Oh, Calamity!

I still dreamt about it sometimes, the night Jack ended it. It was like a recurring nightmare that had haunted me for years. I had moved on, I knew I had, but that didn’t change the fact that it had hurt. It took a long time for me to get over it.
“Nora, listen,” Jack cut in. It was summertime, and we had just graduated from high school, and we were laying at the top of the hill at the park we always went to, stargazing. “I think we need to talk.”
I turned to face him, an eyebrow raised. “Okay? What’s on your mind?”
“Well, we head out on tour in like a week, and I’ve been thinking...” he began. He sounded uneasy, and slightly sad, which just confused me to no end. “We’ve had a good run, really, but...I just...”
“Use your words, Jack,” I said, laughing slightly. “I don’t understand what you’re getting at.”
“We should break up,” he said looking everywhere but at me. “I don’t want to do long distance. It would be too hard, and I don’t want to deal with it.”
I felt like someone had just punched me in the stomach. “Well couldn’t I just go with you guys? Luna’s tagging along because of Alex.”
He shook his head. “It will be crowded enough as it is. It will just be easier on everyone if you don’t tag along.”
Tears sprang up in my eyes. I couldn’t believe Jack was being so heartless. “Well that’s fucking great, Jack. I’m so happy you get to live your dream finally. My mistake for thinking I got to be apart of it.”
“Nora-” he said, and I thought I heard his voice crack. I got up from where I was laying, trying to keep myself together. I wasn’t going to let him see me cry, though he had dozens of times.
“Fuck off, Barakat. Thanks for wasting 2 and a half fuckin’ years of my life. Have a great time on your stupid tour,” I shouted, turning away from him and going down the hill. I was going home and try to ignore the fiery ache in my chest.
I wiped tears away as I ran home, thinking about my time with Jack . I remembered our first date, our first kiss, everything. Most of all, I remembered the night when he promised me forever. “I’ll never hurt you, or break your heart, or anything. I promise,” he had said. What a fucking liar.
I was jolted awake by my cell phone ringing on the bedside table. I groaned, reaching for it and seeing Luna’s name pop up on the screen. I got out of bed, tiptoeing out of the room quietly as I answered it. “It’s 2 in the morning and I have work in 6 hours. This better be important,” I mentioned.
“Calm your tits, girl. You’re gonna love the news I have for you,” she mused, excitement apparent in her voice.
“Well then tell me!” I said, laughing a little.
“Tonight, at the show, during Remembering Sunday....ALEX PROPOSED TO ME,” she shouted, practically knocking out my ear drum.
“Oh my god,” I replied, grinning from ear to ear. “That’s wonderful!!! About time that boy did so.”
“What do you mean?” she asked.
I rolled my eyes slightly. “Luna, you and Alex have been together for almost 10 years. Most couples get married after like 4. Anyway, I’m happy for you guys. You deserve the happiness you bring each other.”
“Thanks,” she replied. “Listen, I know it’s early to start planning or anything, but could you be the maid of honor? Please??”
“I’d love to,” I stuttered. “I mean, that’s really sweet of you to offer.”
“Well of course, dummy! You’re my best friend. No one else would do it right,” she giggled. “Anyway, we’ll be home in a couple weeks, and then we can meet up! I think we’re gonna have an engagement party when we get back too. Though, I’m sorry to say that means you have to see your ex...”
It suddenly hit me that I hadn’t seen or even spoken Jack since he dumped me nearly 7 years ago. I shrugged it off though, thinking I would be fine. “Oh well. Besides, I think I’ll bring a date if you don’t mind.”
“Ooo is it your boyfriend by chance?” she questioned. I could picture her wiggling her eyebrows as if she was there in person.
“Yes, of course,” I mentioned. “Call or text me when you know something about when you’ll be home okay? I can’t wait to see you!”
“You too! Love you, and get some sleep!” she said as we hung up.
Speaking of the devil, my boyfriend, Will, emerged from the bedroom, his blonde hair messy and his sleepy eyes barely open. “Babe? Why are you up?”
“Luna called. She and Alex got engaged, and she had to tell me about it. I didn’t mean to wake you up,” I responded.
He gave me a lazy smile. “Nah, it’s cool. So I guess you’ll be planning a wedding for awhile then, huh?”
I grinned back at him, giving him a quick peck on the cheek. “I’m her maid of honor, so I sorta have to. But, she said I could bring a date to the engagement party. Know where I could find one?”
He rolled his eyes playfully. “You could always stop by a Chippendales show. I bet you could rent one of the guys.”
I hit him in the chest, giving him a fake glare. “I meant you, doofus. You need to be my date.”
“I would be happy to escort you,” he said. “Come on, let’s get back to bed. You don’t stay over very often, so I gotta enjoy it while it lasts.”
Will and I had been dating for four months, and things had been perfect. He was incredibly sweet and wonderful, even letting me stay over at his apartment when I was too lazy to go home. It was the first real relationship I had had since Jack, and I was happy. But was I going to continue to be happy when I saw Jack again?

Notes