Flowers - new version

I let myself slide into a relationship with Billy. As first it was intoxicating. I was under his charm which cast a spell on me. I forgot who I was and what it was I wanted. My dreams became his dreams. I was his devoted little puppy following him around. He bought me flowers every Sunday.

Then it all came crashing down. The tabloids caught a hold of it first and I didn't want to believe it. Didn't want to believe he would throw what we had away, but then I realized it was all a game to him.

I came home early one night. I wasn't feeling well so I told the guys to pack it in and we'd take the rest of the night off. I tried calling home to get Billy to come pick me up, but there was no answer. Jimmy brought me home since he weren't coming to get me until later.

The house was dark. Not unusual, but I did wonder where Billy had gone off to as he didn't have any plans. None that I knew of anyway. I sent Jimmy home.

"I'll be fine, Jimmy. I'll just fall into bed anyway. Sleep this off. I think I've just been working too hard."

He nodded knowing it was true. This new album was not coming out as smoothly as we had hoped. I was too distracted.

I slipped in the front door and padded across to the kitchen to get something to settle my stomach. I heard a few bumps that stopped me in my tracks. What was that? I flipped on the light switch and stood listening to what should have been an empty house.

I heard moans, then "Oh, Billy. Yes, Yes, Yes."

My blood froze. "What the...?" I bolted for the stairs up to the master bedroom and threw open the door. It banged against the wall.

The two people on the bed jolted upright twisting toward me. I watched in horror as Billy shoved the girl away and scrambled up out of the bed. I turned on my heal and fled.

"Regan wait -" he called. His voice held an urgency, a need to cover his tracks, make things right.

But I was done listening. Two years. Twenty-four months almost to the day and he was fucking some nobody in our bed. I didn't want to hear his explanations or his pleas to get things back on track. I was done. Infidelity was it for me. There was no coming back from that.

He set the fire and I watched it burn. Watched him burn. I called Jimmy as I thundered down the steps and out the front door. I could hear Billy close behind.

Thankfully Jimmy hadn't left the driveway yet. It was like he knew their was something going down. I slipped into his car barefoot and he sped off leaving Billy standing naked on the front portico.

"Did you know?" I asked when I was able to form the words. My body was a cascade of emotions each falling in on one another like a house crumbling after an earthquake.

"No, but I had my suspicions," he began with a calmness I had come to appreciate.

"And you didn't think to share them with me?"

"Suspicions, Regan. Nothing more...."

"Fine."

He took me to a hotel I had requested. "I don't want to leave you. Can I go get you some stuff? Shoes?"

I laughed inanely looking down at my feet. I looked a wreck. I'm sure the tabloids would have a field day with this, but right now I didn't care.

"At least wear these." Jimmy pulled a pair of size ten sneakers from a box in the backseat. "They're way too big, but you won't look...."

"So homeless." I said trying to give him a weak smile and hold back the tears that were there brought on by his kindness.

"You Reagan O'Flannery will never be homeless. This is just a setback."

"Some setback." I muttered looking down at my hands twisting together in my lap.

"Do you want me to come in with you?'

Reagan shook her head, then thrusting her chin out with a defiance he admired, she said, "I can hold my own hand. I'm good. I got this."

"I know you do, but just so you know some of the guys and I will head back around and get some of your stuff... maybe give Billy a bit of his own medicine. You get some sleep."

I leaned over and gave Jimmy a peck on the cheek. "Thanks. But I don't think I'll get much sleep."

"Try. Things will be clearer in the morning. You want me to call Sheri or Donna."

Reagan shook her head. She gave a weak smile then after taking a steadying breath thrust open the car door and got out. Jimmy watched her walk into the hotel. Her head was held high.

He made a quick call to secure her a room, then called the guys. They had work to do.

Word Count = 849


Notes ▼

NEW PROMPT

Although, personally, I find most music (with a few exceptions) dating from after the 19th century to be objectionably modern, today's prompt -- keeping with the theme of "24" -- is drawn from an event on 2/4/24 (i.e. February 4th, 2024) ... The Grammy Awards. (Not that I'd ever even heard of any of the songs on that list until I looked them up for today's prompt!)

For tomorrow, you are to write a story or poem that's inspired by one of the three songs below, using the title and incorporating all three of the provided quotes from that song. One of your genres must be MUSIC (because of the prompt), and a second genre must be the one specified in the particular choice (i.e. make sure your story/poem justifies that genre).

NB - When using required phrases, you are not to use them in your entry as if quoting the song. Instead, they must be integrated into your work as part of its natural phraseology. Make sure to put the three phrases in boldface.

And, finally, to really earn that big birthday prize: you must use the number twenty-four somewhere in your poem or story.


Option 1 - Flowers
Title: Flowers
Genres: Music, Romance
Quotes:
* I didn't wanna leave you
* Watched it burn
* I can hold my own hand
And don't forget to use the number 24 in your entry.