Corner of Your Heart

Carly’s Perspective

I pulled my beanie further down my forehead and pulled my hood up, hunching over against the cold of Baltimore. I ducked into the Starbucks that was across the street from my apartment and went to the counter.

“What can I get you?” the barista asked.

“A grande skinny mocha latte, please.”

“Will that be all?” she asked.

“Yup.”

“$3.45 is your total.” I handed her a five and she gave me change. I went over to the other end of the counter to wait for my drink to be done. I vaguely registered a very tall, skinny man who stood waiting behind me, but I ignored him. I didn’t tend to pay attention to anyone in public places. I just tried to keep my head down.

“Grande skinny mocha latte!” the barista called out.

“That’s mine,” me and the guy said at the same time.

“Go ahead, I can wait.” the guy told me.

“No, it’s fine.” I said, brushing him off with my hand.

“No, take it. You ordered first.” he protested.

I groaned.

“Fine.”

“In most cultures, you would say thank you.” he said pointedly.

“Thank you,” I replied, quirking an eyebrow.

“Hey, you’re feisty. I like that in lady,” he told me.

“Excuse me?” I asked incredulously.

“Would you like to go out on a date?” he asked.

“I don’t even know your name,” I pointed out.

“It’s Alex, and yours?” he asked.

“Alex what?” I asked back.

“Alex Gaskarth.”

“Good for you, Alex Gaskarth, but I’m not interested,” I huffed, trying to push my way past him without spilling the piping hot beverage in my hand.

“Can I at least get your number?” he asked, stepping in front of me when I tried to side-step him.

“Why, so you can make even more creepy comments?” I asked back.

“No, so I can apologize, get to know you, and ask you on a formal date,” he replied.

“You really got it all planned out, don’t you, Gaskarth?” I asked coyly.

“Yup.”

“Well, here’s my number. For your troubles.” I smirked, writing down my name and number on a napkin.

“Carly Hamilton,” he said to himself. I took this chance to leave the coffeeshop. “I’ll text you later, Carly Hamilton!” he called.

--

Alex’s Perspective

I know how that must’ve looked, but I didn’t know how else to get through to the extremely cute girl at Starbucks who ordered the exact same thing as me. She was so sarcastic, and independent. A lot different than Lisa. Which reminds me. Lisa and I broke up this morning. Normally, it wouldn’t bother me that much. I mean, we were on and off all the time.

Except this time, she’d told me she’d been cheating, and then dumped me, and I was still licking my wounds.

--

“Alex, we need to break up,” Lisa told me bluntly.

“Wow, way to be tactful, Lise,” I bit back.

“I’m serious. There’s something I need to tell you.” Despite her words, Lisa didn’t look the least bit nervous about what she was about to tell me.

“You’re not terminal, are you? Because you wouldn’t want to lose your hair. How else would you spend three hours of every morning? Actually talking to me?” I said sarcastically.

“Alex, shut up a minute so I can just spit it out. I’ve been cheating on you,” she told me.

“What?” I spat.

“I-you-you heard me,” she stammered, suddenly becoming nervous. Wow, real emotion!

“What the fuck, Lisa!” I yelled.

“Alex--”

“No! You don’t get to say anything to defend yourself! I bought you this house, I buy you everything you fucking want, I have sex with you even when it’s been a long day at the studio or whatever and I’m dead tired, I put up with your whining and your condescension towards my band’s fans, and this is what you do? You never talk to me anymore, you snap at me like every week is shark week, and you spend more time shopping than you do with me and the dogs! I should be the one cheating, not you!” I yelled, waving my hands around as I ranted.

“Well, no one said you had to do all that shit for me!” she choked.

“Yeah, you’re right. But I did all that anyway because I love you! I fucking love you! But now, I don’t even know if I can tolerate you!” I screamed.

“Alex, don’t do this--”

“Don’t do what? It’s already done. It was done when you screwed another guy.”

“Alex, I’m so sorry,” she whispered.

“Whatever,” I seethed.

I walked out, slammed the door, and got into my car, planning on going to Starbucks. Hey, Rian’s not the only addict in the band!

--

I know it makes it a lot worse that I tried to pick up a girl the same day Lisa dumped me, or I dumped her, or we dumped each other. Thinking back, it’s not really clear to me who dumped whom. I guess it’s up to you to decide.

But anyway. I had my reasons for talking to Carly. Once I dumped Lisa, or she dumped me, this desperation set in. I needed a girl, who would stick around, maybe even marry me someday. And I’d always thought Lisa would be that girl. I guess not.

Notes

Title: The Story of Your Life, We the Kings

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xoxo

Hayley