The Way We Were

i want your love and all your lover's revenge, you and me could write a bad romance

October Sixteenth

That morning, I woke up early. Six am. As I quietly gathered my clothing from around his bed, I quickly put them on silently, making sure not to wake him up. I sighed as I walked out of the bedroom and found my clutch on the floor by the door; I opened it up and took out the invitation for tonight.

Carefully I held it in both hands and studied it. I sighed and shook my head, placing it on the coffee table, and quickly left his apartment. Immediately as I got outside, I hailed down a taxi and ordered them to drive me home: fast.

Quietly I opened the door to my apartment and crept in, seeing that Edie and Chanel were asleep on the couch underneath a pile of blankets and pillows. I half-smiled and kept walking. I grabbed some clothes from my room and went into the bathroom to shower.

The steam from the shower fogged up the glass as I stepped in and embraced the water running down my body, almost like it was washing away my iniquities and I was being reborn. I held my head and closed my eyes tightly, I slowly dropped to my knees and began crying.

My tears mixing with the drops of water that too streamed down my face. It's not that I don't love Ryan, it's just that I love Caleb more, and by doing what I did last night, I have never felt more remorseful and sick in my life. Caleb is too good to me, too good for me. Hurting him is the last thing I'd ever want to do, and to tell him this would be the death of him.

I balled my hands up into fists and sobbed harder, hardly being able to breathe. I covered my mouth and tried my best to catch my breath. I had hiccups as I got to my feet, steadying myself as best as I could. I took the bar of soap and began scrubbing every inch of skin. Flashbacks of last night filled my mind as I scrubbed harder on my hips; remembering his kisses on my shoulders, I scrubbed them too.

Until the bar of soap was almost gone, I stood underneath the shower head and let the water run down my body, letting the soap wash away, letting my shortcomings wash away.

"No more," I whispered, resting my head on the wall. "This is it, I'm done. I have to let go of the old Audrey and move on."

I closed my eyes and let the last tears of my old life fall from my eyes, sighing from almost relief.

* * *

7:30 am

After I came out of the shower, dressed and drying my hair with the towel, Chanel and Edie sat on the couch, looking tired and groggy with their hair all messy, watching t.v.

I laughed as I went and sat with them. "Good morning ladies."

"Where were you last night? We waited till like, three in the morning for you. You missed a great bottle of wine." Chanel grinned, yawning.

"Oh, we went to the club last night and I guess I had one too many, so Nik took me home to his place." I lied, telling myself to text Nikolas asap.

"So then how'd last night go?" She grinned, biting her lip.

"It was fine. Same ole, same ole. Told him I was getting married soon. Had an argument and I got drunk." I lied again.

They both looked at me with surprised looks and then looked at each other. "An argument?" Edie asked.

"Same ole, same ole; he doesn't want me to get married. That's it." I shrugged my shoulders.

"But...but why?" Chanel asked.

I sighed, figuring I'd tell them some of the truth, "He told me that he still loves me, and that I should be with him. I told him that I love Caleb and that Caleb makes me happy. We got into an argument and that's that." I stood up and picked up the empty wine bottle on the table, taking it to the kitchen.

Then there was a knock at the door and I heard Chanel yell that she was gonna get it. I walked back out to the living room and saw Jack come in.

"Hey Jack! Audrey, we met your neighbour last night. He's really nice." Chanel grinned.

I laughed, "Hi Jack, are you ready?"

"Yeah I am, are you?" He smiled, peaking around the corner and waving at Edie.

"Yup, let's go." I smiled, grabbing my purse and walking out the door with him. "Ede's, Chanel, you can take care of the place." I laughed, walking down the stairs with Jack.

When we got into the car and after I had buckled my seatbelt, I sent a text to Nik, I then noticed Jack looking at me. I chuckled and made a face, "What?"

"Are you wearing any makeup?" He asked.

"No...why?" I smiled, putting the vehicle into drive and waiting for the garage door to open.

"No reason, you just look really good. I like this look as much as I like the other." He smiled, looking ahead again.

Shaking my head and smiling, I drove out of the garage. "You're such a sweet talker, Jackie boy."