The Book On Love

Chapter 2: The Talk

Chapter 2: The Talk

“I hate it, I hate it,” I cried in defeat to my best friend, as I sunk myself lower into the wooden café chair.

“Hate what honey?” Belle said disinterestedly, focusing immensely on draining the remnants at the bottom of her coffee cup.

“Stupid, stupid Business School! It’s sucking the life out of me and eating away at my soul!” I complained.

“I know it is sweetie, but I think we should address a big problem that is slightly easier to fix.” Belle said. Great, I knew exactly where she was going with this.

 “Belle, not now I-“ I began, before being interrupted by Belle’s ranting.

“Let’s not forget about a certain dick head that I know is most definitely, largely contributing to making your life a living hell right now! “ Belle said while enthusiastically waving her cup around and accidentally hitting the waitress serving the table behind us, which Belle didn’t seem to notice.

“Belle, please!” I pleaded. I did not want to have to talk let alone think about Ethan right now, especially after what had only just happened.

“No Jane!” Belle retorted showing no mercy. “Ethan is a possessive, perverted, ill-mannered psychopath! You were always the hopeless romantic and would always go on about how you’d one day find the perfect man and then-“

“Belle!” I cried, interrupting her. “I broke up with him! So can we please stop talking about him please?”

Belle was shell-shocked, slowly opening and closing her mouth like a goldfish until suddenly…

 “WHAT?!?!” Belle practically screamed, every head in the café now turned pointedly towards her.

I shushed her, trying to get her to calm down.

“I can’t believe this! How, when did this happen?” Belle demanded.

I sighed as I put my now heavily bruised arm on the table for her to inspect. She gasped sympathetically and she held my arm gently.

“He assaulted me at the office just before.” I said, recounting the not so pleasant incident from earlier.

“Little shit.” Belle said violently.

“I told him that we’re over and I don’t want him to talk to me or touch me ever again.” I told Belle while taking my arm out of her hands and trying to push the sleeves of my shirt down my arm to hide any evidence of abuse.

“Good for you girl.” Belle said proudly. “And he just let you go like that?”

I cringed. Now she was going to be on my case again.

“Not exactly.” I began as Belle let out a loud groan in frustration. “I didn’t want him to attack me again and he is at least aware that as far as I know it’s over between us.” I continued as Belle looked at me disapprovingly.

“Belle! Can I just focus on one thing at a time please? I know Ethan is a good-for-nothing jerk and I’ve dealt with it, but right now I…I…I just can’t focus. I suck! I can’t work for my Father no matter how hard I try and I’m just a-a- a shark out of water here!” I said, finally letting out the feelings I had been holding back for months now. 

“I know sweet-cheeks.” Belle said sympathetically, deciding to finally drop the now ex-boyfriend issue.

“What I don’t get is why you agreed to this in the first place. Seriously, I mean you? And Business School? Worst combination ever since pickles and ice cream.” Belle said.