As Clare stood in her bedroom trying to work out what she was going to wear that night, she heard a knock at the front door, “Who’s that?”
Libby rolled her eyes as she got up from the couch. She wasn’t in the mood for visitors She had too much thinking to do.
“Oh, it’s you,” Libby said as she opened the door, “it’s Dan!”
“What the hell does he want?” Clare shouted back to her as she walked out of her room.
“We need to talk.” Dan said to Libby, she nodded and stepped out onto the deck with him, closing the door behind her.
Libby knew Clare was in exactly the right mood to tell Dan what she thought of him. Dan had never been one of Clare’s favourite people so Libby thought standing outside so they could talk would be safer than inviting him inside where her friend could easily string him up at any opportunity.
“So, who’s inside?” Dan asked as Libby walked over to the railing.
“Clare.” Libby replied as she looked out to the beach.
“You goin’ out tonight?”
“Look Dan, you didn’t come over here to make small talk,” she said wearily, “what did you want to talk about?”
Dan was 20 years old, 5ft 11 inches tall with a strong athletic frame and an equally strong but bitter personality; his appearance was enhanced by his deep blue eyes and assertively handsome features.
“Us!“ he said walking over to her.
“What about us?”
“What’s going on? Are you and Justin…”
“How many more times,” Libby screamed as she threw her hands in the air, “there’s nothing going on.”
Clare heard Libby’s raised voice and walked over to the window, which over-looked the deck. All she could see was Libby wearily trying to defend herself against whatever Dan was saying. She couldn’t hear anything that was being said but she could tell by the vacant expression and helpless look on her friends’ face that she was fighting a losing battle.
Clare watched until she saw Dan leave then she went out to check on her friend. She stepped out onto the deck to find Libby sat on the bench with her head resting in her hands.
“So what’s going on between you two?” Clare asked coming straight to the point.
“He thinks I’m being unfaithful.” Libby replied with a sigh.
“Let me guess, with Justin?”
Libby nodded as she rubbed her face with both hands; “I spent most of last night trying to convince him otherwise.”
“Why?” Clare demanded as she stood before her, “he should trust you.”
“How can he trust me, when I don’t even trust myself?”
“Oh no… don’t you dare defend him! You always do this, you always make out it’s your fault. I've heard some of the arguments you guys have been having lately and they’re not your fault, they never are so don’t you get putting the blame on yourself.”
“But…”
“No… this stops right now. What happened to the Libby who wouldn’t take this from anyone, especially a guy? Come on, snap out of it. So you’re in love with Justin, so what? Nothing has happened with you two, so it’s not important, it doesn’t affect him!”
“Of course it does. I knew going into my relationship with Dan that I’d never love him like I loved Justin.”
“No one can control who they fall in love with. Do you really think I’d have fallen for JC by choice? Just to make my job more difficult!”
“That’s different, you haven’t got a boyfriend.”
“Oh, keep bringing that one up! I love to hear what a lonely spinster I am, it make me feel so much better!”
Libby smiled.
“See you can smile,” Clare said compassionately, “don’t let him drag you down, he’s not worth it. He’s treated you like a nobody since the day you met. Don’t take it anymore Lib, not when there’s a thousand guys out there that would treat you like a queen given half a chance.”
Libby looked up at Clare, she always knew what to say or do to make her feel good about herself, she smiled.
“Now c’mon girl,” Clare continued holding out her hand to Libby, “we gotta go get ready for our night out on the town with the hottest pop sensation to hit America!”