"How are you? When did you come back and why didn't you call me? Why are you looking like this? What did that evil man do to you?" Ava groaned as her friend bombarded with a series of questions not giving her a breather.
The three of them had gone back inside the restaurant but the guy who was definitely her friend's date had bid her goodbye and left. She dropped her spoon using the table cloth to clean her lips elegantly which the stranger from the plane sitting beside them caught.
Ava's calm eyes went to him who continued eating his food like they weren't there, she breathed out "Let's eat first Amy. I need this food right now. I promise I will tell you everything"
"But you—"
"She's been starving and needs to eat, maybe you can ask after that," the stranger said, dropping his fork by the side of his plate and pushing his chair backwards, excusing himself and Ava's shoulders collapsed.
Seeing her childhood best friend, she was very happy. Coming back to her home town she knew no one was going to take her back, not even her mother's family.
Her best friend's family was the only people that never left her side after the ordeal with her mother and father. She was so alone in her world that she decided to flee the country and now she had returned.
"Can we talk about this later please. He is a stranger I met inside the plane and life happened where he offered to get me dinner and I met you" Ava pleaded with her eyes that flooded with tears. Her friend smiled, pulling her in for a side hug and kissed her hair, nodding.
They ate in silence as he returned, sitting back in his chair, he drank his wine before breaking it "I have an appointment now. I wish I could stay more but duty calls." Standing up he stretched his hand towards Ava "Michael"
"Ava. Which you already know by now"she cheekily said, rolling her eyes. He laughed and a red hue stained her cheeks with unidentified butterflies swimming her bellies with her baby.
Shoving his hands into his hair which reminded her of a certain someone who does that constantly "I would really want to see you again if you have the time and wish to" he touched his jacket to pull out his card but didn't find one and decided for her number which she gave him but her phone was off.
"See you again?"
"Yeah, be careful not to spill coffee on anyone" he said over his shoulder and sprinted out of the building like someone was on his tail. She slumped back in her chair breathing softly then looked at her friend."You can kill me with your questions now, we are free"
And the first question her friend decided to ask her became the hardest to answer "How are you Ava?"
She closed her eyes, memories of that night playing like a broken video recorder in her head. She could vividly remember every single and subdued detail and move on her body and the face behind it but she didn't know if she could answer that question.
Was she really okay?
She didn't know how she felt or what to feel right now. Anger. Hate and confusion all clashed together leaving her worried and anxious about what's going to happen next.
She wouldn't label that night, a night of regret but a night where she made the first big decision of her life though it had left her with a spawn. She would still reenact it.
"I'm pregnant. And before you would say anything. It's not an illegitimate child, I know the father and everything but…but…you could say I just want to be a single mom…for now" she shrugged. Lying to her best friend was like lying to herself but what could she do but lie.
She can't just spew everything like butter on a loaf of bread. She wasn't fine but would be and this little explanation would do for any more answers coming.
"And?"
"I don't know where to stay. More like I'm trying to start afresh. I know it's hard and everything but I'm willing to try for my baby" she was homeless right now. she rubbed her stomach which her friend caught with her eyes.
Amelia exhaled a harsh breath she didn't know she had held while her best friend talked. Picking up her friend's hands from the table into her own, her eyes gleamed "Mom would be happy to know about this. Everyone Ava, don't ever think we would be judgemental with you deciding to take such a bold step" your mom didn't want to take. She knew that was what she wanted to say but what she could say?.
She wasn't her mom and would never be her mom. She was Ava. A girl who would do anything for her child.
They finished eating when a waiter appeared with a big bag of takeaway. She was startled after he explained Michael had paid for the food and told them to arrange this for her.
Her heart warmed at the gesture and she made a mental note to call him and thank him but remembered she didn't have his number but he. She prayed to see him during her stay here.
They hailed a taxi quietly in an understood silence and arrived in no time to Amy's two-bedroom apartment. They stood in front of the apartment when Amy lunged herself into her friend's body, almost stumbling on her.
"I haven't seen you in forever Ava. You broke my heart just leaving like that, not even telling me what was wrong. Everyone was sad. I was the most because we are best friends. We share our problems together. I'm still angry, you still have a lot to atone for your sins" tears rolled down and she sniffed on her shoulder as Ava patted her back smiling and apologizing.
"I'm sorry but I had no time to explain and chose to stay. Forgive me" she kissed her friend's hair and they cried together before withdrawing and laughing, cleaning their eyes.
Amy moved to open the door letting Amy in first before following behind her "This is beautiful Amy"
"I thought about you when renting this place. Only you Ava" their eyes locked and Ava knew how deeply she had hurt her best friend with her impromptu actions all because she was trying to listen to people that never cared about her.
She hugged her tightly as Amy rubbed her back "I'm so so sorry Amy. I will never do that again. I promise. Forgive me" she hummed as Amy murmured "mom would need that too and everyone, you have a lot of amends to make"