Hey guys! This is chapter 2, I'm sorry it's still short, I'll post more next week! I'm reaally sorry for taking so much time, love you!
Torrey entered the club in very nice company: her friends Arielle, Brittany and her sister Maryelle, and in no time, became the center of attention. Her slightly-above-the-knee-length, strapless purple dress showed enough of her to make her look physically attractive without being excessive, and her soft makeup provided just the right brightness to her face. While her friends got a drink, she sat on a table, her feet dangling to the upbeat music.
Her eyes caught a shadow, one that seemed to belong to a guy, a tall, muscular one, may we add.
Evidently, her heart jumped at the small, improbable hope that it was Paul.
Paul, her first real love. Paul, her long-time boyfriend. Paul, her husband. Paul, her betrayer. Paul, her ex. Paul, who she still loved.
Torrey rolled her eyes at herself. "Why can't you move on, silly? He didn't love you."
But her heart felt there was more to the story, even though she wasn't sure she wanted to hear it.
What was she imagining, anyway? That Paul would be, for starters, in Los Angeles? By himself? And, that he'd randomly come to the same club? Then see her and declare his flame for her? And she'd accept, and they'd live happily forever after?
Sighing, and for the first time, she admitted it to herself. She wanted him to come back like a knight in a shiny armor, with her favorite flowers, down to his knees, begging her to forgive him.
She wanted to hear him say "I still love you". And most of all, she wanted to say "I still love you too".
Arielle interrupted her thoughts handing her a glass of mojito.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing, just, I'm a bit distraught."
Her friend nodded and soon they were joined by the two other women, whose laughter made Torrey forget momentarily about her ex.
Maryelle scanned the club's crowd sipping on her drink. Torrey had to resist the urge to take it from her hand; 25 years old or not, Torrey still couldn't get used to see her little sister drinking. Overprotective much? Probably. It made her chuckle.
Suddenly Mary's eyes widened with surprise.
"What? -Brittany teased- Cute guy?"
"Well, yeah, but…"
Torrey smiled and tried to match her sister's view. He could only see a blue shirt, and muscular back. "Oh yeah, nice back! I wonder what he looks like on the front."
They were all smiling but Maryelle was blushing, letting her sight down. "Um, I think you already know that…"
Her sister's brows furrowed then raised.
"No. No way."
She knew the blue shirt and the muscular back. She knew that brown hair. She knew the shadow she had seen before. Her instinct was right. It was him.
"What do we do now?"
Arielle raised her hands in surrender. "We hope he doesn't see you. Unless you want to go to another place…"
The other girls nodded. "Yeah, we can leave if you want…"
They all knew that, even if Torrey had played happy and had another relationship, deep down, she was hurt. Very hurt.
The thing was, Torrey didn't want to leave. She wanted Paul to see her smiling, looking stunning, and get completely mesmerized. And her heart jumped at the hopeful fantasies her mind was creating. Again, she shook them away. They were so not happening.
"Don't worry guys. We can stay. I can manage to avoid him."
"Really?" Brittany asked.
"Don't worry." Torrey smiled, swallowing her mojito.
The rest of the night was fun, but inside Torrey kept hoping, like a teenager, that Paul would see her.
At almost 3 AM, feeling slightly tipsy, she decided to go to the bathroom and then the group would leave.
And suddenly, as she was walking, she collided with another body.
Blue eyes met brown ones.
Memories filled the silence.
And just like that, a shaky whisper.
"P-Paul."
"Torrey. Um, hi, what a surprise."
Were they nervous? That was an understatement.
Torrey swallowed, pleading herself to get a grip on her emotions.
"What are you doing here? I mean, uh, I thought you were filming…"
She didn't miss the relief apparent on Paul's features when she didn't ran away from him.
"Yeah, but I have a few days off and I wanted to see a couple friends…"
"Oh, nice. So, is anyone here with you?"
Damn it! Seriously Torrey? Why had she even said that? She was being so obvious! Thanks, alcohol.
"Nope. I mean I came with a friend but he had to leave early and I met some nice people over here. What about you?"
No Phoebe. She almost jumped in glee.
"I'm with my sister, Brittany and Arielle."
"Oh, nice. Can I, um, say hi or is it…"
"Too awkward?" She completed. "Yeah, a bit."
They both chuckled. What was this unexpected awkward, paradoxical easiness? Alcohol, Torrey thought, blame it on the alcohol.
"So, how have you been?"
"I've been… fine" (Torrey remarked that hesitation. Even that little thing made her happy.) "You? I've seen that CSI episode yesterday. Um, good job."
She raised her eyebrows. So he had seen her acting like a slut. And thought it was good.
"Thanks, I guess. -another laugh- Yeah, I've been doing a couple pilots and stuff."
He nodded. "But... how have you been?"
She opened her mouth to reply. And realized she was about to burst into tears.
That's when he pushed her against the wall.
And kissed her. Hard.