Choices and Sacrifices Ch. 08

"You had the opportunity. You left me in the middle of the street when I wanted an explanation and I called you 100's of times. So no, I don't need to hear anything you have to say."

"I want you to know. It doesn't have to be about you, I can't move on without you knowing the—" Just before he could get out the last word Sabrina let out a loud, frustrated groan. She threw her head back and laughed heftily.

"Keegan what the fuck do you want? You have a girlfriend. So what is it?"

"She is not my girlfriend. And I want a chance to tell you everything—from beginning to end." Sabina would be lying to herself if she said the truth didn't intrigue her. To know what he'd been doing these past two months would lessen her mental load and put some burning questions to rest.

"Well..." She swallowed in preparation for her lie. "I've moved on and that's all that matters. I wish you the best."

"Moved on with who? Quincy?" Sabrina stared at him blankly as he confirmed her doubt. They knew each other, somehow. She wondered how much Quincy knew about the situation and how much he was hiding. Everyone seemed to be untrustworthy. "I didn't think you would stoop that low." Sabrina snorted.

"Anything would've been a step up from you." That hurt him. He'd always tried his best to love Sabrina the way she deserved but his huge mistake overshadowed all his attempts.

"You know I'm still in love with you... I love you more than anything else." Sabrina couldn't handle his presence any more. She pivoted on her heel and skipped down the stairs promptly. She could hear his steps following closely behind her. As she was opening the tall glass doors, she paused and peered over her shoulder momentarily.

Keegan's breath caught in his throat while he anticipated her to say something along the lines of what he'd just confessed. She parted her lips and closed them again.

"Stay here for a few minutes."

Sabrina straightened her shoulders and maneuvered through the still large crowd. It actually looked like more people had shown up after she arrived. They still seemed alive and vibrant despite the amount of liquor everyone had probably consumed. Sabrina looked to Connor, Leslie, Quincy and Keegan's girl. She could see the unease on Connor's face. She felt a little bad about ruining his grand opening with this mess. It was clear he was proud of his accomplishment but was too caught up in other people's problems to enjoy himself.

She could sense that Quincy saw her but she refused to make eye contact.

A rushing heat of rage washed over her as she closed the distance between them. He was tuned into her but her attention appeared to be elsewhere. Leslie and Keegan's girl were engaging in a small banter—one woman clearly more enthusiastic about the conversation than the other. Sabrina looked to the pale woman and finally took in her appearance.

She had to be at most a size 4. Her tiny little wrists were flying around while she spoke. Her brown hair was full and cut bluntly around her waist, signaling that it'd once been longer. She had thin lips and a slender, slightly crooked nose.

Sabrina was suddenly annoyed by her presence and exhaled nosily as she averted her gaze. She was searching for a drink.

"Get me a drink, Quincy." He hardly noted the jaggedness of her voice and turned to snatch a glass off of a nearby waiter's tray. He handed it to Sabrina and she took it silently. She had no idea what it was but it was a brown drink that stung her nose powerfully when she took a sip. She heard the name 'Bethany' in the dialogue so she figured it was the woman's name.

"Where are you from?" Sabrina squinted at Bethany, blatantly scrutinizing her. When Keegan approached on her left, she briefly looked up to him as if his presence would get her out of speaking to Sabrina. Or maybe it was her reaction to realizing Keegan knew Sabrina, but Sabrina did not know her. Either way, it took her awhile to reply.

"Florida." Sabrina took another sip and looked inquisitively into the glass.

"I thought Florida was a sunny state?" Sabrina didn't even realize she had made a small, childish jab until it was too late. Her lightly intoxicated disposition wouldn't even allow her to feel remorse. Leslie picked up on the awkwardness immediately and tried to save the mood for the second time of the night.

"So how long have you been in Maryland?" Keegan stuffed his hands into his pockets; a natural response to his discomfort. Sabrina narrowed her eyes at him as they both awaited her answer.

"Ummm... a little over two mon—"

"How long have you been together?" Sabrina's annoyance and frustration paired with her drunkenness had her feeling bitter. Her words were coming out sharper and her sentences a lot more forceful.

"Almost three years." Sabrina's sip morphed into three long, deep gulps that showed the bottom of the glass. She leaned into Quincy and mumbled something lightly.

"Another."

"We are not dating and we haven't been for awhile." Keegan spoke directly to Bethany, turning her cheeks a light pink . Sabrina watched them pryingly, trying to see just what kind of relationship the two currently had.

"When did you break up?" The question was a bit too specific but Sabrina looked right at Bethany, steadily. Just as she thought, Keegan tried to interrupt.

"Bethany." She reinforced who she was speaking to so she could silence Keegan. She wanted her response untainted and completely truthful.

"6 months ago." Sabrina smiled lightly. She and Keegan had been broken up for only 2 months and dating for 6. So their relationships had overlapped for an entire 2 months. Meaning he'd lied to her about having someone back in Florida along with a strain of other things. Sabrina had had enough of them and their surprises.

"Nice meeting you." Sabrina said to Bethany, trying to clear the air, settle their tension and raise her hopes of seeing her again. She seemed to be her only source of truthful information. Connor, Keegan and Quincy had all proved themselves liars or ridiculously sneaky.

"Leslie—nice meeting you. Don't be a stranger!" Sabrina waved to her just as she turned on her heel and stomped her way to the door. Quincy took his cue to follow. Sabrina reached into her clutch for her cell phone.

She found the first number in her recent call log and hit the green button.

"Hello?" The answer was groggy and Sabrina pulled the phone away to check the time. She had completely forgot it was late; almost 12 in the morning.

"Hey Chelle, sorry I'm calling so late. But I need to see you." She yawned lightly.

"Of course—come on." Sabrina hung the phone up and turned around to see Quincy trailing her.

"You have about 30 minutes to explain yourself to me, because after tonight," She stopped walking and turned to face the opposite direction of the sidewalk. Quincy stumbled over his feet, trying not to walk into her suddenly still fame. His eyes were large—like a little kid about to be scolded. He'd been wearing the expression for quite some time. "I hope to never see you again."