Scenes from SparkNA

Scene from The Best Distraction by Farrah F. Polestico

Mariz came up to me and wrapped her arms around my shoulders. "Hey, are you alright?"

I shook my head in response.

Atkins touched his tender jaw. I heard Zang ask him, "Dude, what the hell happened?" Atkins didn't answer.

Girls find it hot when two guys brawl over them, but I don't. It was such a tacky way to deal with things. And Atkins didn't have to do it for me. I didn't ask him.

He sat on the bar stool and grabbed a few pieces of paper napkin to dab at the blood running down his nose.

"What the hell was that for?" I lashed out at him.

He looked at me with smoldering brown eyes, his lips a thin line. "I just got my ass kicked for you," he said quietly.

"Thanks but no thanks. I didn't ask you to."

"I know. But he was practically harassing you in front of me. Did you expect me to just watch?"

"Yes! Because it wasn't your goddamn business, Atkins!"

I was losing my patience fast.

"It fucking is!"

"Why?"

"Because I care for you, goddamn it!" Atkins shouted. The napkins were balled in his fist, his jaw muscles tensed. "I'm sorry," his voice was quieter now. "I shouldn't have shouted at you."

"I think that's enough for tonight," Lukas said. "We're all upset after what happened. It would do us a lot of good if we took a step back and talk about this another time, when all of us aren't upset anymore. Why don't we all head home and cool our heads off, yeah?"

"You're right," I said to Lukas. It was all too much for me. I needed the fresh air. I needed to breathe and get away from it all. "I'm going home. See you on Monday," I announced to no one in particular.

I walked out of the bar, grateful to be away from the mayhem. When I stepped out I noticed the snowflakes as they dance in the air. The winter wind blew, stinging my cheeks with the cold. I shrugged on my coat and looked up and down the street for a taxi.

Someone touched my arm. It was Atkins.

"I'll take you home," he said.

"I really appreciate your concern but we both know you've done enough for me tonight. I certainly don't want to impose on you." I let out all the sarcasm I had in that sentence. Why did he have to be so good to me? This would have been so easy if he was a jerk.

"It's not safe for you to go home alone," he reasoned.

"I'm going to take a cab," I said stubbornly.

"C'mon," he tugged gently at my hand towards where his car was parked.

I had a long day and I was tired. I didn't have the energy to argue.

We climbed into his car and I did my best to pretend he wasn't sitting beside me. My hands tightened on the seatbelt.

My mind wandered to Matt again. As hard as I tried not to think of him, I still did. He was the past I desperately wanted to forget but he kept popping out of nowhere. Just what the hell did he want? My forgiveness? I didn't think I could give it to him that easily.

Once upon a time I thought he was the perfect boyfriend. The One. But I was wrong. Now all I felt for him was hurt and hatred.

"I'll always love you," Matt had said before. But now those words meant nothing anymore.

The worst part of it all was he never made me feel unloved when we were together. Every night before we went to sleep he would whisper in my ear how much he loved me. I would've handled our breakup better if I knew right from the start that he was a jerk. Because then I would see this coming and I wouldn't feel so blind-sided. But no, he was nothing but a loving boyfriend.