"I'm not saying that I have a bad life, but if you were to write a story with me in the lead role, it would certainly be a tragedy."
When I said that there was no way that my life could possibly get any worse, I was kidding. I didn't actually expect...
"It's amazing how words can do that, just shred your insides apart. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me - such bullshit."
—Lauren Oliver, Delirium
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I pulled away from Brian's touch when he moved to wipe my tears again. Closing my eyes, I counted to ten. I was about to lose my shit. "Tell me something, Brian. Did you fall for her while we were still together?"
He hesitated, his mouth forming a silent 'oh' before he clamped it shut and swallowed. I frowned and snapped my fingers at him. When he dropped his gaze to the floor, I almost punched him.
"The fuck is wrong with you? Did you cheat on me with my sister?"
A heavy silence filled the room. I did not need silence, I needed answers.
"Tay," he said, slowly raising his gaze to find mine. "I didn't mean—"
I rose to my feet as a humorless laugh bubbled inside me. "So, let me get this straight, you came here with the intention of blaming me for your decision to leave and hoped that I'd be empathetic because you claim that Katie loves you more than I ever did, although you were hooking up with her behind my back the entire time."
He shook his head. "No. Tay, I never slept with her while I was with you."
"First of all, for the last fucking time, my name is Taylor and secondly, yes the fuck you did. You sure as hell didn't spend any time in my bed in those final months. Am I to assume that you were celibate?"
"It wasn't like that. Katie and I had a connection, one that I didn't feel with you."
It wasn't funny but I laughed. "So, once again, you came here to blame me when you were the one who had lost interest in the first place."
"I didn't—"
"And bringing the Jamie mess into it was the perfect cover. I've gotta hand it to you, that was pretty smart. You almost had me believing your bullshit."
"It wasn't—"
"You said that I loved you at my lowest and then I just didn't anymore, as if that made any sense."
"You—"
"What kind of person would I have to be to use you for your love and then pull away? You were no self esteem booster, Brian. I fucking loved you. I loved you even after the breakup and do you want to know how I know that I loved you? I know this because losing you nearly killed me!" I wanted to wring his neck. "How could you even think that you could transfer your guilt onto me and I'd let it go? How stupid are you?"
"That wasn't my intention. I just wanted you to realize that it wasn't entirely my fault. You played a part in our breakup too, Taylor. You—"
"Spent countless nights sitting by the phone, crying my heart out because you didn't call me all day and wouldn't take my calls and I had no idea why you were acting that way," I finished for him. "You might want to find another reason for leaving and this time, how about you try telling the truth."
