“I-I know, but…it’s Vegas. Who can say no to Vegas?”
“When were you planning on telling me?” He actually felt his breathing elevate and his voice sounded deceptively calm, even to his own ears.
“Well, I thought…I thought I’d surprise you.”
His temper was rising and he was clenching his fists as an attempt to not lose his cool. “Remember how we were talking about a person’s reaction to surprise. Mine is not a good one. You lied to me.”
“I didn’t lie; it’s just a little detour. C’mon, it will be fun.”
Just when he thought they could get along, just when he thought it wasn’t going to be that bad, she goes and does something like this. He would be better off taking the fucking bus!
“Pop the trunk,” he said softly.
“Kevin, why—”
“Pop the fucking trunk, Jazz!” He got out, slammed the door shut, and walked to the back of the car.
She got out too and walked towards him. “I think you’re overreacting.”
“I’m overreacting?” He took the keys from her hand and opened the trunk. “I’moverreacting? What was the point of us sitting down and planning this whole thing? What was the point of discussing costs and budgets only for you to up and change it whenever the fuck you feel like it?”
“I told you I’d pay for everything if you wanted. You said you weren’t in a rush to get to Florida. I don’t see what the issue is.”
“I’m not a goddamn leach! And the fact that you can’t see what the issue is just proves why this isn’t going to work.” He tossed his bags over his shoulder and walked away.
“Kevin,” she shouted from behind him, “I thought we were in this together.”
He immediately spun around. “The concept ofwedoesn’t exist. There is notogether! You made that decision by yourself. I thought this could work. I really did.”
Dan:Ooh! He’s mad, Bob. He’s ready to explode.
Bob:It’s getting heated. I hope you got your marshmallows ready, Dan, because someone’s about to get roasted.
Dan:God, you’re so corny.
“And I was trying my best to understand how your crazy mind works,” Kevin continued. “I really tried, but I can’t…I can’t do this for one more second. Just when I think there’s an ounce of normal in you, you go and prove me wrong.”
Dan:Now, folks, what you’re seeing here is an incredible display of showmanship. Kevin has a special talent, something none of our other competitors have. The ability to see weakness.
Bob:And once he sees it, he feels compelled to exploit it. He knows she has issues and she’s desperately trying to fit in. That last statement was enough to lay out all those insecurities. A beautiful verbal punch to the stomach and it was delivered with just the right amount of hurtful malice that we’ve come to expect from this kid.
Dan:It got her good, Bob. She’s wavering.
Kevin stepped closer to make sure she was listening to everything he had to say, every bout of frustration. “Something is wrong with you. You don’t know how to interact with other people. You touch me without permission. You pick off my plate. You embarrass me in front of complete strangers. You make me feelsouncomfortableallthe time. And then, to make mattersworse, you just decide to change our plans without even talking to me about it first. It’s not okay! You don’t respect me at all, Jasmin.”
Her face had drained of color, making it obvious that she had never been in a confrontation like this before. His words had knocked her off her feet and, like a wounded soldier, she was trying to get back up again. “I’m sorry, Kevin. I know…I know I have a bit of a…social problem… and—”
Bob:Oh (groans), she said the wrong thing at the wrong time. This is not going to be pretty.
Dan:She left herself wide open. Brace yourself, folks. Our boy is gonna hit her where it hurts.
“You are socially inept!” he shouted. “It’s not a problem. A problem, by definition, means it can be solved. What you are is all kinds of fucked up! It’s no wonder no one wants to be around you. I’ve been with you for less than four fucking days and I can’t…You know what? Thanks, but no thanks. I’m out.”
He was about to walk away again, but then he saw it. The slightest twitch of her face. Something was happening, something very weird. She flinched again and he realized that she was forcing herself to not feel anything. It was almost like she was trying to suck all those hurtful words out of her head, drain it from her brain before a chemical reaction turned those emotions into feelings. And then the oddest thing happened. She smiled, a bright, perky smile that he knew wasn’t authentic.
“Wow,” she whispered. “You know, sometimes…” She cleared her throat because her voice was incredibly unsteady. “…sometimes…I forget…I forget why I don’t have any friends, but that…that was a good reminder.” Her perky smile beamed even brighter. “God, that was such a good reminder…Well, um…youbest be on your way, Kevin. No point in wasting any more time with me. Have a safe trip.”
He watched her walk to the restroom and close the door. He should have been relieved that he was finally rid of her, but that was the last thing he was feeling.
