Total pages in book: 21
Estimated words: 19157 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 96(@200wpm)___ 77(@250wpm)___ 64(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 19157 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 96(@200wpm)___ 77(@250wpm)___ 64(@300wpm)
Wait, what? I flick my gaze between them, suddenly feeling very confused and disoriented, like I'm watching a movie in a different language.
Selena shakes her head. "That's not true. Emily, he's lying. He's just trying to—"
"Every Tuesday evening, you knock on my door with some excuse," Alex says. "You're out of sugar. Your sink is leaking. You need help moving furniture. I always say no. I find excuses to avoid you"
"That's not—those were legitimate—"
"Last Tuesday, you invited me to 'just have a drink, as neighbors.' I said no. The Tuesday before that, you needed help 'fixing your TV.' I said no." Alex's eyes are cold. "Should I keep going?"
I stare at Selena as pieces click into place.
All those times she casually mentioned Alex.
How she always seemed to know what he did, where he was.
How she "happened" to always bump into him at the lobby.
How she encouraged me to write the card.
What if it wasn't about helping me at all?
"You wanted him to reject me," I say, the realization washing over me like ice water.
"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. My apartment. 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. You manipulated 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."
I laugh weakly. "It is when the person doesn't deserve it. I feel so stupid for not seeing it sooner."
"You're not stupid. She's manipulative."
I lean against him, exhausted from the emotional whiplash. "How did you know she was lying?"