0.59|when getting into an impromptu fight|

0.59|from Sabah's first draft: when getting into an impromptu fight|

Anthony watched Auburn pull her jacket tighter around herself and walk into the cafe. He tried to say something but words refused to form. He took a step towards her, "Aub-"

The cafe door banged shut, its glass vibrating dangerously and the wind chimes creating a ruckus.

He ran a hand over his face and turned back. "Shit shit shit," he breathed out. "What have you done, Anthony? God, I've totally messed up." He nervously swept his hair to one side and as he walked once again towards the cafe, swept it to the other resulting in making his hair stand up in a harrowed, scarecrow fashion. "But its not all my fault, I suppose. It can't be right? Or can it? And what does she mean... I am so not an anchor. Yeah, I'll tell her that."

He walked up to the door and pushed the glass inwards with determination. "Auburn, I-"

"No, I don't want to talk to you!"

Anthony stopped in his tracks, shocked at the raised, rash tone. He frowned and looked around for her. Carlotta was innocently wiping a table closest to the kitchen. Auburn had probably gone right in.

"And you think I'll leave just because you don't want to talk to me?" a deep, angry voice replied and it was then that Anthony realized that Auburn wasn't talking to him.

He placed his jacket on a chair and whispered, "Who is that? What is happening?"

Carlotta beckoned him closer while putting a finger on her lips. He stopped beside her and listened.

"Gordon, I don't know why you would come all the way here but I already said goodbye. Leave before I call the police," Auburn's cool tone couldn't hide her effort to control her anger.

"Oh really? You'll the call the police? You have no right to behave in this manner to me. Do you know how worried I have been? Do you know what your parents have gone through? All the embarrassing questions we've had to answer? The shit people have been saying since you did your disappearing act?"

Anthony asked Carlotta with a frown, "Who is Gordon again? And why is he talking to her like that?"

The older woman gave him a deadpan look, "While you two have been gallivanting across Madrid, I've had the displeasure to be graced with the company of Auburn's delightful ex-boyfriend."

"He's her boyfriend?" he asked.

"Ex-boyfriend," corrected Carlotta with a smirk.

"What does he mean by-"

She shushed him, "Let me hear what they're saying."

"I don't think we should eavesdrop."

Carlotta looked at him shrewdly, "Then why don't you stop?"

He coloured, "Okay, I'll shut up. Let's listen."

Auburn's voice was quivering with anger now, "I left a note. There wasn't a need to worry and you, of all people, worrying about me? Now, that sounds like a good joke. Did you get bored of Eunice that you had to turn to worrying about me to pass your time?"

"Since you've brought that up, I have a question too. Were you so ashamed of the idea of being replaced that you had to run away, not just from me but from your parents, your friends...hell, you're so insecure you left your country."

"You son of a-"

"Oh, c'mon, sweetheart, you can't slap me. I thought you loved me. Know what? I love you too. If you had waited long enough, I would have told you that Eunice...what happened with Eunice was just a one night thing. I wasn't really cheating on you. I was just messing around, having a night out but...but you-you and your paranoid brain had to bolt at the slightest mistake."

"Leave me hand or I'll kick you where it hurts," Auburn shouted. "I said, let go!"

Anthony said, "That's it. I'm going in."

Carlotta looked impressed and pumped the air before following him into the kitchen where Anthony spoke coolly, "I don't think the lady wants to talk to you so I suggest you drop her hand and leave."

Gordon stood a couple of inches taller than the blonde footballer at about six feet three inches. He frowned as he watched Anthony walk in and fix him with a cold gaze. His lips curled into a smile and he dropped Auburn's hand.

"I think I can manage on my own, Anthony," Auburn stated softly.

"And who the hell are you, blondie?" Gordon crossed his huge biceps across his chest. He closed in the distance between himself and Anthony. Looking over his shoulder, he asked in amused tone, "Is this my replacement?"

"No," Anthony spoke up, his grey eyes flickering to Auburn's for the fraction of a second. "I am her best friend and I am asking you to leave as politely as possible so I suggest you do as I say."

"Or?"

Carlotta gave him a sceptic look, "Or, you pig, we'll make you leave."

"Oh shut up, you hag," Gordon made a face. "I'm sick and tired of listening to you the whole day. Let the men do the talking...that is if this Blondie is a man? I'm having my doubts."

Auburn glared, "Can you stop pissing off my friends and get your butt out of the door?"

"Friends?" he laughed. "Let me tell you guys something. Auburn here doesn't know the meaning of friendship or, for that matter, any relationship. The minute she gets tired of you all, she'll leave you. Without even a word of parting. She's quite experienced in this. I should know."

"Thank you for the personality assessment," Auburn snapped and proceeded to drag him out.

Gordon pushed her back roughly, "Oh I am not done yet, darling-Ouch!"

Carlotta laughed gleefully, "Oh my God! Am I dreaming or did the shy blondie just punch the pig?"

Auburn's jaw dropped open as she watched Anthony deliver a heavy punch to Gordon's face, "Anthony!"

"Leave her alone," he said, flexing his fingers for another punch.

"You punk," Gordon spat and hit back squarely at the blonde's jaw. "I'll kill you."

"You'll go to jail for murder," Anthony shouted as his jaw throbbed.

Gordon jumped at him and locked his hands over Anthony's neck, "Oh it'll be worth it."

"What the hell are you guys doing? Gordon, get off him. NOW!" Auburn shouted, tugging roughly, angrily at Gordon's shirt and wrenching him off Anthony.

Carlotta was cackling, "Dogfight!"

Gordon swatted Auburn's hand away while Anthony kicked him in the groin, "How could you cheat on Auburn, du hund?"

Gordon went red in the face at the pain, his left eye was already swelling slightly his lower lip was double the normal size and his nose looked a broken blue. He stumbled back slightly, "S-stop interfering, you piece of shit."

"Now, can you please leave?" Auburn asked, an unsaid threat in her voice.

For two, maybe three seconds, the kitchen went quiet except for heavy breaths and Carlotta's failed attempts to suppress her laughter.

Finally, in response, Gordon punched Anthony's eye, catching him off guard.

"What even-" Auburn pulled Gordon back by his shoulder and gave a resounding slap.

Gordon looked shell-shocked. He slowly touched his burning cheek, "You slapped me!?"

"You deserve that and much more but I'm going to be the mature one and just drag you out of the cafe," Auburn glared and with she actually escorted him out, by his collar.

He allowed himself to be shown out amidst threats of, "I'll tell your parents you're here, befriending God knows whom", "This isn't the last you've heard of me", "I'm going to lodge a formal complaint against the blondie" and "I already told the fat hag all about your little secret!"

"Yeah, yeah," Aubrun rolled her eyes. "Just shut up. You've embarrassed yourself enough."

"Will you please call me?" he asked suddenly and stopped struggling.

"I don't think we have anything left to talk about, Gordon." She watched him frown and leave, hoping this was the last time she'd ever see him.

Ten minutes in the cool air, with a million thoughts to siphon through, stray tears to get control of, shaking hands to calm down, she decided to face Carlotta and Anthony again, not knowing a word of the inevitable conversation about to take place. She had worked so hard, to let the past stay in the past, even to not fall in love with the present so much that it would begin to define her future but Time doesn't know divisions. Time isn't the hands on a clock, moving determinedly from one second to another. Time is the waves on a beach, making patterns and destroying them as it pleases and Auburn who liked the sea more than the beach was beginning to learn this.

[ this has to be one of the most colourful chapters of this book. we're nearing 30 chapters and so i thought it was time we unraveled some of Auburn's backstory.

translation: du hund=you dog

in otherworldly gossip, did anyone watch deadpool? opinions?

lemme try something fancy...

woah, fancyyy.

so, now that you know a bit, aubony or gorburn? #isthatevenaquestionzaara

vote.comment.follow.xx]