So I truly tried to keep this cute and light, but everything I wrote just came out ridiculous. So here's chapter 4.
I released the safely as I adjusted the shotgun against my shoulder. I aimed at the human silhouette down range and fired.
The kickback stung, but it countered the churning in my stomach. I felt like a fool.
It took 2 weeks for Stephen to stop answering my texts and calls. It took 2 weeks and a day before I found the Facebook pictures of him liplocked with some random girl. One picture wouldn't have been so bad, but there were quite a few pictures of him getting close with this girl. To make it worse, she was the type he said he was looking to avoid. Boobs hanging out, and she looked like she would strip off her clothes the second she got the chance.
I let out a sob. I was so proud of myself. I had called him the day after we met, making sure he got to Pennsylvania ok, and we talked for an hour. In the beginning if he called and I couldn't answer, he would leave cute messages saying what he was doing and when I could call him back. A couple days later, it was just "call me". He would sound distracted when I called him back. A couple days after that, when I called, all I got was his voicemail. Then the calls completely stopped and my texts went unanswered.
Laura, the owner of the range, and a friend of Sara's appeared behind me and pushed the shotgun barrel down. She took it out of my hands and unloaded it, putting the rounds in her pocket.
"Crying while using a shotgun usually isn't a healthy mix," she said. I let out a murmur of a laugh.
"You're probably right."
After I saw the pictures, I texted Stu asking what was going on, only to receive a reply of "I'm so sorry." I called his phone before I could chicken out, and stupidly, he picked up. I cursed him and Stephen out. I called them every bad thing I could think of, and when I was done, I hung up without waiting for a response. My phone rang immediately, but I didn't want to hear an excuse. I had felt truly wanted for the first time in a long time, and it wasn't by drunks during karaoke night at the restaurant.
I ended up in Laura's office telling her my whole sad story. She burst out laughing when I was done.
"You cursed him out!? Good for you!"
"Thanks...I think." Her face lit up.
"I have the greatest idea! You're coming out with me and my friends tonight!"
"I wouldn't want to intrude."
"Shut up. It'll be good for you. We go out to see a coverband, get drunk, and dance our asses off. Be at my house at 7 with a couple of outfits. If we don't get you someone to make out with tonight, we're finding you a hot guy who will go home with your number in his pocket."
I reluctantly agreed, and at 7, was standing on Laura's front step ringing the bell, duffel slung over my shoulder. A girl who looked alot like Laura answered the door.
"You've got to be Michelle. I'm Cassy, Laura's sister. Laura told us what happened." I must have paled, because Cassy laughed and took my arm, dragging me into the kitchen.
"You have nothing to worry about, you're among friends. We want you to have a good time tonight." Laura appeared in the doorway with Sara.
"Michelle's here!" Laura said, her face brightening. Another girl, who introduced herself as Brittany, took my duffel and put it on the table between herself and Sara. They started to go through it.
"You're wearing this!" Sara exclaimed, pulling a shiny halter that had been in my closet forever. "Did you bring those jeans I like on you?"
"Wearing them," I replied doing a 360 spin to show her. Laura studied me and nodded her approval. Sara handed me the top and I went to the bathroom to change.
45 minutes and a small caravan of cabs later, I, arm in arm with Sara was entering the club.
"I'm glad you're here" Sara said to me.
"I am too," I said and smiled my first genuine smile in a week. I paid the fee to get in, and walked into the crowd of people standing around the empty stage.
"First round of shots is on me!" Cassy called out to all of us. We elbowed our way to the bar and she placed her order. The bartender quickly mixed everything together and the small cups were handed out.
"To Michelle! Let's show her that in the end, all you really need is your girls!" We raised our glasses and drank. We all placed our individual order and I got my Smirnoff Ice. I turned to find the band taking the stage. They started to play and I felt myself relax.
A few songs into their set, a strong hand gripped my arm. I attempted to shrug it off. I wasn't ready yet for some cheesy pick-up line. It didn't let go, so I swatted it off me. Get the message buddy.
The hand returned and gripped a little tighter. This time, a voice accompanied it.
"I need to talk to you." I knew that English accent well. I turned and snarled at him.
"What do you want Stu?"