Page 65 of Unnecessary Drama

‘Oh. Okay. Good.’

‘In case you think that’s happening.’

‘I don’t think that’s happening,’ I say.

‘You said you did before.’

‘I was maybe being a bit dramatic.’ I almost add, I’m about to get my period, but I stop myself.

‘Well it’s not happening. She’s not my type,’ he says.

‘Excuse me, why not?’ I say, sitting up.

‘I don’t know. She’s just not,’ he says, looking surprised at my reaction.

‘That’s rude.’

‘You’re mad I won’t sleep with your sister, after being mad that I would?’

‘They’re different kinds of mad. I don’t want you to sleep with her, but I don’t want you to be rude about her either.’

‘Was that rude? Saying she’s not my type?’

‘How could you not find her attractive?’ How dare he turn down Lauren. Who does he think he is?

‘She’s attractive, yes. Absolutely. I’m just not…into her that way.’

‘Why aren’t you into her?’ I ask. I don’t know why I’m pushing this. I have to know though.

‘I don’t know. Because.’ He drums his fingers on the doorframe.

‘Because why?’

‘Because, she’s not my type! I already said that. She’s really nice, but I’m not interested. And even if I was, which I’m not, I wouldn’t do anything because it would…muck everything up.’ He looks like he regrets saying that last bit.

‘Oh. Okay.’

I pause, in case he wants to tell me muck up what, specifically. That’s a statement that needs clarification, it needs fleshing out. I am waiting for him to elaborate but he doesn’t say anything else. Then he sighs and steps into the room.

‘Look. Can we talk for a minute?’ he says.

‘Yes. We’re talking right now,’ I say, folding my legs under me.

‘Okay. Well. Back when we were in high school—’

‘No. I don’t want to talk about that,’ I say quickly, shaking my head.

‘Brooke, if you never let me bring it up then we can never get over it.’

‘We’re over it. It’s fine.’

‘Okay let’s talk about what happened last week then.’

‘I’m over that too.’

‘You were really upset. And we haven’t spoken since!’

‘Well, I’m fine now. I’ve had my outburst. We can move on.’