Amongst The Stars

Chapter Six

"But I wish there was somethin' you would do or sayTo try and make me change my mind and stay"Don't Think Twice, It's All Right - Bob Dylan

I walk into the apartment and hear Craig banging pots and pans around in the kitchen. He's mad again. He's been in a constant state of anger since he found me talking to Josh in the craft store. The anger had been an issue for longer, but it has worsened since that day. He's been picking random fights over the most minor things. Everything from him not having enough clean socks to my "slamming" the door while he's trying to nap.

"Hey babe, I'm only here for a little bit. I'm going to stay with Willa tonight. She needs an extra set of hands for a new project," I yell out, making my way to the bedroom to pack a bag.

I hear Craig stop banging around in the kitchen. I listen, bracing myself for a fight, as he stomps through the apartment behind me.

"Oh yeah? And why can't she find a different friend to help?" Craig grits out through clenched teeth.

"She could. But she doesn't want to, and that's valid."

"You are always so worried about everyone else but me. And I really don't think that's fair to our relationship."

"What does that even mean?" I'm starting to get angry at this point. All I do, day in and day out, is ensure that our life together runs smoothly. I pick his groceries up. I let him use my car so he can do whatever he does while I'm working to pay our bills.

"I just think it's interesting that you met that guy from the craft store, and now you hardly want to be in the same room as me."

"You're being an asshole because you're... jealous?" I huff out a humorless chuckle.

"I mean, I guess? You seem to loooove talking to him while I'm stuck here begging to see you in your spare time." He slams his hand against the door frame. I roll my eyes at his little outburst and continue shoving clothes into my overnight bag.

"Good job, Detective Craig, you caught me! I'm in love with Josh. Head over heels for a man I've only spoken with at his job!" I watch his eyes darken with rage as I add a sarcastic round of applause. I'm far too annoyed with him to stop myself from pushing his buttons even more. If he wants to fight, we can fucking fight.

"I uprooted my entire life back home for you, Quinn. I packed up everything I own, threw my entire life in the back of a moving truck, and moved here with you. I did that, and you're laughing at me?"

"Of course I am laughing at you. You're being absurd."

"I'm being absurd?! I didn't realize it was absurd to want to spend time with your partner."

"It's absurd that you're mad at me over the manager of the store where I get art supplies. It's absurd that you're turning this all into a pity party for yourself. It's absurd that I've wasted the last 20 minutes arguing with you when Willa needs my help."

"It's absurd that we're arguing and you're worried about your friends."

"I didn't start the argument, bud. I was content to pack my bag and head out, but you wanted to make it a thing." I sling my packed bag over my shoulder and walk to the bedroom door as Craig steps in the way to block my path.

"Get out of my way, Craig."

"If you step outside this house right now, I honestly don't know where that will leave us."

"I guess we'll figure it out later, then." I duck under his arm and make my way to the front door, grabbing my keys and storming out the door.

I hop in my car and text Willa, letting her know I am on my way. I spent the short drive contemplating the state of my relationship with Craig. Where does he get off acting like I am the problem here? I spend almost every waking moment doing things for him. I do his laundry; I cook his meals; I don't even care that he doesn't have a job. I let so much of his bullshit slide. But he treats me like I'm doing something wrong because I want to hang out with my friends. Because I talk to a guy who works at the craft store? When it gets down to it, our relationship isn't working right now. But, then again, it hasn't been working for a while. The Josh Thing is just the icing on top of the cake. He has always been jealous and suspicious of me leaning on people besides him. He still sometimes questions my closeness with Willa. He knows we have been best friends for years, way longer than I've known him, yet he is still suspicious.