Behind closed doors

The pale rose blooms he had picked up earlier from the flower shop emitted a sweet, soft fragrance. Just like Sofia. She always smelt like this, with a little bit of strawberries. Emery buried his face in the flowers. He was in love. That's why he was presently in a train, with a bouquet and a box of chocolates on his way to Sofia's, ready to surprise her. He knew she didn't like him taking the subway nor appearing unannounced at her doorstep. But he was confident she would like this one. He just knew it.

'What if she gets so angry she throws you off her porch? I bet she'll keep the chocolate."

He shook his his head to dispel his best-friend's earlier taunting words. Mikey simply had no idea what it was to meet the person of your dreams. Especially if you have been single all your life. He had always known that Michael never really liked Sofia. And although he was subtle about it whenever she was around, his girlfriend of five months (his longest relationship ever) was keen on showing her real emotions. After today he was going to bring both of them together and see how they could work on their differences. He didn't need the two most important persons of his life throws daggers at each other at every eye contact. But that could wait. For now he was on his way to surprise the love of his life.

The train came to a halt and he quickly got off and hailed a taxi, climbing in as if running away from a serial killer.

"64 Hampton street please," he told the driver.

"Sure." the man replied.

"Girlfriend?" he asked, raising his brows at the roses in Emery's hand.

The redhead nodded in reply and sighed in contentment, leaning back against the worn leather car seat. "She's the best anyone could ask for."

The man chuckled softly. "Someone's in love."

Emery blushed and looked out the window, watching the high-rise city buildings move by until his eyes watered and the scene became blurry. Soon enough the quaint urban houses and willow trees came into view. Once he reached his destination, he highlighted hurriedly almost tripping over his feet and almost forgot to pay to the driver's amusement. Red-faced, he apologized.

"Just be safe kid," the man replied, tipping his cap in salute after handing over the change.

As the taxi drove away, Emery knew that he looked as red as a tomato. Before this moment he hadn't been shy of any thing that refered to sex, seeing as he was a very sexual being and was known for his loose mouth. Maybe he was like this because this time felt extremely special.

He a bright smile and a new aura of confidence he strode past the lawn and up the steps, two at a time before ringing the doorbell.

No response.

He pressed it a couple of time before remembering that it was broken. He'd remind Sofia to fix it later. Then he knocked on the door. Once, twice, thrice.

"Damn," he cursed. He should have called earlier maybe he wouldn't be stuck at an empty house. He lifted the door mat. She normally kept it here despite his warning on being safe and was surprised when he came up empty.

"That's weird," he said to himself and was suddenly inspired to turn the handle. The door opened.

"Super weird," he affirmed worriedly and stepped in.

"Sofie?" he called out and got no response. Walking further inside, his eyes landed on the kitchen counter, sighting the keys. He moved over and dropped the chocolate box to close his fingers around it. It was warm.

"That means she's somewhere inside," he said to himself.

Flowers in his left hand he ascended the stairs to her room. Yes, upstairs. Quite a big house for a college student. It was gifted to Sofia on her nineteenth birthday by her extremely rich parents. Weird right? But that wasn't the issue at hand, because Emery had been staring at the door handle for a good five minutes, his heart racing in his ears. It should be a mistake. But no. The sound that had kept him frozen came again. It was no mistaking that 'that' was a moan.

He opened the door without thinking.

In cue, the flowers dropped lifeless to the floor. They separated quickly, but not fast enough to remove the image of his girlfriend bent over her writing desk, body exposed and mouth open in ecstacy as she took it from behind. Her partner was the last person on earth he would have thought of.

"Michael?"

Emery cringed at the sound of his own voice. It sounded shocked, disbelieving and desperate. Emotions he wasn't used to.

"Shit," his best-friend said, bending down to cover himself and grappled at his clothes on the floor.

"The hell you doing here?" This was coming from Sofia. And she was livid.

"What am I doing here?" Emery asked himself, surprised at Sofia's reaction.

"What am I doing here?" This time he sounded angry. "What's that supposed to mean? What's 'this' supposed to mean?"

"I've told you to call me whenever you are coming around."

"So you can send him out the back door when I arrive?"

"Em–"

"Shut up!" Emery rounded on his ex best-friend, pointing a finger at him. "Just shut up."

"You weren't supposed to find out like this," Sofia said. When he looked back at her she was already dressed in one of her sleeveless, very short gowns.

"How was I supposed to find out?"

"Emerson," he bristled slightly at the mention of his full name. Sofia ignored him regardless and continued. "You were always so sweet, too nice but got angry at unnecessary things. Maybe if you showed more passion and were more of a man, maybe, just maybe, I might have kept you."

"Kept me. Like I'm some stupid property you can just throw away when you feel it's no longer useful."

"Jesus, Em," Sofia sighed exasperated. "Just take it like a man and leave already."

"You're kicking me out? But I thought, I thought..."

"Now you're going to sob."

"I'm won't." he protested, wiping at his eyes. The back of his palm came up wet and black. Of course he was crying and he'd just smeared his eyeliner. He was sure he looked a great mess.

"**** you." he turned to his now ex best-friend. "And **** you too."

"Emery,"

Michael saying his name again made him lose it. He lunged for him and immediately they started to scuffle. But as always, being the weakest of the two and with more skin than muscles, Emery found himself already losing the fight and losing consciousness. He had hit his head hard against the bed frame in an attempt to kick Michael's knee.

The scattered blooms at the door were the last things he saw before he succumbed to the waiting darkness.