The Bodyguard

Chapter 5 - Amy

I must have fallen asleep again at some point because when I next look at my phone it’s 5pm and the series I was watching on the laptop has finished.

I have two new messages. My Mom has text back with “ok love xx” and there’s a message from Jason. My stomach sinks with a heavy feeling as I open his message.

I’m sorry and I can explain if you’ll give me the chance. Don’t throw us away. J x

I throw the phone on the bed shouting “No! You threw us away you d**k!” I feel tears pricking my eyes again, but I make a pact with myself that I’ve shed enough tears over that i***t and I swallow them down with deep breaths.

I want to get drunk right now. Very, very drunk. I need to feel the numbness and have the chance to forget. I know I need to move on and the only way to do that is to stay away from both Jason and James and focus on my studies. That will start tomorrow. Tonight I just want to forget.

I find a bottle of white wine in the fridge, I'm sure it was Jenny's so if it's still in there it must be up for grabs. I fill a glass to the top and gulp the amber liquid, draining the entire glass without pausing for breath.

“Easy there!” A voice exclaims behind me.

I turn and jump in surprise, there's an unfamiliar girl with short blonde hair and blue eyes standing in the kitchen doorway. She’s short and very curvy, with a pretty face and a warm smile.

“I’m Amy, your new housemate.” she explains.

“Oh right, yeah. I’m Kristen.” I breathe in relief.

“Why are you downing wine alone in the kitchen? Are things really that bad?” She chuckles and has such warmth to her voice that I suddenly relax, which takes me by surprise.

I pour another glass before replying, “actually yes. I found out my boyfriend is cheating on me yesterday with two other girls.” Why am I telling her this?  I don't tell anyone anything.

“Wow!” She looks stunned. “I see why you’re drowning your sorrows then. Were you together long?”

“Only a few months, but we’d known each other for years. I feel I’ve lost a friend as well as a boyfriend.” My voice wobbles slightly.

“I get that. Well I’m a great listener and I’d like us to be good friends since we’re going to be living together so please come and talk any time. In fact, why don’t I grab a glass and you can tell me all about the other girls?” She responds hopefully.

“Sure.” I don’t know why, but I trust her instantly and I don’t trust many people.

Before long, I’ve told her all about Jason and James and the mess I made yesterday. I’ve told her about Kate and Sophia and Sophia’s boyfriend Jeff who also lives with us. She tells me she has a long term boyfriend called Dex who her parents strongly disapprove of, but she loves him.

We chat all evening and I finally feel a tiny bit more human. She is really confident, sweet and funny and very down to earth. She’s exactly the kind of friend I need right now to bring me out of myself.

“So next weekend I’m going to the coast to Dex’s house and we are going to a private party in a club. I can get you on the guest list if you’re interested?” Amy tells me.

I think about it for a while. I love a party and I don’t get many invites, I certainly won’t now James and I aren’t talking. Maybe this is the distraction I need outside of studying and work and a private party in a club sounds interesting. “Why not.” I relent. “I have work Saturday morning though so it depends when you’re leaving.”

“We could leave in the afternoon, around 2?”

“Perfect!”

We talk and drink some more then I head up to bed. Well today wasn’t terrible I think as I get under my soft, fluffy, white covers. I didn’t give in and reply to Jason, I’ve successfully avoided my Mom and I’ve made a new friend. Plus I have an invite to a party with people who don’t know me and don’t know what an i***t I am.