Shattering Minds and Hearts: Asshole 101

Shattering Minds and Hearts
Chapter Five1

I dropped the phone, ignoring the exasperated exclamation from Mandy, and leaned back onto the table. My mind went numb from trying to figure out Mile’s intentions. Did he actually like me, or did he decide that my dare was enough to act on? Or, was he just an asshole like Doug had hinted on?2

“Lark?” Ariel’s tentative voice pulled me out of my stupor and I groaned. “Is he actually dating that piece of shit?” I nodded, too embarrassed to actually admit that I was just ‘used’. 3

“See, I told you so. My boyfriend wouldn’t put me aside for you.” Rosie was on her feet before you could say ‘damn’. A feral snarl erupted from her throat and I saw her advance on Mandy. In a normal situation I would have frantically grabbed her arm and pull her back. But, I was still in a shock. Even Brad Pitt making love to me couldn’t pull me out of it. Well… I wouldn’t go that far. 4

“Rosie,” Ariel hadn’t moved from her position next to me, but the warning tone in her voice made Rosie freeze. “That piece of shit probably would sue you. She isn’t worth the trouble. Plus, Lark doesn’t look to good.” 5

Rosie turned around in a huff, but not before sending one last remark over her shoulder. “Next time, Bitch. It’s just you and me, and I’m going to shove those designer shoes up your--” 6

“ROSIE!” Ariel had intervened before anything got ugly. I was still pathetically clutching the table and almost hyperventilating. 7

“Bitch,” the world seemed to explode in color and sounds when Rosie lunged forwards, ready to take Mandy’s head off with a simple spoon. It wasn’t until the manager came out and not-so-politely screamed at us to stop disturbing his customers and get the hell out of there did the fighting stop. 8

Three doubled chocolate chip ice cream pints later and I was still in a little bit of a daze. The past few days were flashing before my eyes as I frantically tried to find any hint that he was taken. Maybe a “oh yeah, I’ve got a girlfriend” or something! 9

Rosie and Ariel were doing there best to pull me out of my depression, Rosie even ditched a date for me, and Ariel… Ariel skipped one day of college for me (that’s a huge stretch for her). 10

“Lark,” Rosie was getting slightly impatient, it wasn’t exactly my fault that I was refusing to go out on a date with someone else, “get off your lazy ass and find someone better than Miles.” I ‘humpfed’ under my breath and returned my gaze to my soap operas. They were more interesting that reality.11

On the tube, Josh was crying to his beloved, Joan. “Oh, Joan! I didn’t mean to cheat on you… it just happened!” I clicked the tube off with an angry snort and glowered at Rosie (as if the sucky soap opera was her fault).12

“Fine,” it came out more of a hiss than anything, “I’ll go with you to your double date. But, if it’s another guy who wants to get into my pants, I’m out.” Rosie screamed and promptly dragged me to my doom…um, I mean the bathroom to get ready.13

I stepped into the bar, fully aware that I would probably break my ankles in the three inch heels that Rosie had practically killed me with. If I die, I’m taking her to Hell. I could feel my skirt lightly swoosh against the top of my thighs. Maybe, just maybe, this might turn out for the better.14

“Lark! Come one, I found some people just for us!” Rosie yanked on my arm and almost sends me tumbling. Of course Rosie was wearing five inch heals and was still able to rapidly walk to the two unknown men leaning against a table. 15

The smoky environment send a shiver down my spine and I cautiously tugged the short skirt lower, as if it could cover up more of my bare legs. A cold wind swept through the crowded bar and whistled through my hair. I got chills (their multiplying…).16

“Lark, this is Brad,” a stunningly gorgeous man stepped out of the shadows and grinned at me. “And this is Tommy.” Honest to God, I didn’t see Tommy; my eyes were focused on Brad. I find it slightly offending when a guy is more gorgeous than a girl. Shouldn’t guys be masculine? Not… beautiful? 17

His dark brown eyes roamed over my face, dark skin (probably half Greek) gave him a light halo around his body, and brown curly hair added to his sexiness. What do you have to do to get these looks? Maybe sell your soul to the Devil or something like that… I snapped myself out of my musings just in time to see Rosie throw a wink my way and strut off with Tommy. I was left alone with Brad.18

“So,” I awkwardly started, I wasn’t too good at these ‘talks’, “how did you get roped into coming along?” 19

“Heard I was going to take a pretty girl out, they were wrong.” My heart dropped all the way to my toes. I fought back the tears. “You’re gorgeous.” His lame pick-up line made me almost fall to the ground. He had to be joking. Suddenly, Brad came close enough to let me see his eyes. They were grey, stunningly grey.20

I think I lost my breath somewhere. Help? 21

His lips descended on my onto mine while his hands wrapped around my waist. This was… interesting. I lost all thought (along with my breath) when he tilted my head and kissed me harder. Closing my eyes I leaned in, only to imagine something that I never wanted to think of again. Miles. 22

Those brown eyes so unlike Brad’s… I mentally slapped myself. I can’t explain why I was imagining Mile’s everywhere. He had kissed me and I had the right to forget about him. And I will. 23

“Lark?” Brad had pulled away sometime in the middle of the bland kiss. “Are you OK?” I couldn’t find my voice, all I could see were brown eyes. Those eyes could put all the lights in Paris to shame. Dark, long black hair that was clinging to him framed his face. 24

“Oh god. Uh, I don’t feel so well. Could I have your number? I’m terribly sorry!” I frantically yanked out my cell phone in my rush to get away from here and back to where my sanity lay.25

“Do you need me to drive you?” 26

“No, could you tell Rosie that I’m leaving? Thanks!” I tore out of the place and nearly stumbled when the cold air hit my face. My heart was erratically beating as if it wanted to just jump out of my chest and run back to someone.27

I found my car hidden in the back of the parking lot and slipped in, slamming the door as hard as I could. “How could you? You sick bastard! I fell for you and then you just… you just…” I broke down crying. The hot tears trailed down my face and the makeup that Rosie had painstakingly put on me began to smear. 28

“I hate you,” I weakly put in before zooming off, away from the club that Rosie was still in, away from the place where Brad was, and just away. The lights blurred together as I sped down the empty roads. 29

“Lark!” Charlotte endlessly bellowed. “Could you get off your lazy ass and serve the tables?” That was ironic because she was the one smoking a cigarette while sitting on her lazy ass and I was working. 30

I bustled my way around the semi-busy Moon & Sky Coffee House with the ugliest smocks on with the fakest of all smiles plastered on my weary face. Ariel had demanded that I come because the rent was about to be due and I still needed to put my one-third into the pot. “Excuse me; can I get a white hot chocolate?” Someone yanked impolitely on my smock. I turned around, half ready to jam the platter up their nose. It was Doug. 31

“Hey Lark! What are the chances of me seeing you again?” He smiled and his blue eyes lit the whole place up. 32

“Well, seeing as I haven’t gotten fired and this is where I work, a pretty high chance!” Doug laughed. “I’ll get your nasty tasting white hot chocolate in a moment.”33

“Nasty? I love it, shouldn’t the costumer always be right?”34

“Seeing as white chocolate isn’t even a chocolate in my eyes, no.” I found myself longing to continue our witty banter but the need of money was stronger. Rolling my eyes, I dragged myself to the next table which was conveniently full of little toddlers. 35

“Can I take your order?” 36

“Finally,” I sighed while yanking off the ugly smock and sat myself down next to Doug, “I am off work. Now I can be the bitch and ask for five different types of muffin then say they aren’t right.” 37

“Someone said that?” Doug took a long sip of his nasty hot chocolate and grinned. “Poor you, I’m sure that you gave them hell before storming over here.”38

“Of course, you know me!” There was some comfortable silence in which I busied myself by calling for a waiter.39

“You know,” Doug slowly brought up, “Miles hasn’t been the same ever since you hung up on him.” I rolled my eyes. “Really!”40

“He should have been the man and informed me that he was dating someone else and he didn’t want anything with me.” Scowling, I snapped my fingers irritate, waiting for my regular mint hot chocolate. “Also, we only knew each other for a small amount of time. It’s not like I was ‘dating’ him for anything more than a couple of days. One can’t get attached that quickly.” That was a lie. I was attached after the fight in this coffee house. Maybe girls were prone to having their hearts break more than guys were. 41

“Riight,” he drawled, “he only smashed the window of his car after you hung up.”42

“Then explain Miss. Mandy perfect.” 43

He paused, trying to figure out the best approach for this one. “Well… Mandy was sort of a friend with benefits. They ‘dated’ or kissed a couple of times and she got hooked on him. He found you and wanted something more.”44

“Still doesn’t explain her. Why didn’t he break up with her or inform me? A nice warning would be good.”45

“Then explain why he’s been calling you every day.” Doug shot back, his palms rested on the table and his eyes were slightly flashing. “Explain that Lark. Explain why you won’t respond to any of his calls.” I sat back and looked up at the ceiling.46

“When someone gets hurt, their natural instinct is to ignore everything that will make them get hurt again. For me, it was blocking his calls.” I shrugged, “what can I say, at least I’ve gotten over him.”47

Doug’s eyes flickered from my face to something over my shoulder and back again. Curios as I was, I turned around.48

Miles. 49