They let her fall to the ground and shatter like a vase full of flowers. She was left alone to pick up the pieces. Now they are back and she's afraid of being broken again.
Darren and Fiona sit in the middle of the floor playing with her dolls. I️ watch them from the couch. Darren looks up at me and smiles, hoping I️ will return the gesture. I️ flash him a half-assed smile. I'm really not in the mood right now. Darren tilts his head and stares at me. He knows something is wrong and he's currently trying to figure out what.
The door swings open, causing me to walk to the front door to see who it is. The last time this happened, things didn't end so well...
Casey shows her face in the living room. "Hello all!" She grins as Fiona stumbles onto her feet to run to her mother. "Thanks for watching her. I️ really needed the night off." I️ nod in response. Casey frowns and purses her lip. She can tell something is wrong too. "What's wrong?" She asks simply.
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Why is it that I️ am so easy to read? Why does everyone know how I️ am feeling all the time? Can't I️ be mysterious for once in my life?
I️ shake my head in defiance. "Nothing," I️ lie. "I'm fine."
"I️ don't believe you, but okay. You win this one. I️ have to get Fiona to bed so I️ can't stay to argue but we will definitely be talking about this later." Casey lifts her child in her arms and laughs as Fiona waves goodbye to us.
I️ wave until they are out of sight. "So, Casey noticed it too. What's wrong?" Darren asks, snaking his arms around my waist and pulling me close to him. I️ pull myself away from him. I️ don't want to be touched right now.
"You two talked about me like I️ was an object to be won at the local carnival." I️ get straight to the point. There is no use in pretending like there is nothing wrong. He would know that I️ am lying. He already does.
"What are you talking about?" Darren asks, stepping closer to me after I️ had moved away from him.
I scoff. He doesn't remember? "She's a mess. She's mine. She's going to be mine." I mock the conversation I overheard not too long ago. "I'm not a prize you win at some high school fair, Darren. I'm a human being."
Darren nods as if he understands now. "You heard our conversation." He puts the pieces together to form this conclusion.
"Of course I️ did. I️ was barely out of the room before you two started to go at it in the kitchen!" I️ slap my hands at my side. Darren grabs my hands and pulls me closer to him. "No, stop. I️ didn't like the way you talked about me." I️ dodge his attempted kisses.
"What did I️ say that upset you so much?" Darren asks. How could he not know?
"Well for starters, you told him I️ am a mess." I️ start with the thing that bothered me the most. There are hundreds of other things I️ could bring up but this one seems to be the one that is continuing to eat away at me.
Darren nods. "Was that a lie though?" He asks, already knowing the answer. I️ don't know why he tries to play these games with me. I️ really am not in the mood for it.
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I shake my head. "Well, no ." I try to think of something else to say. "But I don't need you telling him that! That is my private life! He isn't allowed into my private life again! Stop giving him information so he thinks he can swoop his way back in and save me because he thinks he knows me or something!"
"Okay, I'm sorry. Are we cool now?" He asks, shrugging this conversation off as if it means nothing. I push him away from me. I don't even want to look at him right now.
"I'm going to bed."
Darren grabs my hand and spins me to face him. "You didn't answer my question."
"I didn't answer you because I don't know if we are cool or not. I haven't decided yet." I reply honestly. Why does he still talk like a teenager when he wants a fight to be over? It just makes me angrier when he does that.
"Why wouldn't we be cool? I apologized." Darren acts as if apologizing is going to make everything better every time. Sometimes sorry just isn't enough.
"That is part of the problem Darren! You think that if you give me a half-assed apology that all of our relationship problems will be fine. That really worries me."
"Our wedding is in a few weeks and you are worried about our relationship?" Darren asks, shocked at this realization. It is as if he has never had any thoughts like the ones I am voicing now.
I nod my head. "Actually, yes." I admit. There is no use in lying to him it. It will only make things worse In the long run. I turn around and make my way to my bedroom. I am done with this conversation.
"That is crazy Ciara! You know we are fine. We have been fine for years. Don't start to pretend like we aren't now. You are being ridiculous baby." Darren tries to talk me out of my thoughts.
"Maybe Chris can take me off your hands so you don't have to deal with me anymore." I fight back tears as I walk up the stairs.
AN: What do you guys think? Will Ciara forgive Darren? Let me know what your predictions are. I would love to hear your short term predictions and your long term ones too!
