Page 120 of Volatile Obsessions

? Bring Me To Life - Evanescence ?

Thanksgiving came and went. November then swiftly rolled into December.

With the holidays now looming around the corner, my tolerance for anything and everything was declining at an alarming rate.

As it did every year.

I was an acrimonious jumble of silent and distant chaos.

Naturally, Rome clocked on to said change without missing a beat, and after a couple weeks of sparse and limited interaction, he insisted I spend the weekend at his place.

In fact, he wouldn’t take no for an answer, going as far as threatening to storm into my flat, pack my bag, and throw me over his shoulder if I didn’t come on my own terms.

So I went, because if the last five months we’d known one another taught me anything, it’s that the man didn’t fuck around.

He’d keep true to his promise, no holds barred.

“So are you finally gonna tell me what’s wrong, or am I gonna have to force it out of you?” Flicking the lighter, Rome lit the blunt he’d rolled not five minutes prior, taking a few deep puffs.

We were laying on his bed, his massive circular bed, surrounded by the dark of night. Only a sliver a light poured in from the windows thanks to the full moon.

“Nothing’s wrong,” I lied for the fifty-millionth time.

Rome sighed, releasing a thick cloud as he fell onto his back. “I know you’re lying. Do you not trust me or something?”

“I do trust you, it’s just—”

“See?” he interjected, passing me the cigarillo. “Lying.”

Shit.

I’d literally walked right into that one without even realizing it.

“I’m sorry.” I scooted closer to him, taking in my own hit. “I’m just not used to anyone caring.”

“Well, I’m not just anyone, Lux.” His voice held a dash of exasperation.

It stung a little, regardless of the fact I knew it wasn’t intentional.

I couldn’t blame him, really. I’d been aloof, had isolated myself to avoid marring those around me with my Grinch-like attitude, him included. And yet, here he was, making an effort to get to the root of the problem, and I was lying right through my teeth.

“I know you’re not.” I exhaled, hating myself a little more than I already did.

“So tell me then. You know I’m not going to judge you.”

“It’s such a long story, though…”

“And we have nothing but time, baby. A whole weekend to be exact. Tell me,” he demanded, shifting back onto his side.

Baby.

That name.

That damned name.

It’d slipped a few times over the last several weeks, and each time we played it off, simply continued with our conversation like it didn’t happen.

But this time…this time I couldn’t pretend it didn’t happen, much less that it didn’t affect me. Might seem juvenile to some, but I’d never been anyone’s “baby.”

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