Free Take a Breath (Take 1) by Jaimie Roberts

and I say hi.  
     
 “Ana, is that you?”  A sob escapes me, I can’t help
it.  “Ana, what’s wrong, do you want me to come over, Ana, are you
hurt, talk to me?”  
       “Sorry to trouble you Jessie, I didn’t know what else to do.”  
     
  Jessie sighs, “Ana, you’re my best friend, if there is something
bothering you I want it to be me that you come to for help.  I
know I can be a bit of a handful and joke around and shit, but if you
need me I’m here.  That’s what friends are for right?”  
        I let out another sob as her words settle in.  “Thanks Jessie.”  
        She takes a deep breath, “Now tell me Missy, how can Auntie Jessie help you today?”  
     
  I laugh down the phone already feeling a little better. 
“I’m in love Jessie.”  The sudden words flying out my mouth feel a
huge weight off my shoulders.  
     
 “So what has this asshole done, he’s obviously done something to
you as you wouldn’t be ringing me in tears?  Give me his address
and I’ll go round and rip his throat out, do I know him?  Who is
he and why have you not told me about him before?”  
        Oh no, of course she was going to ask me that.  “It’s complicated Jessie, I can’t say.”  
     
  She sighs again, “He’s married isn’t he?  Ana, don’t get
mixed up with married men, you’ll only get heartache at the end of it
and there are so many single men out there you can pick...”  
     
  I have to stop her.  “Jessie, it’s ok, he’s not married
exactly, it’s just complicated.  Please just trust me enough that
I can’t tell you who it is but that I need your help,
please.”  
     
  I hear her clear her throat, “Ok Ana, I don’t like it but I
won’t push you.  Can I ask at least what happened?”  
     
  My head spins, where do I start?  “I have liked this person
for a while and I have just recently found out he likes me too, well at
least I think he does, but every time I think we are getting somewhere
he pushes me away.  I’m exhausted with it and don’t know what else
to do.”  I feel a bit better knowing I have at least shared some
of the burden now.  
       “Can I at least ask if this person will be at the party tomorrow?” 
     
  I forgot all about that.  Jake is having a barbecue
tomorrow afternoon and has invited a lot of the gang over.  My
stomach ties in knots with the thought of it now.  “I believe he
is coming, yes.”  I hate lying to her about this but I can’t tell
her the truth, it’s too much.  
     
 “Well then Miss Thang, I know exactly what you need to do. 
Tomorrow morning you are going to go out and pamper yourself silly, get
a facial, get your hair done, nails, the lot.  Then I want you to
buy yourself a knockout dress and then at this party you will throw
everyone's socks off including this asshole and you will flirt with
every man except him until he realises what he’s missing.  You got
that?”  
        I can’t help but laugh.  “You said all that without taking a breath Jessie.”  
        She snorts, “Well, he’s an asshole, whoever he is.”  
        I chuckle again, “You said that three times already.”  I’m feeling much better now.  
       “Well, he is.”  
        I feel sad and thinking out loud I say, “I wish you were coming tomorrow.”  
     
  She sighs again, “Me too, I can’t get out of this, my mom will
kill me if I miss my cousin's wedding.  I’m sure you will be
fine.  Are you going to take Auntie Jessie’s advice?”  
     
  I’m thinking that I will.  I feel suddenly pissed off with
Jake and I would like to teach him a bit of a lesson.  I just hope
it works.  “I think I will Jessie, thanks for that, I feel a lot
better.  I’ll text you either Saturday night or Sunday morning and
let you know how I got on.”  I can hear movement in the
background.           “Ok Ana, as long as
it’s not too early Sunday.