A Miscommunication

[AUGUST WITT]

Abraham and Gwen Witt sat opposite their son, eating their supper at an agonizingly slow pace, drinking their wine and making small talk with their son. August was relaxed, if not a bit bored with the family dinner, which his mother had insisted upon. It wasn't as though he didn't care for his parents. He loved them both dearly, and he was glad they wanted to keep his company from time to time, but he was getting a little bored with the verbal game of catch up. His father spoke about politics with him through their soup and salad, a conversation that August found much more dull than his father, who was very interested in the topic. He stayed patient though, knowing it would be over soon and then he could go at least another three months or so before his mother started hounding him about getting together again. Of course she wanted to do it more often. There would be weekly suppers if she had anything to do with it, but August explained he was a busy man and he didn't have that much to really talk about anyway. It was better to wait and gather material for their dinner discussions so as to keep it lively. She'd agreed, but only after some persistence on August's end. "Are you at least spending your time courting someone?" She'd asked when he complained about his time restrictions. After a small pause he shook his head, and promised she would know if he was getting serious with someone. It was a betrayal to Maxine to lie about her, but he couldn't handle the long winded discussions that would follow after admitting he'd been seriously dating someone for two years. Fortunately, Maxine wasn't pressing the issue of cohabitation, or worse, marriage.

Things with Maxine were going better than expected, though. August sometimes found himself thinking of her at work, remembering how they had met at a liquor store. She, just an attractive conquest at the time, one he conquered quickly. Who would have thought he would change his outlook on everything because of her? The thought always brought a smile to his face, until, of course, he remembered the impending argument with his parents when the truth did finally come out. His mother had caught them once, and he'd since assured her that Maxine was out of the picture at her firm request, careful not to let his girlfriend in on his dishonesty to the older woman. In his guilt he had given Maxine a key to his home, telling himself that it was a fair trade of sorts. Maxine gets to keep the illusion that things were fine and perfect and his parents can stay in the dark. Everyone wins.

When supper finished, the family headed outside towards their cars, August ready to call it a night. He had some things he could do at home, but Gwen wasn't quite finished yet. "If you're free, I'd like to see that piece by James." August pursed his lips slightly wishing he'd left that quiet. He'd taken Maxine to an art gallery and ended up purchasing a painting done by a local artist, one that Maxine had genuinely liked. It was supposed to be a gift for her home, but the painting was on the larger end and she had nowhere to put it. She then insisted it would look better in his home, and she spent more time there anyway. He caved and brought it back to his condo, where it was now perched on the wall near his piano. He'd come to like it, though, and was considering buying a matching piece at the gallery in early June at James' next show. August looked down at his watch, checking the time when his mother snorted. "It's still early. I insist, unless you have other plans." She gave August a look that told him he better not have dared to make further plans when it was her night with him. "No other plans this evening." He assured her, forcing a gentle smile. "Why don't you follow me back home. I have an ice wine we can drink." His parents moved to their car and August climbed into his own, noting the time on the clock as he turned the ignition. It was nearly one in the morning, too late to call Maxine and wish her a good night. She would understand, though. She knew he was spending time with his parents this evening.

August maneuvered through the streets slowly, letting his parents keep up though they knew the way themselves. The pair of cars parked side by side and August got out, heading towards the lobby with his parents by his side. Abraham had a few things to say about the Wallingford owners and how they were starting to let the place go, how this had once been one of the finest complexes to own in but had gone down considerably over the years with the lack of upkeep. August was patient, agreeing with his father and complaining himself, if only to please the older man he looked up to. When they got to his floor, the trio exited the elevator and made their way to his front door. "Honestly. The carpet hasn't been replaced since you moved in." August turned the knob and pushed the door open, finding it odd the lights were on. He thought he'd flipped them off when he'd left earlier. "It's still in good repair, though. I'm sure they'll.." August froze when he saw a mop of red hair rise from the couch, the blood draining from his face. A lump formed in his throat as he looked through the lenses of Maxine's glasses and into her sapphire eyes, anger and dread filling him. What was she doing here? She knew he was with his parents tonight! Abraham cleared his throat, pulling August's attention. "And who might this be?" He asked in a curious voice. August didn't need to look at his mother to know she was staring at him. He could feel her glare burning a hole into his cheek. She knew all too well who the woman was. "August?" There was venom in her voice and his eyes slipped shut. What could he say?

[MAXINE MCMANUS]

Maxi was content and happy with everything in her life. She had a great job, loving friends, a wonderful sister who had just moved to Scriptor Bay to be closer, and two happy homes that she kept with her loving boyfriend. It was hard to believe she and August had been together for over two years now, but in a lot of ways it almost seemed longer. The couple had been through a lot and had come a long way to where they were now. Some girls might be nudging their boyfriends about an engagement ring by now, but Maxi knew better. August wasn’t really the marrying type, though Maxi hoped that someday he would eventually decide that he could be for her. She certainly couldn’t see herself with any other man, even if her dream about Charlie Miller during her coma was strangely pleasant. Even in the dream, she hadn’t really been happy when she thought of August and how happy their relationship was. There wasn’t a cloud in sight and Maxi was too happy to try and stir up any fight that might lead to a disastrous storm.

Of course, she wasn’t perfect. Yes, August had told her he was spending the evening with his parents having dinner and drinks. Maxi had assumed all their time would be spent at the restaurant or perhaps going back to his parents’ house before eventually August would come home alone. Then she could be there to surprise him and help to top the night off with some romance. She was pretty sure he would like the escape too. He always made it sound like visits with his parents were very tense. So she brought her grading over to his apartment later that evening. The longer she sat on the couch reading, however, the more she began to sink down into the comfortable leather couch. Soon her eyes were drooping behind her reading glasses, her purple grading pen gently falling from between her lips and teeth. It wasn’t until nearly an hour later that she heard the keys in the lock and the doorknob turning. August was home! But who was he talking to? She wasn’t paying attention to what he was saying, only confused at hearing his voice like someone was with him. Maxi pushed herself onto her elbows, her student’s paper slipping from her chest to her stomach as her head peeked over the couch. The mortified look on August’s face confused her until her deep blue eyes flashed to the older man and woman that followed into the apartment. All the color drained from her body, right down to her toes. That was his mother. Which meant the stately gentleman must have been his father. Maxi wished she had had the presence of mind to go invisible when she heard August talking to someone! She knew it was entirely too late when August’s father’s piercing blue eyes fell on her bewildered face.

“And who might this be?”[/i] The older man’s curious voice snapped Maxi out of her shock, realizing she needed to move and fast. “August?” From Gwen’s tone, she wasn’t happy to see Maxi again. It sent a cold knife through Maxi’s gut, secretly having hoped she’d charmed the woman when they met the first time. Looking at her face when Maxi managed to scramble to her feet, she was reminded sharply that Gargoyles, especially older ones, didn’t approve of interspecies relationships. Maxi gulped, brushing her fingers quickly through her mussed red curls, throwing her glasses onto the pile of papers in disarray on the coffee table. She tugged on her t-shirt to make sure it was firmly down over her jeans and as smooth as possible, forcing a smile as she approached the Witt family. One glance at August’s furious gaze made her want to vomit. Instead, she opted to be brave and hope that counted for something. She stepped up to Mr. Witt and extended a friendly hand. “Hello, Mr. Witt. I’m Maxine McManus, secretary under Gertie Periwinkle. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Whatever kindness was in the elder Witt’s face disappeared at the mention of her title, but he took her hand nonetheless. “A pleasure to meet you, Miss McManus.”[/i] From his tone, it certainly wasn’t a pleasure. “Might I ask why you’re here?”[/i] She swallowed hard and offered an uncertain look to her boyfriend beside her. It was obvious that August was panicked by the question, his eyes trying to communicate some silent message. Certainly it was urging her to lie, but the gig was up. His parents had caught her sprawled out on his couch, comfortable in his home. It was obvious why she was there and it was time they told his parents the truth. She looked uncertainly to Mr. Witt and then glanced at Gwen who could have frozen her solid with her gaze. “August is my boyfriend.” Both parents couldn’t have looked any more disappointed. “We’ve been dating for over two years now.” And those looks of disappointment melted quickly into shock and confusion. She looked frantically at Gwen. “I’m sorry we weren’t entirely honest with you before, Mrs. Witt. August was afraid you wouldn’t approve…” She looked from Gwen to August’s furious eyes and then glanced at Mr. Witt. It looked like she had just struck him across the face. She could feel the argument now bubbling between them and for the first time in a very, very long time, Maxi felt like she wanted to curl into a ball and disappear.

[AUGUST WITT]

August had a hard time controlling his anger towards Maxine, even as she did her best to fix her messy curls. She should have known better than to be here, and she should have had the right mind to have disappeared when she heard him come in. This was inexcusable. The young woman got to her feet, making her way over and August shot her a look of pure venom. His mind raced to think of an excuse as to why she was there and who she was, but his mother had met her. There was nothing to be said. “Hello, Mr. Witt. I’m Maxine McManus, secretary under Gertie Periwinkle. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” She offered her hand to his father and August watched the look on his face distort slightly. “A pleasure to meet you, Miss McManus. Might I ask why you’re here?” His heart was racing, hating that she was the one in charge of coming up with the lie. He silently ordered her to keep the truth to herself, his eyes raging like angry hurricanes as his body tensed in anticipation of the verbal lashing he would receive no matter what Maxine said. “August is my boyfriend.” Hot, acidic bile rose from his stomach and burned his throat at her words. How could she betray him so completely? “We’ve been dating for over two years now.” Fear and anger swirled and his hands clenched into tight fists. Oh, she would certainly pay for this.. August felt his fathers angry gaze fall on him, burning a hole into his temple, but he didn't dare look back. Instead he simply glared at Maxine, red with rage. “I’m sorry we weren’t entirely honest with you before, Mrs. Witt. August was afraid you wouldn’t approve…” There was a moment of silence before August heard his father's deep growl of a voice. "You knew?" The man accused and August finally looked at his father who was now shooting daggers at his mother. Gwen scoffed back. "He told me he'd taken care of this months ago."

August tried to tell himself that this wasn't really happening, that Maxine wouldn't be stupid enough to out them like this, but the comments shooting between his mother and father would last only seconds more before they both turned on him and Maxine. "Go home, Maxine." He demanded in a low, gruff voice. She opened her mouth, but his eyes narrowed as he shot an icy look her way. "Now." His teeth were clenched tight, and though she looked like she wanted to fight him, she grabbed her things and made a hasty retreat through the front door, leaving August alone in the lions den.

His father turned on him first, the door barely closed before he began interrogating. "Tell me this is a huge misunderstanding, that you're using her somehow to further your political career. I don't care, just tell me she has the wrong idea." His lips went into a thin, tight line, his head low and his eyes narrowed as he looked up at his father. The look was answer alone for the older Witt, and August wished he had the nerve to tell his father not to be so closed minded, that things had changed in the last few decades. But he didn't. August's mother stayed quiet, her arms folded low over her stomach as she looked on haughtily. She wasn't usually one to watch, but she had warned him to get rid of Maxine and now she was sitting back and letting her husband do exactly what she warned August he would do. Abraham did a fine job berating his son who silently took his verbal beating, allowing his dad to make him feel like an utter fool for gallivanting around town for two years with a "lower species". It was infuriating and humiliating at the same time, hating the points his father brought up, knowing they were true. He would never reach the top of his political agenda if he had Maxine on his arm, but August didn't care for that. He would have half breed children if he didn't end things now, but August didn't want children so it was really a moot point. Then again, Maxine did. Would she convince him? They had never really discussed it. She would grow old and perish far earlier than he did and then he would be left alone, tainted by even in death. Point after point was made, August trying desperately to find the fault in all of them, but even he was unable to. Deep down he agreed with his father on some level, but he cared for Maxine. He hated the idea of not having her, but he hated the idea of being shunned by his family, by his community, looked down upon like a second rate citizen because he was fool enough to choose to be with her when he could have someone of quality.

"We raised you better than this." Was one of the final jabs from his father, August standing quietly as his father all but spat the words. "Say something, dammit!" August looked up, angry and red faced but it was nothing compared to his father. "I'll take care of it." He promised softly. Abraham scoffed and shook his head. "You're goddamn right you will. No son of mine will ruin his life over a nice pair of legs." It was a slap in the face, for both he and Maxine. She'd started that way, but she was anything but now. "End it tonight, August. Do you understand me?" He gulped looking into his fathers eyes who was growing more furious with every quiet second. "I said do you underst-" "YES!" "Good." He straightened his jacket and turned to his wife before shooting one last dirty look at his son before heading out the door. August watched with a tight jaw, his mind swimming with mixed feelings. His mother made her way in front of him, running her hands down his shoulders. "I warned you." She told him softly, but August looked away, keeping his mouth shut in order to not say something he would later regret. Gwen leaned in and pecked his cheek before making her way out the front door, shutting it gently behind her.

August stood there a long time, confused and upset over the exchange. He didn't want to end things with Maxine, and he could decide now that he wouldn't, but truth was he was angry with her. If she hadn't come over none of this would have happened. Hell, if she'd kept her mouth shut maybe he could have come up with an excuse for her being there, but she'd gone and ruined any chance of that. In a huff he left his home, rage coursing through his veins as he went to his car. The drive to her home wasn't a long one. He could get there in his sleep if he wanted, and knew the fastest routes to get there. When he arrived he didn't bother knocking or ringing her bell, letting himself into her home. "Maxine?" He bellowed, obviously furious. She came out from the kitchen, meeting him in the hallway, his face red and damp with perspiration. "What were you thinking!" He snapped, raising his hands up. "I told you I was meeting my parents tonight. You had no right being there, and worse! You told them! That was completely inappropriate! How could you do that? Why would you do that!" He grabbed her shoulders, his fingers digging into her soft flesh. "Huh?!"

[MAXINE MCMANUS]

The silence was deafening as it crushed Maxi from all sides. “You knew?”[/b][/i] Acid dripped from Mr. Witt’s voice as his piercing blue eyes landed on Gwen. Maxi gulped, realizing she’d just gotten Gwen in trouble. The woman simply scoffed in return, her face turning away with a haughty, defiant look. “He told me he’d taken care of this months ago.” Maxi felt like the woman had punched her in the stomach and her large, hurt eyes landed on August. He’d told his mother he had “taken care of” their relationship? Why hadn’t he even told her that his mother was onto them? A small spat broke out between the two parents in the room and though the words they shot back at each other, like they were just now discovering their son was married to a cheap prostitute or something just as unacceptable, her eyes remained glued on August. He was furious and she felt betrayed. He loved her, but when his mother confronted him about his relationship with her, he told his mother he had dumped her. Just for the sake of an easy way out. Here she had been thinking they would spend many more years together and he was coming up with ways to hide her existence. His parents’ spat turned back to them and August growled, “Go home, Maxine.” Maxi opened her mouth, about to insist on staying if only to allow her to present her side of their story, but he shot her a look colder than one she could ever remembering getting from him. “Now.” She swallowed back tears, setting her jaw and praying for the courage to defy him. When prayers failed her, she beat a hasty retreat for the door, not even deigning to say goodbye to the Witts. She was too lowly to speak to them, anyway, by their estimation. Slamming the door behind her, tears trickled onto her cheeks as she rushed for her car.

She could imagine what was being said about her. What hurt the most was knowing that August’s failure to mention all of this, his whole reason for hiding her from his parents, was because he secretly agreed with the bigoted notion that Gargoyles were superior to all other species. How could he love her if he couldn’t love what she was? She had long since set aside her first impressions of Gargoyles. Her parents had warned her that they were cruel, cold, and manipulative—in other words, people that she didn’t want to be around. But getting to know August had changed her opinion on that somewhat. Why couldn’t August set aside the impressions his parents made on him about her kind? Still crying, her face a mess, Maxi hauled her bags into the house and tossed them on the floor in the hallway. Her back found the wall and she slowly slid down as she curled into a ball and hugged her knees tight, stopping her tears and trying to swallow her rage. Within fifteen minutes, she was calm enough to bring her things into the kitchen and try to focus on grading papers again. Some had gotten crinkled in her hustle to get out of August’s apartment but she would apologize to her students later. Unfortunately, in her distraction, she began to read sentences many times over, her mind wandering back to August’s apartment and the results of the argument. It was pushing three o’clock when she looked up from her papers, but Maxi knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep yet.

It was a good thing she didn’t. She heard a key in the lock of the front door and her stomach jumped into her mouth. August had come to confront her. “Maxine?” She’d never heard him bellow like that and she jumped, gulping down her fear as best as she could. Getting to her feet, she scrambled from the kitchen and appeared in the hallway. August’s face was red and damp and she braced herself for the impending fight. “What were you thinking?” She stepped closer to him, though the way he raised his hands frightened her. No boyfriend had ever hit her before and she wasn’t about to start now. “I told you I was meeting my parents tonight. You had no right to be there, and worse! You told them! That was completely inappropriate! How could you do that? Why would you do that?” The anger was bubbling up, hot and thick from her stomach. She gasped as August’s hands came to her upper arms, his fingers digging into her pale flesh roughly, but she ignored the fear she felt. “Huh?!” She wasn’t going to stand for this! Lurching forward, she brought her angry face closer to his, ignoring the pain he was causing in squeezing her arms so hard.

“First of all, I didn’t know you were bringing your parents back to your apartment! I was there because you gave me the right to be there when you gave me a key and I wanted to surprise you when you got home! I actually thought you would be happy to see me! And how is it inappropriate for me to tell your parents the truth? I think it’s more inappropriate that you lied to them in the first place by saying you’d ‘taken care of’ things with me! How could you do that?” The tears were burning in her eyes again, taking a breath to wrench her arms out of his grip, furious enough to want to hit him. “How could you tell your mom that we had broken up? Why couldn’t you tell her the truth? I’ll tell you why! Because you’re ashamed to have me on your arm! How can you love me when you’re ashamed of me, August? Do you know how much it hurts to realize that the person you love is embarrassed to be with you simply because of what you were born as?” The tears were pouring onto her cheeks now and she let out a soft sob, backing away from a man she thought loved her as much as she loved him. “Why are you even with me if you think I’m beneath you?”

[AUGUST WITT]

All he saw was read as her eyes grew defensive. He knew that look, that defiant glint in her eyes. What could she possibly had to say to defend herself? “First of all, I didn’t know you were bringing your parents back to your apartment!" Already she was off the a bad start. He didn't need to tell her that, it should have been assumed that it could be a possibility. Not like it was the first time his mother showed up! He was entertaining them for the evening! "I was there because you gave me the right to be there when you gave me a key and I wanted to surprise you when you got home! I actually thought you would be happy to see me!" Had his parents not been with him, he probably would have been happy to see her, but as it stood he was furious. She'd ruined the perfect balance he'd created for himself! "And how is it inappropriate for me to tell your parents the truth? I think it’s more inappropriate that you lied to them in the first place by saying you’d ‘taken care of’ things with me! How could you do that?” Her tears did very little to ease his contempt for her at the moment. If anything they were making things worse, telling him off for lying. She hadn't even bothered to ask, simply assumed things about him as usual.

Maxine suddenly pulled her arms away from him, and he stood with his fists balled at his side instead. His body was rigid and his nostrils flared with his rage as his heart beat furiously in his chest. "How could you tell your mom that we had broken up? Why couldn’t you tell her the truth? I’ll tell you why! Because you’re ashamed to have me on your arm! How can you love me when you’re ashamed of me, August? Do you know how much it hurts to realize that the person you love is embarrassed to be with you simply because of what you were born as? Why are you even with me if you think I’m beneath you?” Not an ounce of pity bubbled inside of himself because she, as always, had the wrong idea. Always with the assumptions of the worst! August had gone out of his way repeatedly to correct her misjudgments and assumptions in the past, giving up on certain ideas he'd had for them.. Sure, she had changed his mind on her species, but did she need to continuously presume that he hadn't changed at all since they'd met over two years ago?

"Well since you seem to know everything, I suppose I don't really need to tell you what's really happened, hm?" He hissed, his head tilting to the side as he eyed her dangerously, challenging her to question him. "You just assume I'm ashamed to be with you, that I hate your entire kind, that you're such an embarrassment to me. After two years do you truly believe I would be hanging around you if that were the case? The sex is great and all, but don't think for a second that's what keeps me coming back." He snapped, feeling his anger rising still as he spoke to her. Her confession in addition to her list of presumptions was almost too much for him to even bear at the moment. Part of him knew that he should walk away now, for he would certainly say something he didn't mean. Or maybe it was something he did mean. It was high time Maxine learned her place, and not because she was a Blurr, but because she was supposed to be his partner and he was tired of appeasing her.

"Whether you choose to believe it or not, there is a stigma attached to your kind, at least from the eyes of mine. Not all of us feel Blurrs are beneath us, but a great many do and considering my place it was not the right time for me to be waltzing about with you on my arm. The reason, Maxine, I chose to hide this relationship from my parents was because I have been gradually getting them to drop their assumptions on your species. They have gone from practically loathing your people to tolerating them, which may not seem like much, but I'll tell you their ideas on anyone other than Blurrs has changed considerably since you walked into my life. My goal was always to tell them, but too soon and everything would be ruined. Now, you've corrupted their child, you're the enemy, the temptress who has led me astray. You've made things worse for yourself and for us in the long run." And it was true. His father laid into him something fierce when Maxine had gone. To be fair, he wasn't sure he could ever get his father on board with the idea of Maxi, but it wasn't like he hadn't been trying, showing him what some of their leaders had been doing for Guardians over the last decade or so. His mother he felt he could at least get to a point of neutrality. She didn't have to like Maxine, but she didn't have to despise her either. That goal seemed far from a reality anymore. He knew it would take years, but he never thought there was a rush with Maxine before.

"If there even is a long run anymore." He snarled, suddenly feeling less attracted to her. "Your disrespect and disgust towards me is blatant. You assume things without solid evidence, letting your emotions cloud your judgement. It's not the first time, and it won't be the last. I was willing to try and make this work, but it seems as though you don't feel the same. Or rather, you don't feel I do. I'm not going to fight to be with you, Maxine. If your opinion of me is that low then maybe this isn't working out after all."

[MAXINE MCMANUS]

“Well since you seem to know everything, I suppose I don’t really need to tell you what’s really happened, hm?” Maxi wanted nothing more than to argue, but the look on August’s face stopped her. He’d never looked at her like that before and she couldn’t deny that it scared her slightly. “You just assume I’m ashamed to be with you, that I hate your entire kind, that you’re such an embarrassment to me. After two years do you truly believe I would be hanging around you if that were the case? The sex is great and all, but don’t think for a second that’s what keeps me coming back.” That stung and she felt more tears coming to her eyes. She knew he loved her, but she also knew she wasn’t assuming when it came to his feelings about her kind. It was most certainly a hard truth, one that she was tired of trying to swallow. She shouldn’t have to feel that kind of discrimination, especially from the man she loved.

“Whether you choose to believe it or not, there is a stigma attached to your kind, at least from the eyes of mine. Not all of us feel Blurrs are beneath us, but a great many do and considering my place it was no the right time for me to be waltzing about with you on my arm.” Oh, who gave a fuck about his career if what he did was for love?! She wanted to scream it, but she knew it was irrational. Gargoyles spent their entire child and young adulthoods training for the job they would have for the rest of their long lives. Still, a fire burned in the pit of her stomach and her lip trembled with it. “The reason, Maxine, I chose to hide this relationship from my parents was because I have been gradually getting them to drop their assumptions on your species. They have gone from practically loathing your people to tolerating them, which may not seem like much, but I’ll tell you their ideas on anyone other than Blurrs has changed considerably since you walked into my life. My goal was always to tell them, but too soon and everything would be ruined. Now, you’ve corrupted their child, you’re the enemy, the temptress who has led me astray. You’ve made things worse for yourself and for us in the long run.” She shook her head, her jaw set as fat tears dripped down her flushed cheeks like they would never stop. How could he possibly put all of this on her? If he actually had a plan for telling his parents, wouldn’t it have made sense to tell her about it so this wouldn’t happen? What happened to honesty? Why was she the only one willing to wear her heart on her sleeve in this relationship? She couldn’t bear this secrecy! With every beat of her heart, pain shot through her chest and stomach.

“If there even is a long run anymore. Your disrespect and disgust towards me is blatant.” What?! If looks could kill, she was certain August would drop dead right now. “You assume things without solid evidence, letting your emotions cloud your judgment. It’s not the first time, and it won’t be the last. I was willing to try and make this work, but it seems as though you don’t feel the same. Or rather, you don’t feel I do. I’m not going to fight to be with you, Maxine. If your opinion of me is that low then maybe this isn’t working out after all.” She wanted to vomit and slam her fist in his face all at the same time. Instead she trembled in rage, realizing for the first time that her fists were clenched, her nails digging into her palms. She didn’t care. “My disrespect and disgust? My assumptions and emotions? You’ve nearly beat the shit out of my friends because you assumed I was fucking them or they wanted to fuck me! Who let their emotions get the better of them then? And if you had some big plan, did it never occur to you to let me in on it? Or is your opinion of me so low that you didn’t think I could understand that plan? Is it so fucking surprising that I would jump to conclusions when you tell your mother that you broke up with me to hide your dirty little secret? I won’t be anyone’s dirty little secret, not anymore. I deserve so much better than that, especially from you.” Tears choked her voice again, her heart feeling like it was literally being ripped from her chest. “After all that I’ve been through, all I’ve put up with for you, all the fighting I’ve done to be with you when everything and everyone told me it was a waste of time and energy, you won’t fight to be with me? I’ve endured a kidnapping, poisoning, public humiliation and threats from Robert Snow, disapproval from my friends and family, all to be with you! And now you’re giving up because you can’t handle what I’ve already been dealing with? Then you’re right—my opinion of you is low. I thought you were strong enough to handle a relationship with me. I’m starting to realize I was dead wrong about that.” It was liberating to speak her mind, to spit her words with the venom she felt coursing through her veins. But that venom had its consequences. It was agonizing to feel it pumping through her heart, every angry word killing more of her happiness. The tears wouldn’t stop, but she brushed at them with her trembling and now bleeding hands.

“If you can’t fight for me the way I have fought for you, then you’re right. This isn’t working.” She walked into the kitchen and dug into her bag, pulling out her key ring. Struggling to remove his apartment key with her weak and bloody hands, she finally managed it and marched back out to the hallway. She grabbed his hand and slapped the key into it, closing his fist around it while her angry and hurt sapphire eyes gazed up into his. “Don’t bother giving me back mine. Just get out of my house.” She didn’t know if he was going to hit her, shake her, break her, but the look in his eyes showed every bit of fury he was feeling. It was nothing to the betrayal she felt. A voice came out of her that she hadn’t used since she and Maureen would fight as teenagers. “GET OUT!” she bellowed, shocking even herself. It felt like she was tearing out her own heart with her bare hands.

[AUGUST WITT]

“My disrespect and disgust? My assumptions and emotions? You’ve nearly beat the shit out of my friends because you assumed I was fucking them or they wanted to fuck me! Who let their emotions get the better of them then?" The aggravation was growing and growing. How dare she bring something up from two years before! He'd been more than polite to Drew and their idiot friend Jamie, though he'd wanted his fist to meet Jamie's teeth on more than one occasion. "And if you had some big plan, did it never occur to you to let me in on it? Or is your opinion of me so low that you didn’t think I could understand that plan?" Again with her stupid, idiotic assumptions. They would never end! "Is it so fucking surprising that I would jump to conclusions when you tell your mother that you broke up with me to hide your dirty little secret? I won’t be anyone’s dirty little secret, not anymore. I deserve so much better than that, especially from you.” She was too emotional and he was too furious to handle her at the moment. He hated her for doing this now, for making everything worse than it already was. “After all that I’ve been through, all I’ve put up with for you, all the fighting I’ve done to be with you when everything and everyone told me it was a waste of time and energy, you won’t fight to be with me? I’ve endured a kidnapping, poisoning, public humiliation and threats from Robert Snow, disapproval from my friends and family, all to be with you! And now you’re giving up because you can’t handle what I’ve already been dealing with? Then you’re right—my opinion of you is low. I thought you were strong enough to handle a relationship with me. I’m starting to realize I was dead wrong about that.”

Some of her points were valid, but he'd never asked her to deal with that. She chose to. She opened herself to it and embraced it. She didn't need to put up with half the shit she did and now she was acting like a martyr. He felt himself begin to shake with rage, knowing if he didn't calm himself down now he would do something he would regret. He knew without a shadow of a doubt he would, actually.. “If you can’t fight for me the way I have fought for you, then you’re right. This isn’t working.” August saw red, dizzy with how this entire situation was going down. This was it.. after two years spent on her, this was it. He loved her.. there was no denying that, but in that moment he despised her. His heart actually ached with the words, and deep down he knew there was no coming back. This was their demise.

His parents would be so pleased.

She walked to the kitchen and grabbed her keys, his jaws locked in place. There were a million obscenities he could yell, a dozen more things to tell her so she knew just how wrong she was, but in the end he knew there was no point. This was how it was supposed to go down. A gargoyle doesn't just settle down with a Blurr he picked up at a liquor store for the sole purpose of fucking. “Don’t bother giving me back mine. Just get out of my house.” She snarled as she shoved his key back into his hand. He stood there a moment, glowering at her, shocked it was over and relieved on some level, but most angry and hurt. How had such a simple woman made him feel so many things at once? “GET OUT!” Without another moment of hesitation, he turned on his heals and stormed out of her home, slamming the door behind him hard enough to make the walls rattle.

After two years he was officially single.