Sara’s POV

There I was, stood in my kitchen; my glass of orange juice and my bowl of cereal neatly placed in front of me. My Rice Krispies going snap, crackle and pop and I stood in silence, the phone to my ear.

“It’s not you… You’re lovely. You’re beautiful and amazing and… But I can’t do this any more.”

“Why? What changed? What did I do?” I whimpered. I couldn’t believe this was happening to me. All the guys I fall for leave me…

“You haven’t done anything wrong! Believe me, it’s hurting me just as much to say this to you. We were great, but I just don’t feel it, you know?”

“Don’t feel it? Don’t feel it?!” I questioned, anger building up inside of me as the tears streamed down my face. “This morning you were in my bed, happy and cheery. Your mate called, you went to work and now you don’t like me anymore?” I smacked my hand on the table. “What the fuck?”

“Sara, please… This isn’t making it any easier!” He pleaded. Any easier? Oh yeah I want it to happen... “I’m sorry.”

“You said you were different!” I stared blankly at the kitchen counter. “You said you were better than them…” I shouted into the phone.

“Well, I’m not…” He said simply. That was it? ‘Well I’m not’?

“No. You’re worse.” Those words pierced through my heart. I didn’t want to be mean, but I didn’t want him to think I was weak. I sobbed as soon as he’d said it, now I needed to show the strength I was pretending to have. In reality, my eyes were puffy, my knees weak, my breathing heavy…

“Well, just think like that and we’ll be alright. Bye Sara. I’m sorry.” The phone went dead and I was greeted with a familiar dial tone, followed by a computer generated voice telling me to hang up. I threw the phone across the room and it landed with a thud on the floor, skidding along until it collided with the coffee table. Another one? Another one has left me. One I was sure was going to stay… I grabbed my orange juice and threw it against the wall, the glass making a strangely satisfying shattering sound. I staggered back to the wall behind me and slid down it, bringing my knees to my chest. I sobbed for what seemed like forever before the idea to compose myself might be a good idea. I stood back up and took a deep breath in and out, composing my thoughts.

“Sara?” A knock at the door bought me back to painful reality, “Are you alright?” I could recognise that voice anywhere, my neighbour Cassie.

“Yeah!” I tried to put on my best happy voice. “I just dropped a glass when I was washing up, so clumsy!” I laughed fakely.

“Well as long as you’re alright, you want me to call anyone?” She sounded worried.

“It’s alright, I’ll call Lily in a minute, we’re meant to be meeting anyway!” I lied, hoping she would just leave it well alone.

“It’s alright, I’ll call her now, you’re washing up.” She said and I heard her walk back to her room. God, why can’t people just leave me alone! I walked over to the broken glass and the puddle of juice, grabbing a tea towel and some kitchen towel to mop up the mess. I picked up broken pieces of glass and placed them in the tea towel, being careful not to cut myself on them. How could I let this happen? How could I not see – AGAIN – that this was going to end badly? After clearing up the mess, I binned the tea towel full of glass and the soaked kitchen towels and sat on my sofa, slumping into the chair feeling like if I didn’t move, life would get better.

“Sara?” Lily’s voice echoed the hallway outside. She sounded scared. She knocked on the door. “Cassie called.”

“I know!” I shouted, hoping Cassie would hear and feel like she stuck her oar in where it wasn’t needed. I got up and unlocked the door, her face dropping as soon as she saw mine. Oh yeah, I’ve been crying…

“Sara, what’s wrong babe?” She walked in and put her arm round me.  “What’s happened?” She could probably guess , but she was always one to hold her thoughts back to find out the truth.

“Eddie.” I mumbled. The hurt and pain in my heart coming back again.

“What’s happened?” She repeated.

“He broke up with me!” I said, the end of my sentence barely made sense over the sobs that suddenly came out. I didn’t want to show weakness, I didn’t want to show he had hurt me… but I couldn’t help it. I loved him!

“What? Why?” She sat back in disbelief. “You guys sounded so…” She didn’t finish her sentence, she didn’t want to upset me anymore.

“I don’t know! He had to go to work, then went home and rang me to say it wasn’t working!” I shook my head in disbelief.

“But didn’t he say he was different? Gonna treat you like a pri-” She stopped as she noticed me crying harder with every word she mimicked from him.

“Yeah, well he’s not is he?” I snapped, glancing over to Lily and giving an apologetic look straight after.

“Look, hunny, we’ve gone through this before and you were strong enough to get over the others, I have trust in you to do it again… And this time you’ll find the guy of your dreams!” She smiled sympathetically at me. Normally when she says cliché fairytale stuff like this I roll my eyes, but this time it is exactly what I wanted to hear.

“Yeah. You’re right. I’ll find someone better!” I nodded confidently.

“I mean look at you, you’re gorgeous! No man would turn you down, and any that do are stupid and regret it for the rest of their lives!” She laughed with me. She was always the one who could cheer me up, unlike Zoe who was a lot blunter with what she said. “So, you wanna have a girly dinner tonight – strictly no boy talk?” I nodded.

“Yes please. But, could we not have it here? I wanna get out of the familiar surroundings for a bit…” I looked away and to the floor, I felt like such an idiot for saying it, but I couldn’t help but constantly stare into the bedroom when I’m in here…

“Of course, babe. We’ll have it round my house, yeah? I’ll kick my roommates out.” She smiled.

“Oh… Oh no I don’t want you to do that! They can stay if you don’t mind? I’ll help cook and pay for the ingredients if-” Lily cut me off.

“Sara, it’s fine. I know what you’re like. They can stay. I want you to meet them anyway, it’ll be nice for them to finally meet the two girls I talk about all the time!” She smiled.

“How comes I’ve never heard about them? I knew you got roommates recently but…” I didn’t know how to finish my sentence, so I left it.

“Well my rent was getting a little too much and I had two free rooms after changing the study into one. Then I put an advert in and there we go!” She smiled.

“You know what I mean… I don’t even know who they are! Do they hoard make up, sing in the shower?” I urged her to talk about these mysterious people I’d never heard about, but instead her eyes lit up like she had just had a cunning plan.

“Are you gonna get ready? It’s late already! I’ll quickly call them and tell them to clear up their mess. Dress to impress, babe. We all will.” She winked at me as she pushed me into my room and shut the door. “You’re not coming out until I’m impressed!” She laughed. I couldn’t help but laugh back. She’s a joker and I love her, but what evil plan is she coming up with??