What was that?
Title: Babbling Brooke
Author: smeddley
Challenge #: 18
Rating: G
Disclaimers: I have to stop watching the Disney Channel. Seriously. This is very 'emotional teenage girl angst' ridden. At least, I think it is, not sure if the tone and language is quite 'on.'
“Did you ever have a feeling, you know, where you knew you should do something, but it was for all the wrong reasons, and you’re not really sure if you even wanted to do it, but you thought you should?” Brooke paused and took a breath. “I mean, I feel like I should, but then I don’t, because I don’t know, it just seems right, but wrong, because I can’t justify it and I don’t want to be petty. Even though I don’t really think I am, I mean, people grow apart, things change, you move on, right?”
“I really have no idea what you just said,” Jason said slowly.
“Look, I’m trying to decide if I should end a friendship. I mean, we are drifting apart and all, and it’s not like he’d probably even notice, all wrapped up in his new friends like he is. But if I refuse to hang out with him any more, then I’ll look petty, maybe, that is, if he even asks me to go anywhere again. Goodness knows he hasn’t come by in awhile, anyway.” She bit her lip. “And I in a way, I want to be the one doing the dropping, you know? I want to get it circulating that I’m not interested in seeing him anymore, before it gets out that I’m off his A-list.”
“I’m still a little lost, here…”
“Because,” Brooke went on as if she hadn’t heard him, “there’s nothing worse than being the dumpee. I mean, not a dumpee as in we’re dating - because we’re not, you know - we’re just friends, but it’s still a relationship and everything, so I think the term ‘dumpee’ and ‘dumper’ are still relevant. But then, that’s - a dumpee - what I’m trying to make him, so does that make me a terrible person? I mean, if we just drift apart, then it’ll be no fault.” She smiled, and then frowned. “Please. Who’ll believe that. He’s the cool one, in the ‘in crowd’ - they’ll all know. I have to snub him publicly, and first, or everyone will know, or at least assume, that he’s the one who moved on.”
“I have no idea…”
“But I don’t want to hurt his feelings,” she continued, cutting him off again. “Because despite him deserting me, he’s still a nice guy. I think. But then, maybe I never knew him? I think I knew him, I felt like I did, but did I? Really? Would he think twice about hurting me? I just don’t know. All I know is that it’s awkward and weird right now, but that could be just on my side. He could be just fine, not seeing anything wrong. That would be just like a guy. No offense.”
“Uh, none taken.” Jason looked confused. “But…”
“In fact, he probably doesn’t think anything is wrong at all.” She paused, looking thoughtful. “Unless he’s laughing about me with his new friends behind my back. Then I’m a joke and I don’t even know it. Poor, plain, sad Brooke. They probably tell all kinds of stories and laugh, poking fun at me. No wonder I’m not invited anywhere anymore. Can’t make fun of me if I’m there, now, could they?”
“Oh, I really doubt…”
“You’re probably right. I’m too inconsequential to even make fun of. They’re just out having a good time without me, creating all sorts of new in-jokes they can toss about in front of me to show me how out of the loop I am. Not on purpose, no, because that would imply I was good enough - important enough - to spare a thought about. No, I doubt they think about me at all.” She shook her head and sighed. “There’s only one thing to do about it. Thanks, you’ve been a big help!”
She beamed at him and walked out of the café.
He sat back in his chair, a bemused smile on his face. “No problem, glad to be of help,” he said softly to no one in particular.
Author: smeddley
Challenge #: 18
Rating: G
Disclaimers: I have to stop watching the Disney Channel. Seriously. This is very 'emotional teenage girl angst' ridden. At least, I think it is, not sure if the tone and language is quite 'on.'
“Did you ever have a feeling, you know, where you knew you should do something, but it was for all the wrong reasons, and you’re not really sure if you even wanted to do it, but you thought you should?” Brooke paused and took a breath. “I mean, I feel like I should, but then I don’t, because I don’t know, it just seems right, but wrong, because I can’t justify it and I don’t want to be petty. Even though I don’t really think I am, I mean, people grow apart, things change, you move on, right?”
“I really have no idea what you just said,” Jason said slowly.
“Look, I’m trying to decide if I should end a friendship. I mean, we are drifting apart and all, and it’s not like he’d probably even notice, all wrapped up in his new friends like he is. But if I refuse to hang out with him any more, then I’ll look petty, maybe, that is, if he even asks me to go anywhere again. Goodness knows he hasn’t come by in awhile, anyway.” She bit her lip. “And I in a way, I want to be the one doing the dropping, you know? I want to get it circulating that I’m not interested in seeing him anymore, before it gets out that I’m off his A-list.”
“I’m still a little lost, here…”
“Because,” Brooke went on as if she hadn’t heard him, “there’s nothing worse than being the dumpee. I mean, not a dumpee as in we’re dating - because we’re not, you know - we’re just friends, but it’s still a relationship and everything, so I think the term ‘dumpee’ and ‘dumper’ are still relevant. But then, that’s - a dumpee - what I’m trying to make him, so does that make me a terrible person? I mean, if we just drift apart, then it’ll be no fault.” She smiled, and then frowned. “Please. Who’ll believe that. He’s the cool one, in the ‘in crowd’ - they’ll all know. I have to snub him publicly, and first, or everyone will know, or at least assume, that he’s the one who moved on.”
“I have no idea…”
“But I don’t want to hurt his feelings,” she continued, cutting him off again. “Because despite him deserting me, he’s still a nice guy. I think. But then, maybe I never knew him? I think I knew him, I felt like I did, but did I? Really? Would he think twice about hurting me? I just don’t know. All I know is that it’s awkward and weird right now, but that could be just on my side. He could be just fine, not seeing anything wrong. That would be just like a guy. No offense.”
“Uh, none taken.” Jason looked confused. “But…”
“In fact, he probably doesn’t think anything is wrong at all.” She paused, looking thoughtful. “Unless he’s laughing about me with his new friends behind my back. Then I’m a joke and I don’t even know it. Poor, plain, sad Brooke. They probably tell all kinds of stories and laugh, poking fun at me. No wonder I’m not invited anywhere anymore. Can’t make fun of me if I’m there, now, could they?”
“Oh, I really doubt…”
“You’re probably right. I’m too inconsequential to even make fun of. They’re just out having a good time without me, creating all sorts of new in-jokes they can toss about in front of me to show me how out of the loop I am. Not on purpose, no, because that would imply I was good enough - important enough - to spare a thought about. No, I doubt they think about me at all.” She shook her head and sighed. “There’s only one thing to do about it. Thanks, you’ve been a big help!”
She beamed at him and walked out of the café.
He sat back in his chair, a bemused smile on his face. “No problem, glad to be of help,” he said softly to no one in particular.