Bitter Sugar

Anna's POV

"JoJo, I really don't wanna do anything or go anywhere, I just want to be alone" I whined from the couch

"C'mon, you are going to love it! It's going to be fun! You finally have a chance to get your mind off that jerk you once called your boyfriend for once and finally have some real fun, C'mon! And who knows? You probably might find some rich hot dude who is interested in hot blonde ladies like you and something magical might start from there", JoJo replied from the bathroom where she was drying her hair

I tried not to roll my eyes at Jojo's comment, she read too many books and watched too many cliché novels. "Look, I appreciate you trying to help me get through all these and you're one sweet soul but, I'd rather just sit at home, stuff my face with popcorn, and probably watch a movie or two. Besides, I have some catching up to do on the newly released series 'The Flame of Ares'"

"Don't be silly Anna, that can wait! But your chance to have fun as a single lady tonight can't, C'mon!" She popped her head out.

"That's great, but I'll pass," I replied dryly as I stuffed my face with more popcorn.

Jojo looked suspicious like she knew getting me to come with her to the party wouldn't be easy. I was scared that she was actually prepared for the battle. Her head disappeared from the door.

Letting out a sigh, she stepped out of the bathroom and stood where I could see her and what she was about to do.

"What if I get you your favorite ice cream with extra toppings? And not just a cone, a bucket of ice cream if you change your mind and agree to go with me" she said, making her way to and pouting like a sad 2-year-old.

" Don't pull that card on me, JoJo, it won't work this time"

"Really? Are you sure?" She was giving me a creepy look.

Looking her straight in the eyes, I replied firmly "Yes!"

Sighing for the umpteenth time, JoJo replied "Then you leave me no choice, Anna"

Immediately, she jumped on me and started tickling me. Which was unfair because she knew how ticklish I could be. Giggling uncontrollably, I managed to beg "Stop it, JoJo, please"

"I'll stop if you agree to come with me to the party"

"But I don't want to", I replied still giggling

"Then I guess someone is going to wet her pants from laughing too hard"

"Okay, okay, I'll go with you. Please stop"

"Good choice" JoJo replied, taking her hands off me.

"But you better still be getting me that bucket of ice cream with extra toppings"

"Nah that was long ago, I changed my mind" she replied with a sinister look and walked away feeling satisfied

Lying quietly in silence to catch my breath, my mind played a fast one on me, traveling back in time to last week's encounter. Who would have thought? I tried to push it out of my head but I couldn't. I had just closed early from work, it had been a long day and all I could do was daydream about how I was going to spend the weekend in Mark, my boyfriend's arms(if he was in a good mood) instead of behind a desk, answering a lot of work-related calls.

"Anna, don't do this to yourself," I mumbled to myself as I shook my head as if it would magically erase the event of that day.

Yet I didn't stop, I kept going through all of the memories. I just wanted to know what had gone wrong - what I did wrong. That day, I couldn't just wait to get home, I missed his touch so bad that one would think it's been years since I last felt him. I even stopped by a mall to get a little gift but nothing could have prepared me for what was waiting for me.

Engrossed in deep sexual ecstasy and lust was Mark and some lady I couldn't recognize. They were so deep into it that they didn't even see or hear me walk in on them until I screamed "Mark!"

Shocked, they quickly let go of each other and turned to see who it was that had walked in on them.

"How could you?" I remember screaming as tears welled up in my eyes

Mark shrugged off as if it was nothing, there was no remorse on his face and most coldly, all he said was "Why didn't you knock before coming in, you? All you do is bring your worthless self to ruin good moments"

"And who's she, Mark?" The lady in bed with him asked nothing bothering to cover herself up, she looked too perfect even in that state that it had made more tears fall from my eyes.

"Don't worry about her babe, I'll handle it. She's just some girl"

I remember how foolishly I stood trying to process all that had happened, I kept asking myself. "Did he just call her babe? Did he just call me worthless?"

But before I could make total sense of it all, I felt a strong hand grabbing hold of her fragile arms and dragging me out of the room. It was Mark "Now listen, I don't ever want to see you here unless I ask you to come, okay?" he yelled and slammed the door in my face.

Yet even though I was too shocked to move a muscle, I remember standing outside his door for almost an hour, my collar drenched from tears, trying to wrap my head around what just happened

"Maybe I'm dreaming, It can't be real, it must be an illusion or a dream and I need to wake from it as soon as possible or Maybe it's a prank? There must be a camera hidden in the bush somewhere or in the kitchen" I had tried to convince myself to stay sane but deep down, I knew I was never going to be the same again.

I waited and kept waiting hoping that Mark would come out and tell me what happened was just my mind playing games on me but the clouds soon got dark and I just had to find enough strength to the nearest bus stop where I could get a cab home.

And that night, like the cab man knew what I was going through, he kept Lord Huron's 'The Night We Met' on repeat throughout the journey home.

I remember crying myself to sleep in JoJo's arms that night. I cried so much that I woke up with a migraine the next morning and for a split second, I thought of suicide.

The more I thought about it, the more I became depressed and for some reason, it came with throbbing headaches.

Maybe JoJo was right, I do need to go out so I can clear my head even if it's just going to be for a night

Turning my head to check the little alarm clock on the stool beside me, it was just a few minutes past 7 and the party didn't start until 8 pm but I knew how Jojo could be. Even though I wasn't in the mood, I finally decided to get off the couch and into the bathroom to get prepared.

"You sure ain't following me out looking like that, are you?" JoJo asked, looking at me from head to toe. She didn't look impressed at all.

"What's wrong with how I look?"

"Look, I know you just got your heart shattered but you don't have to show it to everyone, c'mon! You look like you just got beaten up" Vanessa my best other friend butted in.

Whining and collapsing onto the couch, "Maybe I'll just stay home then"

"Nah, not on my watch"

Looking at her phone, JoJo continued, "It's just 8:14, we have 16 minutes until our ride shows up. I believe that's enough for me to create some magic. Girl we even have a backup plan in case the party isn't worth it, there's a strip club we would like to check"

I opened my mouth to protest but Vanessa covered it with her hand.

Even though Jojo could be all goofy and playful, one thing she never joked with was her love for fashion and every one of her friends knew this to the point that she'd give free fashion tips on outfits whenever they had somewhere to go, be it work, dates, club, dinner night, picnic or whatsoever.

I tried severally to talk her into setting up a fashion store, even if it was just a little so she could make money out of it but Jojo wasn't ready for that.

"8:31 and we are all ready to go! Damn! I am so good at this, look what I turned you into. A goddess! I'm sure anyone would see that tonight" Jojo squealed.

"Seconded," Vanessa muttered, her mouth full of cupcakes.

"I look like a slut. Mark would have..."

"Shhh we are not having any depressing conversation about an asshole" Jojo shut me up.

"Mark is not an asshole..." I trailed off. At this point, the air had gotten tensed, and looking at my friend's faces, I knew they had a lot to say.

Jojo opened her mouth to speak, but a chime filled the air, cutting her off.