A great love story is supposed to end with tragedy and tears

Carrie Bradshaw

Molly rolled over in the bed looking at the indent in the pillow next to her, her love story had not ended like Carrie and Aidan with sadness being all consuming, It certainly hadn't ended like Carrie and Big with a wedding. She'd given the ring back well actually she'd thrown it and told him to get the hell out of her flat. Oh there had been tears in fact she hadn't stopped crying for hours and yes it was a tragedy with a wedding in two months. But she realised her tears were more relief than anything there had been only one love that had broken her heart and it wasn't Mike.

When the front door banged shut behind him she'd watched from the window as he got in his car and driven off. After which she'd crawled back into bed feeling battered and bruised after the battle of the last few hours. No one ever said it was easy being in love but no one ever told you how shit it could be when you fell out of love. She'd laid there wondering what Carrie would do falling asleep thinking of cosmopolitans and Manolo Blahniks.

A few hours later she was wandering through Selfridges to the shoe department thinking this is what Carrie would do and this was guaranteed to make her feel better. If in doubt buy shoes, today was going to be a no holds bar type of day anything goes. Having purchased two pairs of very expensive shoes and a new handbag she wandered back down to the ground floor. In need of refreshment she decided against coffee and headed out into the busy London street. Carrie would demand a cosmo so that was what Molly was going to find.

It was sunny and so she walked and she walked losing herself in the bustling city. Turning corner after corner and wandering through the back streets eventually stopping in a street she didn't recognise, stumbling in the sunlight as she crossed over to the small bistro she'd spied. She sat down at a table just inside and reviewed the menu her stomach rumbling as she realised she was not only thirsty but hungry too. Breaking up was thirsty work she turned trying to get someones attention for a drink and thats when she saw him. Standing at the end of the bar in his trademark jeans and blue shirt he looked good. She watched as he threw back his head laughing at something funny said to him.

As if he sensed he was being watched he turned his head glancing around the room his eyes stopping when he locked on hers the shock of seeing her making him do a double take. He said something to the person behind the bar and walked slowly towards her table.

'Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine.' He was still rubbish at Boggart impressions and she smiled as she listened to him. He looked good, he sounded good she craned her neck to look up at him.

'Hi.' Her voice came out in a croaky whisper and he watched her face as she struggled with her emotions.

'I didn't know you were back you stopped writing, communicating.' She looked down at her hands as he spoke knowing she had behaved badly. He hadn't deserved it one day she would tell him why she looked back up at him and nodded. 'I've been back about a year.'

He held her gaze his eyes narrowing as he studied her face. She felt her breath catch in her throat he could still make her quiver and she was suddenly glad to be sat down. He glanced down at the shopping bags. 'Been shoe shopping?' She laughed and nodded. He knew her so well, so very well she thought as she looked him up and down; She licked her lips unconsciously and he zeroed in on them his eyes darkening as he watched her tongue dart back. He raised his eyes back to her face which was flushed.

'So you want something?' His question open ended his eyes letting her know he wasn't talking about drinks.

'Oh I.' She stopped talking quickly and looked at the menu her hands shaking as she tried to focus up. 'Cosmopolitan and a house salad please.' She glanced up from under her lashes terrified if he saw her eyes he'd know the effect he was having on her. He muttered something and walked away she watched him go those long legs striding confidently away from her. He'd done that before of course and she'd pushed him away letting him go wanting him to go but today there was a feeling in the pit of her stomach and she knew it was not going to disappear. He stopped at the bar handing over her order to the girl behind it. He gave a brief look at her and she tried to hold his gaze but failed miserably and reluctantly she dragged her eyes away from him reaching into her bag for her phone.

Jax what time is brunch tomorrow? Got news. xoxo

She needed to tell Jax about this morning and the break up but she also needed to tell her about him. She threw her phone back in her bag and looked up he was back and he was watching her. She sat up and turned her gaze towards him not dropping it this time two could play at that game.

-OG-

Eventually all the pieces fall into place….until then, laugh at the confusion, live for the moment, and know that everything happens for a reason

Carrie Bradshaw

-OG-

'Ooooh my bloody head.' He rolled over reaching for her the bed was empty and he opened his eyes looking for her she was gone. He sat up holding his head calling her name, as he did so he noticed her clothes were missing. He swung his legs to the edge of the bed and stood up taking small steps out to the lounge. She was gone he had no idea how to contact her she had not given him her telephone number. He stumbled into the kitchen and headed for the fridge knocking back a bottle of cold water as he let the door close he saw it a - post it note. He peeled it off and held it in front of him stunned turning around to look at the empty flat it's a joke surely? He read it again it was no joke.

I'm sorry

I can't

Don't hate me

'Fuck you Molly' He screwed it up and threw it into the sink. His chest tightened as that all too familiar pain washed over him she'd done it again.

xxxxxxxx

Molly saw Jackie walking towards her building as she turned the corner. She'd hoped to get home before she arrived she'd have to tell her she needed to tell someone and who better than one of your best friends. No judgement just sympathy. 'Jax wait up.' Molly quickened her pace to catch her up and her friend turned hearing her name being called. They hugged quickly and Jackie stepped back taking in Molly's dishevelled appearance and demeanour.

'Hmmmm where is he? What did the two of you get up to last night?' She gave her a dirty look before laughing as they walked into the building. Molly decided to shower and freshen up before sharing her news and so it was 15 minutes before she walked into the sitting room and dropped on the sofa opposite Jackie.

'Jax erm not sure how to tell you but we split up.' She watched her friend digest the news the shock all too evident. 'Huh what do ya mean you split up?'

'It wasn't working we just fell out of love I'm not sure we were ever in love. It was convenience we suited each others lifestyles. Think we realised that this week.' She turned her gaze to the window as Jackie gave a deep sigh. 'Hold on Moll's last week we were out buying you a bloody dress today the weddings off you've split up. Forgive me if I appear confused but what the hell has happened?'

Molly pushed her damp hair over her shoulder and nodded. 'Yeah go figure. But I mean really its for the best an that.' She watched as Jackie continued to stare at her the disbelief not dissipating.

'When did it happen?' Molly raised her eyes back to her friend. 'Argument started Friday night we went to bed but it carried on during the night and he left yesterday morning.' Jackie nodded slowly. 'Okay so where were you last night?' Confusion on her face as she watched Molly's reaction to the question. Molly avoided her friends searching eyes and jumped up. 'I need to get ready give me five minutes don't wanna be late for brunch.' She disappeared quickly into her bedroom pulling a dress from the wardrobe. She stopped when she realised which one she had in her hands. The Reiss dress reminding her of a day in Bath many years ago. She buried her face into it and closed her eyes remembering her happiness at the time she pushed it back into the wardrobe stopping at a nondescript sundress and after some bronzer and mascara she was walking back into the sitting room.

Jackie was leaning on the breakfast bar watching Molly slip on her shoes. 'Oh you've been shoe shopping.' Molly looked up laughing. 'You know me when in doubt go shoe shopping.' Jackie nodded and smiled. 'You live your life as Carrie and its great to have lovely shoes but its also great to have a husband and a home.' Molly picked up her bag and keys walking towards the door. 'Come on oh smug one we cant all have the perfect husband and kids.'

They walked in silence until Molly spoke first. 'So I saw Stern Face yesterday.'

Jackie stopped and pulled Molly back by her arm. 'You didn't where?' She watched as Molly's head dropped and suddenly everything fell into place. 'Molly no way seriously what is wrong with you he broke your heart.' Molly stopped walking and placed a hand over Jackie's the relief at sharing this flooding through her as they stood in the park saying nothing. Jackie began walking and spoke quickly. 'Okay tell me everything before we meet the others.' Molly laughed and linked arms. 'You're not to tell them just us right?' Jackie made a small cross over her heart and nudged her. 'Of course now tell.'

'Right well Mike left I felt relief don't look at me like that. I'm relieved its over it wasn't working and we both knew it. I figured yesterday I would go shoe shopping so I did and then I wandered around town for a while found this little bistro went in and sat down. It's his well his and a friend from the army they ploughed all their savings into it it's cute and so we talked a bit. I left he followed me and well one thing led to another and we ended up at his flat in Soho.'

Jackie was nodding her head as she listened. 'Right so this morning then what happened? I'm presuming you stayed the night?' Molly felt ashamed now at what she'd done knowing it was a cowardly thing to do but she'd panicked when she woke up and saw him the feelings all rushing back and overwhelming her so she'd quietly gathered her things and left.

'I woke up before him got my stuff and left.' Jackie stopped. 'Yeah thats not all though is it? I know when you're holding something back Molly Dawes.'

'Right don't judge me on this I left him a note.'

'A note what sort of a note. Thanks for letting me stay, thanks for the good loving, thanks for what exactly?'

'Hmmm not that sort of a note it was more sorry but no thanks.' Jackie shook her head. 'Noooo Molly why'd you do that poor guy.'

'I know I told you I panicked, I mean its him.'

'Molly I just don't know what to say to you, I feel a little bit sorry for the muppet now.'

'Cheers. Right stop talking there's Kate and Becky.' Molly waved as she saw her friends ahead of them not noticing Jackie's perplexed face trailing behind her.

'So I met this guy and well he wanted to do it on the floor, on the bed, on the kitchen counter.'

'Kate!'

'What I'm just trying to tell you about this guy.'

Becky looked down at her daughter who she'd brought for brunch with the girls. 'Can you not be so direct. Code words please.'

'Oh darling she needs to get used to this don't you think one day she'll meet her friends and talk about sex.'

'Sex.' Five year old Julia repeated Kate's last word and giggled as the shocked gasps of three women reverberated around the table.

'Oh my God this is how it starts. Kate you need to stop.' Becky gave her a pleading look. Kate looked offended as she gazed around the table. 'Fine pick a word.'

Molly spoke quickly pointing to Julia's colouring book and pens. 'Colour you like to colour Kate.' There was laughter around the table as everyone looked down at the book and pens on the table.

Kate pushed a hand through her hair exasperated and responded. 'I cant colour enough, I would colour all day everyday if I had my way, I would use every crayon in my box.' She stopped and smirked at her friends. Molly laughed. 'We get it! You like to colour.'

Kate smiled and sat back in her chair. 'I do indeed.'

Jackie spoke quickly. 'Molly was colouring with Stern Face last night.'

Shocked gasps and cries resounded at the table as Molly leaned across to Jackie. 'Nice secret keeping friend.'

'Sorry I panicked.' Jackie threw her hands in the air as she blushed.

Kate grabbed Molly's hand. 'Tell us everything darling in your own time does he still smell as good, does he still have his hair? I mean I don't care if you cheat on the Mike git but isn't that something you don't do?'

'Yes, yes and we split up.' Molly spoke quickly and took a long drink of orange juice. Too much had happened in the last 24 hours. This time yesterday she was just a shopper getting over a breakup. Today she was a slut pure and simple.

'I'm so confused what does this mean are you back together?' Becky's worried face was focused on Molly as she spoke. Molly shook her head. 'But you've definitely split up with Mike?' Molly nodded. 'Right I see.' It was obvious to everyone that Becky did not see nor understand what had happened.

Molly spoke. 'Do you? Thats good because right now I see nothing but a big fat mess. A wedding to cancel, a honeymoon to cancel.'

'Oh leave that to me Moll's I'll sort it all out.' Kate reached for her phone and began tapping.'

'You're cancelling it now?' Molly gave an incredulous look towards Kate. 'No darling I'm just cancelling my wax for tomorrow you just reminded me.'

Molly looked around the table. 'Good to know I've got my uses, cancelling a wedding cancelling a wax so very similar.'

As Kate finished her message she leaned across the table. 'So tell me does Stern Face still like to colour?'

Molly looked up from her food and gave a smug smile. 'I will only say that when he colours he doesn't stay within the lines.'

Kate clapped her hands give a gleeful whoop. 'Okay thats good enough for me now eat because when we're finished I really need to go some of us have a lot more colouring to do today.'

-OG-

I am someone who is looking for love. Real love. Ridiculous, inconvenient, consuming, can't-live-without-each-other love

Carrie Bradshaw

-OG-

'Lets see it then.' Tom leaned across the bar snatching the zip lock bag out of Charles hand. 'You put it in a bag? You gonna get CSI on to it or something?'

He shook his head. 'No I just, I don't know. I mean come on who does this?'

'Huh it seems Molly Dawes does this Charles. What were you thinking? I could kick myself not being around yesterday I would never have let you leave with her.'

'We didn't really leave together.' He watched the furrowed brow of his friend at the confusing response he'd given. He carried on. 'She left and I realised she'd left her shopping so I went after her and the next thing I knew we were in the street kissing and I was hailing a cab.'

'So what happens now?'

'Nothing happens I made a mistake I dropped my guard it wont happen again.' Tom re-read the post it. 'You've got to hand it to her breaking up on a post it, thats a new one on me. It beats a text message remember that girl I met last year she dumped me with a text.' Charles looked up his face bleak as he spoke. 'You had shagged her best friend Tom I think it was warranted.' Tom laughed oh yeah. 'I'd forgotten that. Ha you want a beer?' Charles nodded and one was duly placed in front of him he took a long swig and thought about last night. Molly Dawes the love of his life had got away again.

'You know what I'm not accepting that note.'

'Huh?' Tom gave a confused stare.

'If she doesn't want this she can tell me to my face. She cant just walk away again.'

Tom laughed. 'Thats the Charles James I know now where does she live?'

'Don't know.'

'Mobile number?'

'Don't know.'

'Where does she work thats a good starting point.'

'Don't know.' Charles dropped his head into his hands as the realisation of the task ahead dawned on him.

'You don't know much mate.'

'I know she feels the same as me.'

'Which is?'

'I'm not ready to close the door on this whatever it is.'

'That my friend is all we need I'll get the laptop.'

-OG-

Sometimes we need to stop analysing the past, stop planning the future, stop figuring out precisely how we feel, stop deciding exactly what we want, and just see what happens.

Carrie Bradshaw

-OG-