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Lena

Flustered and a little out of breath from shouting at an irresponsible driver, Lena bumped against the curb when she parked her car. She got out, cursing when a couple of empty bottles and an old receipt tumbled out with her.

It was amazing how quickly she'd turned back into a slob now she was single.

She grabbed the bottle of wine from the back seat, ignoring all the old energy bar wrappers and bottles. That was a problem for another day because it wasn't like anyone was going to see her car and she was already late.

With the click of her key, she abandoned her car and hurried along the row of old two-story houses. She had noticed it earlier but now she could fully appreciate the upscale area her friend had moved to.

A set of stone stairs brought her up to a red wooden door and she rang the doorbell, slightly nervous about the upcoming party.

Was Aditi going to be here?

She pushed the thoughts away, telling herself that it didn't matter if her ex was here or not. They wouldn't have to talk to each other and they could be civilised, couldn't they? At least, she hoped so.

The door swung open and Poppy appeared, already red and clearly slightly tipsy. "Lena!!! You made it!"

"Of course, I said I would," Lena replied, although she knew it meant very little. She'd said she would show up to many things, only to cancel last minute. Sheepishly, she held out her bottle. "Here, a little gift. Congrats on the new place."

"Thanks, babes." Poppy accepted the bottle and gave it a little shake. "I love red wine."

Lena smiled, quietly relieved about that. She'd picked a random wine from the shelf on her way here, one with a middle of the road price tag. She wasn't very good at gifts. Aditi had always been the gift giver.

She followed Poppy into the new flat which was pretty packed, not that it surprised her. As a veritable extrovert, Poppy was always the life of the party and surrounded by a crowd.

"So, how are you settling in?" Lena asked, her voice already raised so she could be heard over the crowd and the music.

Poppy gave her a thumbs up. "I love it! Everything works, fancy that."

"What about the fridge?" Lena asked.

Chuckling, Poppy gestured to a grand fridge, one with two doors and brushed metal. "Brand new, baby."

"So no freezer parties on the horizon then," Lena commented, smiling at the memory of the impromptu party that had been thrown in the honour of Poppy's fridge-freezer giving up.

It wouldn't have been an issue if the landlord had replaced it straight away, like a good landlord ought.

Instead, everyone had come together for the most eclectic dinner party of fish sticks, ice cream, berry smoothies, and anything else that needed eating.

Poppy paused next to the counter where lots of plastic cups and half-empty bottles were taking up the entire space. "What can I get you? Wine? Beer? Cocktail? I've got everything."

"I can see that," Lena commented. "Anything non-alcoholic? I'm driving."

"Sure, I've got all the juices. Apple, orange, grape, cranberry, you name it."

"You don't do anything half-assed, do you?" Lena said with a smile. "Apple, please."

"One glass of apple juice for the lady," Poppy quipped, cheerful as always. She poured it with the skill and flair of a bartender and presented it. "So... How've you been? Is this the first time I've seen you since the break-up?"

Lena drank some apple juice to give herself a moment before she had to reply. "Yeah, it is."

"I'm sorry. I really liked Aditi."

A lump appeared in her throat. "Me too. Anyway, what's done is done. We no longer wanted the same thing. What about you? Are you still dating Assia, was it?"

"Oh no, that's long over. Done and dusted. No, I'm currently dating..." Poppy peered into the crowd, clearly searching for someone. She pointed out a heavier woman in leopard print who was shaking her shoulders to the song. "Sophie. She's amazing. I think it's going to last."

"I hope it does," Lena said, even if she was fairly sure it wouldn't. As much as she loved her friend, Poppy was one of those serial monogamists.

Not that there was anything wrong with it, it was just very foreign to Lena who hadn't dated anyone besides Aditi in the last four years and a half.

Six if she counted the time before Aditi.

No, Lena wasn't exactly a social butterfly and she wasn't looking to be one either. If she was, she wouldn't have worn her old graphic shirt with her favourite design: an old retro computer with a rainbow screen.

The doorbell went again which meant Poppy dashed off, leaving Lena to fend for herself.

Not that she minded. She sipped her apple juice, watched some drunk people dance, and made short but polite conversation with the few friends she knew.

It was actually a perfectly pleasant afternoon until she saw a flash of long dark hair.

Her stomach screwed itself tight right away and only lessened when she got a better look at the dark-haired woman.

Not Aditi.

Lena relaxed only slightly because despite her relief and her pounding heart, she was secretly also disappointed.

She shouldn't be, they broke up for very good reasons, but it seemed like Lena wasn't quite ready to accept that it was over.

There was still quiet yearning for what used to be, for the familiar comfort that was Aditi.

Desperate for some fresh air, she went out through the kitchen into the very, very small backyard. It was so small, there was just enough space for two chairs, a little table, and a handful of smokers.

Lena really wanted a cigarette herself but unlike the rubbish in her car, this wasn't a bad habit she wanted to pick back up. It had been hard enough to quit, she didn't want to go through it again.

"As I live and breathe, if it isn't Lena!" an excited voice called. "She's alive!"

Lena didn't have to turn around to know who that voice belonged to, there was only one of her friends who rivalled Poppy in dramatics.

"Alix. It's been a while," Lena said, a bit embarrassed when she thought of all the invitations to hang out she'd declined. It wasn't that she didn't want to see Alix but Alix had always been Aditi's friend first, Lena hadn't been sure if their friendship would survive the break-up.

From the warm hug that Alix gave her, it seemed so.

"You are a hard woman to get a hold of," Alix said affectionately. "Let me have a good look at you."

"What are you, my mother?" Lena joked.

"If I were, you’d have some explaining to do, young lady! I've not seen you in months."

Lena grimaced. "Sorry."

"You better not be skipping out on my birthday party. I know you saw my message about it."

"Umm..." Lena wanted to ask if Aditi was going to be there but it was a useless question. Of course, Aditi was going to be there. Those two were practically sisters.

"You won't have to talk to Aditi. There'll be enough people." Alix gave her her biggest begging eyes. "Please, please, please, please, please?—"

"All right, all right. I'll be there," Lena conceded.

Even if she wasn't a social butterfly, she did value the few friends she had.

It had been a bit frustrating that most of them were mutual friends but maybe it was time to get over that.

So what if her ex was also going to be there?

They were grown-ups, they could spend an evening socialising in each other's vicinity without it turning into a big drama or meltdown.

Alix' face lit up. "Great! I'll hold you to that."

"When is it?"

"Don't know yet! I'm still deciding on the venue."

"Venue? You're being fancy."

"I only turn twenty-four once. This is my last year being in my early-twenties. Next year, I'll be a quarter of a century. I'm not ready to be that old!"

Lena couldn't help but chuckle. She didn't really understand her friend's fascination with her birthdays or turning older but she wasn't going to rain on her parade. Different things were important for different people, something that had become very apparent towards the end of her relationship.

The tightness in her stomach only got worse.

“So, how’ve you been?” Lena asked, a desperate attempt at conversation.

“Not too bad. Busy with all of Trixie’s homework and school stuff. She has so many hobbies and of course, I have to drive her.” Alix rubbed her forehead. “You?”

“Busy, too,” Lena said. It wasn’t even a lie, she had been busy with work. Not so busy that she couldn’t have made time for friends but it was what it was.

Alix nodded. “And how are you, you know, regarding the breakup?”

“Fine,” Lena said. Even she could hear the lie in her own voice. “I’m totally fine.”

“Right.”

“It’s the truth. I’m sure Aditi is fine too.”

“Aditi is…” Alix bit her lip, no doubt wondering how much she was allowed to share. "Well, I don't want to lie, she was pretty upset at the beginning. Devastated. It's a bit better now."

“Devastated?” Lena scoffed, anger bubbling up inside of her. “She’s the one who broke up with me. Why is she the one that’s devastated?”

“She didn’t want to break-up, you know that.”

“Yeah? Then she shouldn’t have insisted that we go into the sacred lake to find out if we’re fated mates.

She knows I didn’t want that. She always said she didn’t want a fated mate either.

She’s a liar.” Lena didn’t often spew out long rants like that but they came naturally.

The pain and hurt from the break-up was still fresh and Alix had clearly pressed on a painful spot.

Alix gave her a look of pity. “It wasn’t a lie, you know. She just changed her mind.”

“Of course you’re picking her side,” Lena spat out. She knew she was directing her anger at the wrong person but it was impossible to stay calm. It hurt. It hurt that Aditi had chosen to throw all their time together away because they weren’t fated mates.

It was the very thing Lena always feared would happen and Aditi had assured her for years that she didn’t want a fated mate either. Then finally when Lena started to believe her… bam . A good dose of reality.

She really should’ve known better. Shifters wanted fated mates and she was a fool for thinking Aditi was any different.