Reaching the end of her tether Rebecca hung up the telephone. She had now had more than enough of John's childish behaviour. If he wanted to spend time down the pub with his footballing mates then fine it's his funeral. They had argued as she accused him of devoting so little time to her, her fury then compounded as he failed to even react or try and counter her points, made her finally realise that enough was enough because this was little more than confirmation that he took their relationship for granted.
As she looked down at the telephone it sat there silently. Tears welled in her eyes as she remembered the earlier days they had been together when like all couples they had fairly inconsequential arguments where one of them would put the phone down and the other would immediately ringback offering heartfelt apologies. Today he had not rung her back, there was no apology, and with it she finally resigned herself to no hope.
Feeling the sinking pain in her stomach of knowing that her relationship with John was over she turned and dashed up the stairs to her bedroom. Sitting on her bed she looked at herself in the mirror as tears streamed down her face. Her vision blurred from the tears. She leant forward, taking a tissue from the box on her desk, before wiping her eyes clear of the salty tears. Her vision cleared and her regained sight saw her focus on the picture wedged in the frame of the mirror.
Taking the photograph down she smiled as she looked at the two smiling faces looking back at her. She giggled as she recalled that happy day which seemed such a very long time ago. Rebecca had remained good friends with Jemma, they had seen a little less of each other once John had entered her life, she reached over to the bedside table to her telephone. Picking the receiver up she tapped in the number that she had dialled so many times.
"Hi Jemma."
"Rebecca, how are you?" Jemma replied.
"Been better honey. You able to come on over?" As Rebecca said this she felt her eyes sting with fresh tears. How could she have neglected, albeit in a small way, her best friend? Composing herself she continued, "I think John and I may be finished. No one's home and I could do with a friendly shoulder in case the tears return."
"No problems, consider me already on my way."
******
It had only occurred to Rebecca once she had terminated the call that it was a Saturday lunchtime on a beautiful Summer's day. In her annoyance with John she had called Jemma and now as a result her friend was making her way here. What if Jemma had plans, what had she sacrificed to come to Rebecca's aid. The warm feeling she was getting thinking of her friend's imminent arrival was coupled with the guilt.
The doorbell rang, Rebecca dashed to greet Jemma, kissing her cheek softly as she welcomed her in.
"I am so sorry for disturbing your day it's so selfish. I never asked what you were doing or had planned."
"Whoa, slow down. Firstly, I wasn't doing anything much and had nothing scheduled. Secondly, and possibly more importantly, are we not friends? If we can't be there for one another who can you count on? Now come here." With that Jemma hugged her friend tightly to her.
They walked into the kitchen and Rebecca made them a coffee. They sat at the table chatting about life in general, both skirting round the issue that had brought Jemma here, sipping their drinks. Finally Jemma decided to raise the subject of John.
"So tell me what's up with you two then?"
"My family are away this weekend, I could have gone with them for a break, anyway I stayed back here. You see I had planned for John and I to spend a 'weekend away' here… if you get my meaning?" Jemma nodded understanding exactly what Rebecca had had in mind. "I thought we could spend the night together for the first time. I mean we have had sex on a number of occasions but this would have been a night where we could relax, make love, then wake up next to one another."
"And the problem was?"
"John did not think my plans were that special. He asked what was wrong with going down the pub with his mates as usual. I told him I thought it would be nice for the two of us to spend a special evening together, alone. In the end I lost my temper and put the phone down. He didn't both ringing back. So I guess that's that so to speak."
"Well I wont lie to you it does sound pretty terminal doesn't it? Do you want some advice?"
"Sure, that's another reason for calling you."
