“I can’t believe there are so many parties all the time.”
“What else are we supposed to do for fun?” she asks, crunching into something that echoes through the phone.
“I don’t know… prepare for upcoming classes?”
“Ha! That’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard.”
I shake my head and say, “Make sure you check hotels first. It’s already Wednesday, and things may be booked up.”
“Yes, Mother,” she says sarcastically.
We chat for a while longer and then finally hang up with promises to see each other soon. I’ll admit, I’m looking forward to seeing her more than I thought I would. Getting out of this apartment and doing something that isn’t with Sam is exactly what I need.
When I step out of the room, Sam’s sitting on the couch, elbows resting on his knees.
“Hey,” I say, moving to sit beside him. “How was your day?”
“Fine.”
His tone dampens my bright mood.
“Oh, just fine? Did something happen?”
“Just another day,” he grumbles.
I sense the frustration in his voice, but I don’t know what he’s upset about. He seemed fine when he walked in the door. His moods have been all over the place lately. Worse than normal. I know he is bipolar, this is something we’ve talked about it before, but I’ve never noticed his moods all over the place likethis. It’s why he’s on meds. Maybe they aren’t working anymore? But I’m afraid if I suggest he see a doctor, he’ll get angry.
“Okay, uh… what do you want to do for dinner?”
He chews on the inside of his cheek before turning his head to look at me. “Why did you have to go in the room to talk on the phone?”
“What?”
“You went in the other room to have aprivateconversation so I couldn’t hear you.”
“No, Sam, that’s not what happened,” I say. “I went in the other room because I didn’t want to bother you with my girl talk.”
“Girl talk?” he questions.
“Yeah, I was on the phone with Amelia. I’ve barely talked to her since I’ve been here. We were just catching up. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you, and I wasn’t trying to hide anything.”
He holds my gaze for a moment longer before letting out a long breath, his shoulders sagging. He pinches the bridge of his nose.
“I’m sorry. I have had the worst headache today, and I don’t know why. I feel like I slept so well but not at all.”
“It’s okay,” I say. “Happens to all of us.”
I give him a smile, but it’s forced. This feels… so bad. So wrong. So not okay. Why is he acting like this? Like a possessive boyfriend. It’s starting to creep me out. I keep telling myself it’ll get better, but it only seems to be getting worse.
I need to get out of here.
I’ve never felt unwelcome with Sam, but I do now.
I’ve never felt like I should be concerned about Sam or his behaviors, but I’m starting to, and I know that is not okay.
It’s been awkward since the beginning, since I moved in here, with Sam trying to get back together with me, but this isdifferent. It’s something else entirely, and I don’t like it. There’s an icky, heavy feeling settling over me, and I want it to go away.
The discomfort creeps its way up my spine, and I wonder if I should be more worried.
