Breaking The Routine

            David stomped out of the office angrier than he had ever been in his life. Out of all the things he expected, what just happened in that office didn't even come near it! Just yesterday David was confessing to his best friend about how much he loved her. He'd guessed that she wouldn't take her father's rejection very well but for Sam to flat out lie and turn her back on him like that. How could she do this to him? That wasn't the Sam he'd come to know.

            Why she couldn't see that her father was just using her, David thought getting into the passenger side of the car slamming the door with all his might. Mark looked like he wanted to say something but David gave him a glare that told him he didn't want to hear anything Mark had to say. He felt so stupid, so betrayed, and so hurt. How could she have been so cruel? How could he allow himself to be used like that? He wanted to hit something so bad, to smash his fist over and over again till he didn't have the strength to lift it for another punch.

            When they arrived he jumped out of the car and raced up to his apartment before the car didn't come to a complete stop. "Whoa man, David, just take a minute to calm down!" Mark called after him. David scoffed to himself.

            "Calm down, how the hell can I calm down," he spat throwing and stuffing his clothes into suitcases. He had to get out of this horrible town as soon as possible. He didn't want to spend another night in the same town as those two.

            "Maybe you should try talking to her again," Mark offered leaning against the door of his bedroom. Been there and tried that, David thought bitterly. She ignored him and only talked to him to beg him to spare her father the inconvenience and discomfort of a lawsuit

            "You know what Mark; I don't want to see her ever again much less talk to her. She stabbed me in the back and made me look like an idiot," David said angrily zipping up the suitcases. He felt just like that, a complete idiot. "She obviously prefers his company before mine! I begged her man; I practically fell to my knees and begged," David shouted throwing one of the suitcases to the living room. It barely missed Mark and knocked into a lamp which proceeded to be shattered against the floor.

            "I know you did," Mark said quickly entering in the bedroom looking to the mess of lamp on the floor.

            "Stupid woman, I never gave anyone what I gave her! Many women wanted me like she had me," David shouted throwing a second suit case to the living room. "How did she repay me? Embarrassing and rejecting me! Did you see his face, that freaking smug look on his ugly face," David shouted again turning and punching a hole into the wall, at the reliving of the haunting memory.

            He leaned against the wall hurting more than he had ever hurt in his life. She was right about one thing, he really didn't love her anymore. He could never love someone as traitorous as her. He even doubted love existed honestly. Everything he had seen today told him otherwise.

            Mark patted him on the back in attempt to comfort him. "Let's get you out of here," his friend told him with a flat tone. David nodded mutely and let Mark guide him out of the apartment. Tabby was coming up the steps just as they left the door. She rushed up to David surprising him as she wrapped her arms around him in a firm hug.

            "I am so sorry David! I really am," she said with a down fallen face. He attempted to give her a smile but only the corners of his mouth managed to turn upward.

            "Thanks Tabby but you don't need to be apologizing for anything," he told her sadly. Tabby scrunched her face into a worried concerned face looking like she wanted to say something but David knew all too well there was nothing anyone could say to fix this mess. "I will wait for you in the car," he told Mark giving his friend a chance to talk to Tabby before they left.

            He lugged his suitcases down the cement steps to the car, and brutally tossing them into the trunk of his car. He glanced up at Mark and Tabby and watched them talk in hushed voices leaning in towards each other so much their foreheads were touching. David felt the ache of longing and envy that was enough to nearly knock him to his knees. Why couldn't Sam have chosen him, he would never have asked her to do the things that twisted excuse of a father she had. Why wasn't he good enough?

            David looked away from the couple unable to take the pain it caused watching them and got into the car. He closed his eyes leaning against the seat taking slow deep breaths trying his best will away all these horrible feelings he was feeling. He would rather feel nothing than this!

            Back in New York, David sat on the sofa and taking a long drink from the nearly empty whiskey bottle. He spent nearly all of the week since his return in complete drunkenness. It was the only time he felt nothing, and that's exactly how he wanted to feel. Life seemed to have lost all its color and he didn't see the point in anything anymore.

            This wasn't how it was supposed to work, he thought bitterly. She was supposed to love him back and they were supposed to get married, have children, and grow old together. He sighed and took another long drink from the bottle. Maybe he was wrong, maybe there was no happy endings after all, maybe those were just lies to keep people forming relationships and thus continuing the mess that is known as the human species.

            Someone knocked on his door, but he ignored it taking yet another drink. He didn't want to talk anyone at all he just wanted to sit there and drink; he didn't care what other people thought about it. He just wanted all of them to leave him alone! He scowled as the door opened. Seems that was the one thing people couldn't do, leave him the hell alone and stay drunk in peace. He grimaced as he glanced up at the woman standing in front of him. Why the hell did she come here? "Davey you shouldn't be doing this too yourself baby," she told him and sat down next to him wrapping her arms around shoulders. She pulled him close to her in a warm embrace. He wrapped his arms around her and rested his head against her shoulder feeling some of the pain ease.

            "She must really be something," the woman added combing his hair with her fingers and he scowled.

      "Please mother don't mention her, she is nothing," he slurred and pulled away to take another drink but she took the bottle out of his

           "No more of that young man, I can't stand to

to do what I want

        "David, I want you to stop this, I know

   "What do you know about hurting? You and Dad are the happy little couple," he snapped as he tried to grab the bottle but in his drunkenness she managed to keep it

Now when you're ready your father still has the accounting position open for you. I know you don't want to work for your father but you

bathroom and get yourself cleaned up. I will go make you some lunch and see if we can't get you sobered up some," she ordered him and

man, I don't need you to baby sit me mother," he snapped standing up but tripped over his own feet as he tried to

      "Oh I can see that," she replied tartly with her hands on her hips before walking over and helping him up. David continued to complain as she helped him into the bathroom. He sat on down on the toilet as

    Stepping under the hot water, his foggy head started to clear. As he cleaned away the dirt and grime David grew resolved to end his self pity right there. He wasn't going to let that woman destroy him, no he was stronger than that. As he got out of the shower feeling more sober David decided that Sam couldn't have been that special as he thought

            Walking out of his bedroom in fresh clothing and feeling much better he smiled a more authentically at his mother who handed him a cup of coffee.

about everything. I can't keep doing this and I promise I won't be drowning myself in a bottle any more. I'll talk to dad later about taking

Sam and the place that was usually his favorite spot when he was younger. He walked up to the bar, greeting the bartender and ordering himself a drink. David was a little disappointed when Mark refused to come with him, he seemed to think it

at the bar. There were several women there, many were quite attractive but he didn't feel motivated to talk to any of them. Just when he started to think that maybe it wasn't such a great idea a blonde walked up to him. With a coy smile on her brightly painted lips and her fingers twirling her hair, she leaned towards

   "Hello sexy," he said

  "More than anything," she gushed in desperation. David took her small tanned hand in his leading her to

in an angry kiss. The blonde quickly responded the kiss, sloppily, her hands roaming along his body. David felt disappointment as the kiss didn't produce the desired effect in him and once more found himself comparing her to Sam. Clenching his jaw

about we take this party somewhere else," he asked the blonde once their messy kiss had ended. He was determined to forget Sam, no matter what it took.  The blonde purred grinding herself against him

    "I'd party with you anywhere gorgeous," she replied and David forced a smile on his face as

shower to wash her cheap lipstick and perfume off his body. Pushing away the disappointment he was determined to not give up. There had to be a woman that would make him feel like he did when he was with Sam. Just because it wasn't the blonde in the other room didn't mean

and dressing. David quietly then

David went to the club every week, alone because Mark refused every single time to accompany him. Apparently he and Tabby had become something serious; he flew to Illinois every weekend

like the blonde, spend the night with them then sneak out before they awoke. It was rare if he actually spent more than one night with a woman, but a few were actually good enough in bed that he didn't mind repeating the experience, though none of them could ever interest him farther than what their abilities between the

keep himself busy so he would think about her as little as possible. "See you later Sexy," David told the brunette before giving her a quick kiss good bye. He couldn't seem to remember her name, seemed like it ended in

            He walked over to where his friend was waiting for him. Mark shook his head at David with a look of disapproval on his face. "When are you going to stop," Mark insisted and David looked at him confused. "The women, David, this isn't you!" Mark told him his look of disapproval

you ever say her name to me again, do you hear me! You don't know

David and we both know this player act of yours isn't you," Mark shot back pushing David off of him. "I am just trying to help you

just keep my mouth shut. Anyways I have

         "Tabby is coming to New York?" David asked surprised. It was the

      "Actually she moving up here, I asked her to

        "So things are getting serious," David asked with a smile that Mark returned