9
ISAAC
It’s all over.
I am a fucking failure.
I should have listened to Lauren. I should have listened to Cole. I should have listened to Jagger. I should have listened to Smalls and kat.
I just wanted another taste of the money. I had made enough to pay off my house and almost enough to pay off the shop. Just one more time and I could have had it all.
Instead, I lost it all.
Watching Lauren explode on me was like living in a nightmare and experience hell all at the same time. The anger that flashed through her eyes told me she wouldn’t forgive me this time.
The last time Cole had been upset with me, wasn’t even a big deal. It was the night of one of my parties and Lauren was drunk.
***
I HAD BEEN WATCHING Cole for weeks trying to find the courage to tell Melanie how he felt about her. Everyone could see he was in love with her, well everyone except Mel. Lauren had tried to tell Melanie, but her efforts were futile. Finally, at our party, Cole decided to tell Melanie how he felt. He lifted Mel and placed her on the kitchen counter so that her feet were dangling over the edge.
Cole sighed and gently shook his head, a few strands of his luscious black hair dangling over his eyes. “I wish, just for one night, that you could see what I see. I wish that you could feel what I feel. I wish...”
I stood around the corner, my breathing paused as I anxiously waited for Cole to take the plunge and tell Melanie once and for all how he felt about her. Before he could finish, he was interrupted by Lauren, who had obviously had one too many drinks as she stumbled into the kitchen. I had tried to keep her from getting drunk, but she can be sneaky at times and escape my view. My heart had been racing, anticipating Cole’s next words, but now I was just frustrated.
Cole had asked me to make sure Lauren stayed away from them, he didn’t want her telling Melanie first. I had failed him. I hadn’t watched Lauren like I had promised. I could see the anger and frustration flash across his face as Lauren bombarded their moment.
“What is going on in here?” Lauren asked, poking Mel in the side. She was too drunk to notice their awkward silence or the loving way Cole had just been holding Mel.
Anger briefly flashing across Cole’s face, he stood straight and backed away from Mel. I watched his eyes as they filled with a solemn expression before he met eyes with me. Our exchange was brief, but I could see the disappointment in me and the situation.
“We were just talking,” Mel quickly added jumping off the counter and grabbing Lauren’s hand. “I think you may be a little drunk,” she said as she guided her to a small chair in the corner.
Sighing, I tried to intervene, but I was too late.
“You might be right,” Lauren giggled, as she plumped down onto the seat. “I may be drunk, but I can still see clear enough to know you two are so in love.” She began, smiling and laughing.
“Lauren, stop...” Mel began, but Lauren cut her off.
Waving her hands, Lauren sort of shifted in her seat, almost toppling over as she talked. “Everyone can see you love each other. Melanie, you are just too afraid to let Cole in because some asshole broke your heart once. And Cole,” she said, awkwardly pointing in his direction, “You love Mel, but you think if you tell her, she will get scared and stop coming around you.”
Pleased with herself, Lauren smiled again, her eyes half closing.
Having enough, I walked in and surveyed the scene. “What is going on?” I asked as though I hadn’t been watching the train wreck.
“I think Lauren is drunk and needs to go to bed,” Mel said, glaring at her best friend. Lauren was lucky Mel and everyone else loved her so much, because in that moment, I was pretty sure Mel wanted to punch her right in her pretty little jaw.
“No, I am fine,” Lauren stated, almost falling off the chair again. “Cole, I heard you telling Isaac how much you love...”
Again, I had let my friend down. Cole didn’t want anyone else knowing how he felt about Mel. I was ruining his moment for him by letting Lauren spill his secret.
“Okay, I think you need to go to bed,” I quickly interjected as I rushed over and picked Lauren up as she slid out of the chair. Thankfully, I caught her before her body completely hit the ground. As I carried her to my room, I slowly gave Cole a look that said I was sorry.
Cole just shook his head and I knew in that moment I had hurt him and ruined something for him.
***
LOOKING BACK ON THAT night, I would have given anything to take that back. And, right now, I would give anything to take back the hurt and pain I had caused not only to Cole and Lauren, but to everyone else I loved and who had trusted me. See how distracted I was by my thoughts, Kat sighed before she began to speak.
“She needs time,” Kat said as she walked into the room.
I was crouched down on the floor, all of my belongings broken on the ground beside me. I had never seen Lauren act this way before and I was frightened of what I had just done to her heart and mind.
“How much time?” I asked as I slowly lifted my head to look at her.
Kat scowled at me and didn’t try to hide her hatred. That was one thing I loved about her, she never bullshitted with anyone.
“I don’t think that matters. You hurt Lauren. You fucked up. If she even talks to you again you are lucky, but you will give her the time she needs,” she stated almost as a threat.
I nodded my head, my voice too weak to speak again.
Sliding down beside me, Kat sat next to me for the next hour. She didn’t say anything else. She just sat there with me as a friend.
Sad thing is, she may be the only friend I have left.