“Is that Freaky?” Dania giggled, watching as Flynn jogged across the road towards us.
“Uh…” I stuttered. Why was I having such a hard time formulating words?
“Ellie!” Flynn called again. His voice was loud and he was waving his arms as he walked right out into traffic. Horns sounded and Flynn covered his ears.
“Stop it!” he yelled.
“Oh my god! What the fuck is he doing?” Dania was laughing in near hysterics.
Flynn finally got across the road without being run over. He looked a bit shaken and I wanted to hold him. He looked harried and more than a little frantic but then he saw me and the smile was a happy one.
“Ellie!” he called out again but I was frozen in place beside Dania.
“Why is he yelling for you like that? Is he fucking mental? What a retard!” she mocked.
Her harsh words snapped me out of my un-moving trance.
“He’s meeting me actually,” I told her sharply. Dania wheeled around to look at me, her mouth agape.
“Are you kidding me? You’re hanging out with Freaky Fucking Flynn Hendrick? Is this a joke?” she jeered.
I looked down at the girl who had been my best friend for the last ten years. The girl I thought I would stand by no matter what.
We weren’t so different, Dania and I. We could both be hateful and nasty. We could both be cruel and vicious. And we could both be vulnerable and insecure.
However, the one big difference between us is that I was ready to leave those painful parts behind me. I had finally realized living my life in an emotional void wasn’t how I wanted to be. Unfortunately for Dania, she hadn’t yet made that realization. I hoped the birth of her baby would change that. But I wasn’t sure anything could snap her out of her selfishness.
I took a step away from her. “No, it’s not a joke. Flynn and I are together now,” I said, hating that despite my firm resolve, my voice shook. I wanted to be strong and confident not meek and cowed.
Flynn reached my side and smiled at me. “I’m hungry. Are you hungry?” he asked, not even looking at Dania.
“I’m starving,” I said, smiling up at him. Dania was looking back and forth between us. I was poised ready to fend off her attack, knowing it was coming.
“Are you kidding me?” Dania asked again, her eyes narrowed.
Flynn looked at Dania and then down to the ground. He started to rub his hands together but then stopped. I was proud of the way he purposefully put them at his side.
“Dania, you rememberFlynn?”I asked, putting emphasis on his name. Dania didn’t say anything but from the red flush spreading across her neck I knew her anger was about to boil over.
“This is why I haven’t seen you? You’ve been playing babysitter for the fucking retard?” she demanded, her voice loud and shrill. I saw several people look our way.
“I’m not a retard!” Flynn yelled back.
This was going to explode quickly if I didn’t shut it down.
“Stop it, Dania. Calling Flynn names is immature and juvenile. Don’t you think we’ve grown beyond high school bullshit?” I asked, trying not to lose my own temper. I had always been able to control it with Dania. As much as I have wanted to tell her what I really think, I had always swallowed my tongue.
Not now. Not when she was trying to tear down the one person I had ever cared about.
Dania drew herself upright. “You stupid, fucking bitch! You’re dropping me because you want to feel up the town nut job? Seriously? Did you forget how much you hated him high school? How it was you that made up the name Freaky Flynn? That you were the one…”
“Enough, Dania!” I yelled before she could finish her sentence. I could tell Flynn had gone inside himself.
I put my hand on his shoulder but he threw off my hand. “Don’t touch me!” he yelled, stumbling backwards. “Don’t touch me ever!” he screamed, turning to run down the sidewalk.
My heart shattered into a thousand tiny pieces as I watched him flee from me.
I whipped back around to stare down the girl I had thought was my friend. “Are you happy now? Did that make you feel good? God, Dania, you are the most selfish, hateful and nasty person I’ve ever met. I can’t believe I’ve defended you and justified your shitty behavior for as long as I have! Leave me alone! Just leave me the fuck alone!” I hissed into her face, satisfied when I saw her eyes widen and she took a step backwards.
