Exploits

by Poppet

  … Pause ...

  … Play …

  I fell for it. I had to move back in with him because my lease had ended on my place. I no longer had an income, but was led to believe that it wouldn't take longer than two months for him to sell his home, give notice at work, and we'd be off on a huge adventure together.

  To be honest, I was excited. I couldn't believe how lucky I was to be anticipating travelling the world with Gary. I was more than happy to do nothing while I waited those two months.

  But I was no longer stay-at-home Stefanie. I couldn't be. I had friends. And this time I wasn't going to lose them. So imagine his surprise when the moment of truth came calling.

  "Is it okay if I go out with the lads tonight?"

  I'm impressed he considers asking me still. "What are you up to?"

  "Just off to shoot some pool."

  I nod and grin, "That's fine."

  His face illuminates with an effervescent smile. I smile back and pry discreetly, "What time? Are you having dinner here?"

  "Seven. Nah, I think we'll just grab something there."

  Mental happy dance! It's Thursday night! Ladies night! I am so going out now.

  "Great. I'll phone Selene and go out with them tonight."

  Oh look, he's grumpy. Mr dissolve-your-pants-with-my-smile looks decidedly grumpy.

  "What for?"

  What the hell is that supposed to mean? I have fun with the girls. There is no way I'm staying home while you go out! The fire ignites in my eyes and I'm so ready to take a stand.

  "Gary, I'm not sitting at home twiddling my thumbs while you go out!"

  "Where are you going?"

  "I don't know yet! I haven't called her."

  He glares, "I don't like this."

  Too fucking bad. I glare straight back, "If you don't want me to go, then you can't go."

  What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

  Gary hasn’t heard the word ‘can't’ from me, ever. This is a whole new educational experience for him. I want to smirk so badly as I watch his internal struggle.

  After interminable silence, making me wonder how he's going to react, finally he exhales "Fine. But I want to know where you're going, and who with."

  I nod and grin, "Fine." I stretch my legs and strut to the phone. Making a point. Dialling Selene.

  … Pause …

  … Play …

  I am dressed in my tight black jeans and a loose shirt. I'm wearing my Doc's, my hair is down, I have just enough make-up on to accentuate what I have that works. Pure Poison by Dior, and a smile hot enough to smelt titanium, I’m good to go.

  I skip down the stairs with my bag and get into Michelle's car which is already packed with girls from work. I smile at Selene, Michelle, Julie, Lindsay and Terry.

  "Hi!"

  Selene smirks wickedly, "I never thought I'd see this day."

  I wink back, "Me neither!"

  Michelle interrogates, "So are we getting drunk tonight?"

  The interior of the vehicle explodes with a chorus of ‘Yes!’ We smell like a bouquet of flowers. We all look stunning. I am delighted that at last I am in a normal relationship, with normal boundaries.

  The first thing that happens once you are in the door, is the free drink. Which we down. It's our ritual. We then take turns buying rounds of drinks in quick succession. Within an hour my head is foggy. My ears are deafening and shutting down from the insane base pumping at us.

  I get a mild kick out of watching Julie’s shameless flirting. She's looks like a movie star, naturally. Couple this with those teeny-tiny heels she's wearing and second-skin jeans and she is a source of endless amusement. I watch the men behind her accidentally bumping into each other as they're captivated by her writhing form.

  Selene is on my left, Terry on my right, we're all smoking and giggling. I am totally oblivious, I'm relishing the moment with my friends so much. I watch Terry's eyes light up as some tall guy starts walking towards her. He squeezes between us and talks to her, then kisses her.

  Oh, this is interesting. She tugs my arm and yells, "This is John! He’s my boyfriend!”

  I smile at him and offer my hand, "Hi John. I'm Stef."

  He leans his dark haired head down to my level, "Sorry, what was that?"

  "I'm Stef! Pleased to meet you!"

  He lifts his head somewhat and shoots a melting smile at me, "JOHN." And he shakes my hand.

  I continue dancing and lean over to Selene to tell her who the guy next to me is. Terry is chatting away into his other ear. The loud music forcing us all to speak intimately into each others ears. Not that I mind, as it's La Paz from Scotland.

  "So how do you know Terry?"

  Be still my heart. I was so zoned out he gave me a fright. Smiling politely, I speak into his ear. He's so tall, he really has to bend down to hear me, "We used to work together."

  He shoots me another cute grin, "Oh right! Yes, she told me that." He rubs a hand over my shoulder in a friendly fashion and queries by bending down, "Can I get you another drink?"

  I nod and yell, "Yes please!"

  After a quick query around the circle, Terry and John go off to acquire refills.

  "He’s cute!"

  I grin at Selene, "He is."

  We continue gossiping, dancing, giggling, eyeing out the talent at Stones, and I do feel very bad for John, as he's the only man here on a ladies night out. I make an effort to make him feel welcome by yelling up, "So where are your friends?"

  He shoots the cute smile down at me, "Working late." He checks his watch and scouts the perimeter, and the bar, with his gaze, before yelling, "Actually, they should be here now!"

  I nod. Not knowing what to say.

  "You don’t look like this kind of place is your scene!"

  I arch an eyebrow, surprised it's that obvious, "It’s not. I usually go to the Swinging Door!"

  His face beams with recognition and it finally hits me between the eyes that he's dressed only in black, "Me too. I can’t believe I let Terry talk me into this!"

  He turns to talk to Terry and I give Selene a covert smile, eyeing out the heroin addict-looking guy who just sauntered in. Black leather pants, a laced up white shirt with long straight black hair like a Cherokee. I nudge her, "He looks like your type!"

  She laughs, "You know me too well!"

  A tap on my shoulder returns my attention to John. Two more tall guys are standing with him, one looking a tad too interested in me to be honest, "These are my friends! André and Sam!"

  I smile at each, and shake hands. Then return back to my circle of friends, suddenly feeling awkward.

  "See you later. It was nice meeting you!" He yells into my ear, drawing my attention back to him.

  I nod and smile, giving a brief wave good-bye to his friends too. I exhale a sigh of relief at being just us girls.

  … Pause ...

  … Play …

  I can't hear anything as I try, as quietly as possible, to open the front door. I am much later than I thought I'd be home. It's just after two and I'm hoping Gary is still out.

  My ears are humming from the sudden silence after all the noise. I have had far too much alcohol and am definitely drunk. I'm also really happy. I let myself in and slip my shoes off at the door. Softly, I close the door behind me, when the lights flip on, exposing me.

  "WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?"

  I don't know why, but I feel guilty. "Out with the girls. I told you where we were going."

  "WHO WAS THAT MAN YOU WERE WITH?"

  Chapter 32

  Oh God

  GULP.

  Jeeez! Fuckenhell, what's your problem?

  "What man?"

  He looks really angry. His face is pinched with rage.

  Just look at you. Sitting in a chair, right at the door in the dark, waiting to be my killjoy the minute I get home. I've never done this to you, you know.

  And in all of our years together, this is the first time I've gone out with my friends w
ithout you. So why the hell are you being so bloody anally retentive about it? How dare you spy on me, you asshole.

  Annoyance rises in me as he stands up to look down his nose at me, "I'm not stupid. You're fucking me around!"

  Lifting my chin, I glare back, I wish my ears would stop buzzing, "I am not fucking you around."

  He grabs my arm in a death grip and jeers into my face, "WHAT IS HIS NAME!"

  Seriously, I don't know who he's referring to. He saw me talking to someone. But who? The guy I said ‘excuse me’ to as I squeezed past him into the Ladies? Or the guy at the bar that tried to chat me up when I was buying a round? Fuck it.

  "Gary, I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about!"

  He thrusts me away from him in disgust, causing me to collide with the kitchen door frame, "Lying bitch."

  He has just robbed me of every single shred of joy I walked into this home with. I can feel the hurt stinging my eyes as I rub my arm.

  "Gary, explain to me what you saw, so that I can answer you."

  And why the hell were you spying on me?

  With a clenched jaw he forces out, "The tall guy you spent your night dancing and flirting with. I SAW you together. Don’t deny it.”

  His eyes shout whore at me, without him saying a word.

  Relief floods through me at the misunderstanding. I smile and sag, "Oh him. That's John. Terry's boyfriend."

  He leans over me again and inches his nose close to mine, "Do I look stupid to you?" He stands up straight and scowls down at me, "If you're going to lie, at least try and make it sound convincing."

  I'm so appalled. I watch as he marches away from me into the dark of the home. I stand alone, the cold of the tiles seeping into my feet. Deflated and hurt, I'm not sure what to do.

  I spy him storming back with a pillow and a blanket, which he throws with amazing precision onto the couch, "You're sleeping there tonight."

  You know what? I'm very angry myself now. How dare you assume I'm guilty.

  "Gary, stop being such an asshole. I did nothing wrong. It's not my fault that Terry brought her man to ladies night. I didn't do anything with him ..."

  "You TOUCHED him. You had your hand on his arm! I SAW you!"

  I flinch at the sudden shouting in the quiet of the early morning, and argue back, "Gary, did you see how tall he was? I had to stand on tiptoes to talk to him. I touched his arm to keep my balance. I was being polite. I felt sorry for him being stuck with us because of Terry."

  Oh God, he looks like he's going to hit me. I keep a wary eye on his fists clenching and unclenching at his sides. Without warning, my body floods with fear. Maybe I should just leave it and let him persecute me for something I didn't do.

  I wait and watch him, convinced he's just gutted me and my entrails are falling out. I'm weak and shaky. We're right back in hell again. Hello misery. How nice of you to come back and find me. I didn't miss you.

  He looks like he's going to say something, but then turns and stalks away, slamming the bedroom door, leaving me alone in a cold twilight of an entrance hall. I sigh, and tiptoe to go and brush my teeth.

  After that, I couldn't sleep. I felt so cold and uncomfortable. This leather is freezing, the chair hard and unyielding. I've become a bit of a bony wench, which isn't helping. I wriggle onto my back and stare up in the dark at the ceiling.

  John was with us for, at the maximum, half an hour. Did Gary spy on me the whole night? Or did he just show up in time to see John with us, and assume it was the whole night?

  The mental playback reveals John rubbing my shoulder when he offered me a drink. Gagging on tears as I realise that it did look bad. But why couldn't he have confronted me right there and then? It could all have been cleared up. But no. Instead he has to do this to me. Now, when I have no security. No home of my own. No job. Now, he's trying to destroy my life again.

  I flop onto my side and begin sobbing. I feel so desolate and lonely, that I pray for death. The reunion of Gary and Stefanie just lost all the joy.

  Bitterly, I realise that it's already been more than a month and he hasn't even tried to sell his house. And he just went back to the way things were when he owned my money. I buy the groceries.

  He has his friends around every weekend as usual. I'm catering crates of beer and for food I don't eat, all out of my savings. I have to do something.

  I wake up with a gaze burning a hole of hatred into my shoulder blades. I turn and survey Gary sitting in an adjoining chair, glaring at me, his mouth tight with disapproval.

  "You look like a slut."

  Good morning to you too.

  "How can you go out dressed like that?"

  I sit up and sleepily observe my wicked master, "I am wearing jeans, Gary. I'd hardly call this a slutty outfit."

  My mind instantly jumps to Selene's dress that she had me wear from the Robert Palmer video, and I smile accidentally. You'd snap your aorta if you saw me in that.

  "So, you think this is funny? Coming up with a plan, abusing my trust, so you can fuck me around with other men?"

  I keep quiet and fold my arms. Go on. Get it all out of your system.

  "I knew it! Your guilt keeping you quiet? Worried you'll dig yourself in deeper?"

  I sigh heavily and examine my hands.

  "You are never going out with that bunch of slags again! Do you hear me?"

  My heartbeat just accelerated. I have to fight for this freedom. He can't take this joy away from me. "Yes, I will."

  "No, you WON'T."

  "Yes, I WILL."

  "Then get out! Fucking SLUT."

  He stands, his face flushing with anger, he yells louder than I've ever heard him, "GET OUT."

  Oh look, he's pointing at the door as if I don't know where it is. My logic kicks into action. "Where am I going to go?"

  "I don’t fucking care."

  "Gary, you fucked up my plans, and you expect me to just instantly have a reserve plan? I am here because you PROMISED not to hurt me. I am here because you told me you LOVE me. You haven’t done ANYTHING you said you would. I am NOT leaving until I am good and bloody ready to"

  He glares at me and spits out, "If you stay here, then you are getting rid of the tramp stamp! You were never a whore. Three months without me and just look at you! You are pathetic! I wouldn't fuck you now if you paid me to."

  Ouch.

  Good, because I don't particularly want you anywhere near me either.

  I argue back, "You have a tattoo. How come it doesn't make you trash, but it makes me trash? I'll have mine removed when you have yours removed."

  "Fuck you."

  " No, fuck you."

  He grimaces maliciously, "Not if you paid me for it, darlin."

  I glare and reach for my box of smokes. My hands are shaking violently from the adrenalin surging through me. Survival instinct is at full throttle.

  I take one out and light it, exhaling the smoke in his direction with as much disdain as I can muster without my morning coffee.

  He leers toward me again, "If you stay here, that's going to stop."

  What's going to stop?

  He reaches over and picks up my smokes, crushing the box in one hand. "Enjoy that. You've just stopped smoking."

  What? No! I've smoked since you met me. How dare you!

  I stand up, now shaking with vicious tremors, "You can't do that."

  "Watch me." He looks so triumphant I feel like decking him.

  "The smoking in this house ends right now. Look at you. You look like such a cheap piece of shit. Dressed like a slut, a fag hanging out your mouth. Throwing yourself at men."

  If looks were actions, he just slapped me and spat at me. "Only cheap slags suck on fags. I'm not having cheap trash in this house! If you want to stay here, then you have to stop your whore habits. It's my house. If you don't like my rules get out now."

  Final insult.

  "I don't know what I ever saw in you," he curses. He scrunches up the smokes effortlessly and drops them on th
e carpet. "Clean this place up. If you want lodging, it's time you fucking worked for it."

  He turns and stalks out the front door, leaving me stunned, appalled, heartbroken, and as crushed as my cigarettes. My legs, weak, dissolve underneath me, and I collapse back onto the chair I slept in; a sob pulls out of me like a ghoul with a get-out-of-purgatory-free card.

  Oh god.

  Chapter 33

  If You Walk Out That Door

  In a rage, I go and wash my face and brush my teeth. Angrily, I pull on my Doc's, lace them and stalk outside, slamming the door behind me. It takes me less than five minutes to get to the twenty-four hour service station to purchase a whole new box.

  I am going to defy him. Yes, I AM.

  Before I get home I already have one lit. I am so angry that I don't even feel like me. I know why I'm angry. It's because it's the only thing preventing me from crying.

  The minute I walk in the door I flounce into a chair next to the phone at the door and dial Selene. I tell her the entire drama in an unconscious stream of despair.

  "Fuck him. We're going out again this Thursday too now. You can't keep on taking this shit."

  Knowing I have her support somehow gives me calm. Yes, a plan was just what I needed.

  "I'll organise for all the girls to join us. Stef, you have to be normal. That guy isn't normal."

  Despite preferring not to, I acknowledge this. I am so jealous of girls like Terry whose boyfriends are so secure, and even want to join her when she goes out. Gary despises everyone I call a friend.

  "Thanks, Selene. I need this so badly." Tears well up and I suddenly can't speak.

  "We are here for you. I'm here for you."

  I nod, too choked up to speak.

  "Stef?"

  A keen escapes my throat as I fan my face, struggling to respond, "Mmm..."

  "Oh god. Are you okay?"

  I clear my throat awkwardly, "I will be. Thanks. Have to go ..."

  "Okay. Call me if you need anything."

  I nod again, my face screwing up, tight, tight, tight, as I try to fight the anguish overwhelming me, "Okay."