard Billie Joe has strep throat or something,”
Jennifer couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “That bitch doesn’t have strep throat. They might break up because of the whole ordeal, so I guess that was the best they could come up with…”

Mark winced, “damn, right when the album just released.”
“I know,”

And then Jennifer had a splendid idea. Only one person, well maybe two, could really get Serenity out this funk. She knew one of them would most definitely not come, but the other, well if he cared for her enough, he’d make the sacrifice.

“You thought of something, didn’t you?” Mark smirked.
She simply nodded.

Two weeks later, Serenity was alone at home, just how she liked it nowadays. Jennifer had yelled at her that morning how much she had changed, and that she would rather “spend the day with Mark than a walking corpse.”

She had token a hit from her needle after Jen had left and somehow felt a little better. Throughout the entire morning she simply cleaned the house spotless, a task that she rather enjoyed doing recently. And after it was squeaky clean she decided to take a shower and be thankful that today was a Friday and she miraculously had the day off from work.

And she was just on the couch, about to reach into her pocket for a pack of cigarettes this afternoon, when the doorbell rang. She had an urge to simply yell ‘no one’s home’ but fought it. Maybe it was Jose and he wanted to spend the afternoon with her.

Tre didn’t think his heart could possibly break anymore, but when the front door opened to his ex-girlfriend’s, the woman he was still in love with, apartment, the shards from the previous devastation broke into even sharper splinters.
“Oh God,” he whispered to himself, having to revert his eyes south.

Serenity was stunned at his presence, shocked that he actually came back to visit her. Sure it hadn’t been that same week that he said he would have, but nevertheless he was here.

Jennifer hadn’t been kidding, she was in horrible shape. She resembled one of those skeletons that his science teacher kept in the back of the classroom, all the tender meat sunken away. The only pudge she had left was in her stomach it seemed. There she was in a pair of black sweatpants and a white tank top. Her hair resembled a bird’s nest and the bags underneath her eyes were enough to use for a whole month’s supply of groceries. She had a cigarette tucked between her now shaking fingers as she stood inside her home, nervously watching Tre’s movements.

“Can I come inside?” Tre managed to ask, his eyes still facing the concrete, afraid that she might see the tears that were slowly welling in his saddened blue eyes.

“Uhh, yeah sure,” she remarked, flicking away the cigarette as he stepped passed her and into her abode.

At least the place looked clean, it sparkled actually. Maybe she was occupying her time with both cleaning and drugs. And speaking of drugs, he was especially angry at this Jose character that Jennifer told him about. He'd have to take a look at the bastard when the cops caught him in the sting operation he asked them to do. At least the asshole would be behind bars and never hurt his love again.

“Sorry the place is a mess,” she nervously spoke, fluffing an already fluffed pillow on the couch. Tre scanned the living quarters, remembering how it looked when he had last visited her.

“Um, do you want something to drink, or uh, eat?” she asked shyly
“Do you have any vodka? Or maybe some brandy?” he smiled

“Both actually,” she smirked, already waltzing into the kitchen to retrieve the beverages.

After practically gulping down the half-glass amount of vodka Serenity had bought him, his nerves began to settle a bit more. She wanted to sit next to him, but decided not to, and instead plopped herself down on the chair opposite him.

He still looked attractive in her eyes. But she could tell he had lost some weight as well, and his eyes seemed to have lost that bright blue spark that she loved so much. Instead he look a little tired, a little overwhelmed. Even the tone of his voice seemed to have to change to her ears. She was accustomed to that high pitched swanky sound, but was only receiving a somber tone right now.

“So…” he hummed, not knowing where to start. “How’ve you, ya know… been?”
“I’ve been alright,” she nearly whispered, rubbing her hand up and down her scarred arms.

“You sure?” he pegged, earning him a set of rolled eyes from the woman in front of him.
“I just told you, yes” she answered, digging into her pant pocket for her little pack of cigarettes.

“Since when did you start smoking?” he asked skeptically. He didn’t receive an answer right away. She instead took out her neon purple lighter and lit the cancer stick before slipping it into her mouth. And after a decent enough inhalation, she blew a puff of smoke towards his now upset face.

“I’m not sure when, but quite recently though,” she finally replied. “It’s nothing frequent though,” she added.

He leant over, peering into her eyes. The eyes that used to be bright with life and humor, but now bore a hollow suffering.
“What’s gotten into you, huh? You trying to kill yourself or something?” he daringly proclaimed.

“Its not like I’m smoking two packs a day,” she replied defensively, “and I f—“
“I know about your new habits, my love” he spat at her, sitting back upright to grab the other drink.

She inhaled deeply, the tarring smoke blowing from both her nose and mouth.
“Please don’t tell me you came here to lecture me,” she replied, rolling her eyes once again. “Cuz I really don’t have the ears to hear it, especially from a hypocrite”

“Trust me, I didn’t want to come here to give you one either. But your friend Jen persuaded me,” he scorned. “You’re lucky you have her,”
“Aren’t I?” she suddenly seethed, getting up from her chair and trailing into her bedroom.

And she was just about to slam the door when his strength blocked the door from shutting. “Aren’t you polite,” he sarcastically bit, easily opening the door and stepping inside despite her weak attempts to stop him.

“Get OUT of my room,” she ordered, running to her dresser to block his view of whatever was there.

Tre looked around the room, a smile forming on his face at the memories it bought back. Their good morning kisses, endless joking, massages, pillow fights…

“I’m trying to help you, Serenity” he replied, eyes begging her for understanding.

“No!” she nearly screamed. “If you wanted to help me, you wouldn’t have stopped seeing me,” she cried, tears starting to run down her cheeks. “Every time I called, y-you’d never e-even answer! I never had the chance to explain,”

“I’m not going to argue about that again,” was his stern response. “Where is it?”
“Where’s wh—“
“You know what the hell I’m talking about!” he yelled, “Where do you keep it?”

But before she could tell him to kiss her ass, he had already spotted the silver syringe behind her arm lying atop the dresser. One of her thin belts was only a few inches from the tool, and it made him want to vomit.

Instead of gagging he stepped up to her face, almost chest to chest, and slowly grabbed the needle. She didn’t stop him either, because she knew just how fucked up her life was at the moment.
“Where’s the rest of it?” he asked sadly, stuffing the needle into his pocket.

She pointed to her bed and whispered, “underneath.” There really way no use in pretending. It was obvious that Jennifer was worried and sent him here to ‘cure’ her.

This was so embarrassing. She didn’t want him to see her like this. To see what she had been reduced to…

With a small nod Tre treaded over to the bed, stooped down and snatched up the three small bags of junk, smack, whatever the hell they called heroin these days.
“Is there anymore?”

She shook her head no. “Thanks. I could’ve never done it on my own,”
Tre felt like a hypocrite though, taking her ‘meds’ from her. It wasn’t like he wasn’t doing the same thing back at home or by himself in the studio. He had an assortment of drugs simply to get him through the days; cocaine, marijuana, and his two favorite; alcohol and his drums.

And he’d be damned if someone came and pried them from his hands.

“Uh, don’t worry about it,” he replied, shoving the contents awkwardly into his pockets.

She felt awkward all of a sudden, like a small child in comparison to Tre. She averted her eyes from his as she leaned into her dresser, fiddling about with her fingers. What else was there to really say? She knew he disliked her, that she didn’t deserve him…

“You’re gonna be fine,” Tre suddenly whispered into her ear. She lifted her eyes up, and there he stood right in front of her. He reached out a hand and used his index finger to lift up her chin. He could see the tears that were moments away from falling, and only smiled. He then took one of her arms and lifted it up enough so he could examine the damage. His rough fingertips roamed gently over each porous scar.

He wanted to take her pain away desperately, both of their pains, but how? Was that even possible?

“But I’m still in love with you,” Serenity murmured, one tear floating down to the floor.

“I know,” he answered, finally letting go of her arm. “I still love you too,”

“Then how come you wont let me fix this?!” she griped.
He sighed. They had just had this argument a couple weeks back, and he really wasn’t in the mood to rehash any of it.
“I already told you,” he groaned, simultaneously brushing a few strands of her hair behind her ears.

“No you fucking haven’t, Tre! You’ve just been giving me bullshit excuses that don’t even have to deal with us!”

He couldn’t help but roll his eyes. What the hell did she want from him?! How could they possibly work out? How could he possibly trust her around Billie Joe?
Instead of saying these thoughts, he treaded over to her bed and sat on the edge. Serenity followed him, plopping down right next to him.

“I’m not going to apologize anymore. It’s obvious that I’m sor—“
“Why did you love him?” he interrupted, still unable to look at her in the eye.

She paused in her response. Didn’t she already answer this question in their last argument?
“I don’t know, Tre. It was nice to be around with him, but he never treated me like you do.”

“I just don’t get it,” he sighed, ruffling about with his hair. “Why this had to happen…”

“Well I don’t get why you don’t want to be with me…” she whispered back, playing with her fingers at the stupidity of her remark. “I mean, I get it, but, I don’t know…” she rambled.
“I do want to be with you, but it’s just…” he sighed, not really knowing what to say.

None of them spoke for a few moments, simply stared into blank space, sighing and twiddling with their fingers.

And then something took hold of Tre’s emotions. Something strong and raw, a feeling that he couldn’t get rid of. He turned towards her, and cupped her face with his hands.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. And before she could repeat those words, he was already leaning in and pressing his lips to hers.

And what a mighty kiss it was.

He held her tightly to him as she wound her arms around his neck, deepening the kiss further. His tongue quickly traced the rims of her full lips before prodding into her mouth. And she couldn’t help but groan with satiation when both their tongues began to mesh softly together in one fluid motion.

Tre moved his hands from her face to the back of her head before massaging her scalp as he pressed her even harder into his touch.

Oh Goodness.

Her breathing was erratic as he chewed on her bottom lip before letting his head fall to her neck, sucking on the soft skin. His tongue swirled about her neck and he could even feel her rapid pulse pumping onto the skin of his lips.

“Tre…” she whimpered, gripping his shoulders oh so tightly. He drew an unbearable line of wet kisses up from her neck and back to her eager lips. He couldn’t help himself when he removed his hands from the back of her head and dragged them down to her cup her breasts.

A loud groan made its way from the depths of her throat as a result, which made Tre grope them even harder through his kiss.

And then it all clicked in her brain. What he was doing…

She jerked her head back, her eyes flashing open as she stared at him, both their breaths hot and ragged.
“What are you doing?” she asked, her eyebrows quirked in cynicism. She was still grasping his shoulders, and his arms were still wrapped about her waist.

“What?” he panted, guilt invading his facial expression.

And when she saw that guilt buried in his eyes, the way his mouth was twisted in a frown, even the way his voice sounded when he asked ‘what’. Her suspicions had been approved. This was his goodbye kiss to her.

She knew it by the way he had sadly whispered those three lovely words into her ear…
How furiously hard he had attached his lips to hers…
How tightly his grasp was when he had cupped her face…
And finally how hard he was tugging on her breasts…
All of his movements were exaggerated because he wanted to commit them to his memory, because he’d never be able to touch and feel her again…

“No,” she said forcefully, removing herself from his grasp. She sat up off the bed and began pacing the floor.

“No what, Seny?” Tre stupidly asked. He knew that she had figured what he had been trying to do.

“Don’t play fucking stupid with me Tre,” she breathed out venomously. “This is supposed to be some kind of fuck you, goodbye kiss! Either that or you’re trying to fuck me one last time before you leave!”

“What?!” he repeated with a scowl. “I thought you knew me somewhat better than that, but apparently not,” he added forcefully, although his eyes betrayed his harsh words.

She paced back and forth at the foot of the bed, not believing what was happening…the end. And then he said something that broke her heart just a little more.
“I leave that kind of shit for you and Billie Joe to do, not me”

She stifled back hurt tears before replying, “Low blow,”
He rolled his eyes, “well what you and that asshole did was pretty low, don’t you think?!”

“You know what, Tre? Get the fuck outta my house,” she replies bitterly, a hand on her hip. “I’m not gonna beg someone to be with me. It’s either you do or you fucking don’t. And you clearly don’t!”

Anger and a little shock spewed through Tre’s brain. How could she possibly have the audacity to speak to him like that? Him! Tre fucking cool!

“You wanna know why I FUCKING don’t?!” he yelled, bursting from his seat to get all up in her face. Her eyes were burning with tears, anger spurting from her veins. “Because I fucking hate you,” he finished.

“Well I hate you too!” she screamed back, hormones going out of control. “And I don’t fucking need you in my life!”

“You ruined every damned thing we had together!” his voice boomed as he walked towards her, nose to nose, forcing her to retreat just as slowly from his advances.

“I didn’t ruin shit!” she screamed. “You ruined it when you decided you didn’t want to work it through!”

“WORK WHAT THROUGH?!” he squealed impudently, finally backing her up against a wall. “You fucking my best friend a million fucking times?!”

“At least he was better than you…” she mumbled in a lower tone, staring at him dead in the eye with abhorrence. She knew the comment wasn’t true, they had amazing sexual chemistry together.
Tre’s eyes narrowed, his male pride taking a punch at that comment. But he was just as quick to conjure up a hurtful comment for her, no matter how untrue it was.

“I really should’ve known you were going behind my back, you weren’t very impressive either. I bet BJ got the little you could muster up, while I got the leftover trash,”

Her right arm was quick to react, and swiftly slapped his left cheek. At this time Tre was seeing nothing but red, anger rushing out of his every pore. His entire face was glowing red, teeth clenched.

How the hell did we wind up like this?

And with Serenity backed against the wall, he lifted his arm, as she jammed her eyes shut in fright…and punched the wall millimeters away from her face. She jumped as the sound reverberated in the ear that had nearly been sunk into the wall. When she opened her eyes she was taken aback by the look of utter disappointment and anger marring his face.

Why weren’t we able?
To see the signs that we missed
try to turn the tables.

“I’m done,” he finally seethed before removing himself from her staggered body.

She could barely breathe, and her eyes could barely see with all tears quickly welling inside. She knew with all her heart that this was it, the conclusion…the demise…the very end of their relationship.

“Tre!” she cried out, running after him as he stormed outside. She knew it was raining outside this warm night. But she didn’t care, she’d gladly waltz her way through a typhoon for that man.

I wish you would unclench your fists,
And unpack your suitcase

“Tre!” she cried out once more as she ran down the slippery stone steps of the complex. He was completely ignoring her as he clambered down.

lately there’s been to much of this
but don’t think its too late

The thunder outside shook her body when she finally caught up to him in the pouring rain, there was already a yellow cab waiting almost patiently in the near distance. She miraculously managed to catch up to him and immediately grabbed onto the hem of his shirt, stopping him in his tracks.

nothings wrong
just as long
as you know that someday I will

“Please, Tre,” she cried mercilessly, “don’t leave,”
He was still angry, still seeing a maddening shade of red behind his stormy blue eyes, but he loved her and really couldn’t bare seeing her like this. She had completely broken him.

someday
some how
gonna make it alright, but not right now

He reached his hand out and stared affectionately at her, stroking her wet cheek with his fingertips.
“L-let me fi-fix this,” she squeaked, barely making any sense to herself. “I-I lo-love you s-so much,” she gasped.

“Go back inside Seny, it’s raining,” he said sadly with rain pouring down his skin.
“No!” she wailed. She needed him to understand just how important he was in her life, just how much she loved and cared so deeply for him, just how special of a person he was.

I know you’re wondering when
you’re the only one that knows that
someday
some how
gonna make it alright, but not right now

“I re—“ Tre began, but was unable to finish his statement when Serenity stood on her toes, wrapped her small arms around his neck, and pressed her lips brashly upon his.

well I’d hope that since we’re here anyway
we can end up saying
things that we always needed to say
so we can end up staying

He really tried not to enjoy it, not to be moved by her forlorn attempt to win him back, but he couldn’t help it. He slithered his arms around her waist and slid his tongue passed her lips to taste her, to taste the woman he loved.

She could feel all her love for him pouring out of her, all the pain, agony, and hurt she had been feeling since the breakup outside in his house. And with each movement of her lips against his, she loved him even more and felt more alive than ever.

now the stories played out like this
just like a paperback novel

The moment was like out of a classic 1940’s black and white romance film. Two lovers kissing endlessly in the rain, not wanting to leave each other’s side.

But he had to, his mind had already been made up. So with much regret, Tre Cool slowly removed his lips from Serenity’s and unwrapped his arms from around her. They stared at each other for several more precious moments, watching each other shiver underneath the wet blanket of rain, watching as several droplets slid down each other’s noses and cheeks.

lets re-write an ending that fits
instead of a hollywood horror

She was crying, but he couldn’t see that. She knew that he was leaving her, it was more than apparent. All hope it seemed was gone. And he didn’t bother saying another word to her when he turned himself around and walked rather briskly towards the way too patient taxi driver, who had most likely been enjoying the show.

nothings wrong
just as long
as you know that someday I will

She stood where she was as she watched him open the door to the yellow vehicle. She was still crying, still hurt, but managed to open her mouth to ask one more thing.
“Didn’t that mean anything to you?” she called out to him through the heavy rain.

He was ready to climb in, but stood still, letting the rain soak the entire back of the car. He turned around and stared for the millionth time today at her broken and weary figure, and simply smiled.

“It used to.”
And with that, the drummer quickly hopped inside the cab and drove off to God knows where.

someday
some how
gonna make it alright, but not right now

Serenity Reynolds stood still outside, letting the rain continue to soak her to the bone. His words rang through her ears, louder than the rain itself. And finally, she smiled. They had their run and it obviously didn’t work out, but at least she knew that she used to mean something to him , that she wasn’t just another ex.

She would stay in his heart…
and he in hers.

THE END