Free Me and Mr. Write by Cassandra P Lewis Page A

playfully heckling him, my blood is boiling. Who the hell does she think she is?
    I am struggling to hold it together but after the meal when I see Sasha and Jackson posing together for photographs as though it’s her that he came here with, I can’t take any more and I have to get out. I stand to leave and walk out of the room toward the toilets.
    For a moment I stand in front of the mirror, assessing my appearance and realising that I will never look like her. I’ll never be as well put together or have the history that she and Jackson share. I start to tell myself I’m being stupid when the door opens and someone walks in,
    “Oh, Rosie! Hello” her voice is monotone as she greets me and heads in to one of the cubicles. I know that I should leave and let her do what she came in here to do, but I can’t move, my legs have turned to stone. I am going to confront her.
    When Sasha opens the cubicle d oor she looks at me and smiles. It’s a knowing smile and I guess that she is used to being confronted by jealous girlfriends.
    “Can I help you with something?” she asks coldly as she washes her hands,
    “You can stay away from Jackson... that would be a great help!” I’m proud of myself, my voice is strong. Sasha turns to face me head on,
    “What if he doesn’t want to stay away from me though Rosie, did you consider that? You might be flavour of the month, but it’s me he always comes back to” she answers smoothly, like she had rehearsed what she would say and tilts her head to the side with a smile as though she pities me,
    “Sasha, I know that you and Jackson have slept together in the past, he ’s told me that. But the past is the past, I’m his future. So, either start acting like you’re just friends and keep your hands off him, or I’ll make sure that you never see him again.” As I say the words I’m not sure that I have the power to make that happen, they are friends after all, but I stick to my guns. Sasha laughs and turns to leave, before stopping and turning back to me,
    “The fact that you seem to think the word ‘past’ means a long time ago is very sweet Rosie, yesterday is in the past, have you thought about that? Jackson and I have a connection you c ould never dream of. He and I have been sleeping together for a decade Rosie, you can’t compete with that!”
    Her words st op me in my tracks for a moment. When Jackson had said that they had slept together I thought he meant once, maybe twice but not regularly for ten years. I pull myself together and answer, hoping I haven’t paused for too long,
    “ That’s good for you Sasha, but I don’t see a ring on your finger. You were a bit of fun for him, an easy lay… but I’m the woman that he wakes up next to every morning, and will be for the rest of his life. Hands off Sasha, or trust me you will regret it!”
    Sasha purses her lips and flares her nostrils as tho ugh my words have cut her deep. Triumphant I make my exit, pushing past her and heading for the door. I bump into Jackson as I leave the toilets,
    “Hey, I was looking for you” he smiles as he wraps his arms around me and kisses the top of my head,
    “I’m here” I smile back as I take his hand and pull him back toward the dance floor…
     

Chapter Nine
     
    “Oh, my head!” I smile as I hear Rosie grown from underneath her pillow. We drank a lot last night and she spent a large part of the early hours of this morning throwing up into the toilet.
    “Come on, you need a greasy breakfast and coffee!” I declare probably a little louder that necessary,
    “Oh Jackson!” she groans “Why do you hate me?” I can hear the humour in her voice, “Water please baby!”
    “No problem !”
    I head into the bathroom and turn on the shower, returning to the bed to pick Rosie up and deposit her, naked and hung over under the cold water. Her screams and giggles as she pulls me into the bathtub with her warm my heart and I turn up the temperature of the water as I