Aaron had read a text from my best friend Chris that stated: We're cuddling hard tonight. He got really upset and the situation escalated.
I've been friends with Chris for a year and a couple months now. Chris is gay, but Aaron doesn't believe that because, "He's too masculine" to be homosexual. There have been plenty of times that we've had these arguments, but this was one of the worst. Plus it was in the middle of our high school. It escalated pretty quickly.
•••
"Aaron what time are you going to the party tonight?" I called getting dressed while he was downstairs. "Like 10:30" he yelled up the stairs. "Can you bring me my phone?" I call back. "Are you serious?" He whined. I giggled. "Yeah, I have to let Chris know when to come over." I answer. I heard him grunt. He took a long time to come up the stairs. When he did he didn't look so loving "What is this?" He asked, showing me the screen. It was a text from Chris. I shrugged. "Why the hell would you be cuddling with him?" He asked. "It's an inside joke." I stated. "Well tell me," he spoke taking a seat on my bed. "This better be funny too." He said with a serious face. "Well at last year's St. Patrick's party, Chris got really drunk and I didn't know him well, but he was a wreck and crying over his ex boyfriend and we were both at bad times so we ended up cuddling and that's how we became friends. So this is like our friendship anniversary..." I explained awkwardly. He stared at me. "Are you serious?" I stared back. "You expect me to believe this guy is gay?" He snapped. I rolled my eyes and took my phone. I texted him when to pick me up for the St. Patrick's party tonight. "You're not going to the party." He said. I looked at him as if he was speaking a foreign language. He was never controlling, but he was always jealous about Chris. Chis is attractive, no doubt. But he likes what I like and that's that! I was annoyed. "Get out of my face, Aaron." I mumbled walking by him. He grabbed me by my arm. "I'm not joking Klare. If you walk into the party with him, I'm done." I didn't believe a word he said. I smiled "Whatever." I chuckled, before walking by him.
"Well I'm about to leave. I'll see you at the party." He said giving me a kiss. "Ya'Know I wouldn't have to go with Chris if you'd go with me." I mumbled. "I told you I have to work late and I know you're gonna want to go early." He said. I sighed. "I'm still going with Chris. I can't treat him different, because of your insecurities." I said. He looked at me surprised. "I'm not joking, Klare." He warned once more, before leaving.
A couple hours went by before Chris and I had left. "Are you good?" Chris asked, a few moments into our quiet car ride. I nodded. "What'd he do?" He asked, looking at me as the light turned green. "It's green." I said. He sighed. "You don't have to say, but promise me you'll have enough fun to forget about it." He smiled. I smiled and agreed.
•••
The night was amazing and I felt great. I had forgotten about my argument with Aaron. That was until he walked into the party. He spotted me. When he saw who I was with he looked away as if I was just some girl. I was surprised, but I didn't want to seem hurt by it. But I was hurt. I ignored him the whole night and he ignored me. I guess it was obvious, because I kept receiving different questions: "Are you still dating Aaron?" "Who broke up with who?" "When did you break up?" "Why did you break up?" "Are you guys okay?"
But my response to each question was: "We never broke up. We're fine." But I really had no clue. Was his little ultimatum serious? No, I doubt it. The night continued this way. I got pretty messed up in order to drink the feelings away. I wasn't about to drop my friend of almost two years for a 10 month relationship, that's an unwritten rule in friendship.
•••
After the Saturday night party, Sunday was nothing but a headache. An actual headache. I didn't talk to Chris, because in a way I was feeling guilty. Only because Aaron had made me feel so bad. I dreaded Monday. I needed to talk to Aaron. He wouldn't text me, call me or reply to anything. I had to figure out a way to put my ego aside and apologize.
•••
Monday morning finally came. I knew that Aaron wouldn't be here until our 2nd class, because he has a study hall period that he doesn't have to show up for. Finally the time came.
I watched Aaron from my locker. He was talking to Shar Harkness. She was a pretty, petite red haired girl who happens to be my enemy. I was surprised, but finally worked up the nerve to approach him. Shar immediately looked at me, but Aaron tried not to acknowledge me. Shar obviously felt awkward and left. He turned to open his locker. "So you're ignoring me?" I asked once Shar was at her own locker. "You're terrible. You know that?" I said. I knew that'd get him. "I'm terrible? I asked you just once to not do one thing, but you couldn't just do that simple thing!" He shouted, earning us a few glances. "That simple thing is my friend! I can't just stop being around him, because you're so insecure! You decided to ignore me and act like a b**ch!" I shout back. If he wanted attention, I was going to give it to him. His eyes went into the squint that they do when he's angry, but this anger was more aggressive than ever before. He grabbed me by my arm, harshly forcing me to follow him into a more private hallway. There were a few students rushing to class. I yank my arm from him. "Don't touch me like that." I muttered. He scoffed. "You just called me a b**ch in front of everybody. Don't disrespect me like that." I rolled my eyes, ignoring his statement. "Why were you talking to Shar?" I ask him. "Same reason why you showed up with Chris." He retorted. I was so annoyed. I've been so annoyed with him. He's supposed to protect me, make me happy. Why is he being so mean? "I'm done with you. Maybe you really are a b**ch." I said. "I'm a b**ch? You're a b**ch. One that doesn't know how to listen! I'm pissed! I don't care if you're done. I've been done." I couldn't believe he called me a b**ch. I slapped him as hard as I could. He reacted quickly by giving me the same treatment. I was so shocked and he looked as surprised as I did. He attempted to fix the situation, but I shoved him away. I was so hurt, but more angry. I didn't know what to do. I wanted to start hitting him, but I just walked away, leaving him calling my name from behind me.
The bell had rung about 5 minutes ago. I walked into my class with all the attitude in the world. "Why are you late?" My teacher asked. "Because the damn bell already rang." I snapped. The class went quiet. My teacher regained composure. "I'll see you after class." She said. "You won't." I said rolling my eyes and taking a seat. She ignored me. The rest of my day went this way. I was more upset, because I had no classes with Chris, but as soon as the last bell was ringing I called Chris. I cried in almost every class, I didn't want to cry now, but I couldn't help it. "What the hell? Are you crying?" He asked approaching me. I was crying to the point where my breathing was wrecked. He embraced me with a loving hug. He didn't ask why, what, who, where, when, how, he just hugged me. He is the best. "I'm sorry." He said on the drive to my house. "For what?" I asked. "I know this is because of me." He said. I shook my head. "No it's him. Chris?" "Hm?" He asked. "He...Never Mind." I wasn't able to say the words out Loud, to hear them myself.
He hit me.
The words kept repeating in my head, mocking me. What hurts the most was knowing that I still love him. I stayed in my room, refusing to have anything to eat until the morning came. I went to school looking rough, without a care in the world. I felt numb, but knew I wasn't, because you have to have feelings in order to be heartbroken. I showed up late to school. I missed my first two classes. I had lots of messages/calls. A majority of them being from Aaron. I took my headphones out of my ears, glad to know everyone was in class so I won't have to run into Aaron in the hallways. Just as soon as I thought I was okay, I heard his voice. "Klare?" He asked, almost like he was questioning if it was okay to talk to me. I ignored him. I put my things in the empty locker. "Please listen to me?" I didn't acknowledge him. "Klare, I didn't mean to react that way. It just happened really fast, I wasn't thinking and I was angry." He tried explaining. "So what's gonna happen the next time that your angry?" I asked, without looking at him. "I won't do anything to hurt you. I'll just walk away. You can hit me all you want. I deserve it...Please don't leave me." He pleaded. "I thought you already left me." I said, closing my locker. "I was angry and saying stupid stuff. But I didn't break up with you. I can't. Klare, I love you." He said. I finally looked at him. I wanted to laugh, because the both of us looked a mess. I guess he noticed the laugh I was holding in. "I didn't sleep or eat or even brush my hair, so go ahead...laugh." He said with a straight face. I shook my head trying to look serious. This was a serious situation. But he looked terrible. I didn't want to speak cause I knew I'd laugh. "You don't look too good either." He said. "Well at least I don't look like sh**." I replied, laughing. He let me insult him for a while. "Okay, I'm done. I'm done." I said gaining composure. "I'm sorry, Klare." He apologized. "I know." I respond. "You know you look kind of cute in a rough way. I could live with this." He lied. I rolled my eyes. "Sure." I said sarcastically. We were quiet for a while until I spoke up again. "You know you really hurt me? Not physically, but just the idea of you actually hitting me...It really hurt." I said, speaking my thoughts. I didn't expect him to tear up. He embraced me with a warm hug and rested his chin on my head. "I know." He said softly. We stayed that way for a while. He looked at me. "I'll never hurt you again." He promised. He kissed my lips passionately, but we were rudely interrupted. "Woah, woah! There is a strict policy in this school against PDA. The student handbook clearly states: No PDA whatsoever!" The gym teacher shouted. Aaron laughed, but I didn't find it funny. I was embarrassed. But I was happy to know that we're okay. We'll be okay and we'll stay okay. I'm just glad that he stayed true to his word.