Suburban Island VI

Ecstasy (Josie and Martin)

Ecstasy (Josie and Martin)

-Josie-

I've been seeing someone online. I know it seems pathetic but I just need someone outside to talk to. I love my friends here but are we really friends? Are we really friends or are we just friends because of circumstances? I think it's because of the circumstances we're in.

What makes you believe that?

I sighed and looked at the screen. I started to type something but then paused. You know something? I don't really know anymore. I typed that as such. I pressed enter. Not like he was going to get a response or anything. I could hear mom on the phone again. (Yes, she's still doing that. It's all she can do to stay sane.)

I looked up when I saw a reply.

Marley: Would you be sad if one of them died?

I squinted at the screen. What the hell is this? I typed a question mark on the screen and pressed enter. I leaned back in my chair. What kind of question is that? We're not that close. We barely talk to each other. Steven and I have been drifting apart. Why haven't we broken up? Honestly, I don't know.

Suddenly, a Zoom call popped up on the screen. Hm? What's this? I accepted the call. My jaw dropped when the screen flipped to the caller.

"Marty?" I asked. He nervously laughed.

"Hi there," he said. I tried to piece together what was happening. Wait... What the...? Marty chuckled as he rubbed the back of his head.

"Yo," he said, waving.

"Wait... are you...?" I began to ask.

"Yes," Marty said. I struggled to say something. My mouth hung open. What the hell is this? I... I...

"I've been dating you?!" I asked.

"Well, not really," he said. "We didn't do anything romantic or hot."

"That's not helping. You lied to me."

"No, I didn't. I wasn't ready to tell you yet."

I made a face at him. "When were you going to tell me?"

"I don't know. Soon. When I was ready. I wasn't trying to hide from you.

I thought I was angry at first. This little asshole catfished me. I couldn't believe it. He didn't even try to hit on me in real life. Why the hell would he do this to me?

"Why would you do this?" I asked. What he said next made me want to scream.

"You looked lonely," he said. Was he kidding me? My face must have looked so red. Martin gave me a puzzled look.

"Is something wrong?" he asked. I growled as I ripped off the headset. He was calling out to me as I walked out of the room. I sank down to the floor in the hall and breathed out. I dropped my head onto my knees. Something inside of me died that day. How could he do this to me?

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I lay there on my bed hours later. I just can't. I'm not processing this too well. I was in an online relationship with that dork? It didn't make any sense. What did he possibly have to gain? And why me? I shut my eyes and covered them with my arm. I refused to believe that this was happening. This has to be a sick joke. It has to be. There's no way it can be real. No, no, no.

I turned my head when there was a knock on my door.

"Yeah?" I asked.

"Dear? Are you okay in there?" mom asked.

"No!" I shouted. My door opened a crack. She poked her head inside.

"What's the matter?" she asked. I puffed up my cheeks and frowned.

"I got catfished," I said.

"What?" mom asked. She walked into my room and sat down at my vanity desk. I sat up, pouting. Mom didn't have her phone in her hand for a change.

"What happened?" she asked.

"I met a guy online," I said. "We hit it off. We were sort of dating. And then..."

"And then?" mom asked. I lifted my chin and took a breath.

"It turns out it was Marty I had been talking to all this time," I said. It hurt to say that out loud. My mom gave me a sympathetic look. She rubbed me on the shoulder. Mom didn't have to say it. I could see it in her eyes. I cursed myself. Why did I say anything?

"Baby," she said.

"Please... don't..." I said. "Don't." She didn't take her hand off my shoulder. I looked down at my lap.

"How do you feel about him?" mom asked. I whipped my head around to her. Was she not listening to a word I said? Can't she tell that I am pissed off? Hurt? Betrayed?

My hands were trembling by my sides.

"He hurt me," I said.

"Aw, baby," mom said. She pulled me into her arms. I rested my head on her chest. Was I... crying? Was I really crying over him? I didn't know why.

"He's a jerk!" I blurted out. Mom shushed me.

"There, there," she whispered. "It's okay. It's okay. Just let it all out." I couldn't stop crying. I was so mad that I couldn't understand why.

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-Marty-

I finally did it. I told her the truth. I knew she was going to be mad at me. Still, we're not finished. We have to talk. She might not want to but I have to say something.

I rolled over onto my side.

Why did I do it? Well... We're going to be leaving this neighborhood. All of us. We're probably never going to see each other again. So I figured that I might as well say something. I knew she would get mad but it had to come out. Well, I finished. What now?

I think I should leave her alone for a bit. Let her get it out of her system before calling her up again. I didn't mean to do her any harm. She just looked lonely. I guess I made it all worse.

For that, I am really sorry.