Do y'all know the song 'Maria, Maria'? Please tell me you do. Anyway, enjoy!
Spencer fell back against the wall and sunk down to the floor while staring at the wedding invitation in his hand. The words were on repeat in his mind, chanted by an angry mob of memories.
We request the honour of your presence at the marriage of Madeline Lockhart and Blake Rodriguez. We request the honour of your presence at the marriage of Madeline Lockhart and Blake Rodriguez. We request the honour of your presence at the marriage of Madeline Lockhart and Blake Rodriguez.
Was this a sick joke? Was Madeline playing a game? Did she just want to rub it in his face? Or was she serious? She couldn't have been serious because after everything that went on between them she couldn't have possibly thought it would be a good idea to invite him to her wedding.
Spencer was offended. Offended by Madeline's blatant ignorance. Offended she still thought of him as her best friend. Offended she didn't think of his feelings when inviting him. Offended she chose Blake...
Spencer slowly rose, dropping the letter to the ground. He would have called her but he didn't have her number. But he needed to talk to her, to rant and to let it all out. Tell her how much she hurt him. Because, even though it had been nearly two months since they slept together, Spencer's mind was still a fuzzy mess.
Suddenly taken by exhaustion, Spencer trudged to his room, relying on memory because he couldn't see anything through his watering eyes. He collapsed onto his bed and stared blankly at his ceiling as salty tears trailed across his temple. Perhaps what hurt the most was how Madeline was actually going through with the wedding. A part of him thought there was still a chance for them. But that part of him was naïve and foolish.
There were no more chances for them.
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"Bro, stop moping around."
As always, Charlie had taken it upon himself to cheer Spencer up. After he spent the day before lethargic in bed, avoiding everyone's calls, Charlie showed up with a bottle of whiskey and an invite to a new club that had just opened. Spencer was feeling a lot of deja vu. Going out and drinking was Charlie's remedy for everything. However, that night especially, even the always cheery Charlie seemed to be dulled down.
Although they still weren't on the best terms, Spencer did make the effort of replying with grunts every so often, as well as the occasional 'getoutmaroom'.
"Look, I know you're pissed at me but I hate seeing you like this. We've had this conversation so many times before. You need to get over her."
"Charlie, I don't even know why you're here."
"You haven't answered my calls all week!"
"That's because I'm angry at you! I'm allowed to be angry at you! You're destroying my best friend's life and-"
"I told you I stopped dealing to him!"
Spencer ignored him and picked up his buzzing phone. After flipping it over and reading Amelie's name he muted it and placed it back on the table. He hadn't spoken to Amelie since he walked her to work two days previously. After getting the invitation, he couldn't bring himself to talk to her. He felt too guilty. She would notice he was upset but there was no easy way to tell her he was in love with a girl who was about to get married, especially since he swore to her that he was over Madeline.
Spencer sighed and relaxed just enough to tell Charlie how he was feeling.
"You don't understand how I feel. I love that girl-"
"Spencer, you're acting like an entitled douche bag! So what she's getting married! Do you not want her to be happy? And you have a girlfriend! A girlfriend who likes you a lot. Get over yourself!"
Spencer rolled his eyes, not letting Charlie's words get to him. "I knew you wouldn't understand..."
"Fine, I don't understand. But what I do understand is that you need to cheer up. And I have been through shit in the past twenty-four hours. So let's please go out!"
"That's not going to help..."
"Come on, bro! It'll be fun!"
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It wasn't fun. Charlie dragged him to the underground club but ditched him almost immediately after getting a phone call. Spencer looked around to see if he recognised anyone but the crowd was too 'young and hip' for him. It consisted of college kids wearing neon shirts with neon battle makeup smeared onto their sweaty cheeks.
Spencer made himself comfortable at the bar and ordered shot after shot. The liquid stung as it slushed down his throat but it did little to distract him from the other stinging sensation he felt.
He felt old. Despite the demographic being close enough to his age, Spencer always felt older than he actually was. Madeline used to joke that he was a sixty year old trapped in a eighteen year old's body. Well, five years later that still hadn't changed. He would have much preferred to be at home reading.
"Spencer," A girl said into his ear.
He snapped out of his sullen daze and turned to look at her. He recognised her from somewhere....Oh! It was the Selena Quintanilla lookalike! Amelie's friend Maria! Last time he saw her, however, she was hitting on him pretty hard.
"Hey..." He replied cautiously.
She awkwardly waved at him before swiftly looking over her shoulder. "Um, I'm on a Tinder date with this guy but he's kind of creeping me out. Can you walk me to my car? I would ask anyone else but you're the only person I recognise."
Spencer relaxed, realising she wasn't trying to hit on him again. He dug into his pocket and unrolled a few hundred dollar bills before handing them to the bartender. He muttered something along the lines of 'keep the change'Â and stood up.
"Of course. Let's go."
They walked in silence until they reached the outside.
"Um, I really appreciate this. I know I should have been more careful choosing a date-"
"It's not your fault at all. I'm glad you're safe."
"Thank you..."
She walked over to her car as Spencer eyed her suspiciously. "Are you sure you should be driving?"
"I don't drink! Um, do you want a ride?"
Spencer nodded. "That would be really cool, thanks."
She nodded and pressed a button on her keys. Her silver range rover lit up and Spencer hopped into the front seat.
"How are you?" She asked.
"Um good. You?"
"I've been better... Um, so where's Amelie? Did she come out with you?"
It was selfish of him really. He couldn't keep ignoring Amelie. And when Maria inevitably told Amelie she met him, he knew Amelie was going to be hurt that he didn't tell her. It wasn't that he didn't want to talk to her. But an impenetrable plaque of guilt was stacked between them and every time Spencer fucked up it got higher and higher. He felt selfish for even liking her. He didn't deserve her.
"Um, no I just came with my brother...."
"Cool. Um, do I turn here? I dropped Amelie off to your apartment once but I can't remember where to turn."
"Yeah. Just here..."
Another awkward silence settled between them. They had nothing to talk about. If he had been feeling chirpier maybe he would have asked her how college was going. Or if she had watched the new Wes Anderson film.
"Okay, here we are!" She announced, pulling up to his apartment complex.
"Oh. Um, thank you-"
"I'm sorry for hitting on you last time. I'm glad you and Amelie are going well. You guys are very cute together."
His mind flashed to Amelie. He actually missed her.
"Thank you," He replied, as he opened the door.
"Bye Spencer. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?"
Maria nodded before raising an eyebrow. "You know, at Blake and Madeline's rehearsal dinner?"
"Huh?"
"Oh, you're probably so confused. Blake's my cousin!"
That wasn't why he was confused. Madeline was having a rehearsal dinner?
"I...I wasn't invited..."
Maria shook her head. "Of course you were! Madeline practically invited the entire city of Manhattan. It's going to be a grandiose affair!"
Ouch.
"Um, I'll talk to you soon Maria..."
"Bye Spencer!"
As soon as he shut the door, she zoomed off, leaving him flabbergasted as he stared at her car disappear into the distance.
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