Fat Chance

In the living room, Dawn Owen looked up from the paperback romance novel she was reading when the door creaked open.

It was an unusual sight to see her brother Nathan to be home at eleven in the morning. Normally, he still had classes up till late afternoon. She grimaced while she remained in an Indian sit position on the floor.

The weather was nice outside but Nathan has a sullen and pale reflection on his face as he entered.

He was painfully quiet as he walked past his confused sister. Gearing up to the hallway, close to the stairs.

“Hey,” Dawn called while trying to stand up. Nathan briefly stopped for a moment but didn’t look at her. His chestnut hair was ruffled like a guy that got out of a fight.

“What happened?” Concern somehow filled her voice.

“It’s over,” Nathan uttered while trying not to tremble in between those words. “I should have seen it coming.”

It didn’t take long for Dawn to realize what had happened. “Nate, don’t let this get into you.”

“I know, sis,” with that Nathan moved his feet upstairs followed by a quick shut from his door.

Dawn sighed heavily. Her brother’s first real relationship that wasn’t online got down in the drain. She placed her book on the coffee table and dove head-first on the mossy green sofa.
She hadn’t met the girl he was dating face to face but she’s seen her couple of times in the university. Not that it matters to her, but ever since Nathan met that girl he became more outgoing. A milestone from his usual stay at home attitude.

Dawn was pretty mum about these kinds of things to their parents who works overseas. They pampered Nathan like a dog, no, a puppy even. It’s hard for him to grow up with that kind of spoiled treatment. Dawn decided not to do the same. Besides, it’s about time for Nathan to face this kind of trivialities in life like getting a girlfriend, having relationships and breaking up with them.

For some reason, Nathan’s face just reminded her of someone long way back. She groaned and suffocated herself beneath the sofa’s cushion. It wasn’t really a fitting event to remember her ex back in high school.

A Taylor Swift song rang behind her pocket. It was her new ringing tone replacing Avril Lavigne’s “Nobody’s Home”.

If you could see that I'm the one who understands you
Been here all along so why can't you see?
You belong with me
You belong with me

Lazily, she took out her cell and answered.

“Hello, Judy.”

She paused for a moment and frowned.

“Yes. . . .What? . . . You mean now?”

--

Dawn entered Clarinet’s, an Old English style cafeteria, blocks away from the college she’s attending.

She went straight to a familiar face waving at the far end corner. It was near the transparent glass window of the cafe. Always that same place.

Dawn waved back at her but couldn’t bring herself to smile. “Hey, Judy.”

“You’re late, Dawnie!” A twenty-something female in strawberry-blonde locks greeted her. Her name is Judy Hamilton, wearing one of those cream colored chic blouse, black trendy skirt and killer heels. She’s always the walking spectacle with all the dangling things that accompanied the get-up.

In contrast to her friend, Dawn was never the fashion conscious type. She would just go out in plain jeans and shirts. Her dark brown hair usually tied in a pony tail. And her face, hardly raped by make-up. Most of her acquaintances dubbed her boring to the point where she even took it as a compliment.

Judy is her irrepressible childhood friend. Her parents are divorced since she met Dawn in the neighbourhood with a malfunctioning bladder. She lives with her mom who was always busy at work.
Often in their younger years, Dawn would lend her crayons, lunch and extra underwear. Sometimes she would let her sleep at her house when her mother was late. Judy depended so much on Dawn that she became an extension to her broken family. Not until high school did Judy adopt the fashionista attitude when Judy’s mom remarried to a rich politician. Despite the now differing taste and status, they still hold strong connections to each other.

Beside Judy is a girl in heavy black make-up. A face she was not familiar with. When Dawn got to their table, Judy immediately introduced her.

“Her name is Ashley Hall. She’s seventeen and she’s my cousin. Ashley, this is Dawn Owen. She’s old.” There was an excitement in her voice.

“Hi,” Ashley offered her hand. Her jet black hair was styled to a bob, ornamented by a big red ribbon. She’s wearing a customized leather vest, adorned by pins and chains partnered by a frilly black and white skirt. For a moment, Dawn thought she was Marilyn Manson’s long lost teenage daughter. That is if he had one.

“Cousin?” Dawn chuckled as she acknowledged Ashley. This was the first time she heard about a relative. Dawn supposed that it must be from her step father’s branch of the family tree. “Thanks for the introduction Judy. I’m just twenty one.”

Ashley managed a grin. “Coffee?”

“Yes, I’ll take the same as Judy.” Dawn gave her a polite smile and sat down. Ashley called out the waitress for another cappuccino.

Dawn turned to Judy who was sipping her cup. “So why am I called here again?” She was a little wary when Judy sets her up like this.

“The band,” she said with a moustache of froth upon her upper lips. “As in a rock band...wait, was it a goth band or something?”

Dawn raised an eyebrow.

“Ah, yes. I heard you can play the drums,” Ashley said with a slight eagerness in her voice. “And I heard you are very good at it.”

“But that was three years ago.” Bewildered, Dawn gave Judy ‘You-know-I-can’t-do-this-shit-anymore’ look.

“Please don’t give me that,” Judy huffed. “She’s persistent to meet you the moment I told her about your high school days.”

“That’s very good, Judy. You’re starting to annoy me now.”

“That’s nothing to be embarrassed about, girl,” Judy teasingly smiled. “You have fans fawning over you back in the days. I wish I was that popular.”

“I’m really sorry, Ashley,” Dawn said to Ashley finally ignoring Judy. “But I think you’re mistaken. I’m not really that good.”

“You know to be honest; I really find it hard to find drummers.” She lowered her eyes. “Especially a girl.”

“Why does it have to be a girl?”

“Because it’s an all-female band.” It was Judy. “Dawnie, you always have free time. Don’t be such a stuck up.”

“Shut up, Judy.” Dawn narrowed her eyes. “You’re not helping.”

“Please?” Ashley’s eyes glittered as if she was ready to cry. “We’re in a pinch right now. We needed a replacement for our drummer who got in an accident.”

“I’m sorry to hear that but I--.”

“So, you really want me to use that.” There was threat in Judy’s voice. She was really into this as well.

Dawn felt her nape getting sweaty. “Use what?” Every time Judy pulls out that word it worried the hormones out of her.

Judy groaned and took out an old photo. “This.” It was from their high school JS prom concert. Dawn was standing there casually in a grey sweater amidst the chaos of classmates vying for a spot in the picture.

Ashley eyed at the picture. She too was enjoying this. “Wow, you were cute... in a boyish kind of way.”

“Breath taking isn’t she?” Judy said. “If she knew what to do with her looks she could go far. That I know.”

Dawn snatched the photo out her hands. “I hate you Judy.”

Judy ignored her. “How about three years ago when you got drunk and all.”

“Hey, that’s-- “

Dawn found herself in a squeeze. Every time she remembers it she just wanted to turn back time and re-do that ‘spectacular’ event.

Ashley was intrigued. “What is --“

“Okay-okay.” Dawn didn’t want to delve in to that subject further.

“Is that a ‘yes’ I’m hearing?” Judy teased.

Dawn nodded with a groan.

Judy’s hand secretly reached out to Ashley under the table for a high five-er-low five.

“Thank you, Judy,” Dawn said in a sarcastic tone. “I’m still wondering why I’m friends with you.”

“You’re welcome, Dawnie.”

Dawn got distracted when her eyes caught someone from outside through the glass window. On the other side of the road, a familiar girl with long wavy blond hair was talking intimately to a tall brown-haired guy. She confidently carried herself in a blue tank top and mini-skirt. Her body boasts curves that college boys love. Dawn must admit that even she couldn’t help but gaze.

“That bitch!” Judy exclaimed.

“You know Samantha?” Dawn asked, surprised that they are looking at the same direction.

“NO, but I knew that Cole is head over heels for her.”

“Cole?” Every time Judy mentions a guy Dawn opens up her brain’s database. There were so many crushes and whatnots in Judy’s life that she couldn’t even track who’s who anymore.

“The guy she’s talking with, hello? I’ve talked to you about him a week ago.”

“Oh, sorry, I completely forgot.” Her tone laced with lack of interest.

“And may I ask how did you know this Samantha girl?”

“She’s my brother’s girlfriend. I mean ex-girlfriend.” Dawn said monotonously with one palm on her face.

“And how come I’m only hearing about this now?”

“She just broke with him just about two hours ago.”

“Er, how long did she date your brother?”

“A week or two, I guess.” Dawn’s eyes rolled and wondered why Judy was always eager to ask these types of questions.

“HAH!”

Ashley remained quiet but her eyes were locked on Samantha. Dawn noticed her odd fixation with her brother’s ex. Kind of like she knew her.

“What are you thinking, Ashley?” Dawn asked, intrigued.

“Well.” There was a momentous pause.

Again, Dawn raised an eyebrow.

Judy’s cousin winked at Dawn. “I figured you are much cuter.”