Kevin woke up with a smile permanently plastered on his face, her reached over the other side of the bed, to make sure the amazing night he’d had was not a mere dream. His hand found nothing as it ventured across the bed. He looked quizzically at the empty side of the bed.
“Maybe she’s in the bathroom” he whispers pulling himself up off the bed.
He looked around the hotel to no avail she was nowhere. He rubbed his head in confusion. Was it just a dream? He looked around the room for a second time, his eye was then drawn to a note sitting on the dresser. He read it though, then looked at it strangely.
“She’s going to England? To get married?”
He read it again, over and over, trying to make some sense of it. He flopped back down onto the bed, he felt so alone.
He looked over at the money she’d left and spied a foreign object. He picked it up and opened it. It was a wallet, and not his.
“Serena Mason” he read out loud
“44c Paramount Road, Orlando”
He smiled to himself, as he thought again about the note, he knew then it was an attempt at blowing him off for some reason. Kevin thought for a moment then decided he wasn’t going to be blown off, not that easily.
~ 5 MINUTES LATER ~
Serena sat at the dining room table sipping slowly on the string coffee she’d made herself. She couldn’t help thinking about Kevin, she slowly subconsciously found herself imagining what it would be like for him to be with her for longer than one night. She quickly shock her head, she couldn’t think that way, she’d done what she’d set out to do, that was the past now, and of that fact she had to keep reminding herself. There was a pounding on the door, making Serena remove herself to answer it.
“Hey” Natalia announced walking into the apartment
“Hey Nat” Serna replies closing the door behind her
“So, details please. How was it?”
Natalia quickly made herself at home grabbing a cup from the cupboard and the bottle of OJ from the fridge.
“It was great. Amazing, incredible, thrilling, exciting, stimulating, electrifying and any other adjectives you can think of” Serena smiled
“You glad you did it?”
“Of course”
“Then why the frown?”
“There’s no frown”
“Yeah there is. Do you want to see him again?”
“No”
“Truthfully”
“No I don’t, I did what I set out to do. I’m not a sucker for romance Nat, not anymore, it was one night, that’s all I wanted, now I’m walking away”
Another knock silenced the conversation as Serena got up to answer it.
“Hello?” she inquired pulling the door open
“Hi” the southern voice announced
She looked up, and nearly fainted from shock, he was here, now what was she meant to do?
“Oh mi god” she whispered under her breath
“You never said good morning” he said
“Oh yeah, um – well you see, um”
Serena frantically searched her mind for some excuse, some reason, anything to cover her tracks.
“So England huh?” he questions with a smile
“Oh yeah that” she mutters
“You may need this” he continues handing her the wallet
“Thanks”
She looked down, her eyes studding the floor. She had NO idea what to do now she prayed that the ground would just swallow her up.
“So the whole England thing, it was a blow off right?” Kevin inquires
“Um no” she lies
“Us southerners aren’t as dumb as some people think”
“Okay fine it was, look sorry Kevin, last night was a mistake”
“Was it?”
“Yes, yes it was, sorry but it was”
“Then maybe we could learn from our mistakes, start fresh. Could I see you tonight, for dinner?”
“I don’t think so”
She prayed ever harder fro the ground to swallow her, how on earth could she tell him what last night really was – a desperate grab at living a careless life, free from responsibility and consequences. She was sure now of what she had been taught as a child, no action comes without it’s share of consequences.
“Please” he pleaded
“She’d love to” Natalia remarks standing behind the pair, a bagel in her hand
Serena shot her friend and annoyed look, then turned back to Kevin.
“Actually I'm busy tonight”
“Tomorrow?”
“Busy”
“The next night?”
“Busy” she shrugged
“Lair. She’s free tonight, pick her up at 7.30” Nat butted in smiling
“Sounds great. I’ll see you later then?”
Serena shrugged helplessly, then nodded slowly. With that Kevin walked away.
“I can’t believe you did that” Serena hissed closing the door
“Chill, he’s cute”
“Nat are you forgetting what the purpose of last night was? I don’t want or need anyone attaching themselves to me, I'm going to die”
Serena sensed she was yelling, but the words just flew from her mouth.
“Well sorry Rena, but I’ve attached myself to you, you’re my best friend and if you think for one moment, that I'm giving up as easy as you have, you’re wrong, maybe he’ll give you the will to live”
“Nat, you have no right –“
“No right to what? Care? Give a damn? Not let you give up? Serena you have no right to give up, it’s not fair, and I wont stand by and watch you”
With that Natalia walked out of the apartment, slamming the door behind her.
~ 6.30 THAT NIGHT ~
Serena reluctantly exited the shower, her body was thoroughly washed her hair squeaky clean, but she still wanted to stay in there. Perhaps it was the thought of hiding in there, or maybe because she could cry to her hearts content, but you could never tell you’d never see those tears. She was so scared more than she’d ever been before, but admitting that would only make her weak, and she couldn’t afford to be weak. The weak always fall.