You Will Only Break My Heart
Mistress Mina
"Friends we've been for so long,
Now true colors are showing
Makes me want to cry, oh yes it does
Cos I have to say goodbye
By now I should know
That in time things must change
So it shouldn't be so bad
So why do I feel so sad?"
Why Do I Feel So Sad by Alicia Keys
--
Serena decided to talk to Andrew and try and sort out what was going on between them. Seeing this new side of him and hear such weird and crazy things about him was really unsettling.
She showed up on their door step the afternoon after her date with Darien after her shift at the store before her other job later that night. She knocked a few times, Andrews car was here and so was Darien's but nobody was opening the door.
"Andrew? Are you there?" She knocked louder trying to get their attention, knowing how engrossed they got in the video games they enjoyed playing. Nobody was answering and it irritated her. She decided to just leave a note on the door for Andrew to call her and left.
She got to her car and her phone rang, not looking at the caller ID she just answered expecting it to be Andrew or Darien telling her to came back up.
"Oh so now you answer?" She answered sarcastically.
"Serena; its Aunty Irene, your father's sister. Do you remember me?"
Serena remembered her, although they hadn't seen each other in the 10 years since her father had left her mother, "Yes of course, how are you?"
"Not so good dear," Serena could hear the choked sob in the back ground, "Your father just passed away."
"Oh." Serena was shell shocked; she didn't have a lot to do with her father anymore, never had a lot to do with him when he was living with her too. "Um… What happened, I didn't even know he was sick?"
"Neither did we, he had a heart attack this morning and they tried to revive him but it didn't work."
Serena had no idea what to say or even what to think. It was a complete surprise and with the estrangement she had mixed feelings.
"When is the funeral?" She asked trying to get her bearings.
"I was hoping that you could be here to help out with the funeral arrangements; it was your fathers wish that you plan it."
"Um…" She was trying to put together her schedule in her head so she could figure out when she could leave for her Aunty's house.
"We had taken the liberty of booking your flight for tomorrow morning… I hope that is ok? I know you have limited funds."
Serena shook at the implications, she was her father's only child and he wanted her to organize his funeral and now her aunty had booked her flight and she didn't have a choice. "What are the details? Give me a second to find a pen." She riffled around her car for a pen a paper, "Ok go."
She wrote down the details, "And the return flight?"
"Honey you can stay as long as you like, you will have a lot on your plate; and myself and Dennis your father's attorney will be able to help you through it all."
Serena read between the lines, of course, she would have to deal with the will and his estate, "Thanks Aunty. I will be there tomorrow."
Serena hung up the phone; she started the car in a daze not noticing Andrew standing beside her car knocking on the passenger window.
Andrew saw her face though, he knew something was wrong and it pulled at his heartstrings. She was still his friend even with her betrayal still fresh, he still cared.
--
Serena's mother and step father's reaction was to be expected, "Good riddance. And to burden you with it all is just rude."
Serena just nodded. She felt such obligation but no real desire to do it. She rang all of her workplaces and put in for extended leave and packed her bags. She rang the airline and confirmed her flight and organized a rental car.
She rang Mina and asked her to take her to the airport and tried to if she should see the girls before she left. Deciding to catch up for a coffee she sent them all a message to meet her at Mc Café so she could explain before she took off.
She really wanted this mess with Andrew sorted out before she left so she left to speak with him privately so as not to leave it on the outs.
When she pulled up for the second time that day she was sticking to her guns and not leaving until she got what she wanted.
"Andrew open up, we need to talk."
The door creaked open slightly. "What's up?"
Serena pushed the door open, "My dad just died and I am leaving in the morning."
His face fell realizing why she had ignored him earlier. "Ohh… I am so sorry."
Serena grimaced still unsure of how she felt about it. "I didn't really know him, Can we talk?"
He led her into the kitchen and put the kettle on; they always had their heart to hearts over hot chocolate.
"Why have you been acting so scary?" Serena asked when he handed her the mug. While waiting for his answer she breathed in deeply the smell of his hot chocolate was always good.
Andrew didn't answer straight away. "You remember years ago when I had that problem?"
Serena nodded knowing that he referred to his heroin addiction in school. "You're not doing drugs again are you?"
He shook his head, "No but they mucked with my head and sometimes I can't control my impulses."
"Oh," she sipped her drink, "Ok." She paused trying to gather her thoughts. "Why did you trip out so much?"
"I thought you were on my side Sere?"
"I always am; we have been friends forever. What were you fighting so hard for?"
Andrew avoided eye contact for a good while until she poked him in the side, "Honey tell me." She sing songed.
"I am in love with him." Andrew eventually whispered.
They sat in silence contemplating what this meant for both of them now that it was out in the open. The hush continued for a good half an hour, while they avoided eye contact and sipped their drinks, staring into the creamy brown liquid both secretly wishing they could drown in it.
"I am so sorry, I should have known. The signs were all there. I am so selfish." Serena eventually responded.
Andrew just grimaced, "Too late now he loves you."
They got startled when they heard the front door slam and Andrew's flat mate's voices in the hall.
Lita walked into the kitchen and noticed the tension immediately and smiled in greeting before leaving the room with a, "So just come and get me before you leave."
Darien was flogging the marshmallows out of the cupboard when he looked up, "I just got home and you are gonna leave?"
She grimaced, she didn't really want to think about how she was gonna tell Darien and how he was gonna react but after the bomb shell Andrew had just dropped it was seriously the last thing on her mind. "I am having coffee with the girls; I have to fly out in the morning."
"Fly out." He muffled out mouth full of marshmallow.
"My dad died I have to go to arrange the funeral and his affairs."
Darien swallowed quickly, "How long?"
"I don't know. I want to be back as soon as possible. I don't want to lose my jobs."
"Are you ok?" He fussed over her rubbing her shoulders it should have been comforting but with Andrew sitting so close it was just uncomfortable. "When is your flight?"
She was tempted to lie but it would just cause problems, "Six."
"Oh," She could hear the defeat in his voice, "Did you need me to take you to the airport?"
"Nah, its ok Mina is taking me and you have to work."
"I could skip it you know."
She shook her head, "You need the money." She glanced at Andrew; he nodded knowing what she thinking. "Can I stay tonight?" She asked him.
"Of course," Darien's smile was bittersweet.
Serena melted into his kiss knowing how uncomfortable it was for Andrew but unable to resist his touch. "I will be back later keep the door unlocked for me."
"Always." She knew this was a double edged sword but refused to acknowledge it. She had made up her mind and nothing was going to change it. Tonight would have to be goodbye.
--
It was three in the morning when she slipped from Darien's bed. She kissed his dark hair and then dodged his arms as he went to reach for her; he was still asleep thank goodness.
She left a small note on his bed side table and left; his life for what she hoped was for good.
Mina picked her up outside his house, she picked up on her mood but missed the reason behind it, she held her arms out, "Come on sweetie you will be back in his arms soon enough. You only will be gone for a few weeks at most."
Serena offered her a half smile. "Soon, yeah."
--
That people's is chapter 7. I hope you are enjoying it; or at least trying to. I am finding this a great way to release all my feelings toward this time in my life. Reviews welcome; Flames too if that's what you feel. Love heaps. See you in another week
MM
