Wait until the music's over

38. Speak of the devil, magic sticks and dramatic pauses

Where do I put these things now? I'm standing in the middle of the diner, holding a bunch of big red daisies, as I wait for a vase to magically fall from the sky. And if, while on its way, it fell on that dork's head too, that'd be great. How could he come up with such a stupid idea, as if nothing happened?!

"What the fuck are these?" I asked as soon as I saw him walking up to me, without even telling him hi.

"Flowers, for Angie, to congratulate for the end of her exams" he naively explained.

"She's not done yet, the last one is on Wednesday"

"Oh... well, I remembered they were round this time, I didn't know the exact days..."

"Sure, I guess you two didn't discuss that recently"

"Hehe no, definitely not"

The fuck are you laughing for? Is there a fucking reason to laugh?

How can someone have the nerve to come out with flowers, after all the mess he made? The fact is, either he's a dick or he's started doing heavy shit, and I wouldn't be surprised at all.

Before leaving he asked if Angie was there and when her shift would have started. Fortunately she's not here and will be working tonight.

"I can't stay, I'm busy tonight... Could you give them to her? There's a card inside anyway..."

I'm gonna throw your fucking card in the toilet and flush it together with your shitty flowers!

I place everything on the counter and go to the kitchen, in search for anything that looks like a vase. I find something that'll do, fill it with water, go back to the main room, unwrap the colored paper and arrange the flowers in the vase, while I keep thinking what to do with them. Should I give them to Angela, knowing from the beginning that it'll hurt her, although she'd never admit it? Or should I make them disappear without telling her? Keeping this fact from her wouldn't be honest, but I'd do that for her own good. The decision is not easy, I don't wanna take another false step with my friend, we're already on incertain terms. I cannot lie, I fucked up and made a big mistake at the new year's party and since then things haven't been the same between me and my roommate: she keeps to herself (yeah, even more than before!), spends more time outside, when we're both at home she stays in her room most of the time and we don't talk like we used to anymore, she doesn't tell me anything but the essential and a few jokes. I fucked up badly and I know she forgave me, but actually she must still hate me a little for my betrayal. 'Cause that's what it was after all. Like stupid Jerry's betrayal wasn't enough, I had to stab her in the back too, just to save my ass with Mike.

Mike, that's another weird guy. I gave up trying to understand him. No, that's not true, I didn't give up, 'cause it's a matter of principle: I can't just take his continuous change of personality as they come and accept them, I have to understand! First he's all romantic and sweet, then he tells Eddie I'm just a hobby, basically doesn't react when I dump him, finds another chick in zero time and starts a relationship with her, something he appeared to be allergic to until that very day, avoids me, then acts as a big friend, ignores me again on new year's eve, whereas at The Gits' concert he treats me like the good old times. Jesus, it almost looked like he was flirting! I bet he's already tired of Melanie, an actual normal relationship is probably suffocating him, he was too spoiled when he was with me.

The doorbell's ring is like an alarm clock going off for me, but for a minute I feel like I'm still there, floating among my thoughts about Mike because, guess what? Speak of the devil and...

"Hey Meg!" on of McCready's personalities, the one who's all smiles and sugary looks, has just entered Roxy and walks straight up towards the counter.