SORA

"It's so freaking cold!" I blow on my freezing hands.

I finally landed down in New Zealand, Queenstown to see my best friend Amanda from college, she has just recently given birth to a son with her longtime husband, Lucas. Traveling from London had been no fun rollercoaster for me, I have never been so emotionally drained on a plane before.

My boyfriend of 2 years broke up with me, left me in debt, and my apartment flooded ruining all my artwork that was meant to be shipped by the end of the month to paying customers.

This happened all but just last night.

After apologizing and returning their money, the whole ordeal had left me emotionally exhausted.. how the hell am I going to fix this. Stressed and exhausted I glare at the sidewalk.

"I'm bloody cursed, I just know it." I mumbled to myself. Waiting for the dealership to deliver my car. I sit on my suitcases, all my belongings with me.

What was suppose to be a weekend away turned into me being homeless and now in a predicament. Amanda has been my best friend since our first year at college, she is the only one who I have kept in contact with since graduating. Since she met Lucas, her now-husband.. she moved all the way to freaking New Zealand, middle of nowhere and is living in a gated community, so she tells me, this is my first time visiting her and meeting her husband.

Of course I couldn't say no to see her newborn son when she asked for me to come and visit, with everything going on in my wreck of a life in London I basically sold what I could and packed up and flew here a day early, despite it all, it was perfect timing. I desperately needed to escape my shitty ex before I killed him and the catastrophic disaster that has now ruined my financial situation, all caused by him... ugh.

Amanda has no idea what's happened. We spoke pretty much once every week always keeping in contact together. But I just cant let my pride down when she always admired me for 'having my shit together', but I'm far from having my shit together.

"Excuse me miss, but the car you requested had been misplaced and there are no available ones till next month..." the man started rambling.

"What? That's.. impossible I bought it already!" I try not to let my frustration come off as anger.

"I'm very sorry..." he genuinely looked sorry smiled weakly at me. "We can arrange for a taxi to take you?" He asked.

I shook my head, I can't afford a taxi is he kidding me, the prices here are huge for a taxi.

My luck just keeps on getting better.

"No. It's fine." I mumbled out and said goodbye to the man. Grabbing my stuff I walk over to the nearest café that happens to be over the road.

Fuck my life.

Putting the phone to my ear and tapping my leg nervously against the pavement, waiting for the call to come through. She is going to freak out, she never liked Tom.

"Sora? Hey! What's up? I was just about to text you." Her carefree giggles came through.

She's going to freak out and definitely going to make a big deal out of this.

"Ha-ha, so listen... I'm in New Zealan-"

"WHAT? NOW?" She screamed making me wince back.

I sigh heavily and run my hand through my hair. Utterly emotionally defeated. "I could really use a ride.. do you think.. you could?" I mumble out, this is so embarrassing, I hope the world swallows me whole..

Her worried momma's voice comes out at times like this. "Oh my god, what happened? Of-course.... LUCAS COME HERE... wait one moment sora... no of.. no its sora! ....... where are you sora? Lucas is coming to pick you up." Her panicked sweet voice rushes out.

Relaxing at her concern for me has a lump stuck in my throat, when was the last time someone cared this much about me? Tom never acted like this with me, not even once.

I give her the name of the street and café I'm at, nervous at how laid back she is about me being here out the blue a day early without a reason why. But Amanda knows something is up, she always does, I'm really lucky to still have her in my life.. I don't know what I would do without her.

I've never met Lucas before, but I know he makes her incredibly happy. Photos of them together were always sent to me from different occasions.. from the wedding I couldn't make, to birthdays I couldn't get time off from painting to celebrate.. I know from where I failed as a best friend Lucas was there to make her happy. And she is happy, it is like they were made for each other.

Meeting Lucas on summer vacation to marrying the guy a month later and they're still happily married, and now with a son.

I'm happy for her. She really deserves it.

A trunk honk startles me from where I sit outside. Glancing up, I see a man coming out from a big red truck, I recognize the man instantly, that is definitely Lucas from the photos Amanda sent me.

He's buff, huge actually.

He had pulled back dirty blonde hair and light stubble on his chin. He was definitely working out lifting freaking trucks or something. This guy was ripped, people sat around me in the café I'm currently at are staring at him in wonder and whisper quietly amongst themselves when he comes and stands in front of me grinning.

"Sora?" He asks, a shy humorous smile spreads across his face.

I nod my head but I didn't get a chance to say anything as he brings me into a bone-crushing hug.

HUGE.

CRUSHING ME..

"Oompf!"

"Oh! Sorry, it's just so nice to finally meet the famous Sora! Amanda never stops talking about you and your college days." He releases me grins at my luggage. "You sure packed a lot for a weekend." His eyebrows raise up.

Um.

I cough nervously and avoid eye contact with him. Shit. This is so awkward.

"I actually.. I.. um, I- it's a long story.." I mumble out trying not to let my emotions surface with all these people around.

Dammit, I'm not crying in front of him.

He stares at me, worry plastered on his face, before he could say anything I interrupt him.

"It's nice to meet you too." I force a smile and laugh. "It's so nice and peaceful here!" I try not to let my voice sound nervous. He is very intimidating with his build and looks. A freaking tree trunk of a man, what is he 6'4?

"Oh!" He smiles wide at me and starts the truck, my suitcases are in the back and he started the truck. He catches me looking around the empty quiet town as I sit in the truck. "I know it's not much compared to the big city, but it's home." He grins as he hits the gas and pulls out from the side of the road.

I let out a long-awaited sigh, my phone has not stopped making noise. I look towards Lucas and smile apologetically, to which he just smiles and nods.

42 missed calls, Dickhead EX.

57 unread text messages, Dickhead EX.

I press the side button off to turn my phone off then rub my forehead, I'm feeling a headache coming on.

Why won't he just leave me alone?

First I found out he slept with a model I painted in our bed, used all of my savings, accused me of cheating... and dumps me over text. And now he has the audacity to beg me to forgive him. He has no god damn remorse for what he did to me. Still doing to me. He has ruined my life.