Chapter 7
Melissa:
Durbbie was in rare form tonight which could only mean one thing: "Come here for a minute Durbs," I said.
"You!" she said bounding up to me. "Wassup?!"
I laughed at her appearance. She was wearing her famed fortune cooking night shirt and her green, blue, and white plaid pants. Her hair was pulled every which way. At least she hadn't blasted Rocky Horror- yet…
"Who is he?" I asked with a sly smile.
"What do you mean?" she asked back. "Did you bring the painkillers? 'Cause my hands are just like…"
"It's Kevin isn't it?" I asked.
She stopped in mid-sentence and stared at me. "What are you? Crazy?" she screeched. She quieted down a little bit for her next comment. "It's not that."
"What's going on?" I asked concerned. I don't remember anything out of the ordinary happening.
"Promise you won't tell anybody?" she asked really quietly making sure she knew I was serious. I nodded. Durbbie took a deep breath and…lost her nerve. "Never mind. Forget I said anything." She was quiet for a moment. "I don't think dinner agreed with me," Durbbie claimed as she made a run for the bathroom.
AJ:
A flying Durbbie went by me and slammed the bathroom door.
"What's that all about?" I asked Melissa.
She sighed. "She won't tell me."
A few minutes later Durbbie appeared looking pale. "Meliss? Can you call Scott?" she asked.
"Let's lay you down," I said walking over to Durbbie and, in an attempt to help her stand, I put an arm around her.
She shrugged it off. "Thanks, but I'll do it myself," Durbbie said shakily walking backwards.
"Durbs? Scott's on the line," Melissa said handing her the phone.
Durbbie:
I crept into my new bed and pulled the phone to my ear. "Scott?" I asked meekly.
"Why the hell are you calling me at this hour? Do you have any idea what time it is?" he yelled.
I cringed at his words. "I know, but…" I started.
"Can it!"
I shut my mouth and took a deep breath to hold back the tears. "I need to tell you something," I said quietly. This was the part of Scott I couldn't stand: his drunken rages. I could tell by his speech that he had one too many brewskies. But he wasn't always this way. When we first started dating, he was real sweet. But now? I don't know WHAT happened.
"So why'd you call?" he slurred.
I realized right then that I was going to have to face this alone. "Just to hear your voice," I said putting fake enthusiasm into my voice.
"Well you should THINK next time you call. You're so SELFISH!"
There was a tap at the curtain. "Everything OK in there?" AJ asked.
"Just ducky," I replied.
"Who was THAT!" Scott demanded. "Are you sleeping around?"
"Scott no! I told you, I'm on an assignment!" I tried to reason, raising my voice a little.
"DON'T YELL AT ME!" Scott boomed.
I let one solo tear fall down my cheek. How could I be so stupid? He hates when I raise my voice.
AJ:
I listened to Durbbie's conversation with this Scott guy. My heart broke for her. I've only known her for less than a day and already I knew she deserved more than him. Just hearing the way he yelled at her made me mad.
I heard a sniffle come from her bunk. "You OK?" I asked tapping on the curtain.
"Hold on a sec!" Durbbie called. I heard her take a deep breath and she fiddled around with something. "What's there not to be OK about?" she asked opening the curtain and smiling.
I took a good look at her and saw the real pain that was hiding deep in her eyes.
Brian:
Melissa, Nick, and I were talking about random stuff and experiences, when AJ came in. He didn't look too happy.
"Can I talk to you for a second, Melissa?" AJ asked approaching us. She excused herself and went to go talk to him a little distance away.
"What do you think's going on?" Nick asked.
I shrugged. "I don't know."
My thoughts were interrupted by Melissa's voice. "She's not stupid AJ! And Scott would never say that to her!" She came storming back to us. "Sorry guys," she said.
"Is everything OK?" I asked concerned.
"Everything's fine," she said a little angrily. "Just fine."
"Well," Nick said taking a breath. "I'm beat. See you in the morning."
Kevin, Howie, and AJ followed soon after.
"So what happened between you and AJ?" I asked once everybody was gone.
Melissa shook her head and rubbed her temples. "Don't even ask."
"If you ever need someone I'm here, OK?" I offered.
"Believe me Brian, you're the first person I'll go to," Melissa said. After a slight pause, she spoke again. "I'm going to sleep. See you in the morning."
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