The Speed Of Pain

A Requiem For A Perfect Relationship

Chapter Twenty-One

Christmas Eve

Johnny

The tension in the Chateau Marmont feels suffocating. Marilyn has been off all day, snapping at everyone, disappearing to take calls, and looking like he's hiding something. It's not hard to guess what—or rather, who—it is. But I didn't expect to walk into this.

I step out onto the balcony just in time to catch the tail end of a heated argument. Marilyn's voice is low, and strained, and Rose is standing there, glaring at him, her arms crossed over her chest. This isn't some casual meet-up. This is something deeper.

"You said you were going to end it with her," Rose hisses, her voice sharp. "You promised, Manson. What the hell is taking so long?"

Marilyn rubs his temples, clearly exhausted. "It's not that simple, Rose."

Rose scoffs, taking a step closer to him, her eyes flashing with anger. "Not that simple? It's been weeks. You keep telling me you're going to break it off, but nothing's changed. You're still with her, still playing house."

"I told you, I need more time," Marilyn snaps, his voice rising. "This isn't something I can just—"

"What? Just walk away from? Why the hell not?" Rose cuts him off, her voice filled with frustration. "You told me you wanted out. You told me you couldn't keep lying to her. So what's the holdup?"

Marilyn takes a deep breath, running his hand through his hair, visibly torn. "I don't know, Rose. I don't know what I want."

Rose lets out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. "You don't know what you want? Are you serious right now? You're stringing both of us along, and for what? You think this is fair to me? To her?"

"That's enough." I can't stay quiet anymore. I step forward, my voice cutting through the tension. "What the hell is going on here?"

Both of them whip around, startled. Marilyn looks like he's been caught red-handed—because he has. Rose, on the other hand, looks more annoyed than surprised.

"Johnny," Marilyn mutters, his voice heavy with guilt. "This isn't—"

"This isn't what it looks like?" I cut him off, my anger boiling over. "No, it's exactly what it looks like. You're screwing around with her," I gesture toward Rose, "while Charlotte's sitting at home, completely in the dark. Do you have any idea what you're doing?"

Rose rolls her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. "Oh, great. Here comes the moral high ground."

I turn to her, my voice sharp. "You think this is funny? You're standing here, pressuring him to break up with Charlotte like it's some game. Do you even care what this is doing to her?"

Rose smirks, her eyes glinting with sarcasm. "This has nothing to do with you, Johnny. Stay out of it."

I glare at her, but I focus back on Marilyn. "You need to make a choice, Manson. You can't keep stringing both of them along. You either end things with Charlotte, or you walk away from Rose. But this? This is bullshit."

Marilyn looks down, his fists clenched at his sides. "I know," he mutters, his voice thick with guilt. "But I... I don't know what to do."

The tension on the balcony feels like it's going to explode. Rose is leaning into Marilyn, her voice sharp and demanding. "You told me you were going to end it with her, Manson. Stop dragging your feet. You need to make a decision."

Marilyn's face is flushed with frustration, and I can see he's losing his grip. "I told you, Rose, it's not that simple! I need more time."

"More time?" Rose's voice is dripping with anger. "For what? To keep lying to her? To keep pretending everything's fine when it's not? You promised me you'd be done with her by now."