Heaven, Hell & Room Service

Chapter 8: Two Heads Are...

One thing that makes humanity so interesting is the way that one decision can change the course of a life. One false move can get someone fired from a job, or land someone in a never-ending traffic jam on a major highway. One moment can also, for better or worse, drastically alter a relationship between two people. That moment can shoot the relationship to new heights, or flick the foundation out from the base of a precarious house of cards. The moment that Neil said "no", the proverbial Jack of Hearts that was the cornerstone of he and Emily's relationship had been knocked out.

This was manifested in reality as Emily slammed the door of her room. Perhaps I should rewind a few minutes so that you can watch the interaction. We'll pick it up just outside the front door of Hell, where Emily stood with tears streaming down her face. "Why, Neil?" she asked, her voice shaking with a mixture of anger and confusion.

"I don't know," he said quietly, staring down at his shoes. He still couldn't bring himself to look at her.

"Bullshit you don't know! You did this because last night I told you I didn't want more and you thought you would get back at me! Come on Neil, just say it! Grow some balls and just admit that you did it!"

"I'm sorry Emily."

Emily laughed, but it was harsh and mirthless. "You're sorry? Did you actually just say that to me? You're pathetic as a liar, Neil. You're a weak man and a crappy friend. The sooner you get that through your head, the better off you will be. Anything else you want to say?"

Neil finally managed to look up. He had been crying, and his face showed it. "You wanna know why I did what I did?"

"Enlighten me, oh wise one," she snapped sarcastically.

"I didn't want to lose you," he said honestly. The truth was that he wasn't really sure himself why he froze up, but that was the best reason that he could come up with.

"And you didn't think that torpedoing my one shot outta here would do that for you? I thought we were friends before anything else."

He was losing this argument fast, and it didn't help that his own inner monologue was agreeing with her. "We are friends, I—"

"No, we were friends," she interjected. "I may have scored as saintly clean, but that doesn't mean I have to like you."

She started walking in, and he followed her. He had no clue what to say to her, and the silent seconds dragged on.. She took the stairs, so he did too. She quickened her step, and he stayed a stride behind her. She stopped outside her room and wheeled around. Her voice was quivering, she was clearly trying to keep it calm. "I don't know if I'll ever forgive you for this, Neil, but don't come asking. If that time comes, I'll find you." The door slammed.

Neil stood there for a minute, and then walked down the hall to his room. He stopped, about to unlock his door, and then kept walking to the next room over. He knocked. "Hey Adam, you got any Mountain Dew in there?"

Have you ever made a decision that seems to change the world around you? Neil was quickly learning that making such a decision sucked. It seemed to flip his whole existence on its head. The people he didn't like were now complimenting him, and the people who he wanted to hang out with barely looked at him. Even Adam was distant. He was trying to not take sides, thereby filling the role of supportive sounding board, but Neil didn't blame anyone for their attitude. Hell, if the situation had been reversed, he would have been judgmental to the core.