"I'm tired of fighting."

I didn't mean to, but the honest truth came out. It's all we've done for weeks now. Months even. God I don't even remember the last time we went a week without arguing and we were just us.

"Okay… I'm gonna walk out that door and count to ten [Don't forget 3, some people forget it.] If I get to ten and you're not out there, I'm going home." Her accusing finger retracts, brows bounce once more in emphasis. "And we're over."

Somewhere, my brain understands that she said "One" before the door shut [I would never fight with you. Trina floats behind me, but I'm not caring about that.] but that's not what I hear at all.

"What?" It's cold and accusing and holds every ounce of disbelief I've ever heard falling from my girlfriend's mouth.

Pricks of warmth shock at my neck, it's nothing compared to the jolt in my chest when the girl at the door calls, "Dude…" and I know she's waiting for me, expecting me. I twitch forward the slightest bit.

"Free!" She's going a little faster now, and I still don't understand why she's saying what she is. "Door~!" Commanding and strong, her tone strikes me through.

I sigh and start over to where she insists I be. She's as forceful as ever, but I can feel an urgency and a longing that can't possibly be one-sided.

"… fight." Doesn't she know she's won? I'm already on my way. Ready to start the cycle over, despite my last words.

"Sick." It's foreshadowing, I swear. Amazing playwright she is, but how could she have planned this? I'm drowning on a hardwood floor, struggling through a chaos of words I don't understand. I stutter through a jumble of 'No's and denials. [Trina! Just give me a chance… One chance… -understand I'm a really fun girl. … You're so good-looking.] My friends abandon their table to separate me from the mess I've made for myself.

Righting myself and reclaiming all my appendages, "Again?" I reach the door. Questioning my actions, can I do this again?

Holding the knob, she speeds up again; I pause. "Late." Wondering if I've heard correctly, I turn back - but all the looks I see are aghast.

A whining "Fine!" is drawn over the air. Facing my eyes back at the lever in my hand, I freeze up. A ragged breath escapes me.

"Done."

It's so final I know I've wasted all my chances, playing games in my head when I should've been in the outside world.

And now… it's over. I'm still frozen at the door. I hear her boots scuff against the tile (my eyes widen), but then they trudge away.

When I'm sure she's gone, I pull my hand away (her door opens) to run it through my hair (her door closes), and chew my lip (her car starts up). I slap against my thigh, my arm limp and useless as the rest of me. I look up to my friends' anxious faces [even Trina looks horrified].

(My heart drives away.)

I look down and put on my mask.

"Let's play some cards."

[Yeah let's play - I can hear the empty disbelief in Tori.]

I walk to table, almost willed to believing it was Jade that said it, invited me to her game. As if I were so hopeful to dream she would come back and say those words to me.

~~CFM~~

Random one-shot, I was just zoning out when this hit me. It's completely complete 'cause I have nowhere to take it after this. Might have to edit it though…