Call Your Girlfriend

Part 8: In Which Helen Expresses Herself

Needless to say, I didn't sleep at all last night. I kept thinking about Max's next move. Was he really asking because he wants to be with me? Or because he was just curious? Either way, I doubt the answer he was looking for was the one I gave him.

I get dressed this morning, in a pair of black yoga pants and a tie dye hoodie. If I look like a bum, I don't really care today. Getting my bag, I make sure I have everything from me purse, wallet and luggage all the way down to my stud earrings. Opening my door, I find Max leaning against the wall beside it. He's in dark jeans and a black v neck under his leather jacket. He smiles, but it's different this morning than it was yesterday. Today it seems faux and forced. I really ruined this trip- didn't I?

"Morning." I say and he nods. He takes my bag for me and we head off to the elevator. Waiting for it to arrive, I watch him from the corner of my eye. He looks just as tired as I am. He didn't sleep. Did he? Getting in the elevator, we head to the ground floor and make our way to the checkout desk. Leaving our key cards behind, we walk out and down the street to the parking garage.

After we find the car, he backs out of the space and we head home. The car ride is miserable. So quiet. Not even the radio is on. All one hears are cars passing by us. What did I do? Ruined our dynamic. Our relationship. Ruined. All because I couldn't pretend any more. What a waste. Nothing will ever be the same. How could it? I glance at him and he just seems stiff. His phone goes off in the cup holder between us. It's Alice. Go figure. He picks up his phone and as I think he's going to cancel it- he answers instead.

"Good morning..." He sounds less enthused. Because it's so quiet in the car, I can hear both sides of the conversation.

"Good morning! How'd you sleep last night?" Like shit.

"Great. Never better. How's Luna?" Oh! So she had Luna yesterday? It kind of pisses me off. He barely knows her and she can watch Luna whenever she wants or he needs. Yet he has never asked me. He doesn't trust me that much if he won't allow me to babysit Luna ever. He allows Iggy to take her at times. And now Alice...but not me? That hurts. That hurts immensely.

"She's perfect! A little fussy, but you know- she's always that way when she first wakes up or fights going down for bed." Like she knows Luna...as I live and breathe, I will never get over this. Betrayal? She's only been with him- what- less than a two weeks maybe? It hasn't been that long. So knowing someone two weeks qualifies them to watch your baby- but knowing someone almost a year: no grounds of trust.

"Yeah..."

"So, how was the concert?" So he did tell her he was going to a concert. Nice. Least he's not a complete liar.

"Very nice."

"Did your friend like it as well?" Oh, I'm a friend. Just a friend he more or less felt up yesterday for a two hour concert- and pretty much manipulated me emotionally the whole time. But I'm just a friend. Now Max- am I a woman or a man to Alice?

"Yes, they did." They. Gender neutral. Nice Max. Well done.

"Good. I'm glad you both had a good time. It's nice to get the time to hang out with friends you haven't seen in a while." Really!? Shaking my head, I look out my window. Pissed. I'm a friend he hasn't seen in a while. Perfect. Well, guess what Max- you won't be seeing me ever again. Deal with that.

"Yeah, we had a great time. Really enjoyed the show."

"Anything exciting happen?" Only that I saw his dick, he felt me up close and personal, and initiated a fight that lead to him getting his arse kicked.

"Well- I did get into a bit of a scuffle."

"What! Are you okay?" Nope, he's still able to talk, unfortunately.