Unfinished business

Round 14: Winter 2021


Liv Harris is 23.
(Niall and Erin are both 26.)

Narrated by Liv Harris

I went for an early dinner at Tom's Diner the other day and saw Niall sitting at a table with our landlady Stephanie. I didn't know they even knew each other well so I decided to see what's going on.

I sat at a table where they couldn't see me and as they were leaving I saw Niall kissing her - right there in the middle of the diner.

The next day he came over and I asked him about Stephanie. He just laughed!

"Baby, we just kissed. What's the big deal?" he said.

Call me crazy but to me, seeing my boyfriend kissing another woman is a big deal. And I told him so, loud and clear.

He didn't believe it at first when I said we're over but for me that was it. I'm not saying that I'm an angel but I have barely looked at other guys ever since Niall and I decided to be exclusive. I thought we were doing great and I had even started thinking that maybe we should move in together.

That was the end of us. I hope someday we can be friends but I doubt that we'll get back together.

I've been concentrating on my career after the break-up. I've been signed up to perform at a near-by pub, Four Leaf Clover a few nights a week. It's on walking distance from my apartment and the staff members are nice so I like playing there.

I'm merely the background music for the diners on the second floor but it's still nice to play for an audience. I usually play two or three sets per night.

The pub owner pays me €200 per night and I also get tips from the customers. But I'm not doing it for the money. I wouldn't even have to work at all if I didn't want to but I can't just sit in my apartment all day or hang out at clubs every night.

I know mom could easily get me a deal with a record company but I want to make it on my own.

Erin's dad recently built a little recording studio in his music shop and I have recorded a couple of demos there. The last one I made had songs written by me instead of covers. I'm going to send copies to record companies and hopefully someone will sign me on their label.

It actually sounded really good. Max said that I have a really unique tone in my voice.

Erin came over the other day and even though I tried to act the same I always do she still noticed that something was wrong.

I told him that Niall and I broke up. It felt kind of bad to say that to someone who is planning her wedding but she would have found it out anyway.

I put on a huge smile and told her that I'm fine but I don't think she believed me. Niall and I dated for 5 years and I have to admit that it's been pretty hard to get over the fact that we're not a couple anymore.

Erin said that in time I'll find someone new. I was too ashamed to tell her that I've already found someone new, actually two someones.

There's this really cute guy living in our building. His name is Jamie and he's an artist. We started talking by the mail box one day and well... one thing lead to another and before I knew it we were making out on his couch.

Then I met Jacob one night at the pub. He listened to me all night and came to talk to me after my last set. It was so exciting to look into his eyes and see that he wanted me.

We've been out on a couple of dates and they usually all end the same way. We skip dinner and head back to my apartment to have sex. I know it's not fair to date two guys at the same time but it's not like I've promised to be faithful to either of them.

I don't usually get home from the pub until around 5 am so I like to sleep late in the mornings. One morning I woke up earlier than usual, feeling like crap.

The next thing I knew I was kneeling with my head down the toilet, puking my guts out.

At first I thought that I've gotten some flu bug but then I checked my calendar and realized that I'm late. I popped down to the pharmacy right away and got a pregnancy test. I couldn't believe it when I got a positive result. I've always been really careful with birth control so how the hell can I be pregnant?!

I called Erin and she came over after work. We sat there for what felt like hours until I opened my mouth and told her. She looked stunned for a while and then asked if I've told Niall. I felt so embarrassed when I told her that I didn't know who the father was. It could be Niall but it might just as well be Jacob or Jamie.

I wouldn't blame her for resenting me. Hell, I resent myself right now! But she just got up from her chair and gave me a big hug.

"Shit happens" she said. I guess she realized right away that keeping the baby wasn't an option. And the thought of carrying a child for nine months freaked me out. I just don't see myself doing that at this point in my life. It's not that I don't like kids but I just can't do this now.

I told Erin that I could do it on my own but she just shook her head.

"You've always been there for me, whether I needed a babysitter or a shoulder to cry on. I'm not going to let you go through this alone" she said and gave me a sad smile.

I was glad that Erin came to the doctor with me. I was a nerve wreck by the time we got to the hospital.

"Isn't it kind of ironic that you were the first to hear that Dawn was pregnant and now you're the only one who knows that I'm pregnant... the only one who will ever know" I said. She just gave me a worried look. I guess I was starting to sound pretty insane.

Doctor Grace Cooper was really great. I didn't get the feeling that she was judging me. She just explained what would happen. It was over so quickly.

I had to stay in the hospital for the rest of the day and Dr Cooper came to sit with me for a while. She didn't say much but her just being there felt like a real comfort.

My armour started to crack when Erin came to see me.

I didn't except to feel so awful but I guess it's the price I have to pay.

Notes:

• Title reference: Unfinished business by White Lies
• Niall started flirting with the landlady when I popped in to play him. Liv isn't the kind of girl to tolerate unfaithfulness.
• Liv definitely wasn't supposed to get pregnant! She had "Unmarried TFB not allowed" in her ACR but she still tried for a baby with Jacob. I don't know if it's a glitch or if I missed something. She's not actually allowed to use BC because she only has 5 neatness points. Definitely not what I had planned but I decided to write it in.