Tell Me No Lies

37

- V E N U S -

I sit in the bathroom all day.

No call.

No message.

No knock at the door.

I just don't understand.

I made myself a pallet on the bathroom floor, laying there miserably. My stomach hurts, I can't eat. It hurts to move. I even left a message for Jason, asking him if Griffin was up, and if he could come and see me. I even asked Jason if he could come.

He answered just now.

Jason: i'm on my way.

Five minutes later he's at the door.

"Vee, what's the matter?" He sits next to me on the floor, smoothing my hair back.

"Where's Griffin?" I'm crying.

"He had to go with the coaches today. He has been gone all night and day. He told me his phone died. What happened?"

"I took plan b." I sit up, covering my mouth.

I'm gonna be sick.

"What?"

"And Griffin's mad. He said I should've waited. And now I'm sick, and he's not here for me. And now I'm mad at him."

"He didn't know-"

"Don't defend him, please." I cut him off. "But if you see him, tell him I need him, and not to listen to his voice mails."

"Okay. Do you want me to stay?" He rubs my back.

"Just go find Griffin." I lay back down.

"Okay, Vee. Call me if something happens." He walks out of the bathroom.

I cry. Cry, cry, cry. I'm so tired.

~ ~ ~

"Venus?" Griffin calls.

"Griffin?" I glance upward, he's standing there.

"Are you okay?"

"No." I shake my head, my voice cracking.

"What's wrong?"

So ignorant.

I don't answer, turning my face away from his.

"Venus. Look at me." He smooths my hair back.

"Stop." I shove his hand away.

"You needed me?" He tilts his head.

"Just- just sit here." His hand finds my hair. "Don't touch me, please. Just sit."

"Tell me what's the matter." He taps on the ground, impatient.

"I haven't eaten since yesterday morning, I haven't seen you, or heard from you, since we had that argument. I think I threw all of my guts up. I don't feel good. I need Advil. Jason came before you. Jason was here, when you weren't. I'm mad at you." I sit up slowly.

"Babe, I'm sorry. I just thought we could've done something about it. Maybe talked about it, or made a decision together. Can you get up?" He touches my lower back, guiding me upwards.

"Yeah." I let out a shaky breath. "I don't want to be pregnant. I'm not ready. You're not ready. We haven't even been together for two years yet. It was miscommunication. It was in the moment. I'll go back on birth control, and you'll wear condoms. Easy as that. We'll just be more careful." I stand, Griffin behind me, steadying myself, I walk to the bedroom.