Sunflower

Chapter 19

Present Day

Chris

It's been three months since the last time I saw Lucy, but I still think about her every day. I wonder what she's doing, if she's happy, if she ever thinks of me. I keep in touch with Annie, Cole and Andrew, but none of them really bring her up much. I guess I can understand why.

Annie said Lucy went on a trip to Thailand a few weeks ago to clear her head. I've thought about calling her since we're close to the same time zone now, but I couldn't do that after so much time has passed. When I arrived in Australia, I got a new phone, a new number, new email, new apartment, new job, new everything. Everything has changed for me and in a lot of ways, it's a welcomed change. Still, there's one thing that hasn't.

I'm still in love with the girl who broke my heart.

"Knock knock," Jenny calls out before she peeks her head into my office. "Are you ready for lunch?"

"Yeah, let's go," I smile.

We walk down to the cafeteria and grab a couple of sandwiches before sitting at a small table for two next to the window. Our firm is huge and such an architectural masterpiece. Not only is the building's design sleek and modern, but it has the most beautiful view I've ever seen.

"You're dressed a little warm for January, aren't you?" Jenny smirks at me.

"Well, where I come from, it's freezing in January. This below the equator thing is going to take some getting used to," I chuckle.

"You've been here for three months. You'll get the hang of it. And who knows? Maybe you'll love it so much, you'll want to stay," she says, smiling adorably.

I have to admit, I like Jenny a lot. She's cute and sweet, she's funny, and she's been a great help to me since I've been here. I can also tell she likes me. I've kept things friendly between us since I'm in no place in my life to move on right now. She knows about Lucy and since it's only been four months since our relationship ended, it's too soon for me to be getting involved with someone else. Especially someone that I work with.

But who knows how I'll feel at the end of my two year internship? I could be over Lucy by then and ready for what's next. If what's next is staying here in Australia, then I'll entertain the possibility of Jenny becoming more than a friend.

"Ah, you bloody seppo," Jenny says, when I take a fry off her plate.

"Seppo?" I laugh. "What is that?"

"It's you," she shrugs, trying to look intimidating, but unable to hold back a smile. "It's what we call Americans. Well, some Americans. The really annoying, obnoxious ones."

"You think I'm annoying and obnoxious?" I ask dramatically, making her giggle.

"When you steal my food you are!" she shoots back.

I have to admit, there's a lot of things I don't know about Jenny, or about Australia in general. But the more I learn, the more I like it. It makes me want to know more...

"So what do you say you finally take me sight seeing this Friday," I suggest, making her eyes widen in surprise.

I didn't mean for it to come out quite as flirty as it did, but it's too late now. She totally thinks I'm hitting on her. Truth be told, I kind of am. We don't have to have anything serious, but I like spending time with Jenny. She makes me forget about Lucy, at least for a little while. She makes me laugh and smile. She makes me enjoy life, the way I used to before everything in my world became so damn complicated. So even if we're just friends, I'm gonna put myself out there and enjoy this opportunity. No pressure, no expectations.

Lucy

"There she is! Wow, you look amazing, Lulu! How was Thailand?" Andrew asks as soon as I join him, Annie and Cole at the table.

"It was great! Beautiful beaches, lots of culture and the best food I've ever had in my life!" I answer, grinning ear to ear.

I spent the past three months in Thailand with my mom and her new fiance. It was an unplanned, unexpected trip that at first, I wanted to no part of. But the opportunity to get away from everything was appealing. So appealing that I was willing to deal with my mom's over-the-top fake enthusiasm.

After being around her and her new beau, it's obvious she's only in it for the money. I can't say I blame her, he's loaded. Other than that though, there's not much to the guy. He's old, much older than my mother, and he's as boring as a sack of flour. I was kind of dreading it at first, but mom and I actually had a lot of fun together. I think we both needed some time to focus on our relationship. With all that's happened, we started to neglect each other.

I have to remind myself that my mother went through all the same horrible things I went through. She sacrificed so much of her life to give Tommy and I a better one. She was unhappy for so long, because she wanted to do the right thing.

She doesn't want to talk about dad, and for that, I'm grateful. I hate talking about him. I hate the way it makes me feel. Like a parasite in my stomach, eating its way through my organs and tissue, consuming me from the inside out.

"Lucy?"

"Oh, sorry," I chuckle when I realize I've been lost in space. "Jetlag."

"I bet. I was asking when you'll be cooking for us," Cole smirks. "Annie said you and your mom took gourmet cooking classes while in Thailand."

"Yeah, we did. It was a lot of fun, but unfortunately, I don't believe I posses the skill set that's necessary to pull off an authentic Thai dish," I chuckle.

"That's true. She can barely pull off a grilled cheese," Annie says, nudging me with her shoulder.

"Oh yeah, so how is living together going? Is it like college all over again?" Cole asks.

Just before I left for Thailand, Annie and Sam broke up and she moved in with me. I had planned to move after Chris and I broke up since neither of us could afford the place on our own. But when Annie asked if she could move in and split the rent until my lease is up, I couldn't refuse.

"We don't really know yet, Cole. In case you haven't noticed, Lucy's been gone for three months. I've had the place to myself until today," Annie says, sipping her drink.

"Oh yeah," an air-headed Cole replies.

I want so badly to ask if anyone has heard from Chris. I'm sure they have, but they probably don't want to bring him up around me. I haven't spoken a word to him since he left for Australia. I guess I half expected him to call or text, at least once. I still think about him all the time, even though I know we're better off going our separate ways.

I miss him so much though.

I need a drink. Badly.

"I'm going to the bar. Anyone want anything?" I ask, standing up.

"No, we're good. I think we're about to head home," Andrew says.

"I can use another drink," Annie says, shaking the ice in her otherwise empty glass.

I walk over to the bar and place my order. While I'm waiting for the bartender to make our drinks, I hear a familiar laugh coming from the opposite side of the bar.

"Sam?" I whisper to myself.

He's getting close with a blonde girl, who looks no older than eighteen, right in front of God and everyone. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out he's only doing it to make Annie jealous. I mean, he brought her to the place he knew Annie would be every Friday night.

What a jackass.

I don't give him the attention he so desperately craves. Instead, I pretend I don't see them, take my drinks and walk away. He probably thinks I'll go back and tell Annie. And I will, after we get home. I'm not about to let her make a fool of herself here.

"They were out of Triple Sec, so I got you a Tequila Sunrise," I say, setting Annie's drink down in front of her once I make it back to our table.

"Ah, thank you. I can't believe I drank them out of Triple Sec," she laughs loudly.

I look around at the many eyes that are on us and probably have been since we got here. We haven't even been here that long and Annie is already three sheets to the wind. If she found out Sam was here, there would surely be a brawl.

And it wouldn't even be the first.

Wow, the last time, I thought Annie was going to kill him for sure. It was our senior year of college and Annie had just finished her midterms. We were getting ready to enjoy winter break and some time off from studying. Sam had been flaking on their last few dates, so Annie started to get suspicious.

3 years ago

Penn State University

Lucy

Chris: How much longer are you gonna be? I'm about to start watching the Grinch and drinking hot coco without you.

Me: Ugh. I don't know. We've been sitting here all night and so far, he hasn't even turned on a light. I don't think he's here.

Chris: He's not. He was at Rudy's about an hour ago. He probably hasn't made it home yet. But don't tell Annie that! I'll never get you back!

Me: I'm seconds away from telling her I just started my period.

Chris: You're gross. I like it.

"Are you gonna text your perfect boyfriend all night or are you gonna help me stalk my pathetic one?!" Annie growls, snatching my phone from my hand and throwing it into my lap.

I look at her like she's insane. Because she is.

I can't hold it against her though. Love makes you do crazy things. Like excessively celebrate Christmas because your significant other wants to.

"I know I'm ruining Chris's special cooking baking, carol singing, frolicking magical fairy holiday, but I'm heartbroken here! I have nothing to celebrate!" she whines dramatically.

"Chris said Sam is not at home. He was at Rudy's about an hour ago. Do you want to go there?" I ask her.

She throws her head back and groans. "No. I don't even know what I'm doing. I should just accept the fact that we're over and move on."

No sooner do the words leave her mouth, a car pulls up and parks in front of Sam's first floor apartment. Annie and I watch intently as he and a girl get out of his car and start for the door. He snakes an arm around the girl's waist and kisses her cheek.

I look over at Annie to see her fuming. She's going to snap at any second and I'm the only person who could possibly stop her.

So we're screwed, for sure.

"I'm gonna kill that son of a b***h!" Annie growls, getting out of the car.

She runs after them and I run after her, calling out her name and praying she comes to her senses before something stupid happens.

When Sam sees her coming, he smirks. But he doesn't expect her to lunge at him and tackle him to the ground. She wraps her hands around his throat and sits on top of him, pinning him down so he can't move. His blonde friend shrieks and cries out for help, but Annie pays her no mind.

"So you want to try and make me jealous?! Is that what you want?!" she hisses through gritted teeth.

People are starting to come out of their apartments, wanting to know what all of the fuss is about. I quickly wrap my arms around Annie's waist and use all the strength I have to pull her away from Sam.

"This is why we broke up! You're f*****g crazy!" Sam cries out, holding his neck.

"No, it's because you have a tiny p***s!" Annie shoots back, kicking and fighting as I drag her back to the car.

I finally get her in and we peel off before the cops show up. I look over at Annie to make sure she's okay. She's panting, stilling fuming, I'm sure. But she's not hurt and she's not crying...yet.

"What they hell were you thinking?! Do you want to go to jail?!" I ask in disbelief.

"What did you expect me to do?!" she shoots back. "If you saw Chris with someone else, what would you do?!"

Present Day

Lucy

What would I do if it were Chris with someone else?

The mature thing, of course, would be to just walk away. But I didn't walk away when I saw Chris a few months ago. I confronted him like a crazy person. If he was sitting here at the bar, right now, would I do the same thing? Or have I moved on from that?

I look over my shoulder at Sam, touching all over this girl, smiling at her, kissing her cheek.

If he were Chris...

No, Chris is mine. He can only touch me that way, no one else. If it were Chris, I'd throw him to the floor and try to choke him out too. Because right now, I am crazy. I'm not ready for love and neither is Annie. Sometimes, you have to do something big; something to let out all the emotions inside before they make you go completely insane.

"Annie," I say, taking a deep breath. "Sam is at the bar with another girl."

"What?!" she gasps, looking around.

I see the fire in her eyes, even before she spots them. She's out of her seat and halfway across the bar before I even know what's happening. This time, I don't stop her. Andrew and Cole have already left and I'm not the same Lucy that broke up that fight three years ago. Sam hasn't changed though. He's still the same creep he's always been.

He deserves this.

She tackles him to the floor and starts punching him in the face over and over.

"Yeah, Annie! Get him! That's my girl!" I cheer.