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1281 Words
Spencer frowned. She hated him. She really hated him. He told her the truth, as kindly as he could.
But then he should've known. Bailey wasn't like other women. She needed more. She always felt inadequate, not enough. She was.
She was more than enough.
But he knew she would take hard. Harder than most people. But... He thought...maybe they could be friends.
He should've said that then. Too late now. Everything he said was tainted. The little relationship they had was gone.
But he had other friends; she didn't.
Would it have killed him to just...be with her and not acknowledge her feelings?
He thought would be worse. They hang out, they talk, they share moments together and when feelings come into the picture—drop her like a bad habit.
He couldn't do that. He wouldn't.
But now, now all he wanted was for things to go back to how they were. He was learning so much about her. She was fascinating and she was good to be around.
She was sweet, and had the most beautiful smile. He rarely saw it.
Rarely saw her at all. She told him not to call her Treasure—but he always called her that, that's what he thought of her as.
A treasure.
The next day, he knocked on the door again, determined. He would set things right, and things would go back to normal.
They could be friends again.
She only answered the door because she was expecting a package.
At the site of her, she shook her head.
"Wrong order."
"Wait," He opened the door, making her scoff and roll her eyes.
"Why can't you just stay in your apartment?"
"Because we're friends."
She scoffed once more. "No we're not. You said you didn't want to be friends, I respected your wishes. Now respect mine and leave."
Spencer floundered.
"I never said I didn't want to friends—"
She turned to him looking very tired and very depressed.
It hurt.
"All I asked was if you wanted to hang out, that's what friends do. You said you didn't want that right now, so..."
She shrugged. "Now that you know, get out."
It burns when I look at you she wanted to add.
Spencer clenched his jaw.
"I didn't mean I—"
"It doesn't matter. We're not friends. We're not gonna be friends. We're gonna be neighbors."
"So back to your house neighbor."
Spencer refused to leave without her friendship.
"Treasure all I meant was—"
"You assumed that because I'm insecure, with low self-esteem, and practically no self-worth, that one sweet thing and I was gonna cling to you."
She scoffed. "I knew what you meant. And if that's how you look at me, that's how you feel, I don't want to be your friend."
Spencer swallowed, looking down. She was right. How stupid he was.
"It was a mistake and I—"
"It was a manifiestion of what you believed me to be. It's only a mistake now, when your realized you're wrong."
Damn it!
"Treasure listen to me—"
Bailey was exhausted. She just wanted to sleep and cry.
"I am not your treasure. I'm not your anything. But you're right this was gonna blow up in my face eventually.' she shrugged.
"I was perfectly fine until I met you, Spencer. I was content being alone. Leave me alone."
She shook her head he he tried to speak.
"You can you argue with the air if you want. I'm going to sleep."
She turned her back to him and disappeared into the room. He heard the lock click.
She was right. Everything she said was right. He thought she would latch on to him, because he showed her attention.
Now he realized he's a pretentious asshole.
Instead of her latching on to him, turns out she detached from him completely.
She cast him aside with the other disappointments.
He was.
But he did learn something about her.
When you stab Bailey in the back, she will pull out the knife and look at you.
And she will see right through you.
You cease to exist to her, you are effaced from her Earth.
That's worse than anything else. Going from something to nothing, and knowing it was your fault.
As the days when on, Bailey pulled herself out of her depression. She pasted on a smile and got to writing.
When she went out, she would greet him cordially and keep going.
Like a stranger.
She started gaining back her weight, which he was so happy about. She went on a walk at two pm every day.
He would rush out to greet her. Everyday:
"How are you?" She'd smile and keep going. His heart felt shattered.
At least if she hated him, he was on her mind. He was someone to her.
Valentine's day came up, and Spencer had jitters. He wanted to give her something.
So he bought her chocolate, a stuffed panda and a dozen white roses.
He waited until she got back, bouncing on his feet. He was nervous. Vince shook his head.
"Why don't you just ask her out?"
"She's more complicated than that. Especially now."
Just then, she jogged up the stairs with a bag.
"Hey," He called to her.
"Hey," she smiled.
"I got you something."
She smiled again, genuinely, opening the door.
"They're gorgeous. Please in, I'll them in a vase."
He breathed a sigh of relief.
"So you have any plans this Valentine's?" She smirked him, "A girl?"
He frowned. He didn't her to want him to be with another girl.
"No. No. None of that. I got you a stuffed panda. It was cute, so I got for you."
She hugged it. "That's sweet of you."
He smiled. Happiness flooding into him.
"I'm glad you like it. I put the chocolates down on the cabinet, I hope you do—"
"I don't mind. Actually I got something you too."
"You did?" He smiled, he felt good.
"Yeah. I actually got you a panda too because it was cute and fluffy and I wanted to see you hold it," She grinned.
"Thank you," he took the fluffy bear from her. "I love it."
Because it came from you.
"And I got Vince a burrito. It's in the other bag."
He nodded. Tucking his hands in pockets, he looks down nervously.
"I was thinking we could do something together,"
Her smile faltered. "When I get burned even unintentionally, I don't walk back into the fire."
Spencer's eyes pleaded with her. "Insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results."
She smiled sadly. "I would be insane to try again. You aren't the first. Don't feel bad."
He sighed heavily. His eyes downcast. "I understand."
She walked him to the door, putting her arms around her neck she hugged him.
"I don't think you do. But that's okay. Thank you for the gifts. Happy Valentine's day, Spencer."
Spencer just savoured the moment. Her body against his. Her affection and attention. In that moment he was someone to her.
Then that moment ended, and he sulked back to his Apartment.
Vince stood there, eyeing him sadly.
"You okay?"
"I don't exist."
Vince frowned. "What?"
"I don't exist to her anymore. I'm a stranger she's met before."
"How did this happen Vince."
He shrugged. "I don't know. She ignores you?"
"That's the worst part. No. She smiles, greets me. Like she doesn't know me. Like I'm just...the neighbor. Not her neighbor, the neighbor.".
"Maybe it's for the best."
"It's not!" He roared "What's for the best is her talking to me again. Me calling her Treasure, her looking at me. Not through me."
- Writer
