|56| • Everest
"I said I'm coming, didn't I?"
Florescent was calling once again, she seemed rather impatient for my arrival. Kissing my teeth, I parked close to the condominium she was staying in, it was more than an hour's drive and the road was pretty free. With my phone still against my ear, I turned off the ignition.
"I guess I'm just a bit eager, Evie," Flo said teasingly, a snort coming after her words.
How many times did I have to tell her? That name made me cringe when it didn't come from the right person, my Amelia.
Rolling my eyes at her charades, I stepped out of my truck.
The condo wasn't as large, it was on two floors and seemed not as luxurious as I imagined. Florescent did like things fancy.
"Don't call me that. And what floor did you say?"
"Second, were you always this cold? Or are you simply pretending?
Hm, lover boy?" Florescent's words made me purse my lips.
Was I being cold? I simply wanted to get this over with, there was a knot in my stomach, leaving Amelia that way.
She was going to start her classes soon, meaning, she was going to be pretty busy.
I hadn't spent as much time as I wanted to.
"I'm hanging up now," I said before ending the call, digging the phone into my pocket.
With an exaggerated sigh, I entered the reception of the condo.
It was decent, and scented nice; the cool freeze from the air conditioner tickled my skin.
Seeing no receptionist, I made my way to the second floor, using the stairs.
Flo needed money.
She said she was stranded. It did confuse me a bit, how would the man she came with — Tom, if I remembered correctly leave her? Did they have an argument that sent him packing? What kind of life had she built in Paris?
Questions swarmed my head, it was impossible not to get nervous.
Room 8, that was it.
Staring at the white wooden door, I brought my fist up to knock.
"We're forever, right?" Those words she had asked me in an intimate moment years ago came rushing back. Shaking my head, I knocked on the door. On the third knock, it opened sharply, revealing the woman I thought I'd come home to every day at one point in my life.
She smiled, "Hey, lover boy." Florescent moved before I could stop her, pushing herself against my chest, her arm going to cling around my neck. When did we start hugging so often? I did that once because I hadn't seen her in a while. Kissing my teeth, I pushed her gently by her arm, stepping away.
"A hello would do," I told her, bringing my eyebrows together in discomfort.
Florescent stepped away, widening the door so I could enter.
"It's just a friendly hug." She mumbled, when I walked in, I could see her pout from my peripheral vision.
"How are you?" She asked, her bare feet leaving pitter-patter sounds as she walked into what I assumed was the kitchen, coming back with a bottle of wine and two glasses.
"Happy." The words left my lips before I knew it.
That was the truth though, I was ecstatic with how things in my life were playing out.
My new apartment, my job, Amelia.
..
A chortle of laughter pulled me back to reality, "What a vague answer, Simon.
" Florescent uttered, her tone teasing. With a sashay, she dropped the tray on the coffee table.
I sat opposite her, on the double sofa, my hands intertwined.
I wasn't here for small talk.
"You look uncomfortable," Flo stated, taking her slender finger to run through her long strands, fluffing it on the way down. She had on a pair of shorts with a thin tank top, it was her house anyways. Narrowing my eyes, I shrugged.
"I guess I kind of am."
"I don't get it, I thought we were okay now?
Why are you being so cold to me?" As she spoke, her tone got stronger, I knew she was growing frustrated.
Florescent was always quick to get angry.
How was I supposed to reply to that? I wasn't being cold, I just didn't want to talk for long.
I needed to get back soon as I'd promised my sweetheart.
"In case you didn't notice, our interactions always end up causing a hiccup with my woman." I decided to say after a pause. Florescent's face twitched, making her way to me, she sat a space from me, her legs folding in an Indian style. "Your woman?" She mocked.
"You mean that kid?" Flo continued, disdain colouring her face. She tilted her head in question, folding her hands across her chest. My gaze hardened when she said this. Kid? "Stop that." I snapped, making her scoff.
"Stop what? She's a kid, isn't she? How old is that girl? Like eighteen? Look how easily she began to cry that day! That's who you call a woman?"
Each word jabbed at my chest, sure Amelia was a bit soft in her emotions, but I wasn't going to entertain Florescent if she kept up this mocking game.
"I'm leaving." I'd had enough, pushing myself up, I begin to move towards the door before her warm palms gripped my elbow.
"Alright fine! I'll stop." Pulling my hands away from her grip, I grimaced.
"I don't appreciate you bringing her into any of this.
One more time and I'm leaving." Her eyes narrowed, and a strangled sigh came from her.
"Got it."
We sat back down, the air tense. "I didn't mean to cause any harm, I just wanted to know how you were doing. I hadn't seen you in ages...and you know we separated on the wrong foot." As she said this, her voice was soft, I didn't realise she moved close to me until I felt her warmth near my body.
"Yeah, I thought we already spoke about it-" I began but when her palms caressed mine, I stopped. "I'm sorry, Everest." Somehow, I felt as though her apology was genuine. It was ages ago as she said, I'd gotten over it, with or without her apology.
"Flo, it's fine. I get it, you were scared and you wanted out. Please, stop making this deeper than it has to be."
A small chuckle left her lips, "You were always the mature one, huh?" Forming a thin-lipped smile, I moved my hands away from her hold. "So, you said you needed my help. Here I am." I uttered lowly, looking straight ahead. I heard her sigh, jumping up to her feet to get the wine bottle.
When last had I taken wine?
"Do you want the long or short version?" She asked in a bubbly tone, taking out a glass cup. Before I knew it, the cork was popped off with a loud bang.
My reflexes kicked in and I ducked, flinching at the sound.
"Shit!" A harsh breath left my lips, heat warming my face.
Darn it, I thought I'd gotten used to sounds like these.
When I opened my eyes, Flo was already by my side, concern closing her gaze.
She touched my cheeks. "Oh my goodness, are you okay?
Why'd you flinch like that?" She was scared, my reaction was way out of proportion.
Pulling away, I relaxed my head on the sofa.
"I'm sorry. The...the, it's nothing." She didn't have to concern herself with my personal issues.
"Simon, look at me."
She was close, far too close for comfort. "Florescent, I said it's nothing." My voice was harder than intended, making her flinch before backing away, her frown deepening. Perhaps I should have asked for beer when she brought out the wine bottle.
"Are you scared of loud noises?"
Her question made my jaw clench. I didn't want to talk about this.
It was trivial anyways. "I'm not." I dismissed, looking away.
The sound wasn't just loud, it imitated a gun, I was pathetic, after all these months, I still hadn't gotten over it.
I wasn't on the battlefield anymore, I was here, in town.
"Simon...okay, I won't pry. Here, you need a drink."
Florescent handed me the glass cup, gently putting the yellowish content into it.
Staring at the sparkling wine, I downed it in one go.
"Oh! Someone has an appetite." She teased, pushing my shoulders slightly before refilling the glass.
When she was done, she poured some for herself, sipping it slowly.
"I know I said I wouldn't pry, but, it's from the army isn't it?" I let her talk, rubbing circles around the mouth of the glass. "I think you should get help."
"Help for what?" I snorted, titling to look at her.
"Help with this! I don't know what it's called, your.
..your trauma?" I gulped down the entire glass once again.
"That's quite the word." Settling the glass down, I couldn't help but think over her words.
Trauma? Was that what this was? Again, I didn't want to talk about this.
"Did you see yourself flinch just now?"
"Flo, goodness! Can we just move on?" I didn't mean to snap or raise my voice, but I did both. Florescent hesitated, leaning into the sofa, "Does she know?"
"I said not to talk about her."
All this for a flinch? This was ridiculous.
Florescent shifted closer to me, "Look, I'm just looking out for you, if you want to be a better man from that kid—"
"Amelia is not a kid, she's my girlfriend, my woman, I'll appreciate it if you stop trying to spite me with your words.
" I cut her off before she could finish.
Florescent sighed, taking a large gulp from the glass cup before placing it on the coffee table.
"Whatever." She sneered.
"The short version," I answered, placing my head on my palms, I didn't want her meddling in my life when I was here to give her a hand. "Huh?" The woman asked, arching her threaded eyebrows at me.
"You asked which I wanted to hear. The short version."
This time, she laughed.
"Way to change the subject, lover boy. But I'll let it slide, just because you've gotten more handsome." Florescent uttered lightly, twirling her finger in my face. Ignoring her comment, I looked ahead, waiting for an explanation of why she was 'cash trapped' and why Tom had left her here.
"I don't even get a thanks?" She hummed, leaning in with a lopsided smirk. "Are you tipsy?" I asked with a scoff, she never was good with alcohol.
"Nope." A giggle bubbled from her lips, and with an exaggerated sigh, she laid her head next to my shoulder, taking up her slim lap to place it on top of each other. "The short version, the short...version. Okay! Where do I start?" She hummed, tapping her chin.
"Tom and I, we're colleagues...who got awfully close. We came here for some business, he wanted to leave sooner but I didn't. I mean, this is my home after all. I...missed this darn place. I missed my life here." She began, trailing her words while looking up at me through her lashes.
I cleared my throat, moving back so she could lean on the sofa and not on me. Perhaps she noticed the growing silence and decided to continue.
"Anyways, we had a drunken night together, he got all emotional, and before I knew it, he was gone.
Left a shitty note saying he was tired of this town and wanted to go back to Paris.
The thing is, that bastard left me without any money, and he's ghosting me.
" As she explained, I listened with pursed lips.
"And, I'm also kind of in a tight spot in Paris. So my account is down."
"He left a note?" I highlighted with a silent chuckle. "How befitting."
Florescent scoffed, rolling her eyes. "I knew you'd point that out."
I didn't want to dwell on the past, so I dropped it, watching how she frequently ran her finger through her wavy hair. She was nervous. It's not my business if she's nervous. I told myself, lightly shaking my head. "So, you want me to pay for your flight back?"
"And also loan me a bit. I promise, once I go back and sort things out, I'll pay you all of it." Did I really want to be in contact with her even in Paris? Though I'd recently paid for Amelia's tuition, I still had quite a bit to save, this wasn't a big deal, the money would come back eventually.
"No need. Just send the account and I'll give you what I can."
She looked almost stunned. "R-Really?" Since when did she stutter? I chuckled at her innocent expression. "It's fine, you just go on living the life you've built for yourself."
She kept gazing at me, seconds after I'd finished telling her this. Goodness, was she broken or something? Itching my neck, I opened my mouth to call out to her.
Florescent cracked a smile.
Her body leaned into mine, she'd done so faster than I could react because our faces were now inches apart.
"Thank you," We were close, her breath fanning against my face. It felt as those my body was frozen in place, "Florescent."
"Everest..." Her eyes fluttered closed, lips moving closer to mine.
I couldn't do this, why was I still seated?
I couldn't do this to myself, to the relationship I cherished so dearly with Amelia.
Without thinking, my hands went to her shoulders, shoving her off with more strength than intended.
She gasped, falling off the couch with a loud thud.
"That's enough." The tone of my voice surprised me as well. Springing up to my feet, I tugged on my hair. Dammit, if I had waited a bit longer, I'd be thinking of a way to tell Amelia about the kiss.
I screwed up, I knew that much.
"Everest, I didn't mean—"
"Fuck! I said that's enough Florescent!"
Her eyes widened, eyebrows knitting before her gaze went down.
"This," I began, gesturing to her and I, "Is ridiculous.
It ended ages ago. I told you, I'm with a woman I love, stop trying to make advances at me!
" I was getting angry, I disliked the way my blood got uncomfortably hot when I was angry, it was as though my heart was running on overdrive.
"I'm leaving, shit, I should've left a while ago." Standing up from the sofa, I began to speed-walk my way out of her condo. Being here was becoming suffocating. I heard her footsteps get louder, a pair of hands tugging on my wrist before I could reach the stairs.
"Wait, wait. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have." What was the use of apologising now? Scoffing, I move my hand to take my wrist back, climbing down the stairs but she was not far behind. "Is it so bad that I miss you?! You act like I'm a villain and it's not fair!"
"Let me go, Florescent."
"I'm going to leave for Paris in three days, I will leave your little love story, okay?
So please, let us not end this on a bad note again.
" Both of her hands were cupping my left one, tears clouding her vision.
Why was she tearing up now? She said this like I wasn't merely reacting to her actions.
"Please." She uttered again, her gaze not wavering.
Pulling my hand away, I shoved them both into my pocket. She didn't want to end this on a bad note, was this simply for her peace of mind? It amused me a bit. "I'll send you the money by this weekend. After that, forget about me. And I'll do the same."
Her frown deepened, a single tear trailing down her reddening face.
"Simon..." Florescent's call was only above a whisper, her hands falling limp to her side. I didn't want to deal with this, with her, any longer. I needed to go back to Amelia, I needed to give her the reassurance she deserved. To do that, I had to end whatever this was.
"Easy enough, right?"
I questioned sarcastically, she'd done a great job at that for years. Turning my back to continue the flight of stairs. "Simon!" She called out again, louder. What did she expect me to do? Let her kiss me? To let her have her way and leave again? The thought of this made me scoff.
"Goodbye, Florescent," I muttered mainly to myself, going out of the condominium and into my car. Rethinking everything that had happened, my hands gripped the steering tightly. I shouldn't have come here, my guts turned in guilt as I started the truck, this was a mistake.
Placing my head on my formed fist, I let out a shaky breath. I had laid my bed, and I knew whether I liked it or not, I was going to have to lie on it.
"Everest Simon, you idiot," I muttered under my breath.