"American Hangover"

Chapter Five

Lydia leaned into her dresser and closer to her mirror as she carefully applied lip stick and then lip gloss. She traced her lips with the stick carefully then colored in the rest of her lips. She rubbed her lips against each other for a bit until she was fully satisfied. Her lips looked plump and luscious. She only hoped her attempts wouldn’t be completely ruined when she greeted Kiral.


Today was the day they went to his boss’ home. She wanted to make a good impression with the man because he was an important figure in Kiral’s life. Kiral looked up to the man and considered him a role model. The man was filthy rich and very successful. He had everything Kiral wanted in his life… with the exception of Lydia. Kiral had Lydia. Something no one else in the world had also. Lydia smiled at the thoughts of Kiral.


There was a knock at the door that startled Lydia. She ripped her face away from looking at the mirror to see Danny standing at her doorway. “Hey...” she said to the unexpected guest.


“Hey…” Danny replied entering her room. His long strides quickly led him to her bed behind her dresser. She watched him in the mirror. His facial expression was tight with emotion and his eyes worrisome. What ever was to be said Danny seemed hesitant to say it. “Yeah?” Lydia said waiting for it.


“I have to tell you something Lydia.” He said to her. They each locked eyes and Lydia some how felt what was coming next. She walked to the door and closed it. She looked down at the floor and gathered strength hoping she could handle what was about to be said. She returned to her dresser looking at Danny in the mirror. She reached for a tube of mascara and pretended she was reapplying.


“Ahmet is alive Lydia. I saw him.” Danny said. A large ball formed in Lydia’s throat. The ball made up of emotions she wished would flea from her body and heart. She swallowed hard trying to repress the components of the ball only to end up feeling it all in her stomach.


“I think I knew this would happen eventually… I’ll show you.” Lydia said. She put down her mascara tube and opened up a draw from her dresser. She reached to the back of the draw and pulled out the letter. Lydia walked to Danny her heals clicking. She sat next to him and looked down at the letter that was in her hands. She handed it to Danny.


Danny looked at her and she avoided the eye contact. He opened up the envelope that revealed and index card that read “WoW”. Lydia involuntarily smiled at it. IT was so ridiculous.


“I don’t get it…” Danny said to her his eyes demanding reasoning to this all.


“It wasn’t meant for you to get. It’s like some kind of Ahmet Lydia language.” She said. She took the card from Danny and said “WoW is actually an abbreviation for a video game Ahmet was crazy for at one time in his life. When I saw it… I knew he was alive. I knew he was coming back. I didn’t know when.”


“Peaches…” Danny said his voice strong with reassurance.


“I know. Don’t worry. I won’t let him back in my life Danny. I don’t know why I kept this. Maybe to prove that he was still alive at one point but I do know I don’t need it anymore. I don’t want it. I’m at a better place now. I’m happy.” Lydia said handing Danny the card. “You should shred it.” She said to him.


“No, Lydia… shredding it is your job.” He said to her putting the card down on the bed.


Lydia ignored the card and smiled at Danny. “I’m going to marry him Danny.”


Danny’s eyes glowed with shock and hope. “Kiral??”


“Yeah… I’m going to marry him. We aren’t engaged or anything of that matter. We’ve never even talked about it really. But I just know I’m going to marry him. I feel it… I want it. He’s just great.” Lydia said her eyes looking away from Danny. She saw his face. She saw his chiseled chin smile and his glowing beautiful eyes. With out him being there she saw his nicely cut hair and his bronze tan skin. His face was burned into her memory.


“I can see that…” Danny said. They each looked at each other. Danny hugged her and she smiled. There was a knock at her door and the two looked at the door.


“hey Lyd… Kiral is here.” Chrissy said behind the door.


“I’ll be there in a minute!” Lydia called out to her.



***********************************



Kiral watched as Lydia entered the backyard through the gate. She had left a half hour ago into the home for a “bathroom” break and hadn’t returned since. Kiral stood sitting on the outdoor bench his boss had in his back yard. He watched her close the gate and turn to him. Her eyes glistened and her nose was red. Was she crying? Kiral stood up immediately and moved toward her.


She walked slowly and stared at the ground. Her steps were reckless and she barely paid attention to where she stepped on the grass. Kiral grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her. She looked up at him with sorrowful eyes. He held her against his chest tight hugging her tenaciously. Lydia’s arms wrapped around his waste and she held onto him. “Let’s get out of here...” Kiral whispered softly into Lydia’s ear.


Lydia nodded her head and let go of him. Kiral affectionately kissed Lydia’s forehead before walking away from her. He glanced back at her long enough to notice her clenched fist and her top teeth gnawing at her bottom lip. Kiral’s heart leapt at the sight.


He approached his boss solemnly and held out his hand. “I’m sorry to leave so early but something has come up. We had a good time. Next time at my place.” Kiral offered. His boss shook his hand and nodded away. He added some final words before letting Kiral leave. Kiral walked out of the bark yard through the gates with his arm around Lydia.


They rounded the block and walked further till he spotted the car. Kiral looked at the car and froze. There was a man sitting on the car. Lydia’s arm wrapped around his waist and she hugged him tight. “Make him go away…” she said to him. It was the first sign of weakness Lydia had ever displayed. Even at times of emergency when Lydia bled through her skull she hadn’t asked for help nor carried herself like she needed it. Yet, at the moment when he looked at her he saw something fragile in her eyes.


Kiral pulled himself away from Lydia and moved closer to the car. “Excuse me!” Kiral said causing the man to look up. The man had a head of long hair and a beard that covered half his face. His eyes were dark and solid his stance was mean. He looked at Kiral and not a faint of emotion showed. “Can I help you? Is there a reason you’re leaning on my car?”


The man scrunched his lips and shook his head. “No,” he said “No reason at all. Sorry for bothering you.” He then got up and began walking down the street. Kiral watched him walk away. Suddenly the man turned back and winked then continued on his way.


Something about the man had Kiral feeling threatened. He watched the man till he was out of sight. It was only then he remembered to relax and loosen his facial expression. His chest was cramped with emotions he couldn’t name. Taking a deep breath he hit the open button on his car keys and opened the door for Lydia. Lydia stepped in and then stepped out. Kiral looked down at her and she looked up. She jumped up and kissed his lips quickly before getting into the car.


Kiral walked around the car and jumped into his side. He turned the car on and drove out of his parking spot. He drove for minutes the car silent. He thought about the man he saw and considered his face. Judging by Lydia’s reaction she knew him. Within seconds Kiral’s mind jumped to a conclusion that the man was in fact her missing ex. This thought had his mouth speaking before his brain thought “Lydia if you’re not over him tell me now.”


Instantaneously her hands moved for her face. “I am over him.” She mumbled behind her hands.


“That doesn’t sound so great. I don’t want to be your rebound guy. I don’t want you to leave me now because he’s back Lydia. I need you.” He said his words fading as he said them.


“I don’t want him back Kiral.” She said a serious tone her face still hiding with in her hands. Kiral looked at her and pulled into the nearest available parking spot. He put the car in park and sat there. For minutes Lydia sat with her hands covering her face and Kiral sat with his head leaning against his chair.


Lydia moved slowly dragging out her movements of uncovering her face and prolonging the moment she had to look Kiral in the eyes. Finally her face was revealed and Kiral saw her eyes. They looked soft and tender. “Are you angry?” she asked.


“No” he answered quickly. “I’m not mad the least bit.”


“I want to be with you Kiral.” She said to him not a hint of hesitation in her eyes. Not one bit of a sign that she didn’t mean what she was saying.


“Then he won’t be a problem.” Kiral said.


Lydia reached for her seat belt and removed it. She moved up on her seat and smiled before grabbing Kiral and kissing him. She kissed him long and hard every moment she gained power as she seduced him with her tongue. Lydia pulled away finally and smiled yet again.


She sat back in her chair and buckled her seat belt. “Oh yeah,” she said “I’m really sorry we left your bosses party so early.”


“It’s alright, it was worth it.” He said turning the car on. “Where to?”


*****************************



Lydia sat on the couch with Chrissy. Chrissy held a bucket of popcorn on her lap and the remote in her hand. Lydia sat on the couch with a blanket and a bag of chips on her lap. Chrissy looked at Lydia and raised an eye brow. “What?? They’re low fat!” Lydia said in defense. Chrissy smiled and hit play on the button. The movie began and for the first two minutes they were quiet afterward it was a lost cause.


“I’m really excited.” Chrissy said.


“You should be. You are marrying a gorgeous Asian in exactly three weeks.” Lydia said taking a bite of a potato chip making a loud crunch. “Whyed we wait till your wedding was almost here to buy your dress again?” Lydia asked.


“I don’t know…” Chrissy replied pretending to actually pay attention to what she was watching.


“Kiral’s going to be my date to the wedding.” Lydia said.


“Good.” Chrissy replied.


“To my wedding also…” Lydia said


Chrissy laughed and Lydia’s face remained serious. “Really??” Chrissy came to question.


“Eventually… I’ll get that man to love me... and when I do. He’s going to propose. I like him a lot. I feel it! This is going to work out and it won’t be anything like Ahmet and I. Instead he’s going to marry me before he goes missing!” Lydia laughed.


Chrissy smiled at Lydia and threw some pop corn at her. Lydia flipped a potato chip at Chrissy and Chrissy grabbed a pillow. She threw it at Lydia and knocked the chips out of her hand. The bag landed on the ground with out spilling anything and Lydia grabbed the same pillow. Chrissy put the popcorn bucket on the table and was prepared to bolt. Just then the sound of the bathroom door opening stopped them both. Jolene walked out and looked at them both. Lydia was frozen with a pillow in her hand, in a position that gave away her plans to throw it at Chrissy, while Chrissy was in a position where she looked like she was ready to run a marathon.


Both Lydia and Chrissy looked at Jolene.


“Guys, I’m pregnant.” Jolene said rubbing her stomach.