• Erin stretched and yawned. She was in a restaurant with a lot of people and a bar, watching her brother play live. She chewed on some pizza, lost in thought. People were buzzing in and out. A waitress refilled her cup of Cola. She sipped absentmindedly with her luscious lips, her black locks flowing down to her shoulders. Her dark gaze turned upon the entrance, wishing she could leave. It was getting boring. Her skin was tan from the first week of summer, her hands a gray color from dying her hair. She wore a tight black tank top and denim shorts.
    A bell rang at the door and she watched as a young man and his friends strode in, laughing and talking. They didn't seem to notice her, and she was glad for it. Nor did they pay attention to the live artist. Good. That was the last thing she needed. Still, she kept her eyes glued to the young man.
    He had blue eyes and short blond hair. He was masculine and very handsome. His smile was bright and perfect and his skin tanned from being outside. He was muscular to an extent, just not enough to intimidate anyone, but definitely enough to hurt someone if he got angry enough. He sat at the bar with his friends, still talking and laughing. He glanced around the room and their gazes locked.
    Erin stood and whispered to her brother, “I'm going, I'll catch up with you later.” He nodded at her and she walked out, leaving a tip on the table.
    “I'll be back guys,” the boy muttered and followed her outside, shouting, “Erin!” She ignored him and kept walking. He got on his motorcycle and drove adjacent of her. “Erin, please talk to me. Don't you want a ride?” She turned to him and stopped walking. He stopped and cut the engine.
    “I do not want a ride on that thing!” she shouted, “And I want nothing to do with you! Leave me alone. I can't even look at you.” With that, she kept walking. And he kept following her.
    “Erin,” he complained, “I want to at least be friends.”
    She glowered at him, “Which is why you lied to everyone about me. I didn't cheat on you.”
    “I know!” he said.
    She rolled her eyes and threw her hands in the air, “Then why did you tell everyone I looked up to that I did?! I was ******** molested! I was ******** fourteen! I didn't know what to do after he didn't listen to me! And I'll admit I could have done more. I'll admit it felt good. But no matter if you want it or not, when someone strokes your d**k it feels good, right? And I trusted you with a traumatizing, personal experience and you add insult to injury and break up with me after telling everyone I look up to that I cheated on you! With two men, no less! You twisted my words!”
    “I misunderstood!” he countered. They stared at each other for a long moment.
    “I. Hate. You,” she growled after a moment of silence, “And I don't want anything to do with you. Besides, why try to get back together after breaking up with me?”
    His eyes softened, “I know what I did was wrong. I realize my mistake.” With that, Erin's eyes opened. She looked younger; her face was more plump and she was wearing pajamas. She groaned. The whole thing was a dream. And James still hates her. No apologies. No realizations. Just hate and misunderstandings and confusion.
    “James,” she whispered, tears falling from her eyes, “I still love you...”