THE STRANGER

James wasn’t offering options. He was giving orders. As usual. 

 Slowly, Queen sat down. Because arguing would only ruin the evening.

Because she missed him. Because she loved him. Because she was tired.

A waiter arrived. James ordered immediately. Queen didn’t even look at the menu.

Her stomach was already cramping. The first drink burned all the way down.

The second made her head feel lighter. The third made the room blur slightly around the edges.

She hated how quickly it affected her. Then again, she hadn’t eaten properly in days.

A familiar voice suddenly cut through the noise. “James?” Queen froze.

No.   Absolutely not.  She knew that voice. She would recognize it anywhere.

Slowly, she turned. Victoria Sam stood a few feet away. Tall. Beautiful. Perfect. And smiling.

The exact kind of smile that had made Queen’s school years miserable.

Victoria’s face lit up. “James, darling!”

Before Queen could react, Victoria leaned forward and kissed his cheek.

Queen’s grip tightened around her glass. Darling? Victoria finally noticed her.

“Oh.”  A slow smile spread across her face.

“Queen.”

The way she said her name felt like an insult. “Victoria.”  Victoria’s eyes swept over her.

Lingering.  Judging.  Evaluating. The same way they always had.

Then she laughed softly.  “Oh my God.” Queen’s stomach twisted.

“What?”  Victoria tilted her head.

“It’s just…” Her smile widened. “You somehow look exactly the same, large.”

The insult hung in the air. Clear as day. James chuckled into his drink.

Chuckled. Queen stared at him. Waiting for him to defend her.

He didn’t. Instead, he took another sip of his drink.  And somehow that hurt more than Victoria’s words ever could.

“Oh, don’t look so upset, Queen.” Queen’s jaw tightened. “I’m not upset.”

“Really?” Victoria laughed. “You look upset.”

The alcohol sitting in Queen’s empty stomach made everything worse.

Her head hurt. Her stomach hurt. Her heart hurt. Most of all, she was tired.

Victoria leaned toward James. “So, darling.” The word again.

“When’s our next shoot?” James smiled. “Next week.”

Victoria sighed dramatically. “Good.” Her hand brushed his arm.

“Because maintaining this body and all this sexiness is hard work.”

Queen looked away. Victoria glanced at her. Then smiled.

“You know, Queen, if you ever need fitness advice, I’d be happy to help.”

That did it. Something inside Queen, finally snapped.

She stood up so suddenly her chair nearly toppled over. Both James and Victoria looked at her.

“Queen?”

James frowned. “Sit down.” “No.” Her voice trembled.

Not from fear. From anger.  Victoria raised an eyebrow.  “Oh dear.”

“No.”   Queen shook her head.  “You don’t get to stand here pretending to help me.”

Victoria’s smile disappeared.  “You spent years making fun of me in school.”

Silence.  “You laughed at me.”  Victoria folded her arms.

“That was years ago.”   “You humiliated me.”  “People grow up.”

Queen laughed.  A bitter laugh.  “Really?”  Her eyes swept over Victoria.

“Because it doesn’t seem like you have.” The atmosphere around the table instantly changed.

James sighed heavily.  “Queen.” “No.”  She turned toward him. “No.”

The hurt she’d been carrying all night finally surfaced. “You don’t get to tell me to calm down.”

James looked annoyed.  “You’ve had too much to drink.” Queen couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

“Are you serious?”  “You are overreacting.” The words felt like a slap. Overreacting.

Of course.  She was always overreacting. Whenever her feelings got hurt.

Whenever she cried.  Whenever she asked for respect. Whenever she wanted to be treated like a human being.

Overreacting.  Queen stared at him.  Really stared at him.  James frowned.

“What now?”  Queen shook her head.  Nothing. There was nothing left to say.

She grabbed her handbag. “Where are you going?” Home. The answer came instantly.

Home.  Away from Victoria. Away from you..

“Queen!”  She kept walking.  “Queen!” People turned to look. She didn’t care.  For once. She didn’t care.

The cool night air hit her face the moment she stepped outside.

Queen woke up with a pounding headache the next day.

For a few seconds, she stared at the ceiling, trying to remember why her head felt like someone had taken a hammer to it.

Then she remembered. The lounge. Victoria. James. The humiliation. Her stomach twisted.

The memory alone was enough to make her feel sick.  Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Victoria. The smug smile.

The mocking laughter. The way she had called James darling right in front of her.

Worst of all was James. Sitting there. Smiling. Laughing.

Doing absolutely nothing. The memory made her stomach twist.

Her phone buzzed on the bedside table. She didn’t have to look.

James. Of course. Queen stared at the ceiling for several seconds before finally reaching for it.

The first message was waiting. I still can’t believe you walked out on your future husband like that last night.

Her chest tightened. A second message appeared. Victoria was trying to help you.

Queen laughed. A humorless, exhausted laugh.

Help me? Was humiliation considered help now? Another message arrived.

You owe her an apology. Queen sat upright so fast she almost dropped the phone.

Apologize?  To Victoria? The same Victoria who had spent years making my school life miserable? The same Victoria who had just spent an entire evening insulting me? 

The same Victoria who had spent years bullying me?

The same Victoria who had spent the previous night reminding me that i would never measure up?

Her hands trembled as she continued reading. She was being honest. Not everyone is going to lie to you.

There it was again. Honesty.  James loved that word. Every insult was honesty.

Every cruel remark was honesty.  Every wound was honesty. Anything could be justified as long as he called it the truth.

The phone buzzed again. You embarrassed me in front of my client. Queen stared at the words.

Not: Are you okay?  Not: Did you get home safely? Not: I’m sorry for what happened.

Instead: You embarrassed me. Tears burned behind her eyes.

Because somehow, James always found a way to make her feel guilty for being hurt.

Another message arrived. If you can’t handle constructive criticism, how are you going to change?

  For the first time since they started dating, she didn’t reply. Queen ignored him. She tossed the phone onto the bed and headed toward the kitchen. The moment she opened the pantry, her heart sank.

Empty. Well, almost empty. Cucumber. Green tea. Rice cakes. Protein powder.

Everything James had approved. Everything James said would help her lose weight.

Everything she hated. She opened the refrigerator. The same thing. Nothing she actually wanted to eat. Nothing that looked like breakfast. Nothing that looked like food.

Her stomach growled angrily. “Great.”

 “she rushed to the shower, had her bath, and got dressed.

She grabbed her handbag.

She would buy breakfast on her way to work. Just this once.

James didn’t have to know. And nobody would tell him.

By the time she left her apartment building, the headache had worsened.

The alcohol from the night before mixed horribly with an empty stomach.

Her legs felt weak. Her head felt light. The world seemed slightly tilted.

She spotted a small café across the street. Perfect. Just a few more steps.

Queen started walking.  One step. Two steps.  Three.

The ground suddenly shifted beneath her feet.  Her vision blurred.

Dark spots appeared in front of her eyes. She stumbled. A gasp escaped her lips.

Then as she was about fainting.

A strong hand wrapped around her arm.

Steadying her before she hit the ground. “Easy.” The voice was deep.

Calm.  Close. Queen blinked several times before looking up.

A tall man stood beside her. One hand still holding her elbow.

The other tucked into the pocket of an expensive-looking suit. His face was unfamiliar.

Strong jaw. Dark eyes. Neatly styled hair. The kind of man who looked like he belonged in a luxury car advertisement.

“Are you okay?” The concern in his voice caught her off guard. Queen immediately nodded.

Too fast.  “I’m fine.” At that exact moment—  Grrrrrr. Her stomach growled. Loudly. Painfully.

Mortifyingly.  Queen wanted the ground to open up and swallow her whole.

The stranger heard it.  Of course he heard it. His eyebrow lifted slightly. She wanted to die.

“I’m okay,” she repeated. The stranger looked unconvinced. “That’s not what okay sounds like.”

Heat rushed into her cheeks. “This is embarrassing.” “That makes two of us.”

Queen blinked. “What?” “I nearly got tackled by a stranger.” A surprised laugh escaped her.

The first genuine laugh she’d had that day. The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

Not quite a smile. But close. “Have you eaten breakfast?” Queen immediately looked away.

“No.” His expression hardened. “Why not?”