If Things Could Be Undone

If only the love potions that existed in fantasy worlds were real. Then perhaps things would not have turned out the way that they did…but they don’t. There was not enough magic in the world to undo what had already been done. As of that night Tiffany had forever altered the worlds of four different people, including herself. 1

Sitting in the solitude of an empty room Tiffany wondered what to do with herself. Whether she should cry herself to sleep or whether she should take the initiative to end it all. To leave and never come back. What an incredible suggestion. She knew she was too much of a coward to leave. To pack up her bags and leave the apartment that she shared with her two of her best friends…ex-best friends. 2

In the darkness of her bedroom she sat with her face in her hands, tears threatening to fall but not quite doing so. Her sheets were rumpled but the a innocent lady who had awaked from cordial dreams that morning had them now flung about her as a woman who would only have nightmares later; when the dark was its blackest and there was no morning sun to greet her. How could things have gone so wrong? How could she have betrayed Sabrina after they had been through so much? Why should Gabby now find herself in the hospital by her hand? Why had J.T.’s lips securely fastened to those of another? 3

They were questions that Tiffany could not answer herself. All she could do in this moment was reflect, even if reflection was not what she wanted to do. She wanted nothing more than to forget the events that had occurred and rewind the tape. Unfortunately in life there are no do-overs. Only “I’m sorries” which don’t account for anything and might as well be comparable to a kiss on a boo-boo. “I’m sorry…”4

J.T. Foster had been hers from the start. Those brown eyes were so intense and full of energy that they melted her heart every time she looked in them. His touches were so soft that she felt herself give way to him almost before he caressed her cheek. “Don’t worry babe. Don’t worry at all. I gotcha.” Words spoken in a voice so smooth that she really had a hard time believing anything he said was false. His olive skin made him the focus of attention anywhere that girls tended to go. She supposed that it was also his imperfections that made him perfect for her. He was quick to anger, but also quick to forgive. He was demanding, but acquiesced during all the right arguments. He was perfect. He was the perfect tall dark and handsome that she had waited all her life to fall into her lap. Now that he had she had to give him up again. 5

Tiffany turned over on her back and stretched out on the pink sheets. Her eyes were focused on the ceiling above her, but that was not what she was seeing. Instead she saw her two friends telling her how perfect he was. How much the two of them made such a cute couple. She wondered if the glint in Gabby’s eyes should have been any indication. The one who always fell for the handsome chiseled boys had snatched J.T. right up from under her. How could Gabby, who adored blond hair and mild-mannered blue eyes like every typical girl, fall for brown haired-brown eyed J.T.? The thought was angering, and for a second she knew that if Gabby were in front of her she would do it again. Only this time she would succeed in snapping her neck in two.6

It was Sabrina who first told her. The solemn look in her almond brown eyes told her before she even had to hear the words. She could always read Sabrina like an open book. It was part of what made them so close. What took her by surprise was how long Sabrina had been able to hide it from her. “Tiffany… I think Gabby might have a thing for J.T. Not that I think he will do anything with her… Just that the things she does… Can’t be a good sign right?” Right. Couldn’t have been a good sign. If Tiffany had only listened then perhaps things would have turned out differently. But no. At the time she was too concerned with her clubs and organizations. She was too concerned with her current life to care what went on with her friends. 7

That was only the first time Sabrina came to her. It was after the first couple of times that she was so immersed in Sparkle Club activities that she actually felt extreme anger towards her friend. Hadn’t she had a right at the time? After all, there is only so much warning a person can take. So Tiffany had spoken to Gabby and told that she thought Sabrina was trying to get with her crush. It was a mean thing to do. A back-stabbing thing to do, but it was all Tiffany could think to do at the time. She had started to think that it was Sabrina with a thing for J.T. and not Gabby. Maybe that is the reason why. Maybe that is why she did it.8

Either way it had been done. Their fates had been sealed the moments those words tumbled out of her mouth like poison from a snake’s fangs. It had only been a matter of time before Gabby confronted Sabrina. Tiffany could see them now; amid the swirls of stickers left over from the previous room’s owner were the faces of her friends. They were going back and forth over Danny only it was Gabby doing all the yelling and Sabrina tying to reason. All of a sudden there was no more yelling… Only fists flying. There was some blood, crying, more blood, more yelling, and then silence. Gabby left the apartment and when she returned it would be Tiffany she would argue with. An argument without words. How about that?9

After Gabby left Sabrina approached Tiffany, shaking with anger, her fists clenched at her side. Those normally calm and indifferent brown eyes were full of rage, and the words she spoke came from between clenched teeth. “You’ll see.” It was so like Sabrina to not say something cliché like “I hate you!” or “We are no longer friends!” She just didn’t function that way. Something Tiffany both hated and yet liked just slightly in her friend… Her ex-friend. 10

Tiffany had then left. Seeking the comfort of J.T.’s arms, only he wasn’t in his apartment. Nor was he at work. He didn’t pick up his cell phone either. In a panic she had run back to the apartment hoping that at the very least he was waiting for her there as he sometimes did. And just her luck he had been, only he wasn’t there waiting for her. Instead she saw him caressing Gabby. Tiffany guessed now that Gabby had probably walked into J.T. as he was on his way over to her apartment. Gabby being the conniving witch that she is had played the victim in the situation. Had probably over exaggerated too. Being the good guy that he is, he might have wanted to comfort her. Only Gabby took it too far and the moment Tiffany walked in on them was the moment that Gabby had decided that his lips were better with someone else. That someone else was decidedly her. 11

Angry tears welled in Tiffany’s eyes just thinking about it. Somewhere the front door opened with barely a whisper, and then closed in the same fashion. That was more than likely Sabrina coming back from the hospital. Suddenly Tiffany was angry at everyone again. Sabrina, not as nice as every thinks, but maintains her front well. It was fitting that she should go see Gabby even though the two of them had almost killed each other earlier. Then there was Gabby, the one who have never dared touch her man a few weeks ago had managed to get him to come to her all of a sudden. That trick had ruined what she and J.T. had in only a matter of minutes. The amount of time it took to deliver the kiss and completely drown the friendship in ocean’s so rocky it was unbearable. 12

It was also the amount of time that had apparently passed after she opened the door to when J.T. pulled her off her red-haired friend. All she remembered was launching herself at the two on the couch, looking so much like a couple that her heart bled right then and there. One hand went to Gabby’s hair and pulled. The other went to her throat and squeezed. It took J.T. a few moments to realize what was going on and tried to pull Tiffany away, but there was no way to do so without hurting Gabby. Yet he pulled anyway thinking Tiffany was trying to kill her. And he was right. She was. 13

Finally he pulled hard enough to loosen Tiffany’s hold on her neck and then the noises stopped. It wasn’t until the noises ceased that Tiffany realized that Gabby had been trying to speak. What could she have possibly wanted to say?! The thought that Gabby wanted to apologize infuriated her even more. She reached for something, anything, within reach and her long fingers found Gabby’s keys that were on the coffee table. Her own set of keys were still in the door’s keyhole. She lashed out at Gabby with the golden key suddenly getting less golden. Instead flecks of red ruined its magnificent finish, and were ruining the couch too. She had no idea where she was stabbing Gabby, was only half aware of stabbing at all. Her other hand was still in Gabby’s hair and that was what kept Gabby from squirming too much. It was when Gabby tried to claw her face that Tiffany thought about Gabby’s arms being free.14

Clawing? That was laughable. Tiffany was sure Gabby could do better than that. Probably the act of kissing other people’s men diminished her character. Maybe clawing was fitting for her after all. A strong tan hand pulled her hand out of Gabby’s hair, bringing with it chunks of red and brown hair. Then J.T. managed to pull her off completely and restrained her. All this occurred within minutes. Betrayal only takes a few minutes anyway. Technically it only takes a few seconds. J.T. picked up Gabby and took her to the hospital and that was that. Tiffany sat on the floor for a moment longer, her anger subsiding and grief setting in. She got up and closed the front door, and made her way to her bedroom and to the bed that she was currently laying on. Since then J.T. had called but she had not answered. 15

What was she to do? If he was so willing to give everything up for Gabby; if she had been willing to throw out the friendship she had with Sabrina; if she had been so willing to take the life of another person over a guy then why bother? He was only a guy. They were only girls. Just three people in a place where she could find many more of their types. The “perfect” guy. The “understanding” friend. The “fun” one. 16

Wrapped in her pink sheets Tiffany felt exhausted from so much hatred. Her eyes fell heavy and her brain told her to sleep. Yet she tried to fight it off. She tried and the last thing she thought before sleep stole her away was, “If things could be undone…” Her eyes shut for the night and silent angry tears spilled from her eyes as she slumbered.17