He's Insane (Dave Franco AU)

Adrienne

this chapter has been revised

"What are you? A therapist or something?" Dave crosses his arms.

"No." I shake my head. "Psychology was my favorite subject back in high school though."

"Then I doubt you're going to be successful in helping me out, or whatever you're trying to do it right now." He said, soon followed with a gloomy sigh. He looks down at his lap and tugs on a piece of loose thread from his jeans.

"Are you depressed or something?" I speculated.

He looks back up at me and furrowed his eyebrows. "Yeah, this is just too weird." He sucks his teeth in. He stands up and tries to grab my arm again. "I'll walk you out."

Again, I push the chair, rolling myself out of his reach. "Does anyone know about this? James? Your girlfriend?"

"No, they don't. And I swear to God if you tell them-

From the way he spoke gritting through his teeth, I could tell he was beginning to heat up again.

"I wasn't planning on it." I tell him.

His face relaxes a bit.

"But you need to talk to someone and get the help you need. I can understand not speaking to James' about it because you're a complete dick to him, but- your girlfriend? How does she not know about this?" I question him. "This is serious shit, I don't take this kind of stuff lightly."

He walks past me and around his room, and stops at the nightstand beside his bed. Placed on top, was a framed picture of Adrienne. It looked like a professional headshot, and she was smizing at the camera.

"Adrienne is just," He held the picture in his hand and stared at it. "She's just complicated."

"Complicated in what ways?"

He runs his tongue along the side of cheek, and his jaw tightens. Then in a split second, he throws the picture frame against the wall where it had fallen to the floor, breaking into pieces.

I jump in my seat, considering it was quick and unexpected.

He pinches the bridge of his nose and deeply inhale and exhales. "I'm sorry, fuck. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to- whatever. She just really stresses me out."

"Um," I clear my throat. "It's okay. It's fine. Are you two having problems at the moment?"

He runs his fingers through his hair, and scoffs. "So now you're a couple's therapist."

"I'm just trying to let you vent for once, since no one else is here to listen." I say.

He presses his lips together and sits back down on his bed, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. He intertwines his fingers together and shrugs. "Alright, um...she's super fucking controlling and possessive. I have no say in anything. We fight constantly and things never run smoothly when we're together." He rambles on.

"See this?" He points to the cut above his eyebrow which was almost fully healed now. "This wasn't from the accident. We'd gotten in a fight right before, a big one, and she grabbed the nearest thing and just chucked it.

"Everything I do is wrong. Everything I say is wrong. It's been like this for three years now and nothing has changed. I'm tired of the screaming, the beating-

"Whoa, whoa, whoa." I stop him, getting up from my chair. "You guys hit each other?"

"I would never lay a finger on her." He assures me.

I purse my lips. So Dave was pretty much a human, punching bag to Adrienne. Then Dave holds everything he feels inside which causes him to snap so quickly at others.

"After the fight, I had to leave before everything could get any worse. I got on my bike and was on my way home, but I was just so angry and frustrated that I could barely concentrate on the road and where I was going. I was fucking heated. That's why I lost control.

"Look," Dave sighs. "I didn't plan for all of this to come out. I'd really like it if this stays between us." He looks at me dead in the eye.

I nod, and swallow hard. He looked at me like I needed to keep this secret as if my life depended on it.

He bit his lip, then leaned back onto his bed. He rubs his hand over his face and through his hair, signaling that he was plainly stressed. I began to sympathize for him. Maybe that was a huge problem- that he didn't have anyone to talk to about all of this.

"Adrienne takes advantage of me. That's what it is. She's always guilting me into things, constantly asks for favors, and after I do those favors, I feel so fucking unappreciated." He explains. "Oh, and let's not forget about her taking her frustration out on me. That's really fun." He says with a sarcastic tone.

"Listen, I can tell you right now- no relationship is worth staying if that's how it is."

"Really? Then you should quit your job." He sneers. "That's why I flipped the fuck out on that guy trying to feel you up. People should just really keep their hands to their fucking selves."

"Don't worry about that, I'm used to it." I say to him.

"Used to it?" He lifts his eyebrows up. "Don't ever allow yourself to become used to it. It's disrespectful as fuck."

"Yeah, well," I sigh. "You should really listen to yourself, and take your own advice right now."

He shrugs. "Yeah, I guess."

I pull my phone out to look at the time. "I should really get going. I have some things to do." I tell him. I head to the door, but before I open it, I turn to look at him.

"Know your worth, okay? Don't ever allow yourself to become used to it." I use his own words against him.

He presses his lips and nod. "Yeah. Thanks."