"Vivian, wait." Harry was proceeding towards me as I retreated towards the stairs. "Vivian, for fucks sake, wait!" His voiced boomed across the hallway. The female voice from within the flat was now calling to him again. He didn't stop approaching me as he groaned, "Oh Jesus Christ. Gimme a bloody minute."

"Harry, what's going on?"

This time a body accompanied the voice. Her long legs were all I could see as she closed the front door carefully behind her. Incredible legs, actually. She was striking, dressed in Harry white shirt. I'd worn that particular shirt at least twice. Needless to say, I didn't look the same. Her dark hair long and shiny, attracted the light. Same with her eyes gleaming, and her rosy cheeks. Anyone could absolutely see why Harry would be with her.

I was so abashed at this point that I had to apologise. "I–I'm really sorry to ruin your night, I was...I was actually just leaving."

"Jane, please get back inside." Harry requested, briefly closing his eyes in what seemed to be frustration.

Oh how perfect. This was Jane. I definitely didn't stand a chance. With careful precision she smoothed a strand of hair away from her cheek.

Jane obliged, albeit quite unhappily. Sweetly before closing the door behind her, she turned and said, "It was nice to meet you."

I couldn't say the same. I turned to Harry who was now staring at me.

"Just go back to bed." I wanted to physically push him away. "Please leave me be."

"Vivian..."

"Leave me alone Harry."

"Not until you tell me where you are going at this time." His voice thickened with emotion.

"Funny. I actually haven't got a clue. Apparently I can't say here. So I guess I'll just have to find a bench in the park and hope for the best."

He exhaled audibly. "Viv, I'm sorry for being really cold but I need you to understand that I can't feel right knowing you're simply a few feet away from me and I'm with someone else. I just can't."

I felt my stomach clench at the thought of him and Jane in his room together. On his bed together.

Taking care to keep my voice neutral I said, "you need not worry, I'll find an inn or B&B to stay."

"I'm not too sure they'd be accepting guests at almost 2am."

"It wouldn't hurt to try."

"Okay. At least let me change and I'll take you to whichever one your heart pleases."

I swallowed. "What about Jane?"

"I'll explain to her when I return." He said, retreating to his door.

The ghost of a mirthless smile crossed my face.

•••

Hot tears leaked out of the sides of my eyes as I laid my head against the backseat of the taxi. My eyelids felt puffy and sore. After making several calls, I'd managed to find an inn a few miles away from Harry's flat. It was the only place willing to accept me at this time of the night. There was only one minor issue which I hoped wouldn't be a problem as Harry's call came in.

"You fucking left without me?" He sounded duly hurt when I gave in and answered his call on the fourth ring.

"Yes I did."

"Okay..." he paused, somewhat surprised that I'd admitted right away. Then he asked, "Why?"

"I need time to myself to think..." I paused, reliving the moment my mouth had embarrassingly uttered the three dreaded words. "You being here with me just kinds of negates that."

"Um...alright." He seemed almost let down. "I'm truly sorry for earlier. I wished I could've been of more help. Goodnight Vivian."

Just as I replied, "Goodnight Harry," the taxi pulled up in front of the cottage-like building.

•••

The loud ring of my mobile woke me up the next morning. Not that I'd got a lot of sleep. The last several hours hadn't exactly been restful; from breaking up with Aaron to drinking like an alcoholic, then showing up at my former flat and meeting Harry's new flatmate. Or girlfriend.

I flinched at the awful memory. Oh dear, it had seemed like such a good idea at the time to show up at his doorstep. Until I realised he had truly moved on. With Jane.

Anyway. The ringing had stopped, followed soon after by a beep, signalling the arrival of a text. Half wondering if it might be from Harry, I rolled over and retrieved my phone from the bedside table.

The time shocked me. It was twenty past eleven. I didn't expect to sleep this late in the day, especially since I had to check out of the inn in less than an hour. Not to mention, I had twenty-seven missed calls and over a dozen text messages. The majority of them were from Natasha, worried about where I was. Apparently Aaron had been ringing her all morning. I would call her back later. A few were from Aaron, who I really didn't want to speak to, one from my boss and the another from Harry.

"Fuck." I kicked the covers off of me and went to stand from the bed. My dizzy state knocked me back down and I decided to remain seated for a minute or three until my head stopped spinning.

With no much time to spare, as well as nursing the worst hangover, I stumbled from the bed and across the room. Grabbing my handbag and clothes from last night or rather this morning off the floor, I freshened up to the best of my ability.

Once I'd downed a shot of espresso, grabbed a small yogurt and banana from the breakfast bar, I checked out and was on my way to Aaron's.

•••

My brain felt as if it was about to explode like a balloon. Too many thoughts were careering around inside my skull, bouncing off the walls like squash balls. Fury and frustration were building up.

Aaron and I were no more and I couldn't live with him anymore, meaning I had to pack my things and find somewhere else to perch. Most likely Tashas. Natasha knew something was up but hadn't yet discovered what, and was bombarding my phone with nosy messages because there was nothing she adored more than a good old bit of gossip to brighten their day.

Right now I hated everyone. Aaron. Harry. Natasha. Especially Natasha. She didn't seem taken by the news of Aaron and Phoebe as I recounted last's night episode to her while rushing along the pavement to Aaron's suite. I was beyond devastated when I realised that she'd known about the both of them for a long while.

"You bloody knew? You knew she was his ex!" I screamed in anger into my phone, earning a few stares.

"In my defence, she was his ex. There were broken up months before I set you up with him. He was single. You were too. It seemed like the perfect idea at the time," she pointed out reasonably.

However, I wasn't in the mood for being reasonable, so I hung up the call and pushed the lift button going upwards. I wasn't sure if I was allowed to be angry at her but I could think about was packing my belongings that I'd only recently unpacked.

Immediately I unlocked the door, Aaron shot to his feet. "Thank goodness you're back." He sighed, "You had me worried sick."

I gave a snort of derision. "I highly doubt that."

"Vivian, I love you, OK? You do know how much I love you right?"

I shrugged fractionally. "Right."

"I think you are being really unfair Vivian."

"Oh really?"

"I made a mistake, baby," Aaron went on. "A massive one. I let my anger take a hold of me and got caught in one of those spur-of-the-moment things that meant absolutely nothing. Besides I'd had a fair bit to drink, so I wasn't in the right mind. Obviously."

My lip curled. What was really obvious was the fact that he thought I was a gullible fool.

"If it's any consolation, I have a cracking hangover."

Was he expecting sympathy? I gave him a so-what look and said pointedly, "Is that all you have to say to me?"

He frowned. "What are you mad at me for?" He gestured with his free hand before I could reply. "Not so long ago, you were the one doing God knows what with your flatmate...Harry," he added the name with disgust.

For a few seconds there was silence in the parlour as I was unsure what to say. Then he said, "I share a simple kiss with Phoebs and I'm the bad guy."

Phoebs? Could he actually hear himself? I stared at him. Still speechless. I had quite a lot of things I wanted to say but nothing was coming out. Where to start was the problem. Perhaps it was the lying, deception or the betrayal, lest I forgot, the sneaking around on his phone.

"Do you love her?" There was anguish in my voice.

"Do I love Phoebe?"

He was looking at me as if I'd suddenly sprouted horns.

"Yes." I blew a fuse, I could feel my face heating up in fury. "Do you? It's a fucking yes or no question."

If my heart had been clattering along before, it was now thudding ten times faster. Time was slowing down. There was a loud buzzing noise in my ears.

Stunned by his silence, I croaked, "Answer me. Please."

Aaron was rubbing his face with his hand; I could hear the dry rasp of stubble against skin. The desperate shake of his head gradually turned into a resigned nod as he softly whispered, "Yes."

A mixture of shock and disappointment flickered across my face. Followed by resignation.

"That's not to say I don't love you too..." He paused as I let out an involuntary groan of horror. "Vivian, it's–its just different for Phoebe and I—"

"Stop." I held up my hands. "I've heard enough."

"Vivian, I'm so sor—"

"No Aaron, give it a rest, please," I cut in. "You're selfish. And pathetic in many ways than one..." I paused. My eyes were sheeny with tears again. "Honestly? You just come across as a bit of a prat."

"Viv—"

"Let me finish!" I interjected. "I do however wish you and Phoebe the best. You truly deserve one another."

Aaron did a double take. "Do you really mean that?"

"Yes." My mobile began to ring. "It's obvious we weren't compatible. I don't know how long we would've pretended otherwise." Distracted, I glanced at the screen and saw Harry's name. "Um...I'm going to find out when the moving company can come get my things." Then I pressed my mobile to my ear and answered, "Hello?"

"Did you mean it?" Talk about straight to the point.

"W-What?" All the tension that had gone from my face returned.

"You said you love me, Vivian."