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Camila and Beatrice sat together in the corner of the coffee shop that she felt chained to. She hadn’t been in this town in months, she’d moved two hours away and was working with her mother. She’d only come back because it was Camila’s birthday tomorrow and she promised her she’d come back to town for it. The entire town felt like a weight on Beatrice’s shoulders that she could barely hold, this cafe was the worst of it. It reminded her of their friend group, but worst of all it reminded her of Ava. They hadn’t spoken since the day Beatrice found out she was engaged and she didn’t plan on changing that.
“-then Mary and Lilith… Bea, are you even listening to me?” Camila questioned, pulling her from the thoughts that plagued her. Beatrice nodded, “Yeah, sorry. I’m just kind of tired.” Then she took a sip of her drink. Camila nodded and looked off into the distance, her face growing pale, “Uh.”
Beatrice didn’t have to look. She could hear the quiet footsteps that approached from behind her and the look she received told her exactly who it was. As she looked up her eyes locked with Ava’s. Fire met with ice, love met with hate, calm met with cold.
Ava opened her mouth to speak, but Beatrice cut her off, “What do you want, Ava?” Camila winced at the ice-cold tone she had taken with the other girl and the way Ava’s face dropped tremendously. Ava began to stumble over her words, “Well, I… Uh..” Camila cleared her throat, “I’m gonna step away.” Beatrice tried to grab the girl’s arm as she got up, “Camila, no.” She said with a hard tone, but the girl was already leaving.
Ava took the seat Camila left without invitation, offering a warm smile to Beatrice, “How are you? How have you been? We haven’t talked in a while.” Beatrice’s jaw was clenched and her brows were furrowed as she stared at the table, “I have nothing to say to you then, obviously.”
Ava deflated slightly, “Bea, I’m sorry.” She said and Beatrice could tell without looking up at her that she was beginning to cry. Her heart hurt that she was being so cold, but she was still hurt from the start of all this. “You didn’t come to the wedding,” Ava whispered, her voice losing the pep it had before.
Beatrice looked up at her and took a deep breath before responding, “Why would I do that, Ava?” Ava started to respond and Beatrice held up her hand, “Would you have come to mine if you were in my position? Honestly.” Ava didn’t have an answer to that question. Beatrice nodded, “Exactly.”
She looked at Ava’s hand on the table, her ring was worn on it. “Are you happy?” She asked, looking up at the girl. Their eyes were locked on each other now and Beatrice dared her to lie, she’d never been able to lie to her. “Yeah, but you know I was always happy with you too. Happier maybe.” Ava replied. Beatrice scoffed, “Don’t feed me all of this Ava. If you were happier with me why would you marry him?” Ava was at a loss again. She wasn’t sure if she even had an answer to that.
“It’s just easier with him,” Ava replied honestly, looking down at the table. Beatrice kept her eyes on the girl, “So you’re just one of those people who won’t fight for something? You’re not the Ava I know then.” She said, looking off out the window. It hurt to look at her and it hurt even more that she knew she wasn’t willing to fight for them now even if Beatrice knew that, she was married for god's sake.
“I know,” Ava said quietly, tears filling her eyes. Beatrice sighed and stood up, Ava snapping her head up when she did. Then she stepped out from her chair and stood beside the table they had been sitting at.
Beatrice laid her hand on Ava’s face to wipe a tear from her eye, she hated to see it, but she hated the girl too in some ways. Ava reached up to cover Beatrice’s hand with her own. Then Beatrice spoke, “It’s obvious we’ll never stop hurting each other, but I can’t fight for someone who won’t fight for me.” Then she pulled her hand back like she’d been burnt, her moment of weakness being pulled back with it. Just in a moment’s time, Ava watched as Beatrice’s demeanor hardened again and she grabbed her cup from the table.
Their eyes met one last time and without another word Beatrice walked away, leaving Ava crying at the table.