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I left. I always do. Every day. I leave to go out with my friends for several hours - it relieves everything I face at school. A drink won't hurt. A bottle won't do much, at least for me.

My phone rings. Slowly picking up the phone, the call menu disappears. Four missed calls from Jess? How could I not notice? What was so important anyway - She knew I had this day planned, and she should have gotten used to it by now. It feels like a routine, after hanging out this frequently.

'Dude. Jess? 4 missed calls? I think you should go -'

'Nah, man. It's nothing much, just leave it alone. She should respect that we're hanging out. I have my time for her, as well as time for you guys.'

'Well don't you think that you should be spending more -'

'Cut it.'

I'm tired of hearing the constant encouragement to be spending more time with her. Sure, she's my girlfriend. I love her with my heart, but this time is for me and my friends. I don't want her to intervene. My phone, however, receives a text from her, and the notification makes my heart sink for some reason.

Jessica: We need to talk. Stop ignoring me.

Ignoring? I knew it. She's always taking things out of proportion. As partners, we should already be respectful of each other's time. And she doesn't seem to want to live by that.

'Just go home already man, Jess is waiting.'

'Fine. But don't call me later.'

I walk home, and Toronto's fresh summer wind feels refreshing against my nostrils, like the smell of menthol; soothing. The clouds gracefully glide across the sky, and their colours dance with the setting orange sun. I feel slightly relaxed, but in the distance thick clouds are visible. 

I arrive at the doorstep and Jess is there, waiting impatiently as her fingers constantly twitch. She turns around abruptly.

'I've been waiting here for a long time, what took you so long?'

'I was quite far away.'

'Listen. To you, what are we?'

'In a relationship.'

'And how much time have you spent with me this week?'

'A lo-'

'No, tell me how much, since you have your schedules and shit.'

'2 hours.'

'How much time have you spent with your friends today?'

'4 hours.'

'See? That's the problem. That's why I want to talk! You constantly spend time with your friends thinking it's okay that you just leave me hanging all the time. I AM YOUR GIRLFRIEND. YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH ME. NOT JUST 2 HOURS PER WEEK. I've been ridiculed for this whole time, thinking if there's anything I've done wrong to not deserve much of your attention or any of your time. You and I, we're a thing. But you're barely WITH me. You're never here. You've always been distancing yourself away from me.'

'Well, you kno -'

'Shut up. You know where you've slipped.'

'Attention whore.'

Jess looks at me in disbelief, but she also doesn't seem surprised. She knows me very well. Her jaw drops rapidly, and she gives me a very mixed look. She then recollects herself.

'You know what? We're over. I've had enough. I don't deserve your bullshit.'