"What? No, I was trying to help you be bold— to go for it, to get a life.”
"You wanted him to reject me so I'd be humiliated, and he'd see me as desperate." My voice grows stronger. "And then maybe he'd notice you instead."
Selena's composure slips further. "That's insane. You're being paranoid?—"
I stand straighter, anger building in my chest. "That's why you always made those comments. About my body. My job. Myapartment. You weren't being blunt or honest. You were tearing me down."
Memories flood back, reframed in this new light:
"I could never eat like you do and look in the mirror."
"You're so lucky you don't care what people think about you."
Every single comment disguised as concern or friendly advice.
"She's not your friend, Em," Alex says.
I look at Selena, and it's as if I'm seeing her for the first time. "You're not my friend. You never were. You saw someone you could use—someone too nice to push back, too desperate for friendship to see what you were really doing."
Selena tries to regain control, her voice softening into the familiar concerned tone. "Em, you're upset and not thinking clearly. Alex is manipulating you?—"
"No.Youmanipulated me." The words feel cathartic, bursting out after months of suppression. "For months. Every piece of 'advice' was just you making me feel small. Every 'joke' was designed to hurt. And I let you because I was so desperate to have a friend that I ignored all the signs."
"I was the only person who was there for you when you moved in?—"
"You weren't there for me. You latched onto me because I was convenient. New to the building, didn't know anyone, too polite to tell you to fuck off when you said something mean."
The words feel empowering as they come out of my mouth. Alex has made me feel worthy, so why am I letting Selena make me feel less than?
"And you know what the worst part is?" I continue. "I actually liked you. I thought we were friends. I defended you to people, to Alex this morning, when he tried to warn me. I made excuses for your behavior because I thought that's what friends do."
Selena's mask slips completely now, her voice turns sharp. “Oh God, look at you. Little pathetic, Em. You think you're so special now because Alex fucked you? Please. He'll get bored. You're not interesting enough to keep his attention. You're not pretty enough, or hot enough, you fat bit?—”
Alex steps forward, his voice deadly quiet. "Get out!”
Selena looks between us. "Fine. Enjoy your little fantasy while it lasts, Emily. When he dumps you, don't come crying, bitching and moaning to me. Okay?”
"I won't," I say. "Because I never want to see you again. Don't knock on my door. Don't talk to me in the hallway. We're done."
She storms out and slams the door behind her.
The silence that follows feels deafening. I'm still standing, shaking with adrenaline and emotions I can't even name.
Croissant meows from his perch on the couch, a silent but judgmental spectator to the whole drama.
"You okay?" Alex asks, his voice gentler now.
"I don't know." I sink down onto the couch. "I think so? That was ... intense. God, I hate confrontations so much. It always leaves me unmoored."
He sits beside me.
"I'm sorry I believed her, Alex. Even for a minute. I should have known?—"
"She's been working on you for months. Building trust just to use it against you. You had no reason not to believe her."
"You tried to warn me this morning, and I defended her."
"You're loyal. That's not a bad thing."
