~Allie~
Angela and I jumped at the sound of Toni's scream. We were afraid to go to the front door but realized our friend might be in trouble. So our courageous selves walked to the door.
There stood Anthony hugging Toni and his petite girlfriend, Maria smiling next to him.
"I thought you were coming this weekend!" Toni said excitedly after he let her go.
"Well we were. But we decided to come early." he looked at Angela and gave her a hug. "Hi Layle." He said to me using my nickname. Only he called me that. I don't even know how he thought of it. But he's been calling me it ever since we met.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. Seeing him and Maria together was so painful. "Hey Anthony." He gave me a small hug before him and Maria came in the house. We all sat in the family room.
"This place looks real great." Anthony said looking around the room. "Hey this looks like the painting we got for our place Maria."
"Our place?" I questioned.
Maria and Anthony looked at each other unaware of what to say next. "Yeah Anthony and I are moving in together. In Orlando." Maria told us. "And we're engaged." She added holding her hand out to show the diamond.
The 3 of us gasped in shock. "Congratulations!" Toni and Angela said in unison hugging the happy couple.
I could feel the tears. They felt as though they were burning my eyes. I could feel my face turn red with anger and sadness. I couldn't believe this was happening. "Yeah congratulations." I said and ran to my room. I couldn't take it. I gave him practically my whole life. Devoted to him. What does he do? He cheats on me with a whore and now 4 months later they're engaged?! I started pulling the clothes out of my closet and drawers. I grabbed my huge duffel bag and started piling everything in it.
Toni walked in my room. "Allie. Are you ok? Wait a minute ....what... where are you going?" She asked me. I put a pile of shirts in my bag. "I can't. I can't stay here."
"You can't stay here? Where the hell are you going?"
"I'm going home. To Chicago."
"Are you going to come back? I thought you were ok with this Anthony, Maria thing. I mean you told us you were and you are with Brian-"
"Oh my god. Brian." I said cutting her off. "How can I do this to him? He's been nothing but sweet, considerate, respectful, faithful to me..."
Toni looked at me confused still. "Why are you leaving?"
I sat on my bed and held my face in my hands. "I can't be here. I can't be here knowing Anthony and Maria are near us. They're engaged. Do you understand how much that hurts? Toni, I gave him practically 10 years. And he gave her 4 months. And now they're engaged. And I can't deal with it. I just need some time away from here. I'll be back. I just need to sort out my feelings. Please understand." I pleaded. The last thing I wanted was for my best friends to be mad at me.
"I understand." Toni said. "I'm gonna go downstairs." She left the room and headed down the stairs.
~Toni~
I came back in the front room only to see Angela sitting on the couch. She stood up at my presence. "What the hell happened?" She asked. "Why did Allie run off like that? She scared Anthony and Maria away. They left because it was too uncomfortable."
"She's still got it bad for Anthony."
"I thought she was over him. It's been 4 months. And she is with Brian who she loves."
I sat on the couch and let out a sigh. "I don't know what's with her. She's messed up. She's going back to Chicago for a while."
Angela sat next to me. "She is? She needs to organize this mess before it blows up in her face."
"Yeah." I said. I stood up. "Let's go get something to eat. I'm starving."
Angela stood up and we walked to the kitchen.
~Little Later~
"I wonder when Allie's leaving? It's been 20 minutes since I left her upstairs." I said looking at the clock. Angela and I finished our sandwiches. "C'mon let's go see what's taking her so long." We walked in the front room and were about to go upstairs when a note caught my eye on the coffee table. "Hold on." I picked up the folded piece of paper that said Toni and Angela. I opened it up. It was from Allie. I began reading it aloud.
Toni & Angela, I'm so sorry for the way I acted. It was childish. I just didn't know what else to do. I was so confused and so hurt. Seeing Anthony and Maria together was so painful. Then hearing about their engagement was just a stab in my heart. I need time to organize this whole mess. I'm going back to Chicago for a while. I'll be back in time. Please don't be too made with me. I love you guys and I'm sorry I didn't say goodbye. Love Always, Allie
"Well she's gone. Now what?" Angela asked me. I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't know. Wanna catch a PPV movie?"
Angela laughed. "Sure." She said sitting down. "Hey there's a note for Brian." She said picking it up. "Should we read it?"
"Ah what the hell. Open it up!" I said eager to hear what it said.
Angela opened up the note. And she began reading it out loud.
Brian, By the time you read this, I'll be in Chicago. I had to leave FL for a while. Anthony (my old boyfriend, remember him?) and his fiancee, Maria came by today. Turns out they're moving to Orlando and are getting married. I know I said I was over him. I kept telling myself that I was. But my heart kept telling me different. Seeing them together was painful. And then hearing about their engagement was even more painful. I need to get away. To sort out my feelings. To organize this whole mess. I never meant to hurt you Brian. I care about you a lot. I just need some time apart. I'll be back to FL. But I don't know when. Please understand, and don't be too mad at me. Love, Allie
Angela and I sat there speechless. "Brian's gonna be crushed." I said. "I can't believe this is happening. Allie said she loved him. She's really been in love with Anthony the whole time."
Angela put the note back on the coffee table. "Well we better tell Brian tomorrow."
"Yeah." I said. "I hope he'll be ok. I'd hate to see him hurt."