4am… Ugh, what an ungodly hour to be up.
Holding onto the mug of steaming hot coffee like her life depended on it, Ava took a huge gulp.
“HOT HOT HOT!!” she stuck her tongue out as though the cool air would help relieve the screaming sensation on her tongue.
A sense of deja vu washed over her as she recalled this exact situation happened a year ago.
That did not end well. She mused.
- One year ago -
“HOT HOT HOT!!” Ava yelled in a whisper, conscious of the ungodly hour that she is currently in.
“Did you just?” a voice behind her asked, amusement evident.
“Yes, I know, I know. It is a very hot beverage Ava, you should be careful. I can hear it right now Bea, no need to say it” she rolled her eyes affectionately at the predictability of her best friend.
“Since you know what I would say, why don’t you take better care of yourself? Did you scald your tongue again?”
“Nope” she replied, popping the ‘P’.
“All’s good with me and my tongue.”
“That is… good to know?” Beatrice’s brain stuttered for a moment at the reply she’s gotten.
A car honk brought them back to reality.
“I guess, that’s me then.”
“Yeah…”
She puts the mug down and pulled the other girl in for a hug.
“Text me when you get to the airport, when you land and anytime in between?”
“You know I will.”
“Take care Bea, and I’m sorry.”
Beatrice froze at the mention of the events of the night prior. She knew the risk but she decided to take it anyway and it backfired spectacularly.
Guess I was wrong about the whole thing. It really as just me.
“Yes, sure. I mean, it was on me. I misread the situation but like I said, regardless, we are going to be okay.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Well, I better get going. I have cleared my things out so that you can find someone else to help share the rental of this place.”
“Are you coming back?”
“It depends? It the university offers me a job and the offer is good, I might take them up on it.”
“I’m so proud of you Bea, you know that right? Professor Yang, Game Theory, London School of Economics. It has a nice ring to it, sounds super impressive. Well, at least I am super impressed.”
“Thank you” Beatrice blushed at the compliment.
“Take care, Ava” she gathered her things and walked out of the door.
And walked out of my life.
Ava stilled at that thought.
No, Bea would not do that. Even with the time difference, we will make it work, we always do. Right?
Why does this feel so ominous?
Ava waited and waited and waited. The promised texts never came.
She promised. Bea has never broken a promise to me. Is this…
She can’t be ghosting me. Beat must just be settling down, knowing how she takes everything so seriously.
Unbidden, the memory of small things that Beatrice does came to the forefront of her mind. She remembered all the quirks and how even after Beatrice had moved out, she kept the apartment up to her standards.
What is wrong with me? I used to be able to live in chaos and now a single thing being out of place is driving me nuts.
Every little thing reminds her of her.
It all came crashing down when Ava bounced back to the apartment one day after getting that promotion she had been working for forever.
“Bea!! Guess who got…”
The words died as she was hit with the stark realization that Beatrice is not around to share the news with her anymore. In that moment, Ava realized what she had been avoiding the whole time. She had unknowingly fallen for her best friend but said best friend is worlds away in London thinking that she had been rejected.
This really is falling for her in the cruelest way. Okay, maybe not thinking that she had been rejected. I did reject her but I was stupid and dense then. It doesn’t count. Time to do something about it Ava.
She texted her boss that she has an emergency.
Fuck it if he doesn’t allow me time off. I worked my ass off the entire year, I have so many vacation days saved up.
Grabbing her coat and calling a cab, she rushed to the airport and hopped on the next flight out to London.
-------------------------
“This seems awfully familiar you know.”
“It is, isn’t it?”
“I remember things didn’t go so well the last time.”
“Did it? I would say it worked out just fine.”
“That is one way of putting it.”
“Have you got all your things?”
“Yes.”
“So remember, text me…”
“I know, don’t worry. I will.”
“That’s what she said.”
“Darling, are you sassing me at 4am?”
“Maybe?”
“Alright, I have got to dash love. I will be back before you know it.”
“3 days is way too long. Why must they have the conference in New York of all places? What is wrong with London?”
She pouted.
“What if some superhot person came by and steal you away from me?”
“I think this additional weight on my finger would warn them not to try anything. Or, I could just aikido them into submission?”
“HEY! That is MY privilege!”
HONK!!
“Okay love, I really should get going.”
“Stay safe, I love you.”
“I love you too darling.”