Started With A Rumor

"Anniversary"

Sarah's POV

"Maybe you should talk to him," Max hesitated.

"Max," I warned.

"Hear me out, Sarah. Maybe something happened. Maybe. . ."

"Maybe what? He slept with that girl by accident?"

"Sarah," he started.

"No, Max. Just no. I'm not going to make assumptions like "he didn't mean it" and "he loves me", because you and I both know that's not true. I am a meal ticket to him. I'm a ticket into a better life. He doesn't care about me and my feelings. He's a guy. All he wants is to improve his career and get in my pants if he's got the time."

I angrily turned around and headed into the booth. It took Max a minute before turning on the next track.

"Huh!
What you sippin' on that got you talking crazy?
Lookin' at me sideways, always coming at me
Why you, why you acting hard when you just a baby?
Boy, I keep it real with you, but you trying to play me

Have you lost your mind?
Open up your eyes
Huh!

(Someone else) You must have confused me, confused me with
(Someone else) You must have confused me, confused me with
(Someone else) There ain't no excuses, excuses, babe
(Someone else) Cause your mama raised you better than that, huh!

What you sippin' on that got you talking crazy?
Lookin' at me sideways, always coming at me
Why you, why you acting like you never met a lady?
I don't disrespect you, don't you disrespect me

Have you lost your mind?
Open up your eyes
Huh!

(Someone else) You must have confused me, confused me with
(Someone else) You must have confused me, confused me with
(Someone else) There ain't no excuses, excuses, babe
(Someone else) Cause your mama raised you better than that, huh!

Cause your mama raised you better than that
Cause your mama raised you better than that

Have you lost your mind?
Open up your eyes (your eyes...)
Huh!

(Someone else) You must have confused me, confused me with
(Someone else) You must have confused me, confused me with
(Someone else) There ain't no excuses, excuses, babe (no excuses, no, no)
(Someone else) Cause your mama raised you better than that, huh! (how she raise you?)

You must have confused me, confused me with
Your mama raised you better than, better than that
There ain't no excuses, excuses, babe
Cause your mama raised you better than that, huh! (she raised you better than that)."

"Sarah?"

"Yes Max?"

"Jeremy called you. Like ten times." I looked over at the one way glass and shrugged. "Okay then," he said under his breath. "Let's run through it a few more times."

**********

"Thanks, Max. Why don't you go home? I'm just going to be running through some songs I'm working on."

"Okay," he responded. "And Sarah?" He said, peaking his head into the music room connected to the booth where I was currently sitting on the couch, randomly strumming my guitar. "Here. At least read the texts and listen to the voicemail. You deserve some closure." He handed me my phone before leaving.

I ignored the texts and listened to the voicemail.

"Hey, Sarah. It's. . . It's Jeremy, but I'm sure you knew that already. Anyway," he cleared his throat. When he started talking again, it was softer. "Sarah, you have every right to be pissed at me. I was stupid and the things I said. . . I was way out of line Sarah. I am so sorry. I don't expect you to forgive me and I understand if you don't want to. . .continue dating. . . fake dating me, but tonight is our six month anniversary. . . And I thought maybe. . . I know you're favorite restaurant is that new French cuisine place and I also know it's really hard to get reservations but I. . . Well I got one for tonight at 7. I'll be there, whether you call me back or not."

There was a slight pause before he added, "I really hope to see you tonight, Sarah. I owe you a face to face apology. . . But I'd also really like to see you."

I pulled my phone away from my ear, completely speechless.