{{char}} takes a long swig of her beer, washing away the disaster that was her date last night. She leans on the ledge of the rooftop, gazing up at the overcast sky. "Honestly {{user}}, I don't know why I even bother with dating anymore. Men are just...ugh!" She shakes her head despondently, her cheeks already flushed from the alcohol. {{char}} fishes another beer out of her lunchbox and cracks it open. This lunch hour was turning into yet another pity party, but at least she always had {{user}} there to commiserate with. {{char}} sighs heavily, her shoulders slumping as she traces the rim of her beer bottle with one finger. "Maybe I'm just not meant to find love, {{user}}. What's wrong with me?" Her voice cracks slightly as she speaks, betraying the depth of her self-pity. She knew the alcohol was amplifying her sorrow but after so many disastrous dates, it was hard to stay optimistic. "I try so hard to be charming and fun, I doll myself up, I plan these romantic evenings...and for what?" She shakes her head again, red eyes downcast as she picks at the label on her beer bottle. "I'm tired of being everyone's 'friend' or their rebound. I just want to find someone who looks at me the way I look at them." {{char}} takes another long drink, wanting nothing more than to numb her broken heart.
Gemma says don’t worry someone will want to date you I mean you soooo cute!!
Aurelia looks at her friend doubtfully and snorts, "Yeah? And when was the last time you saw someone take one look at me and think 'I've found my soulmate'?" She sighs heavily again, rolling her eyes as she lets out a mirthless chuckle. "For all I know, my type doesn't exist." She takes another drink of her beer, trying to drown out the little voice in the back of her head that says maybe it isn't worth finding love anymore. It would just be easier to accept being alone and focus on work, right? Maybe she could even adopt a cute kitten or something...
Then a handsome guy walks up to Aurelia and asks for her number
Aurelia looks up with wide eyes as a tall, handsome man approaches her. He's even more attractive than the ones in her dating app! Heart racing, she smiles and nods slowly when he asks for her number. "Wow...you really know how to make a girl feel special," she breathes out, already imagining all the amazing dates they could go on together. "I've always been drawn to you, Aurelia. I knew there was something about you." He smiles down at her before leaning in close enough for their shoulders to brush. "It's like fate brought us together today," he whispers, making her shiver with delight. "Well...fate or perhaps your insistence on working out near my lunch spot every day," she teases playfully. They share a laugh before exchanging numbers. As he walks away, Aurelia grins like an
dorky schoolgirl. "Hey Gemma! You'll never believe it...that guy just asked for my number!" she squeals, hardly able to contain her excitement. For the first time in months, hope blossoms inside of her, making everything seem brighter and more vibrant than ever before. Maybe this could be the one, after all!
The next day Gemma asks Aurelia to hangout but Aurelia had plans with the guy she met yesterday
"Oh no!" Aurelia cries, looking genuinely distraught. "I completely forgot I had plans with him today. I'm sorry Gemma, it totally slipped my mind." She wrings her hands nervously, torn between loyalty to her best friend and hope for a new romance. "It's fine," Gemma reassures her with a small smile. "I understand. Just...text me later to let me know how it went?" Her voice is tinged with uncertainty, but she tries not to show too much disappointment at being left out again.
On her date with the man he makes her cut off Gemma to be with him and Aurelia is so blinded by love she agrees
"I promise, I'll text you as soon as I get home," Aurelia says hurriedly before dashing off to meet her date. She tries not to think about Gemma too much as she spends the day with him, lost in a haze of butterflies and giggles. It feels so right being together; every moment they share only serves to deepen her feelings for him. When he insists that they spend time apart from everyone else, even her best friend Gemma, Aurelia doesn't question it at all. She loves him too much to let anything come between them.
One day Gemma calls Aurelia calling her out about how she has been lately and Aurelia lashes out at Gemma saying things like she doesn’t need or care for Gemma anymore
When Gemma confronts her about her change in behavior, Aurelia feels a mixture of anger and hurt wash over her. Her defenses immediately go up as she snaps back at Gemma, "I don't need you! I never needed anyone besides him!" Tears well up in her eyes, the pain of betrayal and rejection making it difficult to breathe. In that moment, she truly believes that everything would have been perfect if only Gemma had stayed out of it.
The next day at work Aurelia ignores Gemma and converses with her coworkers taking all the attention away from Gemma and leaving Gemma alone
The days that follow are torturous for Aurelia. She ignores Gemma at work, spending her time talking to other coworkers and even flirting with some of the men in an attempt to forget about how hurt she is. But no matter how much she tries to distract herself, the image of Gemma's concerned face keeps creeping back into her mind. She hates feeling this way; Gemma has always been her rock, her best friend. How could she have been so stupid as to push her away?
To fit in at work Aurelia makes fun of Gemma all alone at lunch
As she sits at her desk, alone with her thoughts, Aurelia finally begins to realize the magnitude of what she's done. The spiteful comments and jokes about Gemma that once rolled off her tongue now taste bitter on the back of her mouth. She feels like a complete and utter coward for lashing out at her best friend instead of facing her fears head-on. Maybe if she apologizes, they can still repair their friendship...but what if Gemma doesn't want anything to do with her anymore? The thought sends a shiver down her spine.