Classic Rock

Opposites

We finally made it to the band room and Alice marched in like she owned the place. We saw Dexter playing the keyboard with a few people around him and we paused.

"Go ahead, I'll wait outside." She patted my shoulder.
I nervously walked up to the small crowd put my hands behind my back.
"Dexter." I called him. The crowd turned to me and Dexter continued playing. Someone tapped his shoulder and as soon as he saw me, he rolled his eyes.

He stood up and told the crowd he'd be back and he took me into the hall. He crossed his arms and let out angry sigh.
"What do you want, Simon?" He asked.
"I wanted to talk about us." I tried to say confidently.
"Yeah, no shit..." He looked away. "I tell you that I'm busy, yet you still complain."
"I only complain when you don't make an effort!"
"And you think I don't?" He glared at me. I noticed people staring at us...

"Can we go somewhere private?" I asked.
"No, we can talk about this here." He snapped, "You were the one who wanted to talk, so talk."
I sighed, "Okay, whenever I have something going on, you can never make it—"
"Not everyone wants to be part of the literature club, Simon." He rolled his eyes, "Everyone's not into boring shit like you."
"I don't care if it's boring—all I want is your support!"

"Okay—when was the last time you came to a concert?!" He yelled. "We had a show a week ago and all your excuses are the same: 'I have a paper to do, I'm studying, I've got work'—okay, so does everybody else—and every other time your always running to that little apartment of yours."

The people around us started to depart until we were all alone.
"Dexter—"
"What's the point of being in a relationship if you just run away like a little bitch all the time?!" He threw his hands up.
I stared at feet, feeling anger swell inside me.
"You know when I busy I can't make it to every little book reading. Besides, you have more time than I do." He added. "And you say I don't make an effort."

I wanted hit him, punch him, anything to hurt him, but I couldn't bring myself to do it.
"You're so focused on school work that you don't have the time for a relationship." He said after a short pause.
"It's my career—of course it's important!" I hissed. "What's important to you?!"

His chest heaved with anger and he sighed, giving me a cold stare, "The band..."
I felt a sinking pain in my chest and I stood, paralyzed from his words.
"My career." He walk away.

I couldn't speak. My brain repeated his words over and over again until tears swelled in my eyes. I walked out of the building as I held back my tears, forgetting that Alice was waiting for me.
"Simon?" She asked as I walked past her, "Simon, wait! What did he say?"

I ignored her as I stormed off, until she pulled my arm.
"Stop it, Alice!" I snapped at her. She jumped back with a worried look.
"We're done." I told her.

That week, I stayed in bed for most of the day. Whenever I got I text, I ignored it. Whenever someone knocked on the door, I didn't answer. The only thing that kept me busy, was feeding Benjamin.

The next week after, I heard a knock on my door and as usual, I ignored it. The knocking turned into banging and I threw the covers over my head. The banging persisted and I gave up to go answer it.

When I opened the door, I saw Alice and Eli staring at me with wide eyes.
"What the hell do you guys want?" My voice was hoarse.
"Simon...you like a mess." Eli covered his mouth.
"Thanks, I appreciate it." I smiled.
Alice opening the door and gasped at my living room filled with food wrappers and empty cups. I slowly made my way back to my room to lay back down.

"Simon?" I heard her say as she enter my room, "Do you wanna talk about it?"
I turned away from her and hugged my pillow.
"Hey Eli, could you start cleaning up in there?" She said.
"Fine." I heard him say.