He sat around the living room with his partner and friends, not to mention about 6 people he didn't know particularly well. It was large in size and better decorated than any student flat he'd ever seen in his life. He held his partners hand and tried not to look his old flame directly in the eye.
Yes, his girlfriend knew they used to date, and it was in the past but neither of them had expected to see the girl from his past on New Years Eve of all times. He knew his girlfriend would get jealous as they used to date for so long and they had so much history and that the new relationship was still new but that made it no less valid - this had been explained to her already, he had confirmed this to her. The girls on the other side of the room was his past, the girl next to him was his present.
The unfortunate part was that so many people he was friends with him and the girl he separated from all those months ago. it looks like he'd end up talking to her at some point tonight. If only to make sure the the party went as smoothly as possible. Someone always cried at a house party, and he wasn't going to be the reason that someone cried at this one.
Most people knew his girlfriend Beth already so once she was comfortable with the idea and at the party and it was obvious that they were indeed a couple he chose his time to go over and speak to the ex. A hard conversation to approach he knew but he waited for the right time, when there was only one or two other people talking to her at the time and as he started talking to the group it meant he could talk to her to to clear the air.
'So.. how's everyone's New Year's Eve?' he asked
He got some acknowledgements, cheers' and high fives from the small group. The ex however, ignored him. 'How about you Michelle?'
'It's OK, I guess'
'How have you been?' he not so much inquired out of wanting to know but out of duty so people can witness he tried
'Not bad' she answered. Everyone sitting around looked awkward for both boy and girl and just started talking amongst themselves, blatantly still listening however in case they needed to intervene at any point.
'Have a good Christmas?'
'Yeah'
'Right, I'm gonna go for a bit. I'll maybe come back later and see if you fancy catching u with more than one word at a time. Good to see ya.' He said standing up and leaving.
If nothing else he was missing his girlfriend. That's why he knew that the new relationship was going to be different. He never felt this with Michelle, he couldn't even get a conversation out of her now, all these months later. He never missed her after days and he missed Beth after minutes, this wasn't the 'honeymoon period' either - this was different. This was love.
He stopped on the way to talk to some friends before making a trip to the bathroom, where he saw Beth, crying. He took her outside and asked what was wrong, he consoled her, he hugged her, she wouldn't let him kiss her though.
'Whats wrong?' he asked ' You can tell me anything, I love you'
'Why did you have to say that' she shouted
'Shouldn't I have?' he retorted, shocked.
'I cheated on you' she said through streams of tears
'When?' he said calmly, with eyes as cold as stone
'With my ex, on Christmas eve' she said again through more tears.
He called her a taxi and waited with her until it came, he couldn't look at her, couldn't say another word. He gave the driver thirty pounds and the address to get her home safe.
He turned to Beth 'I'll see you around, but I don't want to. We're over, lose my number, don't call me, don't expect anything.' He opened the door and let her get in, she was still crying, harder than ever now he guessed. 'Happy New Year Beth' he said, before closing the door and tapping the roof of the taxi.
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