New Year's part one

“Worthless.” A boss says to his assistant.

Elena had yet again failed to schedule an appointment with a prospective investor. Her blood ran cold as she listened to his berating.

“Just get out of my sight.” He scoffed.

She glanced at a clock, knowing there was only twenty minutes till her shift.

Soon as she gets to her cubicle her eyes trail over to the picture sitting by her computer. Her smile grows as the sight of her and her boyfriend of three years.

I can’t wait to see him today.

She checked her phone, he hadn’t responded to her texts.

He’s probably busy.

By the time it’s 5:30 pm she clocks out.

It’s raining outside and she doesn’t have a coat.

Who needs coats when you can run to the bus?!

She ends up semi soaked. But it's okay because just a few stops and she’s practically home.

The first thing she sees is his car.

That’s weird. He’s usually at the studio at this time.

She peeks into the car. With how tinted his windows are she’s surprised he hasn’t gotten a ticket yet.

The driver's side was clear. Though in the backseats she felt like something moved.

She reeled back. Practically feeling jump-scared because of it.

At the front door she runs into her boyfriend. Sweaty with messy hair.

“Yahir?” She smiled.

“Hey…” He trails off.

He picks up a key and heads to his car.

“Where are you going?” Elena asked.

“Just…to get some groceries. We ran out of eggs.”

“Alright drive safe!”

She shuts the door, but one look at the nearest window and the thought hits her as he was pulling out of the parking lot.

If he was home why didn’t he pick me up from work?

Hours go by and what’s supposed to be a quick grocery trip turns into something much longer. Elena had already made dinner, took a shower, and watched half of a new season of their favorite TV show.

She went out to the balcony for some fresh air. The sky all dark with bits of fireworks lighting up the skies,

She checked her phone, still no response.

“It’s like he’s ignoring me.”

“That’s because he is.”

To her right was her neighbor.

He lazily leaned against the railings.

“Don’t say that, Zane.”

“As if it's not true?’

Elena rolled her eyes. Running her fingers through her thick curls. Soft brown eyes staring at the sky.

“You’re probably right. I just don’t want to admit it.”

Zane moved up from the railings, getting closer to her side.

“Instead of just pondering about it. Don’t you want to see for yourself?”

Elena stood up straight. Looking at him through her lashes.

“You mean…stalk him?”

“I mean finding out the truth so you can stop feeling so-”

“Sad?”

He tilted his head a bit.

“Pretty much. Besides, it’ll be fun.”

“To spend new years trying to catch my boyfriend cheating?”

Zane smiled.

“I’ll meet you down in ten.”

He seemed so casual about it. As if spying on his neibors boyfriend was something he was used to. Elena shakes her head and looks at her closet.

It’s just playing around. I’m sure Yahir ended up running into one of his friends and maybe just simply lost track of time.

By the time she heads downstairs Zane’s waiting for her. His black bomber jacket and black sweatpants. Granted it gets kind of cold around new years.

He holds out a helmet.

Elena glances at a sleek motorcycle he’s got.

“I’ve never rode on one before.” She said.

A smile on her face as Zane chuckled. He puts the helmet on for her.

As they got on she held onto the sides of the bike.

Zane furrows his brows as he takes her arms.

“Hold me like this.”

“I thought you’re supposed to hold the sides of the bike?

“And I thought you’ve never ridden a bike before?”

She gasped, squeezing him in response.

“Well don’t get angry if I accidentally squeeze you too hard.”

“I won’t.” He said.

As he drove he asked her about any spots they went too. None of which had his car around. They’ve been on the road for an hour.

“Maybe he really is at his friend's house?” She smiled.

Feeling a sense of reassurance at the mere thought.

Zane grunts. As if he wouldn’t entertain the thought of that.

“Oh, is that the new neighborhood cafe? I’ve been wanting to go.”

Judging by the open sign it looked like they could go.

Her arm accidentally squeezed his out of excitement. A slow smile formed on his face before he cleared his throat.

“Thought you wanted to see where that boyfriend of yours is at?”

“We can still get something to drink can’t we?”

Zane pondered for a moment before parking the bike on the side of the road.

“Yeah. Why not?”

They walk in Elena taking a couple pictures of the cafe’s aesthetic. A smile on her face as she was ordered. She looks around for a seat and in that moment Zane adds a macchiato to the order, the card reader letting out a ding before her head snaps back.

“You-”

“I?”

He smirked, taking the order number and finding a seat.

As she sat in front of him, he gazed beyond her. His mood darkened.

“What?” She looks back.

Her boyfriend was in a corner, laughing with soft eyes towards another woman.

Zane gauged her reaction. She looked down at her phone. A notification popped up.

A text saying he was at his friend's house. She quietly scoffed.

“Clearly he isn’t.” She mumbled.

Her hand clenched, sharp nails digging into her palms.

Zane puts his hand over hers, loosening her grip. His thumb smoothing over the crescent marks she left on her palm.

“If you want to let it out you can.”

She meets his gaze.

All soft, an all so familiar gaze.

As if he didn’t want to see her hurt.

“When are our drinks coming?”

He glanced at the counter. Only two orders ahead of theirs.

“Soon.”

“Great. Cause I wanna cause a scene.”

Zane grinned at that.

His fingers interlocking with hers, leaning his cheek against his fist.

“Then go crazy.”