Call it Fate, Call it Karma

Neglect

It turns out, Adam was having some sort of little party at the time of my calling, which he was happy to invite me to. I met a whole bunch of cool people, including his friend, Kimya, who he made music with in a band they called the Moldy Peaches. Adam insisted on playing me a few of their demos and I made a comment about them sounding like cute folk music, but Adam corrected me, insisting it was 'anti-folk', which I didn't bother asking an explanation for because he was super drunk and would probably ramble on for hours.

I was also talking to some chick called Karen at one point about bands and she got quite excited when I mentioned The Strokes.

"You know them?!" I asked with a grin.

"Yeah! I've seen them a few times. They're cool as fuck and always make such an entrance." Karen told me. "Do you know them? Like, are they ever gonna put music out? I wanna buy that shit."

"My best friends! They're rehearsing for a show tomorrow as we speak." I said. "And as for music, they'll get started on an album as soon as they can afford to rent a studio."

"Sweet, another show? I'm in." she said with an eager nod of her head. "You're friends with 'em? Which ones are single? That Julian dude is smokin'! "she finished with a giggle.

I blushed at the mention of his name, which Karen must've caught site of, because she nudged me with a smirk. "Is he your boyfriend? If so, I was totally kidding about calling him hot. I have a boyfriend myself." she laughed.

"It's cool. And, uhh...it's kinda complicated."

"Ooh, spill! I'm here for 'ya, girl." Karen said with a friendly smile as she offered me a bottle of wine she'd been sipping from.

I was about to decline, but remembered I could probably use a female friend to spill my feelings to. "Well, I know it might sound selfish to think, but recently it's felt like he's putting his music way before me...like, just today he acted like I didn't exist." I said, then taking a big gulp from the bottle. "Ugh! I'm such a bitch, aren't I?"

"Not at all!" Karen said, patting me on the shoulder. "How close are you guys?"

"We kiss sometimes and I tell him I love him, and vice versa, but we don't wanna label what we have because of bad shit that's happened in the past."

Karen knitted her eyebrows together in thought. "Sounds to me like you're afraid of commitment, and about the music thing...you said they're working on an album, right? That could be the cause of the neglect?"

I nodded. "He gets real serious about his music, which I understand, but he could at least not death stare me and shit. Like today, when I was leaving the other guys' apartment, he didn't say a word when everyone else said I should stay!" I chugged down some more wine with a grimace. "He just fucking ignored me!" I then looked over at Karen and sighed. "I'm sorry for loading all my problems onto you...I just don't have any other friends I can really talk to about this shit. Like, I don't wanna bother the guys 'cos they're busy with their music."

"Hey, it's cool, honestly!" she said with a reassuring smile. "I said I was here for you!"

"Thanks." I said with a warm smile. It really felt great to get it all out.

"Okay, I'm not so good at relationships myself, so don't take my advice too seriously, but maybe after they finish their album and shit, he'll cool down. I get like that about music too."

"You're in a band?"

"Yeah!" she nodded enthusiastically.

"Cool! I was once...but it didn't really work out." I said with a nervous chuckle. "Anyways, sorry to bring the mood down. Wanna dance or something?"

Karen jumped up, pulling me up with her. "Hell yeah!"

"Okay, I'll join you in a sec. I've gotta tell someone where I am or they'll probably think I'm dead or something." I said. Karen nodded and walked off to join the crowd as I headed into the kitchen to find the phone. Once I did, I dialled up Albert's number.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Albie. I'm at a party and I'm fine so, uhh...yeah, don't come looking for me. Everything's cool. Bye!" I quickly hung up and jogged over to join Karen and Adam in the mass of sweaty bodies. All I could think about as I danced was Julian's coldness, and that only resulted in slight substance abuse.

By the time it hit midnight, I was completely wasted. The party started quite early, so a majority of the people had left or were passed out in the living room. I was in Adam's bedroom with he, Kimya and Karen. Only Adam and I were awake though...barely. I talked shit about Julian to him for thirty minutes, which ended in me feeling really bad and crying onto Adam's shoulder. He insisted I call Julian a few times, but I'd only freak out and change the subject.

"No offence, but you're super sensitive and whiney when you're drunk." Adam laughed, falling onto his bed beside me.

"I know." I said with a crooked grin. "Man, the room is fuckin' spinning!" I groaned, clutching my head in my hands.

"I told you not to take that pill you found on the counter!" he teased. "You could die!"

I snarled at him with a roll of my eyes, then nudging him. "You coming to the guys' gig tomorrow night? Julian-"

Adam widened his eyes and cut me off. "No more Julian talk!"

"Alriiiiight!" I giggled, falling back and closing my eyes.