Sunflower

Chapter 17

Chris

I've been sitting in on this virtual meeting for the past seven and a half minutes, but I don't think I've heard a single thing that's been said so far. I should be paying attention. This is important. This directly affects my internship.

Yet all I can do is think about Lucy, and how she hasn't called or texted me in four days.

I thought telling her I was planning to leave would be enough to change her mind. Why I ever thought that, I don't know. The whole reason she broke up with me is because of this internship. Because she wants me to do it. Because she doesn't want me to stay here, with her.

Because she doesn't want me anymore.

"Is that okay with you, Chris?"

"I'm sorry?" I ask, snapping out of my thoughts.

Mr. Dugan, the VP of the company I'll be interning for, smiles at me, his dull blonde hair a distracting swoop akin to a whipped cream topping. Does he even know he's too old for that hairstyle?

"Sorry, mate. I forget there's a bit of a lag in the connection sometimes. I said I'll be sending Jenny, my assistant, to New York to start briefing you before Friday. She'll fly with you, get you checked in and show you around beautiful Australia. Jenny, did you finally get connected?"

"Sorry, Mr. Dugan," a soft voice says, appearing on the screen and replacing the once black block that was there. "I'm here now."

I'm stunned by her beauty right away. She's the natural kind of gorgeous, the kind that doesn't need the help of make up or a nice hairstyle.

"Jenny, I'd like you to meet our newest intern, Chris Myers," Mr. Dugan says.

"Hi Chris, it's a pleasure to meet you," Jenny says in the most adorable Australian accent.

"H-hi, Jenny," I reply, clearing my throat. "Nice to meet you as well."

We go on talking about what I can expect in the coming days and weeks and I get a feel for what I'll be doing once I arrive in Australia. The call lasts about an hour, but I enjoy myself so much, it practically flies by.

And when it's over, I can't stop smiling. For the first time, I'm actually letting myself get excited about Australia. I can leave everything here behind and start over. And after all that's happened, I know I have to do this. If I'm ever getting over Lucy, I have to let her go.

And the only way I trust myself to do that is to move to the other side of the planet for two years.

Wanting to keep up this new found positive energy, I decide to go for a jog. It's been a while since I've gotten any exercise, so it doesn't take me long to get winded. I take it down a few notches to a slow pace. Wow. I've lost a lot of stamina that I used to have. The past two weeks have been brutal to me, so not surprising. Starting today though, I'm getting my life back together. I can't change Lucy's mind about us and I won't continue to try. Deep down, I know I've been fighting a losing battle for the past year. I knew it was only a matter of time before Lucy called it quits.

She'll miss me someday. She'll miss what we had. And she'll be sorry she ever let me go.

Lucy

Today has been one of the longest days I've ever experienced since starting my job at Quincy Elementary School back in August. It was the kind of day where absolutely nothing went right. I'm falling behind in my lesson plans, the kids were out of sorts, I've cleaned up more messes than the past two years combined and none of them were pleasant; poop, pee, boogers, the whole nine yards.

I need to get out and decompress.

That's why I'm heading straight over to Pin's. I texted Annie to see what she was doing, but she hasn't texted me back yet. I'd try Andrew, but since Cole's birthday is this weekend, I'm sure they have plans.

I don't mind drinking alone though. Especially after a day like today.

When I arrive at Pin's, I sit down at the bar and order a drink. Bored out of my mind, I take out my phone and start scrolling through my social media accounts when I hear a familiar laugh that catches my attention. I look around and spot Annie, Cole, Andrew, Sam and Chris sitting at a table together.

At first, I'm hurt that I was left out. But then I remember that Chris is leaving soon and this was probably a going away party for him, one that I obviously wouldn't have been invited to. No one mentioned anything, probably because they didn't want to hurt my feelings. But Annie could've at least told me she had plans. It feels like they're starting to push me away. Like they know they can't keep both me and Chris, so they decided to keep Chris. Which is fine, if that's what Cole and Sam want to do, but Annie and Andrew? They were my friends for years, long before we met any of the others.

Knowing I can't stick around here, I pay my tab and walk outside, pulling the hood of my jacket up over my head. It helps me to feel more isolated and right now, I want to just crawl under a rock.

My eyes sting with tears that threaten to spill over my eyelids, but I refuse to let them. I deserve this. And deep down, I need this. I have to distance myself from everyone. I'm not okay and I know I can't turn to any of them for help. I can't turn to Chris anymore either.

I'm on my own...

---

"Ms. Sunday, I have to say, I'm quite surprised. Are you sure this is what you want to do?" Dr. Ash asks.

"I'm sorry for the short notice, but as you know, my family is dealing with a lot at this time. I think it's best if I take some time off and get my head straight. I'm not at my best right now and it's not fair to the kids for me to continue on like this," I explain.

He nods, pressing his lips together. Dr. Ash is a wonderful principle and even better boss. He's understanding, sympathetic and kind of reminds me of Colonel Sanders a bit, which makes me chuckle. He's a father of five girls and a grandfather to fifteen children, most of which attend this school. Everyone here loves him, teachers and students alike.

And because I'm feeling vulnerable right now and have no one else, his kind and gentle face draws the tears right out of me- days of pent up tears.

Dr. Ash reaches across the desks and clasps both his hands around mine. "Oh dear. No reason to cry. We'll get through this. Take all the time you need to recover."

"I'm so sorry, it's just..." I'm ugly crying at this point, making it difficult to speak and no doubt making me look as unstable as I feel.

"Please, go home and take care of yourself, Lucy. I'll file the paperwork for your leave immediately."

I nod, squeezing his hand. "Thank you so much."

After I leave Dr. Ash's office, I stop in the bathrooms across the hallway to clean my face up. I set my purse down on the sink and start digging for my travel size pack of tissues. I pull one out and look up at the mirror, gasping when I see my reflection.

I look terrible.

I quickly clean the mascara from underneath my eyes , wipe my nose and run a hand through my messy hair. And then I make a mad dash for the parking lot.

Luckily, I make it out of the building unseen and when I get into my car, I blow out a relieved breath. I'm going to finally get some much needed time off. And I plan to use it wisely.

I start back home, ready to start this time off with a day of rest and relaxation. Tomorrow, I'll start looking for a new apartment. I'm thinking once I get out of my current place, I won't be  constantly reminded of Chris and I can start trying to put my life back together. It'll be like starting over, brand new.

When I'm only a few blocks from my apartment, I see a guy who looks a lot like Chris walking next to a petite blonde girl. Lately, I've been seeing Chris everywhere, but I know it's just my brain playing tricks on me. Besides, Chris would never wear a trench coat. It's not his style.

However, the closer I get, the more convinced I am that it's Chris.

Either way, I have to know for sure. And I have to know who the girl is that's with him.

I park my car on the side of the street and hurry across to the other side where I think I saw Chris earlier. I look around, but I no longer see the light brown trench coat. There's a lot of people around though, so I move in the direction I saw him going in. 

I keep my eyes peeled, looking around in every direction until finally, I spot him. He's stopped in front of Yanni's, a Greek restaurant that as far as I can remember, he never cared for. He holds the door open for his lady friend and then follows her inside.

I hurry towards the restaurant, dodging people and cars along the way until I've finally made it. I stop in front of the door, but then I catch a glimpse of my reflection in the glass.

And I'm reminded of what a Sasquatch I look like right now. I can't face Chris while I look like this.

Still, some part of me really needs to know if he's with someone else. Letting my curiosity get the better of me, I open the door and walk inside. I look around and spot the trench coat in the back corner of the restaurant.

"Excuse me, do you have a reservation?" the hostess asks when I walk past her.

"Um, no. I'm meeting someone," I answer.

"Who?" she asks with a bit of attitude, her plump lips forming a smirk as she crosses her arms over her busty chest.

I scoff at her. "Since when do you require personal information to eat here?"

"This is a very popular restaurant with a long waiting list. A lot of people have tried sneaking in with your same story, but it doesn't work on me. Give me a name or I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

"Chris Myers," I reply out of panic.

She scoffs and checks her clipboard. "It says here party of two and two people have already checked in under that reservation."

"What?" I ask, deflating.

So it really is Chris. And he's here with someone...

It didn't even take him a month to move on...

Against my better judgement, I look over at Chris's table. His back is to me, but I can see the girl clearly. And she's freaking gorgeous, of course. She's smiling and laughing, like she's so into him.

"I see what happened," the hostess says, standing next to me and looking in the same direction. "He ditched you for someone else."

I look at her in disbelief, but before I can come back, she gives me a sympathetic pat on the back and turns to walk away.

But I can't move. I'm rooted in place. Frozen. Numb. Dead inside.

I should get out of here, but I can't. I can't leave without letting him know what a sorry piece of s**t he is for moving on from a five year relationship in only a couple of weeks.

Am I really that replaceable?

My heated thoughts send me stalking across the restaurant and right over to their table.

"It's been two weeks and you've already replaced me?!" I shout, pushing Chris's shoulder.

"Hey, what the-" he freezes when he see's that it's me. His eyes cloud over with something I can't quite place. "Lucy..."

The girl he's with just stares up at me in confusion. "Um, I'm sorry. I think there's been some misunderstanding."

She has an Australian accent.

Uh oh...

I look between them and finally hang my head, cursing under my breath.

"Lucy, this is Jenny. She's my boss's assistant. She's here to discuss the interneship and accompany me to Australia," Chris explains. "Jenny, this is...my ex-girlfriend, Lucy."

Jenny smiles uncomfortably. "Nice to meet you, Lucy."

I don't think I've ever made a bigger fool of myself in all my life. Feeling overwhelmed and out of control, I dart for the exit.

"That was brutal, honey!" the hostess laughs as I'm leaving.

I get in my car and give myself a few seconds to calm down. I want to cry, scream, wail. I want to rip Jenny's perfect blonde hair right out of her scalp.

Oh my God, I want to scalp her. Who even am I anymore?