Emily
The soundsof flesh on flesh, moans, and stern whispers drift to me from the living room. It’s a nightmare for me to overhear and the worst form of torment I’ve ever had to endure. And I am no stranger to anguish. Silence is followed by the shower starting. I assume they are showering together until I hear soft sobbing.
I get out of bed, pull my robe from its hook on my closet door, and wrap it around me. I open the door just enough to peek out and see Dani crying on the couch with her head in her hands. I argue internally. I can’t decide if I should go talk to her or just close my door and pretend I didn't hear her. I grumble to myself when I can't seem to close the door on her. I wish I had it in me to be a callous bitch.
I walk over and sit beside her on the couch. She startles and wipes the tears away in one swift movement of her slender wrist. Dark makeup stains her cheeks.
“Oh. It’s you,” she says.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes… no. Did I wake you up?”
“No, I have trouble sleeping most nights,” I say, and it’s not a complete lie.
She looks at me with wistful eyes. I imagine her looking at David this same way and my gut twists. She falls into me, sobbing. I don't know how to react to this, so I end up patting her back awkwardly.
“Hey, it's okay. Stop crying and tell me what’s wrong.” I don't have the first clue on how to be empathetic towards a girl who David just slept with.
“I can't.”
She sits upright and shifts her gaze from me to the hallway and then back again. I shrug my shoulders.
“Well, I’m going to go back to bed then.”
I stand to return to my room, but she pulls me back down by my arm.
“Okay, okay,” she says, gathering her composure. “You know how David gets during sex, right?”
My face twists into a confused expression. I pull my arm out of her grasp and put my hands in my lap. My fingers gain a mind of their own and begin fidgeting with the belt around the robe.
“Oh my god,” she laughs to herself. “You guys really haven't ever fooled around?”
“This isn't my place Dani, I'm just going to go back—”
“No, no! I need to talk to someone. I'm sorry. I just thought you guys...”
“Nope, we haven't,” I say with a flat tone. “So what's wrong?”
She's silent for a moment, listening for the water in the shower. “Well… he gets kinda mean when we have sex.”
“Like how?”
I’ve seen his anger here and there over the years, but I can't imagine him being mean unprovoked.
“He just gets really rough and scary. And the sex is never about me at all. He’s the one who gets all the pleasure, and I’m just collateral damage. He didn't even want me to shower with him.”
The water turns off in the bathroom. I put my hand on her shoulder.
“You guys really need to have a talk about this. Venting to me won’t fix anything.”
I hurry back into my room and crawl into bed before David returns.
I doze off and wake to their screaming argument. I roll over and put the pillow over my head. I can still hear every word they spit at each other.
“You never go down on me, but you always make me go down on you!” Dani shouts.
“You know I don't do that shit. Christ, where is this even coming from?”
“You know what? Forget it! Fuck this! Seriously. You need fucking help, David!”
The front door slams, and the house is quiet again.
* * *
David
I follow after her.
“Dani, come on. Come back inside,” I plead with her as she's getting into her car.
She slams her door, puts it in reverse, and nearly takes out another car in her haste to leave.
I throw my hands up and walk back inside.
“Fuck!” I shout as I close the door behind me. “Fucking bitch.”
I glimpse a shadow in Emily’s doorway and flick the light on in the living room. She's standing there, staring at me. Her gaze is locked and her body language is tense.
“What the fucking fuck was that all about?” she asks. She walks toward me, emerging from the shadows of her room.
“Nothing. She's just a bitch. She got all pissed off at me for no reason after my shower. I told you she was crazy, remember?”
“How about you just don't bring crazy bitches back to our home anymore, then?” Emily says harshly.
I approach her and wrap my arms around her.
“Because there's only room for one crazy bitch around here, right?” I ask with a grin.
She laughs for a moment. She's beautiful when she smiles, even when she's mad at me.
“Damn straight!” she says as she composes herself.
“As much as I’d love to stay and chat about this, I’m tired. We can talk about it more tomorrow, ok?”
I kiss her forehead and she turns to go back into her room after wishing me a good night. I follow suit and head to my own bed.