Present Day
Her voice sounded different, and Chloe couldn't put her finger on it. "Hi Aub," She said back brightly. "Oh my god Chloe! How are you?" Aubrey said breathlessly. She could hear the faint sound of Eric watching TV in the backround. "I'm fine, what about yourself? I mean you called me for a reason, right?" Chloe smiled and leaned back on the couch as she heard Aubrey laugh on the other end. "Can't a girl call her best friend just to say hello anymore?" Chloe ran her fingers through her ginger hair. "But you're you," she spoke warmly. "There's always a reason." "Shut up," Aubrey said jokingly. "If you must know, there's something I have to talk to you about." Chloe's back stiffened. "Are you free today?" "I'm always free, my dear." Aubrey laughed again and Chloe felt her cheeks flush slightly. "Lets go to Monet's then."
Chloe beamed. She hadn't been to Monet's in what felt like years. There was nothing particularly exciting about the small coffee shop in Chloe's hometown of Atlanta, Georgia, but every time Aubrey would visit the two would go there just to catch up. Chloe could still remember the first time she took her there, all those years ago. It was the summer of their sophomore year in college. Aubrey just thought it was the coolest place in the world. She wore her cute yellow peacoat jacket that Chloe had helped her pick out earlier that day. "Monet's sounds great."
Later that evening
"Chloe." The ginger looked up from her steaming cup of coffee and turned to see a tall blonde with striking blue-green eyes that sparkled when she laughed standing in the doorway. Chloe's breath almost caught in her throat. Aubrey," she breathed.
She was wearing a turquoise blouse without sleeves and her grown out hair flowed down her bare shoulders in waves. Her red skirt complemented it nicely in a way that wouldn't work on anyone else. Her skin had a light tan, and she looked older somehow, as if in the year since Chloe had seen her last she'd been through a lot. As if she wasn't already tall, Aubrey wore pumps that Chloe could never in a million years pull off. She walked over to the table where Chloe was sitting near the back of the coffee shop. The ginger couldn't help but notice how toned her legs were. Chloe suddenly felt underdressed, wearing a horizontally striped tank top and faded flared jeans with boots. "Fuck you and your style," she teased as she stood up to hug the blonde. "Yeah, yeah, yeah." Aubrey rolled her eyes and hugged her friend tightly. " But what are you talking about?" she said, holding Chloe out at arms length. "You look great!" Chloe looked down at the grown and back up at Aubrey cheekily. Here come the butterflies again. Not much has changed, has it? "Thanks."
Aubrey looked around the room, her hair whipping around her shoulders. "Kinda weird how there's like, no one here huh?" Chloe couldn't help but laugh. "Not many people decide to just go to Monet's at 11 o'clock at night, Aub." "Well if you put it that way…." She grinned, setting down her purse on the table and sitting down opposite from Chloe. How did Aubrey always look so beautiful? "So…" the ginger pried, tilting her head slightly. "What do you wanna talk about?" Aubrey looked down at her hands, fingering her engagement ring. I knew it had something to do with the wedding. "So you know how i'm getting married in like three months?"She looked at Chloe, her eyes especially big. "Yeah…?" Tell me something I don't know. Aubrey wringed her hands together nervously, continuing to twirl her ring. Chloe swallowed. It was very distracting. Aubrey suddenly looked up at Chloe and smiled weakly. It seemed like she'd made her mind about whatever it was she wanted to tell Chloe. "Do you want to be my maid of honor?" Aubrey spoke the sentence so fast Chloe couldn't even hear what she had said. "What?" Aubrey sighed. "I said… Do you want to be my maid of honor for the wedding?"
Chloe blinked. Oh. That was a big deal. Maid of honor. Jesus. For a while it all seemed far away for Chloe; the wedding and all. But this news, with Aubrey asking her this, it really made reality sink in. She was forced to deal with it now. But what's "it?" Why do I even fucking care? Her stomach was doing flip flops. She had to respond to Aubrey's proposal sooner or later.Chloe inhaled and attempted to smile at Aubrey. "Are you kidding? Of course! I would love too! That sounds like so much fun!"
Aubrey sank back in her chair in relief. That went better then she expected it to. Well, what did you think, that Chloe would say no? And she was lying. Anyone could see that. But it was better than nothing. "Great," Aubrey said breathily. Chloe's smile faltered. She felt a pain deep in her chest. But just as quickly, Chloe leaned over the small table and grabbed both of the blonde's hands. "I can't wait to help you pick out your dress! I mean, if you let me." Aubrey was speechless for a moment. But… what? Is she genuinely happy for me or not? It was hard for Aubrey to think straight with Chloe so close to her face. Her hair smells so good. My god, she's so beautiful. And- "Sure," Aubrey squeaked. "Yay!" Chloe beamed and squeezed her hands tightly. Aubrey squeezed hers back. Maybe everything was going to be all right.
Chloe's thoughts daunted her the whole drive back to her apartment. Aubrey must think I've gone insane. She knows I was lying. I could care less about this fucking wedding. All I know is that I just want to see the girl I love in a wedding dress. Her fingers tightened over the steering wheel. She couldn't afford to think like this. Aubrey was getting married to Eric. Because she loves him. And not her. In just three months they would be husband and wife. Is this how it feels to have your heart broken?