I Won't Ever Hide Alone

Ch: 17 Love Is Pain

"HEY, Lori!" Julian shouted with the most fake enthusiasm as if he got caught doing something he shouldn't have been. "How are yah?"

Lori just glared at him with distaste. He gave her a smile, but she didn't respond back to him with one. Instead she crossed her arms and looked at him with an accusatory expression.

"Julian." She began, "We need to talk. Please." She turned around to head for the bar's front door.

Julian hadn't moved from his spot. To him, it was unclear what exactly was going on, but he knew it wasn't gonna be good. Then she turned around again and she shouted, "NOW!"

For some reason that made him move. He abruptly stood himself tall and he followed after Lori like a lost puppy. They made it outside and luckily there wasn't anyone around.

"Julian." Lori said again. Her voice sounded angry, but her eyes were claiming sadness. "What is going on?"

"What-What do you mean?" Julian managed to keep himself calmer than he felt.

Lori leaned herself up against the brick wall of the building, crossed her arms and shook her head. 

"What, Lori? What did I do?" Julian was slightly confused with all the drinking he had done. He really couldn't think of what he had done, but he knew he did something. 

"I can't believe you. I haven't heard much from you since you came to my house the night before. I tried texting you, calling you, and nothing. Julian what the fuck?!" She was raising her voice and Julian felt like a little kid again.

"Honey, I am so sorry. I didn't mean to ignore you. I-" Julian was trying to explain but Lori cut him off.

"So you admit it. You were ignoring me?" Tears were welling in Lori's eyes. She turned her head to the side to try to stifle any drops from falling. She wanted to be stronger than this.

"Yes, but no. Not exactly." Julian was having a really hard time talking to Lori about this. His mind was hazy at the moment from all the alcohol.

"You were. I knew it." Lori looked down at the ground. She sniffled a couple times and that made Julian's heart sink.

"Lori. Babe, I wasn't. I just got caught up with things and I-I just forgot to reach out. I am so sorry." Julian tried to hold onto Lori's hand, but she quickly moved it away.

"No, Julian." She scowled, her eyes now daggers into his. The tears were burning her cheeks as they poured out. The shaking anger coding her voice. "You don't get to do that."

"Do what?" Julian was not prepared for this type of conversation.

"You don't get to show up to my house with flowers and then ignore me all day. You think that's okay? You think that's normal? I was fuckin worried about you."

Julian couldn't help but note this is the most he heard her swear as long as he has known her.

He opened his mouth to say something to that, but she cut him off again. "No! I don't care anymore Julian. I don't want to hear your excuses. You're so fucking confusing! Why you ignore me, then you are here at a bar getting fucked up! I know you are hiding something and it doesn't matter how many times I try to get you to tell me what's really going on. You never will... And you know what? I don't even wanna know anymore."

Things were silent. Lori wiped the tears from her face and looked at Julian. He looked wounded, but she was sick of feeling sorry for him every time he was the one who was actually in the wrong.

"I am so SICK of being hurt. I am so sick of trying to make it better by being the one to take the blame when it's not even my fault."

"I know, Lori. You're completely right..." He felt ashamed the more she spoke.