Dumped her, left her, whatever. Flora stood outside of her old apartment. She hadn’t stepped foot inside since she left to stay at the Enchanted Packhouse. Her apartment wasn’t the same; her life wasn’t the same, she wasn’t the same. The memories lived on, and she wasn’t escaping them anytime soon.
Unlocking the door, she stood stock still on the welcoming rug outside. Staring down at her pumps, with a metal chain hanging from across the heel, she eventually took a step inside. She was sure her neighbors wondered what the hell was going on, but this wasn’t about them.
Everything looked the same. The same entryway with perfectly cared-for shoes lined up by the door. The open concept black-themed kitchen and living room. It was once a dream she let be destroyed. But she simply didn’t have the energy to fix what was broken. Turning on her heel, she shut the front door behind her and walked back down to her car. She’d been staying at Luxe’s apartment since leaving the Enchanted Packhouse. It was nice, she was entirely grateful, but Luxe had a smaller place, and Flora could tell she had overstayed her welcome, even if Luxe wouldn’t admit it.
Sitting in her car, she dialed a number she knew by heart and let the phone ring on speaker.
“Dad?”
“Hey, sweet pea. What’s going on?”
“Can I come home?”
Her parent's driveway felt unfamiliar. She knew she didn’t truly belong here anymore; this was her childhood home. Yet her parents stood welcoming with open arms.
“Come here, baby,” Lola demanded in her sweet, loving voice, dragging Flora into a much-needed hug. Flora ugly sobbed into her mother’s arms, a safe place to finally cry. No pressure, no expectations, no need to appear like the heartbreak wasn’t literally breaking her.
“I need a place to stay for a while.”
“I thought we got rid of ya,” Will joked as they crowded the couches inside.
“Nah, I just —”
“You don’t have to explain; we will always have room for you,” Lola said.
“Until we move out for a smaller place.”
“Stop messin’ with my baby.” Lola slapped his chest playfully.
“So, what are we doing tonight to welcome you home?” Will relaxed on the couch and picked up the remote.
“Movie night?” Flora suggested twiddling with the hem of her blazer.
“Perfect.”
* * *
“How long areyou going to let that sweet pumpkin pie go on by?” Emery asked, twirling her blush brush along her cheeks. Flora sat backstage at Lust Lane on the uncomfortable stool next to Emery’s mini booth. Lola told Flora it was time to get her big girl panties on and hang out outside of the house. But Flora knew she'd be kicked out for good soon.
“Of whom do you mean?” Flora asked, a small sliver of a smile gracing her lips.
“Wolf boy, Flora. You weren’t this heartbroken whenwebroke up.”
“We didn’t actually break up, so to speak. We just ended up good friends.”
“Flora, cut the shit.”
“He doesn’t want me,” Flora let out a huff, leaning back on her stool.
“Did he say that?”
“No.”
“Girl, I’m pulling teeth here.” Emery rolled her eyes, her auburn hair and green fairy make-up glittering as much as the glint of humor in her eyes.
“What’s so funny?” Flora asked, starting to get pissed.
“I’ve never seen two people fight so hard to be away from each other on the basis of ‘what if,'” Emery laughed, pulling on the new and hopefully last prototype of Flora’s largest platform heel. Flora was doing one last test before the collection was put through production at Heartful Production, another production company she had Felix do a background check on before reaching out to work with them.
