...Of My Dreams

With Time

*Warning: Profane/Graphic language is used this chapter. Be advised.*

At the sight of Loren, Lamar's heart fluttered. But, he couldn't determine if it were from a reprieve of her absence or his disdain of her presence. He had hoped their time apart would quell his emotions; alas, she ignited his resentment from the mere sight of her.

"So, where have you been?" she inquired, but her question fell on deaf ears. Lamar proceeded to place his belongings on the living room table. He then sat on the couch and reclined back with his eyes sealed.

She looked on bewildered, scoffing at his apathy towards her. She followed his lead into the living room and sat across from him.

"I asked you a question, Lamar."

"I've been out," he stated simply.

"You don't answer my calls, texts or voicemails even, for 3 weeks; and the best I get from you is I've been out? Fuck you Lamar," she replied.

"No, you know what? Fuck you!" he shouted, erupting from his seated position, "you show up unannounced making demands; and I'm supposed to comply like I'm in the wrong?"

"What am I supposed to do Lamar? You won't talk to me. If I didn't show up unannounced, then when would I see you?"

"Maybe I wasn't ready to talk to you. Did you think of that? You don't give me much say in anything else. The least you can do is let me decide what to do with my time."

"Why are you treating me like I'm some transient? I am your girlfriend, Lamar! Am I not worth--"

Her tangent was cut short as she took note of his dismissal.

"Wait, I am still your girlfriend, right?"

He scrunched his shoulders, turning his head away from her in protest.
She stood silently for a moment; as if embodying the calm before the storm. Suddenly, she grabbed a lamp from the side table and lunged it just short of Lamar. The projectile sailed past him, crashing into the wall.

"Are you fucking crazy? That almost hit me!"

"I know! I wish it did! It hasn't hit you since I've been with you! I am crazy! Crazy for staying committed to an asshole for 3 years; who throws it away in a matter of weeks. Crazy, for supporting you while you wait for your business to get off the ground. Crazy, for defending you from my friends, who insisted that you weren't shit just like my exes. I'm crazy for thinking you were different. Believing in you is by far the craziest thing I've ever done. And to think, I came here to-- you know what nevermind."

Off the heel of her rant, she stormed off towards the bedroom. Lamar followed shortly after, trying to intercept her shoulder. His advance was met with a quick jerk, nudging away his hand to continue her march.

"Don't fucking touch me Lamar!"

"Where are you going? How are you going to just say all of that without talking to me?"

Her roam came to a halt, as she slowly rotated around.

"Oh, now you want to talk?" she mocked, "so in order to get the mute to speak, I have to show my ass? I don't want to talk now. I want to leave."

Returning to her stroll, she collected her coat sprawled across Lamar's bed. She rushed past him, foiling his attempt to obstruct her path in the doorway.

"So that's it, Loren? This is what you came to do?"

"What choice did you give me Lamar? It's like, I can't ever get through to you. You always impose your reluctance on me. I expect you to do that with other people. But me?"