Where I'm Supposed to Be

"Whew, he smells good!" Luna thought to herself. As a mystery man passed her on the way home. The fragrance of his cologne made her insides quiver. The thought instantly left her mind with the idea of dating.   "It's not even worth my time," she thought.   Life hit Luna fast after her 10-year relationship with her high school sweetheart came to an end. Stephen, that was his name. A name scratched in her mind she couldn't get rid of. He was everywhere and then nowhere. Everything reminded Luna of him. She couldn't even listen to her favorite radio station at night because the slow jams kept their song on replay it seemed. Let's not forget the corny toilet paper commercial they both memorized and sang like it was a ritual. This was supposed to be her husband, the father to her kids, her forever. Stephen was like a tall, brown-skinned Hercules. His teeth won him the best smile in high school. He had a head full of black curls with hazel brown eyes, someone that looked like they belonged in magazine covers. His personality was the complete opposite of what others expected, he was a pure comedian, clumsy as ever, and never cared for other people's opinions of him. Luna often thought back on those days when life was simple.   "Hello Luna?" it was her best friend Sade waving her hand over her face. "Girl you stay daydreaming," Sade said as she walked side by side with Luna. "Were you even listening to me?!" Sade exclaimed. Sade was going on and on as usual about her man problems with her on-again, off-again boyfriend. "YES! You said you let him come over last night and then what?" Luna said trying to sound interested. "I let him come over and the night was going great, but his phone kept going off during the movie we watched, so he silenced his phone and turned it over," Sade said while making an annoyed face. "Okay and, maybe it was his boys and he wanted to enjoy the movie?" Luna replied, trying to make her feel better. "Yeah, I told myself that until I read the name Crystal with heart emojis flash across his phone just before he turned it over," Sade said.   Sade had so many stories of her cheating boyfriend Matt and Luna was over it. She preached to her time and time again how she was done with him and ready for someone new, but the reality of it was that Sade just kept going back. Luna was convinced he had a root on her. He had done everything under the sun to her. From cheating with multiple women, having a baby by one of the few, and even gambling everything they had when they were together. Matt never took Sade on dates or included her as exclusive to others. He was a total enemy to Luna because she knew her best friend deserved better. Luna also knew that no matter what she told her, it was up to Sade to make her own decisions.   Luna hugged her friend, "it'll be alright. You deserve so much better" Sade nodded, and they continued.   They were coming back from eating and having drinks at their favorite restaurant, called Sophie's. The sun had just come to set as the wind breezed calmly over them. It was the start of spring and the trees rustled in the serene night.   "You know what, let's do something fun tonight!" Luna said trying to cheer her friend up. "Let's go dancing!" Sade grinned slightly and agreed.   Inside Luna battled with herself if she should have even offered knowing she would have rather stayed in. But it was time for her to stop moping around. "Do it for Sade," she thought. "No, do it for yourself." They made it back to Luna's apartment where they pranced around trying on dresses they felt the best in. "Oooh girl, this is the one for you!" Sade said holding Luna's little red dress to her body. The dress was backless with spaghetti strap arms and a small slit coming up the thigh. Luna frowned, "I can't wear that, that's the dress I wore my anniversary night with Steph-" Sade stopped her, "Tonight is not about him, and you're going to look amazing in this."   Luna curled her hair and did her makeup to perfection with the perfect ruby red lip. She slid her dress on and stood back in the mirror. Luna was a total knockout. She had an hourglass figure, full lips, and big brown eyes. Her hair was jet black and voluminous. She matched strappy black heels with her dress and a black satchel bag. Sade came out of the bathroom hopping in one place to slide her dress up. Seconds after she looked up her mouth dropped. "Luna, you're definitely going to turn heads tonight!" Sade said. The girls downed two shots and headed for the door to their uber. Upon arrival, Sade jumped out of the car first and turned to Luna. "We're sure to meet some wholesome guys tonight, is there lipstick on my teeth?" Sade said. "No girl," Luna laughed. "You look perfect, let's make tonight about us just having fun." The line to get inside of the club wrapped around the building. The bass of the music bounced off walls. After some time, they made their way in. The DJ kept the crowd pumped. Some were on the dance floor, while others posted around the bar talking and drinking. The club was packed full of people. It was the newest club in town that just recently opened a few weeks ago. Luna and Sade started at the bar, taking turns accepting drinks from guys that had no idea they had no chance. "Dance with me," a guy said to Luna. Sade took Luna's hand and gave him a silly grin. "She's dancing with me at the moment." Luna and Sade took to the dance floor laughing and spinning in circles. Luna finally felt the joy she thought she had lost. They danced until they were out of breath. A guy came up behind Sade asking to step in for a dance. She took his hand and pulled him close to her. His eyes got big, and a grin spread across his face. At this point, Sade was already in her happy drunk stage. Luna stood back smiling watching her friend dance circles around this man. Sade was petite and fiery. Her hair was wavy and long, with bright green eyes and high cheekbones. She left this man smitten. Luna laughed watching her carry on. Luna looked to the floor and then up again to the entrance. "Wait a minute," she thought. "Is that STEPHEN?" There Stephen was walking in with a few of his friends. He had a fresh haircut, with all black on with red sneakers. His muscles protruded out of the arms of his sleeves. He was so handsome. Luna grabbed Sade and said, "BATHROOM, NOW!" They made their way to the ladies' room huddled together in a corner. Sade was puzzled about what was going on. "I just saw Stephen walk in," Luna said.  She dropped her head and put her hand on her forehead. Luna felt her heart begin to race and everything that happened the night they broke up started to replay in her mind. She had not seen Stephen or spoken to him in two whole months and watching him walk through that door left her in shock. Luna and Stephen lived together at the time of their breakup. There was never a point when you wouldn't see one and not the other. Two peas in a pod. Luna and Stephen were together since high school, so they were all each other knew. Mild stones came and went, first dating, meeting parents, and eventually a place together of their own. Their love had always been genuine and fiery. Love was strong for the two, but like most relationships, the honeymoon phase began to run its course. The morning kisses stopped, arguments over nothing and too many nights of going to bed angry became the norm. The couple seemed to start to fall out of love. Their last argument was over who did the dishes last. Although petty, they knew it was mostly unsaid resentment they built for one another. They always made decisions based on their relationship, so they gave up a lot to focus on settling down together. "Luna breathe," Sade said to Luna waving her hand to her face.  "What is he doing here? Why does he have to be HERE OF ALL PLACES?" Luna exclaimed.   "Luna please don't allow him being here to ruin your night. C'mon girl, we were just having fun." Sade said. "You're right Sade, you know what, I should go over and say hi," Luna said brushing her hair back.  Sade scrunched her mouth and gave Luna a puzzled look. "I didn't say all of that, are you sure?" "I'm more than sure, let's go," Luna said as she held her head high and headed out of the bathroom.