Hide 'n' Seek

Dang! It’s dark out here.

Well, duh! It’s nighttime.

Actually, it isn’t.

Isn’t what?

Night.

Of course it is.

Nuh uh. It’s after midnight. So technically, it’s morning.

Well, it is early morning.

Very early morning.

Middle of the night morning.

That it is.

Still dark as night morning.

It really is. Dark as night.

Too dark to be out walking.

That is definitely true.

Too dark to be out walking alone.

Not the best idea I ever had.

You should have thought about that.

Agreed. I definitely should have thought about that.

Before you left.

I should have thought about that before I left.

Before you stormed off.

I did not storm off.

You left in a huff.

I didn’t slam any doors.

But everybody knew you were mad.

I left quietly.

You snuck out.

I stepped outside to get a breath of fresh air.

You went outside because you were mad.

Yes, I was mad. So I left.

It’s your house.

I needed some space.

It’s your party.

Some party.

Everyone seems to be having a great time.

Not me!

Things not working out like you planned?

Not exactly.

Not at all.

So I left.

So you stormed off.

So I left. Quietly.

So you stormed off in a secretive kind of way.

I wasn’t thinking.

No, you definitely were not thinking.

I was mad.

What else is new?

What does that mean?

It means you are always mad.

I’m not always mad.

You are often angry.

People often give me a reason to be.

If only they would do what you want them to do….

That would help.

Life doesn't work that way, kiddo.

Tell me about it.

I just did.

I can’t believe they’re making out.

They like each other.

That much is obvious.

You knew that already. You knew they liked each other.

But it’s my house.

It’s a party.

It’s my party!

You invited them. You invited both of them.

I didn’t think they would hook up.

You knew they might hook up.

I didn’t think they would hook up right in front of me.

They were not right in front of you.

Might as well have been.

They went somewhere private.

They went to my brother’s bedroom.

They wanted to be alone together.

In my house!

At a party.

Who does that?

Who doesn’t?

I don’t!

No, you don’t.

I would never.

Don’t pretend that you are offended.

I am offended.

You are not offended. You’re hurt.

I’m hurt, and I’m offended.

And jealous.

I’m pissed!

You are hurt and jealous, so you stormed off.

I was trying not to cause a scene.

By storming off?

By leaving.

On foot? In the middle of the night? By yourself?

I was upset.

You didn’t think that was a scene?

I was trying to give myself time to cool off.

This is you trying to cool off?

This is me trying to handle my anger constructively.

Storming off on foot in the middle of the night by yourself?

It’s better than throwing things.

Or hitting someone?

Yes. It’s definitely better than hitting someone.

Is it helping?

Not really.

You could have just talked to them about it.

I was too upset to talk.

You were jealous.

I was hurt.

You were jealous.

They are supposed to be my friends.

They are your friends.

But she knows I like him.

And you know she likes him, too.

But it’s my house. My party.

But he is not your boyfriend.

But he likes me. I know he likes me.

He likes to play with your boobs.

It’s more than that.

Is it really?

He talks to me.

He talks to a lot of people.

He really talks to me.

I’m sure he talks to her, too.

He talks to me about secrets.

I’m sure they have a few secrets, too.

He talks to me about dreams.

I'm sure he talks to her, too.

He says I'm special.

That doesn't mean he likes you.

I know he likes me.

It doesn't mean he wants to date you.

He likes me. He trusts me. He says I'm pretty.

But he has never asked you out.

He kissed me.

It was a party.

But he really kissed me.

It was a game.

It was a really good kiss.

He was trying to impress her.

It’s not the only time he’s kissed me.

Yeah, he kisses you when he’s drunk.

That’s not the only time.

He kisses you when he’s drunk or lonely.

That's not true.

He kisses you when he's drunk or lonely and you’re the only girl around.

That’s mean.

What? For me to say it? Or for him to do it?

I don’t wanna talk any more if you’re gonna be mean.

What are you gonna do? Run away? You already did that.

I did not run away. I left.

You left.

I left so I wouldn’t make a scene.

What kind of scene?

I don’t know.

Yes you do.

A fight. I didn’t want to fight.

Why not?

They’re my friends.

Friends fight.

But they might not be my friends anymore.

So?

I don’t have a lot of friends.

Just because you fight doesn’t mean you can’t be friends anymore.

My parents fought.

Your parents fought a lot.

They fought, and then Daddy left.

He didn’t leave you.

No, but he might as well have.

He calls.

Occasionally.

He calls.

I don’t know why. He never has anything to say.

You know why.

Because he loves me?

Because he loves you.

He says we understand each other.

You don’t like that?

How can we understand each other? We never talk.

He tries.

He doesn’t try very hard.

At least he tries.

Her father doesn’t even try.

She never hears from him.

Maybe that’s why she likes Pete.

He’s a good listener.

He’s a very good listener.

That’s why you like him.

I feel safe with him.

Maybe she does, too.

I need to go home.

You shouldn’t have left.

I didn’t think I’d be gone this long.

You didn’t think.

I just had to get away.

You thought they would come after you.

If they cared, they would have come after me.

They don’t even know you’re gone.