The Beginning of the End
Raeleigh POV
The teapot boiled furiously on the stovetop. Angry, hot water spilling out of its sides. The lid threatened to pop off, allowing the venom contained within it to kill the fire that was keeping it alive. Just like me at this very moment in time. I looked at him, barely contained fury hidden deep within my gaze.
How dare he! How dare he do this to me, to us. All because she waltzed back into his life and now here he was claiming that she was the love of his life, his soulmate, the one I could never compare to. When she left him two years ago, heartbroken at just 16 I was the one there picking up the pieces. I was the one who looked after him, made sure he didn’t off himself, took care of him. Where was she? Oh that’s right, nowhere to be found living her life doing who knows what but just like the first time he dropped everything as soon as she came back. All these years I had worked so damn hard to be worthy of his love, of him but in the end it didn’t matter because I was just his dirty little secret.
“So this is it Maddoc? It’s decided then? You’re going to marry her? You’re only 18 for godsake, you haven’t even lived yet. Don’t you want to I don’t know travel the world or something before you settle down?” I said to him, forcing my voice to stay calm, unwavering.
The kettle whistled loudly on the stove breaking the tension and I got up to turn it off, keeping my back to him so he couldn’t see the hot tears rolling down my face. I promised him when we started this that I wouldn’t fall for him but even I knew back then that I was lying. He was so desperate to forget her, replace her he didn’t care enough to see the truth and now I was stuck between spilling all my secrets and trying to keep him in my life.
“So what do you know you’re 17 it’s not as though you know anything about the real world. And of course I’m going to marry her she’s the love of my life and the future mother of my children. I love her and she said yes, what else is there to know? And even if I haven’t lived as you claim, at least we can live the rest of our lives together.”
“Fine, do whatever you want, I don't care. I don’t even know why you felt you had to tell me in person. It’s not like I wouldn’t have found out, someone would’ve told me or I would’ve found out after getting the invitation in the post.” I said while pouring the hot water into the mugs allowing the tea to steep as I continued to face away from him.
“You know why I had to tell you in person Raerae, don’t make me say it out loud. You know you’re different from everyone else. I couldn’t just let you find out this way, it wouldn’t be right.” He said in an exasperated tone.
“No, Maddoc, I don't know why. So why don’t you spell it out for me because remember I’m just some dumb slut right? Isn’t that what you told everyone the night you got caught with me at Lachlan’s party? The same party where you saw her for the first time in two years.” I said as I spun around to face him.
He winced at my accusations while I swallowed down the rising wave of tears and tried to keep a calm facade on. I remember that night vividly, I have no idea why she was there all I know is that after he saw her he pushed me off of him like I was an infectious disease. I also remember crying in the bathroom for an hour after he screamed at me and hurled poisonous words at me.
“C’mon Rae you know I didn’t mean it, I just - ”
“You just didn’t want her to know that you had a thing going on with the dumb slut you grew up with, I get it. I was good enough to fuck when no one was around but not good enough for people to know that you were fucking me. You wanted to keep me as your dirty little secret that’s cool, I get it. Now tell me why the fuck you think it would be better for you to invite me to your wedding in person?"
“I don’t know, okay! I don’t fucking know Raeleigh, I just wanted to see you okay? Is there something wrong with that?”
“Don’t bullshit me Maddoc that’s not why you came over and we both know it, you never just “want” to see me. Tell me the real reason?”
“I told you already Rae. I. DON’T. KNOW. Maybe just maybe I wanted to see you and hang out with you. We never do that anymore and I missed you, is that so hard to believe?”
“Oh fuck off Maddoc, that’s a load of crap and you know it. We don’t just “hang out” and you know it. So I ask you again what’s the real reason you came over? And don’t say it’s because you wanted to come over to have a little tea party with me where we gossip like girlfriends, dishing all our little secrets to each other,” I muttered sarcastically.
“Fucking hell you always do this don’t you? You always want more than you get and this is why it would’ve never worked out between us. This is why I’m marrying her and not you. You’re too much of a fucking bitch, all you do is take and nag and whine. God the only reason I ever slept with you was because you reminded me of her. But now that I’m here I realise she’s a thousand times better than you and I’m glad I’m marrying her. You wanna know why I’m here? You want the real fucking reason?” He screamed at me as he moved closer towards me.
I shook my head, trying to create space between the two of us as tears streamed down my face. I was such a coward I had pushed him to his breaking point all because I wanted to know the truth and now that he was willing to tell me it all I wanted to do was hide. He had never looked at me like this, like he hated me and it sent my gut churning in fear.
“I just wanted a little bit of support from you to make sure that I was making the right choice. I wanted to make sure that I wasn’t screwing up by choosing her over you. And thank God I did because damn I forgot how much of a bitch you are when you don’t get your way. You’re like a spoiled petulant brat and right now I can’t even bear to be in the same room as you, come to the wedding or don’t. I don’t fucking care. Just don’t be a fucking bitch if you do, to me or my fiancée because I swear to God you won’t like what I do if you are.” He shouted as he threw down the invitation and walked out the door, slamming it close.
I picked up the invitation gingerly, wiped my tears with the back of my hand and as I read it I felt my heart drop into my gut:
You Are Cordially Invited To The Wedding Of Maddoc Collins & Fallon Livingston.
19 July 2024
12 O’Clock in the Afternoon
Reception to Follow
Greenhouse Loft
2545 W Diversey Avenue
Chicago
Please RSVP by 19 April 2024 for catering purposes.
Fucking prick, they were holding their wedding on my 18th birthday just before classes started for freshman year in the Fall. Well fuck him and fuck her, I refused to go to some pompous ass’ wedding just to show I was a “supportive” friend. As far as I’m concerned Maddoc and I were done and I refused to allow him back into my life again.
