Post Eighteen: Right Where I Want To Be

Morgan

True to her word, Elli's roommate Natalie came back exactly fifteen minutes later. By then we had managed to unhitch ourselves long enough to have a fairly normal conversation.

However, it wasn't normal at all.

I was quite certain Natalie would never shut up. She just went on and on about how her and Elli watched the show. How James and I were the cutest. Our “bromance” was the best thing she had ever seen.

One good thing to come out of it all, was more information that I was certainly happy to receive. Only two years ago, Elli and Natalie had gone to a convention dressed up as mine and James' characters in the show. Crossplaying, I believe she called it.

She was all too excited to break out the pictures, gushing over how many people wanted a photo with them. On top of that, Elli was dressed as my character. She was quite flushed when this came to light, and refused to admit it was because she liked me more, she claimed it was only because Natalie was a blonde, like James.

Just when I was thinking she couldn't get cuter, she topped herself.

Sitting there, all red-face, huffing over Natalie's stories. There was certainly something special about her, no mistaking it.

“We should totally all go out tonight! Some place totally low-key, don't worry,” Natalie said, “obviously some place Paul would never go.”

“Why would I care if I saw Paul?” Elli snapped, crossing her arms. I could see she had almost reached her limit.

“I just thought, you know, it may be awkward since...”

“Seriously?” Elli stood, ruffling her hair, “we broke up so long ago, why can't everyone just get over it?”

“Sooo-rry, I just thought you might care how he feels...” Natalie countered, rolling her eyes a bit.

“How he feels...” Elli began, her teeth clenching. I got up beside Elli, putting my hand through her hair. It felt like she didn't see me, she was too mad.

“I think Elli and I might like to...be alone tonight,” I interjected, “I leave tomorrow, so...”

“Oh well, say no more!” Natalie exclaimed, but was clearly bitter, “I'll make myself scarce.”

“Cheers,” I said, giving a fake smile.

The tension between Natalie and Elli was thick. Still Natalie wanted to make a good impression, I could hear the fakeness to her voice. The kind that was so common in the business. She gathered some things before leaving, supposedly for the night, though I wouldn't let my guard down. There was obviously some latent hostility that I wasn't aware of.

As soon as she left, I turned to Elli, ready to lend her the ever sympathetic ear.

“If you want to talk...”

“I can't fucking stand it anymore!” She yelled, “either Paul was the worst piece of shit ever, who everyone hated, and I should have dumped years ago. Or he was some fucking gem that I should be nicer to. I literally can't win.”

“It doesn't seem...”

“I honestly do not want to hear one more fucking thing about that asshole. Can't it just be over already!?”

Elli's crash her head onto my chest in her fit of rage, grabbing a fist full of my shirt. I was afraid for a second she might cry.

Then she started laughing. Straightening her body, and looking up at me.

“You okay?”

“I'm sorry. I'm sorry I've brought you into this craziness. You shouldn't have to deal with this shit.”

I took her chin in my hand, tilting her face closer to mine.

“Just stop,” I whispered, kissing her, “I'm right where I want to be.”

#partone #posteighteen #rightwhereiwanttobe #polyamorous #comedy #drama #romance #morgan