The Story of Us

4

When he had put me back down on the ground, he instantly kissed my cheek and grabbed my hand. It has been so long since our hands melted together like two missing pieces of the puzzle.

"What do you want to do?" he asked.

"Let's play, I have some cash, and we can get food after."

"Sounds like a good plan," he said.

We spent the next few hours playing arcade games, and racking up tickets for toys and candy. We were having the time of our life, it was such a blast. For the first time in years, I was smiling and laughing, finally enjoying my time. He would go play one game, I would play another. We played air hockey together like it was the 80s, jamming out to the music on the loudspeaker. When we cashed the tickets in, we had a lot less than expected, so we ended up getting candy and small trinkets.

"I'm getting hungry," he stated, as we sat underneath the umbrella on the outside patio.

"Okay, so order food, haha what do you want?" I asked.

"How are we paying for this? I have no money," he said.

"Don't worry, I got plastic," I said, as I pulled out my blue credit card.

He smiled and thanked me as he took my card and got himself a meal from the kitchen. I wasn't hungry, so I went ahead and got a soda pop. It was the best first date I have ever been on. After he finished his food, we walked to the fence to the beach. He threw his arms around me, as we watched the sun begin to drop below the horizon. That is when the real fun began. I recognized the voice that haunted my dreams. It was Ron.

"Oh, so this is spending the night with your best friend, right? Yeah, I can see the two of you are so close. I knew you were up to something, you never hang out with any of your friends like that. At least you haven't in a while. So I tracked your phone, and saw you here. I thought about our fight earlier, and I wanted to surprise you. However, I see you have already moved on. I am actually hurt that you couldn't come talk to me about this. I thought after all these years, we were closer than this. I guess I am surely mistaken."

My gut had dropped, I looked like a fool who had cheated on her man. I was almost in tears, screaming at him at the top of my lungs, trying to argue my point, when Cory had stepped between us.

"Man, what the f**k is wrong with you? So what, she cheated on you? You abused her mentally and physically for years..."

"Oh, is that what she told you?" Ron argued.

"She didn't have to, I can see the bruise on her face, even under all the makeup. She looks so miserable with a loser like you. She deserves way better than you. I would never hurt her the way you did. I will never hurt her period. She is a damn queen, and you are nothing but a loser. Take your friends and get lost man. She doesn't need this right now. Look at her, you made her cry. All she wanted was to get away from a monster like you. If I ever hear that you laid a finger on her, I will come after you. No, that is not a threat, but a promise, my friend. If she leaves you, that is her choice, not yours."

I was in complete and utter shock. I wiped my nose on my sleeve as Cory put his arm around me and whispered into my ear.

"Let's go grab dinner beautiful, I know the best spot and no one will mess with you there. I personally know the owner. I dare someone to f**k with you in there, the owner will have them trespassed and arrested. You are always safe with me, ladybug."

He took my hand as we walked, and I was still in shock. Like what in the world just happened? Why did Ron even come? Did Cory really just protect me? My mind was in a whirlwind. I didn't know what to think.