What Did I Tell You?

Chapter 5

That day, Floor was a total mess. She didn't even want to get out of bed, but finally, Tarja convinced her to. She made pancakes for Floor, which seemed to cheer Floor up a little bit, but not much. After breakfast, Floor went and watched TV for a while.

"Floor, want to go for a walk? Getting outside might do you good," Tarja said. Floor shook her head. "Okay. How about we play a game?" Another shake of the head. "We could play around with the piano for a bit. Sound like fun?" Floor shook her head again. "Well, what do you want to do?"

"Nothing," Floor answered glumly.

"I could go with you, and we could go try and sort this mess out with Sharon," Tarja suggested.

"No! I'm done with Sharon!" Floor snapped. "Go away."

"Sheesh. Fine," Tarja said, a little hurt. She went over to the piano and started playing some scales to warm up. After that, she played a random melody that turned into 'I Walk Alone', which made Floor cry, and then Tarja felt bad.

"I'm sorry, Floor, I didn't mean to upset you," she said, rubbing Floor's back.

"It's-It's okay," Floor sniffled, even though it obviously wasn't. "Go back to the piano, I'm fine." Tarja did as she asked and started playing a song she was working on for her new album.

A little while later, Alissa called.

"Hey, sweetie, what's up?" she asked.

"Nothing much," Tarja said flatly.

"What's wrong?" Alissa asked in a worried voice.

"It's Floor. She's all upset cause Sharon apparently cheated on her. She says she's done with her." Tarja sighed. "I'm sorry, Liss, I'm just worried about her."

"Hey, I've got an idea. Why don't you and me and her all go out and do something together?" Alissa suggested.

"I doubt she'll go for it, but I'll talk to her. Thanks, Alissa,"Tarja said gratefully.

"Okay. Bye, Tari," Alissa said, and hung up. Tarja went into the living room, where Floor was still watching TV, and sat down on the couch next to her.

"Hey, Floor, Alissa called."
"I don't care."

"Geez, Floor, I'm trying to help here! She offered to take the two of us out to do something together," Tarja said angrily.

"I don't want to do anything. Just go without me. Please, Tarja, just let me stay here by myself. It's the best thing you can do for me," Floor said. Tarja sighed.

"Floor..."

"Go, Tarja."

"I don't like the idea of leaving you here by yourself," Tarja said.

"I'll be fine, just go," Floor insisted.

"Fine," Tarja said, giving up. She got up and went to get herself ready.

Tarja didn't really enjoy her date with Alissa very much. She kept thinking about Floor, and finally, Alissa realized she wasn't having fun and took her home. As she approached the door of her apartment, she heard yelling from inside. Floor's voice, loud and angry, then Sharon's, pleading with her. Tarja flung the door opened and yelled,

"What's going on in here?" Both Floor and Sharon tried to talk at once.

"I told her I don't want anything to do with her!" Floor yelled, but at the same time, Sharon said,

"I came over to apologize, but this ----- won't listen!" They glared at each other.

"You two are acting like spoiled children," Tarja said, setting her purse down. "Floor, listen to her for a minute, okay? Please?" She put her arm around Floor. Floor scowled, but she let Tarja help her over to the couch.

"Alright, Sharon, talk," she said. Sharon took a deep breath.

"I never intended to cheat on you. I was really drunk, and I didn't realize what I was doing. I thought...I guess I thought she was you. Oh, I don't know, everything's so mixed-up and-"

"That's your excuse? Sharon, we both know you just wanted sex! Simply because I wasn't in the mood-" Floor began, but Sharon cut her off.

"You never listen! I didn't just want sex, I wanted you! Didn't you hear a word I said?" she yelled.

"Enough, both of you!" Tarja cried. "Can't you hear yourselves? Floor, you're not listening. And Sharon-"
"No, Tarja, stay out of it!" Sharon yelled.

"No, I will not! You're both my friends. Although, I don't really want to be friends with someone who hurts my best friend like this," Tarja answered.

"Would you get it through your thick skull?" Sharon screeched. "I didn't mean to hurt her. Honest!"

"Get. Out," Floor growled. "Goodbye, Sharon. I'm done with you." Sharon stared at her and Tarja for a moment with sheer hatred in her eyes, then turned and left the room, slamming the door behind her. As soon as she was gone, Floor burst into tears. Tarja put her arms around her friend and held her close.

"I'm so sorry, Floor." Floor hid her face in Tarja's shoulder and wept. Tarja kept whispering comforting things to her, stroking her hair and hugging her. It was strange for things to be reversed like this. Usually it was Tarja crying on Floor's shoulder, not the other way around. But this time it was Floor who was hurting. "Shh, Floor," Tarja said, trying to calm her friend. "Sharon doesn't deserve you. You are way too good for her." But part of her wanted to believe Sharon. After all, they had been very close friends before all of this had happened and Tarja didn't really think Sharon would ever cheat on a lover. She didn't know who to side with. Sharon, who was probably telling the truth about what she'd done, or Floor, who was heartbroken and in tears because Sharon had cheated on her. Tarja knew how much it hurt when the person you loved was unfaithful to you. But had Sharon meant to do that? She didn't know, and everything was so mixed-up in her head, and all she knew was that right now she needed to comfort Floor. Which was an impossible task, because Floor didn't want to be comforted, and Tarja didn't know what to say to her. So she just held the other woman in her arms and let her cry it out. Finally, Floor lifted her head and wiped her eyes, which were all red-rimmed and puffy. "Come on, let's go get you cleaned up," Tarja said, helping Floor up. They went into the bathroom, and Tarja got Floor a wet washcloth to put on her eyes to soothe them. Then they both went into the bedroom and Floor got into her bed and Tarja tucked the covers up around her.

"Stay with me," Floor murmured.

"Alright, until you fall asleep," Tarja answered, sitting down on the edge of the bed. She held Floor's hand until the taller woman drifted off to sleep. Tarja leaned down and kissed Floor's forehead. "Sleep well, Floor," she whispered, and sent a silent prayer up to Heaven that Floor would find someone who would truly love her.