Dedicated to exquisite_kitty

I tried to move but my body went limp. I was in a deep, vast ocean. I tried holding on to something, anything but nothing seemed available.

I was ready to open my mouth and scream but I realized the little oxygen I had left would be gone. Help! My body called out. Someone, anyone.

Suddenly, I felt a moist substance on my face. More like a slimy tongue. Slowly, I opened my eyes. I was back in my room, lying flat on my back in my bed situated in Zach's penthouse.

The licking continued. I scrambled from the bed. There was Arthur, breathing heavily wagging his tail. I stare incredulously at the dog who noticed I sat up straight. He bounced on my leg and started barking happily.

"Who's a good boy? Yes, you are I said, ruffling him, he barked louder. He had been staying in my room for a few nights now. I touched both sides of my face with my free hand and there Arthur saliva, on my right cheek. Eww!

Gently easing him off my lap, I wash my face quickly and dried it with one of my carelessly kept towels laying on my bed. I wasn't a clean freak but not a dumpster either. I was both.

I walk slowly to the living room expecting to see you know who. Not that I was looking for him anyway.

Zach and I said a few words to each other after the carnival. Immediately we got to the apartment, Zach headed straight for his room while I, on the other hand, fixed some cereal for myself before heading to bed.

Getting closer, I saw a small silhouette seated on one of the couches watching TV. That wasn't Zach! I quicken my pace. I gasped surprised at what I saw.

It was Jersey, watching a movie. The second I gasped, she turned her head towards me. Her black hair was tied into a tight ponytail giving her the young and vibrant look. Her blue eyes and face looked rested and relaxed than the day before.

"Hi." She said cheerfully.

"Hey, whatcha doing here this early, Jersey?" I asked politely not wanting to sound like a bad person. It was her best friend's house anyway.

"And where is Zach?" I added, taking a quick look to the kitchen. The house looked eerily quiet. Too quiet.

"Well. Zach left for work hours ago." She said, looking pointedly at me.

Okay no denial but, something was off. I take a look out the French Windows. Cars, buses had already begun their day jobs and the sun was shining brightly.

Still looking out the window I asked lowly, "what exactly is the time, Jersey?"

"A few minutes before twelve." She said simply. I spun around chorusing a loud "what." Ignoring the sounds of the TV, she faced me, "yes. Damn you could sleep forever! I called your phone ten times before coming over. I tried to wake you but you slept like a log. You could sleep on water and still not be disturbed. How do you manage to get to work?"

"A few alarm clocks and my phone," I muttered under my breath. Before our yesterday's goodbyes, I gave Jersey my number.

That moment, my stomach choose to growl loudly. I was hungry. On a cue, Sandra entered the living room. "Good morning Miss Daniels," she said smiling at me.

Wait, what! She never smiles at me, Ever.

"Err... Hi," I replied, totally unsure of the things happening around me.

"I reserved your breakfast in the microwave. I go get it_" she was saying but I, caught her off. "I'll get it myself," I gave her an obviously confused look but instead of frowning and walking away. She smiled and walked away.

"What's happening?" I whispered quietly as I could to Jersey who was focused on the TV again.

She looked at me with a blank stare before understanding what I meant. "Oh. You mean Sandra? I had a talk with her. So are you ready to go to the mall or what?"

The question why did you do that? Was at the tip of my tongue but I couldn't bring myself to ask her. She was probably doing me a favor. Nodding, I hurried to the bathroom. Taking a well satisfying shower, I got ready. I wore a faded tee and jeans with red sneakers before heading to the kitchen.

Passing through the living room, I noticed the TV was turned off and Jersey was nowhere in sight. Oh well! I saunter to the kitchen.

"What if she poisoned it?" "What if she is a psycho in love with Zach?" Those were the questions roaming in my mind as I stood in front of the microwave. I decided to skip breakfast and have something at the food court but my stomach won't stop growling.

"It's now or never Daniels," I said taking a deep breath, I pulled my breakfast out. It was chicken lasagna. The image of Zach cooking passes through my mind. Sighing, I sit in one of the high chairs next to the kitchen island. Imaging, Zach was once again behind the counter, shirtless wearing an apron. I never pictured apron to be sexy as hell.

I felt a light tap on my shoulder, snapping me from my daydream. Jersey's face comes to view. "Hey, are you okay?"

Instead of answering, I stare at the bowl in front of me. It was empty. Even in the dream world, am still a sucker for food.

I turned around to face her smirking. "Let's go to the mall."

           ★★★★★★★

A couple of hours later, we sat in the food court for lunch. Well, let's say a wide, reserved part of the food court because am sexy and I know it. Just kidding, fans went nuts immediately I entered the large and wide crowded food Court. They were all screaming Madison which wasn't my real name, well except I was playing her. Even some random guy jumped over a few tables to get to me, going down on one knee, asking me to marry him.

While shopping, I was safe. No one noticed my presence. But this was different.

Dennis had to reserve a personal space for me and Jersey. We got into a chatter which gave me more information about her. Like; Andre owned one of the top neurosurgeon hospitals in California. And that Drew was already going to school. And also she was a book editor, which mean she probably worked from home. And lastly, she was twenty-six. She explained Zach was a year older than her which meant he was twenty-seven and I was...

Forget it! I needed to get laid, fast.

Currently, she was gushing about TV shows she thinks I should try out. My phone went off on the table, picking it up my eyes widen at the message flashing on the screen.

It was Johnny.

Hey Ruby, am home. We need to talk.

It arrived just when I needed it.

I sprung up from my chair almost too quickly. Everyone in the cafe turned to my direction, watching my every move. Like that's comfortable.

Throwing our empty box of pizza in the trashcan. I noticed Jersey was still seated. She didn't bother to ask me any question because she probably guessed I was heading home. We had shopped till we drop, literally. I didn't do that but, Jersey did. She would have bought all the bags in the bags store if I hadn't drag her out. I just got myself a few new stuff.

"So. How do I look?" I asked her, whirling around so she would get a better view of my dress. It was one of my new stuff. I loved it so much that I decided to wear it home. It was a dark blue off-shoulder, strapless short jumpsuit paired with a timberland boot.

I don't know about you guys but, jumpsuits are almost the same as overalls so, I'm already in love with them.

"Love it!" Jersey squealed. Her morning Gucci handbag was gone. It was replaced with a shiny new, gold clutch.

"Okay, am off to see Johnny," I said, packing up my shopping bags sitting beside me along with my unfinished banana smoothie. "Johnny. As in your boyfriend Johnny?" She said looking somewhat displeased.

"Yeah, him. Aren't you hitching a ride with us?" I ask when I noticed her still seated, calmly gulping down her smoothie. "Naah, you go ahead. I'll catch a taxi or something," she said, giving me a wave of dismissal.

I shot her a worried look but she smiled in return. I trot towards the mall's doors with Dennis a few feet behind me. No fans bothered to come close to me, only taking pictures from a distance.

I jumped into the car. I wasn't ecstatic like I use to be a week ago. Tell me Johnny was around about a week ago and I'll be on the freaking cloud nine. But now, that happiness seems quite far away. My decision to tell him what happened during the past week he was gone wasn't any different.

But.

I shouldn't be feeling guilty about things I didn't do with Zach. I mean we didn't kiss or have sex. But you have... in your dreams a small part of my body said. That was true, Zach had been glued to my brain-my mind and my heart. So I was going to come clean with Johnny whatever happens... happens.

"Ruby, we've arrived. Are you sure you don't want me there?" Dennis said as I make a move to exit the car. Pulling my hand back from the door, I placed it on my lap before smiling at him. "Don't worry, I'll be fine. It's not like am going on  mission impossible." I exiting the car a second later and tossing the plastic cup into a trash can.

Walking towards the building, I hear Dennis call behind me. "Ruby where should I put all this?" He was gesturing to the shopping bags.

"In the living room." I turned around and called back. I'll probably get home before Zach did. I watched the car disappear down the road. Then focus my attention on the building in front of me. A quick flash of memory of me arriving in front of this building for the very first time comes to mind.

I knocked on the door twice before he finally opens it. He had a loose towel dangling just above his waist. Holy crap, all my confessing drama go down the drain as I stare at him. He was lean and tan, the droplets of water on his skin was...

"Ruby look, there is something we shou-" I cut him off by placing my lips on his. I backed us both inside his apartment. He tasted different. The spark had left, it was just a mere kiss.

He slowly pulled inches away from me, "Ruby."

"What? Are you going to get me out of this jumpsuit or what." I said smugly, running my hands through his hair. Not like the other, you know who but it was manageable enough to get Zach out of my mind.

Johnny serious face slowly morphs into a slight smile. "Jumpsuit it is."

             ~~~~~~~~

Breathing heavily, I placed my head on Johnny's chest. We both lay naked, covered in messy sweat and sheets. I was fooling myself that my action would help me forget him but it made me want him, to be beside him and be covered in his woody scented sheets.

We both lay silent for a few minutes before Johnny finally broke the ice. "Ruby, we shouldn't have done that." He whispered into my hair. I turned my head to face him, hugging the sheets closer to my body. "And why is that?"

"Because am a bi. Am sorry, I didn't want you to find out like this," he said apologetically. "You're joking right," I said smiling at his joke, staring at him straight in the face. My face fell when I noticed his two eyebrows twitched together.

He was damned serious!

"Wait! Why are you telling me this now?" I questioned, sitting up straight. I was never the crybaby, I was a firm leather.

I watched as his cheeks flushed red as he answered, "well there is a guy I have been seeing for some time now and he threatened to break us up if I didn't break up with you."

He was my best friend, I could always tell when he was lying. "Since when have you been seeing him?" I asked surprisingly calm.

"Since 2015." He said quietly

I was crestfallen. He had been cheating on me for four years which was also the exact year he left Green Bank. I felt like the third wheelie, used and the side chick— You know, the second opinion.

He added "I wanted to tell you but, you are sorta clingy and possessive. With all the voicemails, the calling. That's why I wanted you to go back to Green Bank after your audition."

That's why he was behaving so strangely. Suddenly, it all made sense. Johnny was the golden, spoilt child of the McKenna's. Eight matured children in the family, he was the least successful around. Despite being the favorite child. He always felt inferior, so he tried to look perfect in everything he does. Even hurting others in the process.

I walked away from the bed, taking the blanket along with me, leaving him totally naked.

I picked up all my clothes then heading to the bathroom. Hurriedly, I put my clothes back on. God, I was so stupid. For years, I acted like the best girlfriend in the world. I called frequency; telling him about my day. My room back home was filled with his pictures—basically a shrine—for years I was blind and stupid.

Looking in the mirror, my hair was a total mess. I sighted one of the combs and a straighter I kept here in case I slept over. I straightened my curly hair within minutes before walking out, leaving the blanket in the bathroom.

I stepped out with my phone in hand to find Johnny, already wearing boxers shorts, waiting for me. "Ruby I-" he was saying when I placed a call to Jersey, I put the phone to my ear.

One ring,

Please pick up.

Two.

Please Jersey.

Instead of the third ring, I hear her clear gentle voice on the other line. "Hey, Ruby what's up?"

"Where are you?" I asked in bittersweet calmness. "Hmm...about a street away from my house...why?" She asked with curiosity laced in her voice. "Could you come pick me up at a corner in the Vine street. We are having a girls night tonight," I said smiling, feeling so much better already.

"Sure, is everything okay?" She asked I hear her telling the driver in the background to turn around to vine street.

"I'll explain when you get here. Bye." I said hanging up. Johnny must have noticed my call coming to a close because he had moved closer to me. I place my hand up, giving him the middle finger before sashaying out the door.