July 14th, it's official! I have purposely set an alarm on my phone for midnight so that I can wish Jason a happy anniversary. We're celebrating our second year together. We haven't had the chance to discuss what we'll be doing today but I'm excited to be spending some time with him. Jason has been so busy with work and we've barely spoken to each other this week.
I call his phone.
"Hey Babe!" I say softly
"What time is it? Why are you calling? Is everything okay?"his voice drowsy, okay maybe it was a bad idea to call him this late
"Yeah everything is fine. I was calling to wish you happy anniversary, it's official we've been together for two years" I say happily
"Oh shit, fuck! Li I'm sorry. I completely forgot" he sighs
"I've made plans with the boys already and I can't cancel. I'll make it up to you I promise"
"You forgot?" My voice came out small
"I got a lot on my mind and Mike wanted to go out so I said yeah, honestly it slipped my me"
"Can't you go out with them another time?" I ask
"I really can't cancel, we planned this a week ago and I really want to go and relax you know. I've been drowning with work lately. I need my down time"
"Yeah, that's fine. Don't worry about it. I'll let you sleep" I say annoyed
"I promise babe I'll make it up to you. Goodnight Love you"
"Night " I hang up
I was upset and hurt that our anniversary meant so little that he had forgotten and would rather chill with his friends than hang out with me. Or maybe I'm just expecting too much? I mean he has been doing a lot of overtime lately, working non stop. I'm sure he'll make it up to me.
Our relationship was far from perfect, at the start Jason was so loving but after a year it started to fizzle out. I guess we just need to revive our spark.
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"Rise and shine sleepy head" Charlotte says while opening wide my blackout curtains.
"Argh Char, too early close the blinds" I moan covering my face with my pillow.
"Up. now. We've got to turn you into a princess for tonight" she says, she sounds excited. We were planning on getting facials, mani-pedis and get our hair done today. Well purely because I thought I would be having a special day with Jason.
"There's no tonight" I say sitting up
"What do you mean?" she frowns at me
"I called Jason last night to wish him a happy anniversary and.... well it completely slipped him, he forgot. He's got plans with the boys and can't cancel, so we're not doing anything today" she stares at me with her mouth slightly open.
"He said he'll make it up to me, I'm sure he will" she looks at me in disbelief
"Li, that's not fair. He's your boyfriend and today is a special day" She says sadly
"I know I know, but he can't cancel" I know deep down that he could've made more of an effort but I know that it would upset me more if I accept the reality of things. That Jason didn't really care about me or us that much.Our relationship at first was amazing he was so loving, affectionate and we spent loads of time together but for a while we've been very distant.
"And what do you mean with the boys? Christian isn't going out with them tonight. We're going to see a movie" she's looking at me intently. Jason and Christian were part of the same friendship group. That's how I actually met Jason, a few months after Charlotte and Christian started dating she threw a huge birthday party for Christian. Me and Jason ended up talking all night and the rest is history.
It was odd that Christian wasn't going because the boys always hung out together. I brush it off. "I don't know Char. I'm not bothered, it is what it is" I say walking to my bathroom and she follows me
"Well it sucks, you deserve better than that. I know Christian would cancel for me" she says pressing her lips in a hard line. I shrug my shoulders
"Why don't you come with us it'll be fun. We can still get out mani-pedi's, get our hair done and we'll go for some food and a movie" she smiles at me.
"Third wheeling? No thank you" I shake my head
"Come it'll be fun" I know she's trying to make me feel better, but I just wasn't in the mood.
"Thank you but I'm not feeling up to anything today. I am a bit upset about the whole situation and I just want to stay in" As much as I am trying to come up with excuses for Jason, Charlotte was right he didn't make any effort whatsoever. I didn't even get a text from him this morning.
"Okay hun, well you know you're always welcome if you change your mind" I nod at her and carry on brushing my teeth.
I take a warm shower and get dressed. I couldn't help but constantly check my phone just in case I had a text from Jason but nothing, not that it would magically made me feel better but I least I would've known he cared. I walk into the kitchen and Charlotte is dancing around while making pancakes. Me and Charlotte have been living together for a little over two years now. We met at my current job, we were work besties. Charlotte quit after a year to pursue a career in fashion. We are pretty much each other's 'Sister I never had'. Charlotte comes from a wealthy family, her mother used to be surgeon and her dad owns several wineries in France. She has an adopted brother who I've actually never met, he's in the army and from what I can recall has been away for quite sometime.
Me on the other hand, barely had anyone. My mother died when I was very young and my father left me in my grandmother's care. I haven't seen him for a very long time I doubt he even knows what I look like now. Last I heard he got married and has twins.
"Are you sure you want to stay here?" Charlotte says pushing a plate of pancakes in front of me
"Yeah I feel crappy today" I say tapping my fork on my pancakes. She walks around the counter and sits beside me
"Li, can I be honest please?" I look at her, her eyes soft. She has her hand on my arm stroking gently. I turn to her and nod.
"You are an amazing girl, you are by far the kindest and sweetest person I know. You're beautiful, gentle, intelligent and so so strong. Jason...He doesn't deserve you. He constantly drops the ball, barely pays attention to you. You deserve someone who will give you the world and all his love" her expression sad, I lower my gaze looking at my pancakes.
"I wanted to say something sooner but I didn't want to overstep, but since he won't even make an effort on your anniversary I have to speak out. I know deep down you know you deserve so much better and I know that when the time comes you'll do what's right for you" she says softly
"I know and you're right. I just....I keep thinking he'll change and be different. Every time I confront him he promises that he'll be better and I end up thinking I ask for too much"
"You don't honey, trust me. I am hard work. I ask for way to much but Christian treats me like a princess every single day and I just wish Jason would wake up and realise what he has" she says pushing a strand of my curly hair away from my face.
"Thank you, I love you"
"I love you too" she says kissing my cheeks.
After breakfast Charlotte left to get her nails and hair done. I decided to lounge in bed and read a spicy novel. My phone rings, it's Jason. I not in the mood to talk to him, I'm pretty upset about the whole anniversary situation and what Charlotte said to me. I stare at my phone maybe he is calling because he cancelled his plans.
"Hey babe!"
"Hey Jason, you okay?"
"Yeah I'm good, you?"
"I'm fine just reading a book"
"That's good babe, listen have you seen my black hoodie? My favourite one? I might have left it at yours?" So that's why he is calling because of a bloody hoodie
"No I haven't" I say bluntly
"What's wrong, why have you got attitude?" he says sounding annoyed
"I don't know Jason, maybe because it's our anniversary we're not spending it together, you forgot about it completely or because you haven't even wished me..." I stop what's the point.
"You're right, I'm being insensitive. I'm sorry but I said I'd make it up to you didn't I?"
"Yes, I know but you could have sent me a nice text, anything" my voice small, I just felt like I was begging for him to give me a fraction of affection.
"I'm sorry Li, I don't know what to say. You know I love you. Listen tomorrow we'll go out okay?Leave me to me, I'll plan everything."
"Yeah fine"
"I'll leave you to your book babe, love you"
"See you later" I hang up