Burning the Rulebook on Romance

Being left was something I’d never experienced before, and being left like that was something I never expected.
Lesson one: expect the unexpected at all times.

I was a mess. My world came crashing down when the reality of it hit me (which was some time after shouting ‘You asshole’ down the street) as you can imagine. I had to take time off work, I couldn’t eat, I looked like hell and felt worse. The girls from pole dancing weren’t close, we didn’t have a lot in common but they all helped me get through it. I’d be dead without them.
Vanessa and I stopped talking because I couldn’t bear to have contact with that world anymore, I moved to the outskirts as soon as I could. My home was Vegas but it tore me apart to be there, frightened of seeing anyone I used to love so much. I had to start a new life and forget my old one. I lost everything when Max left me. Funny how I didn’t really have anyone to care about before he came along and he took that all back when we broke up.
Who knows, if I’d met Nick Mathews and he’d written Sarcasm by then it might have been easier.

Fucking catastrophe – I say that in a sardonic tone though its nothing short of the truth.

Seven years have passed since that dark time. So we’re in the present now- about damn time! Yeah we all know Escape The Fate have none well for themselves. With their ups and downs, Ronnie’s shenanigans and everyone else’s lesser silliness paling slightly in comparison. I actually went to visit him in jail. Our past issues seemed to unimportant now he was in such a dire predicament. Well he was, now he’s doing all right despite his public displays of lunacy via Twitter.
I held onto a lot of hate but as it seemed almost impossible to avoid seeing or hearing about my old friends I had to let it go. It was one of the things that made me feel happy again. Hatred and holding grudges becomes so stressful and tiresome. Why let someone ruin your life that way? There’s no point.
Now forgiveness is a whole different ball game.

But what about me you may wonder? I’m now a qualified pole-dancing instructor with my own studio. I teach ten lessons a week and along with my ‘crew’ perform at gigs with small bands. I am in love with my career. Currently I live in a lush two-bed apartment with my best friend and cohort Eve Gray and life is good.

**

“Eve, I’m going to the store. What do you want for dinner tonight?” I called, pulling my Bordello shoes on.

There was nothing in the cupboards, which I found interesting enough to satisfy my palate.

“I’ve got that date, remember,” Eve yelled back as she appeared at her bedroom door just down the hall.

“Ok fuck. Sorry, totally forgot,” I rolled my eyes. “More ice cream for me then!”

“Nooo. Fat ass!” Eve whined but her pout broke into a grin quite quickly.

“What are you complaining for? I cook for myself and get ice cream, you get cooked for and get cock,” I smirked and grabbed my purse, running for the front door as Eve’s reaction was all too well calculated my myself.

“Dakota Ford! You take that back, I’m no slut like you!” she squealed and hurled a hairbrush in my direction. Luckily it hit the door instead of my head.

“Yeah I’m such a slut. Have a nice time and don’t forget to wrap up,” I winked before rushing out of the door.

Winding her up was always too much fun to correctly convey. ‘Dirty talk’ made her squirm and today was no different; I could hear her frustrated sigh before the door was closed all the way.

Her convictions on my habits were light hearted. My latest relationship ended over three months ago and I’d had no interest in men since. Work was more fun and my friends were too good to be distracted from.

I jumped into my car and made the ten-minute drive to the store lazily. The air was cool and tunes on the radio were sweet. Once parked, I grabbed a shopping cart and began to peruse the shelf. I got some pasta and sauce then the chocolate bars caught my eye…and the potato chips…the liquor isle was the next one along so I had a cart mainly full of junk and now shelving full of beers and spirits was before me. I could see a bottle of Jagermeister winking at me from the back of the top shelf; it was just out of my reach. I looked around quickly and spotted a guy whom had a bit of height on me, looking at beer.

“Hey, uh,” I began mumbling nervously, never knowing how to address strangers correctly in doubt of sounding too formal and snooty or too casual, “Dude, could you help me out a sec’ please?” I spoke clearly.

The longhaired blonde looked over and smiled shyly but the smile dropped a little, as did mine while we both stared at each other. He looked surreally too familiar. Then it hit me like a breezeblock.

“Ya know, I can deal without,” I babbled, grabbed the nearest bottle from the shelf and sped off, trying not to fall in my stilettos.

My mind was blank but racing at the same time. It felt like black Sharpie scribbling all over my brain. I threw my items on the conveyor belt and looked over my shoulder in a panic.
‘Be reasonable,’ my thoughts finally formed something useful, ‘even if it was Bryan, its only Bryan, it’s cool’ I told myself.

I paid for my stuff and got it back into the cart. My subconscious was there in the background screaming, being unhelpful as usual! I got back into the parking lot and could not have tottered over any faster to my car.

“Dakota,” my name wasn’t yelled but I knew it was called from a distance and it made me shake a little.

I froze as if that would make me invisible, logic abandoned me but I forced myself to turn.

“Dee, wait up,” it was undoubtedly Bryan’s voice. I could never forget that sound.

“Bry’, uh, hey,” I defied my initial instincts.

“How’ve you been?” he asked, stood not two foot from me, “You look good.”

“I’m great yeah,” exhaled loudly but not in a rude sigh sort of way, and smiled, “How ‘bout you Mr. Big Rockstar, huh?”

“Yeah,” he nodded humbly. “You look really good, Dee. I was worried about you. Glad you’re ok. Uh,” Bryan paused.

“Man I gotta go, I’m sorry,” I tried to excuse myself from the awkward situation.

“Yeah, me too. Can we maybe catch up over a coffee or something some time though?” he looked at me hopefully.

“Yeah, ok. How about a beer though?” I smirked, “Coffees a bit meh,” I shook my hand like I was unsure of how rock n roll it was to get coffee.

“Sure. What’s your number? I’ll give you a call,” he took his phone out.