A CONTRACT ENGAGEMENT

She knew she’d said the wrong thing immediately the words left her mouth, but she didn’t care. She was too angry to care.

“What exactly is your problem, Red?” Julian asked angrily. “Are you mad at me about something? That’s weird, because if there was someone between the both of us who should be angry right now, it’s me. So what the hell is wrong with you?”

“Excuse me?” Nina said.

“Yeah that’s right. You heard me.” Julian hissed. “What’s wrong with you? You have absolutely no right to be going about making comments like that when you are the one that ended things with me. You are the one who fucking walked away”

“Me? Ended what exactly?” Nina yelled at him. “I didn’t end anything. You did. I simply said that I wanted some time to figure things out. I said I needed space. You are the one who could even at least try to be considerate. You just want things to go your way all the damn time. You just try to bully me to get what you want as usual. Well, news flash, prince Julian, it doesn’t always work out that way and you are going to have to find a way to handle it”

“Well that’s good for you” Julian retorted. “But I’m not something you just dump anytime you want and get back to when you feel like you’re ready. I’m not going to do that. I know what I want, damn it. I’m not your god damn toy and you are not the only one with feelings. Like I told you before, I’m not going to be anyone’s little secret so if we can’t be together now, then screw it ”

“You are such an inconsiderate asshole,” Nina said.

“And you are fucking selfish” Julian replied.

“Hey. Hey. Hey” Abby said, raising her hands. “Now don’t you guys think this thing is getting out of hand?” she asked. “Surely there is a way for you guys to settle whatever this is before you both hurt each other even more. Come on, this is ridiculous. One minute you guys are all lovey dovey and now you guys can’t even stand each other. That’s sad”

But they weren’t listening to Abby. Nina glared at him, her eyes daring him to repeat what he had just said. And he did.

“That’s right, you heard me, Red. You are being so damn selfish right now” Julian repeated. “You are so worried about what people would think and how it all affects you, but you are not thinking about me at all…. Acting like you are the only one in this. Acting like you are the only one with feelings and I’m tired of it. But I shouldn’t be surprised… That’s the way you have always been”

Nina folded her hands and glared at him. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” she asked angrily.

“What I mean is that you have always been like that. Right from when we were in high school. You are always there… You know, being all beautiful and living your perfect Nina life, doing your pretty popular girl stuff and totally oblivious to anyone’s feelings but yours”

“This is crazy. Are you seriously blaming me because you couldn’t bring yourself to tell me how you felt back then?” she asked.

Julian sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “The point I’m trying to make is that I should have known that it was all going to end this way. I knew you had your doubts about us, but I didn’t know you would let things just end like this. I thought we meant more to each other, but I guess I was wrong. I just wanted us to work out so much that I just kept hoping. Look Red, I’m so mad at you right now. You have no idea just how mad I am”

“Well that makes the two of us. I’m mad at you too” Nina replied. “And I know this is also Abby’s apartment, but it’s mine too and I will not tolerate you coming in here and talking to me this way. I want you to leave.”

Julian looked like he was about to say something back when Abby stepped between the both of them.

“All right that’s it” she yelled. “Now will the both of you just shut up and listen to me? I’m tired of this”

“He started it,” Nina said. “Talk to him”

“Oh please…. you are the one who came in here making sarcastic comments… In Fact… ” Julian began but Abby interrupted.

“I don’t want to hear this anymore,” Abby said. “I mean it”Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

They both kept quiet and stared at her.

“Now I understand that you guys are not really in a good place with each other, stuff like this happens. People disagree. But I’m not just going to stand and watch you guys do this. I love you both and I can’t stand it. At least we can all still be friends even if guys aren’t together. I was actually planning that all of us go out together tonight and maybe you guys can use the opportunity to find some common ground. You know, just talk. Fix things. But I’m beginning to think that that was a bad idea”

“Yes I agree,” Nina said. “It really is a bad idea. Because if he’s going then I’m not not going with you guys. I’m not going anywhere with him and there is no way in hell that I’m going to hang out with him for any reason”

Julian frowned and glared at her. “Yeah well, I don’t want to be around you right now either,” he said. “So that makes the two of us. Why are you even being this way? I honestly don’t get it. What the hell did I even do to you?”

“You know what you did,” Nina replied. “All I asked was for you to give me some time and let things settle but you wouldn’t listen. Even Abby agrees with me”

“She does?” Julian asked, then he turned to face Abby. “Do you really agree with her?”

“Ermmm” Abby stammered. “Actually I didn’t actually say that I agreed with her, all I said was that I understood her point… I mean… Her side… How she felt”