Friend-Zoned (Friend-Zoned 1)

He shakes his head and I croak a desperate, “It’s just a misunderstanding, baby. ”

Nik’s face steels and he whispers viciously, “Don’t say another fucking word. ” He looks down and says, “You were my world. My everything. You really had me fooled. It was all just a game to you. A job. Never thought I’d end up with a woman like you. I loved you. Never believed I deserved you. But now that I know the real you, I don’t want you. So this works out okay. Another lesson learned. ”

Sobbing, I walk up to him and choke, “I love you, Nik. ”

He doesn’t look at me when he replies coldly, “Yeah, well, I don’t love you. ”

My heart shatters. I feel extremely light headed.

What have I done?

Nik moves passed me and nudges my body with his passing shoulder. In my weak state, the nudge feels more like a push. I stumble back and my heel catches. I fall. My back, shoulder and head hit the corner of his desk. Hard.

I sit on the floor a moment and mouth, “Ow. ”

Before I know what’s happening Max walks in. He takes in my weak form on the floor then Nik’s hard face. He storms up to Nik and gets right in his face and yells, “What the fuck is wrong with you? Get it under control, Nik. ”

I take this as my cue to get the hell out of there. Max continues to yell into Nik’s face.

I crawl forward a few steps, stand unsteadily, and catch my breath.

Then I’m gone.

***

Max is in my face yelling at me but I can’t make out any of the words he’s saying.

Blood roars in my ears. Anger, pain, and heart-break have left me drained.

I didn’t mean for Tina to fall. It was my fault, regardless, but I wished it hadn’t happened.

My office phone rings and I cut Max’s rant off by answering it, “Hello?”

Uncle Jerm asks, “You get the disc, son?”

I reply, “Yeah, Jerm. Thanks for the heads up. ”

Uncle Jerm tuts. “That girl of yours either has a death wish or loves you too damn much. Didn’t even flinch at going up against Omarr. ”

Wait, what?

Confusion settles over me and I ask, “Sorry, what?”

Uncle Jerm hesitates, “You see your girl this morning?”

I reply coldly, “Yeah. ”

He doesn’t say anything for a moment then sighs, “Please tell me you listened to the child. ”

I didn’t listen.

I retort

, “What was there to listen to, Jerm? She played me. End of story. ”

Uncle Jerm loses his cool composure and shoots back, “Well, your girl came to see me this morning with evidence that my nephew is planning a mutiny. She played Omarr and just put herself on the hit-list of a psychopath for the man she loves and to save the life of a drug dealing old man she barely knows. So I’d say there was a lot to listen to, son. ”

Fear makes my stomach dip.