“In your fucking dreams, Dan,” you say.
“Every night bitch, and twice on Sundays,” says Dan starting up the car and driving off.
You are so pissed. Sure you want to enjoy your new ‘legal’ status, but you're not a whore. If the stupid prick hadn’t offered you money you might have considered blowing him, but he had to go and insult you.
You walk up to Dan and Maria’s door, ready to tell Maria just what you think of her boyfriend. You knock loudly and the door suddenly opens. Your diatribe catches in your throat as you see Maria has been crying.
“What do you want?” Maria asks, trying to sound angry.
“I’m sorry,” you say “It’s nothing. I’ll go.”
“No, Joy, I’m sorry. Dan and me had a fight. It was about you actually … no, that’s not true, it was about someone … I mean something else and him waving to you just made it worse. It’s not your fault. So what were you going to say?”
“It’s my birthday today” you say “I’m finally 18!”
“Hah,” Maria laughs harshly “I bet Dan’ll love that. He’ll be even worse around you now that your ‘legal’.”
“Yeah,” you say, realizing that you can put Dan down now as much as you want and Maria will probably agree with you. “No offense, but your boyfriend’s kind of a tool.”
“Yeah,” she says, actually smiling “He is, isn’t he? He wasn’t like that when we were first dating, or even when we decided to move in together. At least he didn’t seem to be. But now that I need him to pay half the rent and all he’s started taking me for granted and sleeping around. God, I don’t know why I’m telling you this.”
“That’s okay,” you say, “but maybe I should come inside before Mr. Wood stops whacking and overhears you.”
Maria giggles at your ‘accidental’ sexual double entendre and lets you inside.
She takes you into the lounge-room and offers you a drink. You sit drinking your bourbon and coke and discuss all the failings of men (Dan in particular, although both of you know enough men and boys to generalize.) You are feeling a little drunk and are getting a good collaborative anti-male rant going when Maria suddenly leans over and kisses you. |