just friends

wtf

       

Real Life

"Babe are you sure you want come to this? Its not too late to go home and cuddle up for the night." I ask Neels as we approach Ethan's apartment door.

"Yes babe, we're dating, and I want to get to know your friends. Plus, it'll be nice to get out for a little, and if its not any fun we can always just leave." He sends me a reassuring smile before knocking on the door

"Okay, but just beware, my friends have no boundaries, especially when they aren't sober-" Before I'm able to finish my sentence the door swings open and I'm quickly embraced into a bone crushing hug.

"Mel, you made it! I missed you." Ethan drunkenly yells into my ear, "The kickback turned into a party!" He lets me go, turning to Neels, "Hey man! Nice to see you again!" Pulling Neels into a hug.

"Come on Ethan, let go of my boyfriend, and let's go party!" I chuckle, pulling him with one hand inside the party, and my others gripping Neels.

Ethan's apartment was booming with music and had so many people scattered about.

"E, do you even know the people here?" I ask, as I spot my unfamiliar faces, there are a few that I recognize from their socials, and a few MTV actors.

"Nah, but I guess word got out, plus I'm a great host, so obviously everyone wanted to come." He says while stumbling over to a few couches in his living room, he plops himself next to Kelsey.

"Kelsey!! You're here!" I squeal, letting go of Neels to wrap her into a hug. I could smell the liquor and weed on her, or maybe it was just the entire apartment.

"Yeah I got here a little before you. Hi Neels." She says looking over my shoulder, giving Neels a polite smile. He gives her a smile and nod of acknowledgment before looking back down at his phone.

"Hey baby sit down, we're about to pass around this joint if you want in." I look over to see Diego, looking stoned out of his mind, with some blond girl wrapped around him. I feel a jolt of jealousy, and quickly brush it off, he is not my boyfriend, and I barely even like him as a friend. So why am I so bothered.

"Hi Diego." I give him, and instead of sitting next to Neels on the couch, I plop myself onto his lap.

"Hey man." Neels calls over to Diego wrapping his arms around my waist pulling me closer. Diego gives him a nod, looking back down to the joint he was almost done rolling.

Neels and I fall into conversation easily with Ethan and Kelsey, when I feel someone tap my shoulder. When I look over it's the blonde girl that was with Diego, she is passing the blunt to me, I inhale the fumes, hold my breathe for a minute than let out the smoke. A wave of calmness hits me,

"I didn't know you smoked." Neels whispers into my ear, I rotate myself on his lap, so I can see him better.

"Uh yes, well not often. It helps me relax, especially at parties."

"Oh." He gives me a disapproving look, and when I offer him the joint, he shakes his head, he leans back away from me. I pass the joint over to Ethan and look at Neels, hoping to ask him if he has an issue with my smoking habitat- if you could even call it a habit.

"Babe?" I ask, hoping he'll look up from his phone, which has apparently grown more interesting than me.

"Hmm." Is the only response I receive.

"Is everything okay?" I ask cautiously, I can feel eyes on us, but I don't bother to look.

"No, just that my girlfriend apparently has a disgusting habit that she didn't inform me of, other than that, everything's peachy." My eyes widen, not expecting the hostility in his voice.

"I mean, we never talked about it, and I don't do it often, so I didn't think it was that big of deal?" I say, confused on how this was a problem.

"Whatever Melissa," he rolls his eyes. "Change of plans, something came up for work, I need to go home tomorrow morning. I'm going to go back to your place. Stay have fun, smoke or some shit." He scoots me off, and places me on the couch, placing a peck on my forehead, before turning towards the door. For a few minutes I sit there, shocked on how things changed so quickly, one second everything's fine the next Neels is just leaving me. When I snap out of my shock, I see Diego, Ethan, and Kelsey all looking at me with wtf faces. I shrug my shoulders, quickly grabbing my things, heading off towards Neels. I catch up to him outside the apartment door.

"Neels, wait!" I call out to him, I grab his hand, only for him to yank it away from me. I look at him startled by his action.

"Look Melissa, just give me some space." He says, continuing to walk away from me.

"Fine, I will but you have to give me a reason!" I say still following him.

"Look I thought I was dating someone who was mature and didn't feel the need to do drugs. Do you know how disgusting that is? Drinking, smoking and whatever else kinds of drugs are disgusting, and only lesser minded people participate in that type of social bonding. 'here bro take a hot or shot it will bond us' is all idiotic. I thought you were better than that."

"Wtf Neels? I took one hit, and anyway weed helps with my social anxiety. You're blowing this way out of proportion." I say exasperated and confused as to why Neels is so upset.

"Look I told you the problem, now will you give me some space."

"Yeah, fine. Whatever." I say frustrated with him, it was like fighting with a wall. "I'll stay at Kelsey's tonight and I'll see you in the morning before your flight. When is it?" I ask, hoping some space will help him calm down.

"I'll text you the details if I'm up to seeing you tomorrow." I stand at the end of the hallway watching him as he gets onto the elevator, confused and angry.

"What the fuck is up his white ass." I hear a voice say behind me. I turn and see Diego standing there, with his arms open for me. I walk over to him, accepting his hug.