mericlecure | Writing Sample #1

“Okay, so... bitchy ex-girlfriend moment?” Abby spared Rachel a momentary glance before shifting back to the couple murmuring at the counter. “But really? They’re practically fondling each other in public -- the rest of us are trying to eat, and he’s got his hands all over Ms. Tramp Stamp over there. You know she has one? And some stupid teddy bear tattoo at her ankle. Who the hell has a tattoo of a teddy bear, anyway?” She bit down on her plastic spoon in frustration, flexing her jaw as she tried not to glare so obviously as the man’s head ducked closer toward the woman’s ear. “I mean, I know it’s some stupid rebound relationship that’s going to crash and burn, but I’d rather it burn sooner than later.” Abby forced her gaze away as she caught the man’s head duck up, trying to redirect her attention towards her tongue getting all the yogurt off the spoon clamped between her gritted teeth.

Rachel sat in careful silence, glancing over at the couple getting their food to-go as her friend pointedly looked away, noting that the man’s hand had travelled no lower than the woman’s elbow. She opted not to point that out, instead simply nodded in sympathy as she shifted her weight a little and picked at her fruit cup.

“And what about Gary? He’s our cat. Well, was our cat. Sure, technically he’s his cat but I was the one who bought the bed and bowls and remembered the flea and tick medication. Speaking of, he was supposed to get a dose last Saturday -- I bet he forgot; he usually does. It’s saying something when I'm the one who keeps tabs on that stuff. Do you think I should call him? Or just mention it at work -- about Gary’s medication? I know he probably forgot, and it’s for the sake of the poor cat -- so that’s okay, right?”

Rachel didn’t answer immediately, instead taking a long long time to chew her food as her eyes dropped down to the fruit cup. But her friend had asked a question, and she was going to answer, and she couldn’t really lie.... “I don’t know, Abby... you guys have been broken up for over a month now. It might come off as kind of... creepy?” She winced as she glanced up at Abby, wishing someone else was the one sitting here through this conversation.

“Oh.” Abby didn’t say anything for a moment, her heart sinking a little as she took that in. Yeah, she could see how that would come off creepy and/or stalker-ish. But the problem was there was still an overwhelming majority of her that thought it was perfectly rational and needed to be done anyway. Just because her and her boyfriend had broken up after three years didn’t mean their -- his -- cat had to suffer too, right? God. This was going to be one of those periods in her life she was going to cringe like hell about later on down the road -- she was already cringing at it. But it was like a bad car wreck that she just couldn’t stop, because everything felt so unfair and hurt and sucked. And she felt like her knowing that something was going to be a disaster wasn’t stopping her from barreling towards it head on. ...Instead of calling, what if she just texted? It was still vaguely creepy and needy, yes; but it satisfied her compulsion and wasn’t as creepy as actually talking to him, right? He could always ignore a text. Or, well, maybe he won't, and we could end up texting back and forth about this and that... ...She didn’t even need that one spoken aloud to hear how pathetic it was.

“Sorry.” She groaned, running her hand through her hair. “Ugh, I keep talking about him. I should stop, I know -- it’s annoying.” She was quiet for a moment. “It’s just -- you think he talks about me? I mean, him and his friends. Do guys really even talk anyway? Or with that girl -- God, I don’t even want to know what they say there. Or well, I shouldn’t want to know but I do -- aaaand I’m do it again. I’ll stop for real this time. Promise. No talking about him or her at least through the rest of lunch break. Shutting up now.” She fidgeted a bit, as completely clamping down on the urge to open her mouth and insert foot was much harder than it should be. “So, how are you?”