A Sensitive Arrangement

Chapter 7

I woke up the next morning feeling far more content than I had in years. I know, that's probably not the right thing to say after everything that had transpired the night before. But somehow the painful memories of Joe's kiss paled in comparison to the indescribable memories of Julian's. I practically jumped out of bed, ready to attack the day. But as soon as I opened my door, I heard the fight coming from Olivia's room.

"Do you know what could have happened to her? What you almost let happen to you?" Julian shouted.

"I'm sixteen!" Olivia yelled back at him.

"That's my point."

"And how old were you when you started fucking everything in a skirt." There was malice in Olivia's voice. I was glad I wasn't the one on the receiving end of it.

"We're not talking about me right now."

"Of course we're not, because you're such a fucking hypocrite. At least I'm single. You've pretty much been cheating on Alice for the last six years." Olivia screamed at him. Thank God I wasn't in the room with them. I didn't want anyone to see the color my face had just turned.

"I highly doubt she saw it that way when she was ten." He retorted. Had I? I can't remember when the jealousy started, but a part of me felt like it had always been there.

"Well she does now. You should see her face every time she finds a new picture of you. You're always with some other girl. And it's not like she can get away from them. They're all over the goddamn internet!" I was starting to regret confessing these feelings to Olivia.

"I'm not having this conversation with you. This is between me and her." Julian was a new kind of frustrated now.

"Well she sure as hell wasn't going to tell you." It's true. I wasn't. But then I did.

"She already has. I mean not in so many words. I didn't know it affected her that much." I could hear Julian's tone soften. "And yes, you're right, I am being a hypocrite. But, Olivia, do you know what happens if someone like you gets pregnant? You become the butt of every joke. The girl mothers warn their daughters not to be. The world will turn on you so fast. And it's bullshit, and it's not fair, but that's how it is. I won't let that happen to you. Or Alice. I love you kiddo. And I know it doesn't look like it, but I am looking out for you."

Seconds later Julian came out of Olivia's room, I had become so wrapped up in their fight that I hadn't realized I was eavesdropping, if it could even be called that when two people are shouting so loudly. I probably should have hid, but I didn't think of it. So instead I just stood there like a deer in headlights.

"How much of that did you hear?" Julian asked.

"Pretty much all of it." I admitted, trying not to look embarrassed.

"I suppose it's nothing I wasn't going to say to you anyway." He sighed, shaking his head. "I was just planning on putting it a little bit more delicately with you."

"You don't need to sugar coat things for me."

"I know that, but obviously that whole pregnancy conversation goes a little bit differently when it's not with my sister." He joked, trying to lighten the mood. Except we both knew it wasn't really a joke. Everything he said in there was true.

"Right." I didn't know how else to respond.

"How long has it bothered you? Seeing me with other girls?" He wondered, clearly it had been weighing on him since the night he got home.

"Since that summer you stayed here." I wasn't sure that answer was entirely accurate. I couldn't pinpoint the moment I knew it bothered me, but this seemed the closest.