Intrepid

"Bye Stella, I'll see you tomorrow!" I watch as my best friend pulls out of my driveway. Stella and I have invested in doing yoga for the past six months and I have to admit that it is going really good! I shove my key into the doorknob and unlock the door to my apartment or should I say my boyfriend, Trevor and I's apartment. We've been living together for about two years now and I thought it would be tough at first but we have really gotten along and pushed through life together. I'm just patiently waiting for him to pop the question. I mean, we have been together for five years. What is he waiting on?

I put my bag on the kitchen counter and slip off my shoes. I make my way down the hallway and to my surprise I see rose petals on the ground and hear music coming from our bedroom. I smile lovingly at the thought of Trevor being romantic for me. I shuffle quietly towards the door and hear moaning coming from the other side. I furrow my eyebrows in confusion and then I hear Trevor speaking through gasps, "Oh yes, you're so sexy!" I'm taken aback when I hear an unfamiliar voice reply, "I know you like that baby!" Anger and hurt fuels every fiber of my being as I throw the bedroom door open. Trevor jumps up, completely naked. My eyes go from his worried face to the dumb brunette trying to conceal her nudity. I am in complete and utter shock. Words are trying to formulate in my brain but it feels like I am a robot who is malfunctioning.

Trevor quickly grabs his boxers off the floor and jumps into them running toward me. "Audrey! You're back so soon! It's not what it looks like! I swear it's-" I shove him as he approaches me. "What the hell are you doing Trevor! The rose petals! The music!? All for her? Who is she?!" I exclaim angrily. The girl attempts to hide her embarrassment under the comforter. "I just-" Trevor tries to mutter out a sentence but I cut him off again, not interested in any excuses he could make up. "I can't believe you. We've been together for almost six years and this is how you treat me?! I have done everything for you! I gave up my dream career for you! I gave up my family for you! I threw everything away for some dumb boy who doesn't even love me! You're sick, Trevor." Venom spews from my words as hurt flashes in his eyes. I would be a bucket of tears right now but I am far too angry to cry.

"Maybe you should leave." The girl pipes up, almost too quiet to hear. My glare cuts straight through her and her eyebrows raise in a challenge. I take a few huge strides toward her and she is up on her feet in no time. I'm surprised she wants to fight considering a few moments ago she was cowering behind a blanket. "And who do you think you are? This is my house and my boyfriend! I'm sorry you're the side piece, sweetie." The girl clinches the blanket over her chest and laughs. "I'm the side piece? Honey, who has the ring?" She flashes her left hand toward me and my heart drops. I'm more nauseous than when I first found them. "How long?" I speak with gritted teeth toward Trevor. He shrugs. "We've been engaged for months now, honey." The girl smirks at me. "H-how could you do this? We've been together for so long! I've based my whole life around you!" I can feel the tears prickling at my eyes. Trevor puts his hand on my shoulder and I shove him away. "We started seeing each other a year ago and she just makes me feel alive. Sure, you and I had a great run but we've burned out Aud." Tears start streaming down my face. "See, sweetie, you're the side piece." Before I realize it, my fist is in a ball and makes contact with the slut's eye. She falls backward into the dresser and tries to hit me back but Trevor grabs her hand. "I wouldn't do that, she use to box." He says in a hushed tone. I can not stay in this room any longer. I can not stand to look at him any longer. This has been going on for so long and I am in such disbelief.

I rush out of the room and grab my keys and bag off of the kitchen counter. Trevor runs after me, still only dressed in boxers and I laugh at his pathetic ego. "Audrey," I'm waiting for him to beg me to stay but instead he says, "I'll leave all of your things on the porch." My heart shatters for the final time and I sigh, no more tears available at this point. "This has been my house too. Leave my things where they are and I'll be back with Stella to grab them tomorrow around noon, don't be here. Goodbye." His mouth is agape as I slam the front door shut. I feel as if the events that just occurred lasted hours, not just a few minutes. I get in my car and try to call Stella but she doesn't answer. I look at my once favorite happy place, I called home, in my rearview mirror as I drive away. I start to cry as memories play back in my mind. Our first and only apartment together. All of the times cooking dinner. All of our late night talks. All of our loving showers. All of our redbox movie rental dates. I am broken and I have no idea how to even process what just happened.

My phone starts ringing and I pull up to a gas station. I try to conceal my tears when I see Asher calling. I haven't talked to Asher in months; I hope he is okay. "Hello?" I sniffle, trying to keep my cool. "Are you okay?" Asher asks immediately. "Yeah, I'm fine." I lie. "Audrey, you do remember we're twins right? I feel things. What's wrong? I know we haven't talked in a while but I am here for you. We're family." I burst into tears and cry for about fifteen minutes before I can regain my composure. "Take your time, I'm still here." Asher speaks softly. "I caught Trevor cheating on me!" I cry harder. Asher says nothing but I can feel the anger radiating over the phone waves. I explain everything that happened today and Asher still doesn't reply. "Are you there?" I ask through a cracked voice. "I'm here. Where are you going to go? Are you going to go back home?" He asks in an unreadable tone. "I don't want to but I have nowhere else to go. I can't stay with Stella because her boyfriend has a five year old son and I don't want to be a bother. I wouldn't mind going back home but you know how mom and dad are and what twenty four year old wants to go back home after being on her own for so long?"

"Come stay with me. I have an extra room." I can faintly see Asher's smile in my brain. "What?" I mutter quietly, dumbfounded. "C'mon Audrey, we're family. We're twins for crying out loud. It'll be just like old times!" His little pep talk warms my heart and I nod even though he can't see me. "Maybe you're right. But do me a favor and don't tell mom and dad yet, please?" I plead. "I'm not crazy. I'll text you the address and I'll see you in a few. Be careful, okay? Love you, sis." Asher hangs up and I put his address in the G.P.S.

After about an hour drive, I arrive at this really nice house across the street from the beach. Asher runs out the front door and greets me at my car. "Man, you look like shit." He chuckles and wraps me in a bear hug. Even though I am hurting and broken, Asher's hug seems to glue a little bit of me back together. I didn't realize how much I've missed my twin. "Here, let me show you where you'll be staying." We walk up the steps and in the front door. "Here, you can have this room." He pushes open the door and a summer breeze swirls through my hair. Curtains flap against the open window. Boxes are scattered across the room with a few random furniture items. "Cozy." I smile. "Xavier and I will clean the room for you. Are you getting your stuff tonight or?" Asher explains. "No I'm going to get it tomorrow. If you're off work, can you come? Also, who is Xavier?"

"Did someone say my name? Whoa, who is this hottie?" A broad shouldered boy with arms covered in tattoos leans against the doorframe. "Dude, don't be gross, that's my sister." Asher scoffs. Xavier extends his hand and grabs onto mine. I take hold of his finger and shake it hesitantly. "Audrey." I mutter. "Xavier, man of your dreams." I roll my eyes. "Unlikely."

I hope living with Asher makes my life better but I'm sure there are going to be conflicts with this Xavier character. He looks like bad news.