Will It Stay Together?

Author's Note: I wrote this story with the help of my friend, Celeste. Check her out and her part of this story! (This is Baneenkani's (Kani's) point of view.)

Brown cardboard boxes were stacked high everywhere in the living room. Well, what would be the living room. For now, it was just another empty space in the small apartment. The only thing that was in it, other than the boxes, was Garnet (my boyfriend) and myself. 

“It’ll be different, that’s for sure. But I think we can turn it into a home. Together,” I fantasized. Garnet grinned at me as he walked towards me. He leaned towards me and pressed his lips on mine. The kiss lingered for a moment, my hand on one side of his face. Once we released each other, I walked down the hall and into our bedroom, where only a mattress laid. 

Our bedroom. Our bedroom. Wow, that feels to good think. I thought. The floorboards creaked under my weight as I shuffled to the mattress. The moment my head hit it; I was asleep. 

--- 

Four weeks later, the furniture has arrived and been set up, and most of the boxes have been unpacked. In the past week, things had been tensed between Garnet and me. It was odd. It had happened all of a sudden. Garnet argued with everything I had to say about the house—everything good I had to say, that is. It seemed that he was constantly miserable with the living situation. 

One Friday night, Garnet and I were in the kitchen, making Hamburger Helper and salad. It was a normal Friday meal for us. I stood at the counter, mixing lettuce, cheese, bacon pieces, ranch, tomatoes, cucumbers, and croutons. Garnet lazily stirred the Hamburger Helper concoction, then put the cover to the pan on it. 

“Can’t believe that you chose this small of a kitchen,” Garnet snarled. I stopped preparing the salad to glare at him. 

“When we bought it, you said that this kitchen would work for us fine. So that’s on you,” I snapped back. The muscles in my jaw tightened and I could practically feel the anger burning in my eyes. He was really getting on my last nerve. Had been for the last week. 

“Maybe, but there still isn’t enough counter space.” 

“Oh, shut up. You don’t have enough space in your brain to hear the good.” I slid the salad bowl down the counter, towards where we would eat, and put my hands on my hips. 

“Whatever, Kani. Now it appears that I’ve lost my appetite. You can finish cooking for yourself. I’m going over to Todd’s house to watch the game.” Without letting me say another word, Garnet put his coat on and stormed out the door. 

I was left there, standing in the heart of our home, alone. 

--- 

“Pass the potatoes,” Garnet ordered. Even though Garnet said that exactly, it sounded like a whole bunch of grumbling to me. That’s all he did anymore. 

“What?” I glared at him out of the corner of my eye. 

“I said, pass the potatoes!” Garnet cried, angry. He had changed so much in the past weeks. Ever since we’d moved in. Then I realized what it was: moving in changed him. It changed him immediately. And even though it hurt me, I ignored that fact because I loved our house. 

“Here, then,” I growled, sliding the bowl of cheesy potatoes down the table to him. He grabbed it quickly and harshly. A scowl was covering his face, and he did nothing to try to hide it from me. 

“I’m gonna get some milk.” I got up from my chair and began padding into the kitchen before Garnet stopped me. 

“Come again?” 

“I said I’m going to get some milk. You got a problem with that?” I snarled. 

“No. Go on.” Garnet stuffed his face with a forkful of potatoes. 

“Glad I know I have your permission.” 

--- 

“When a person has a problem with the decisions that another person is making, a person should talk to the person instead of complaining about that person to that person’s best friend,” I babbled. Garnet made his eyes slits; the confusion was written across his face. 

“All this person talk is making me dizzy. Talk in a foreign language, why don’t you?” Garnet rhetorically asked. What was this guy talking about?! What I said made perfect sense. If anything, his talking made zero sense. 

“Ah, shut up. Ever since we moved in here, you’ve hated me, hated this house, and not cared about any of it! I’m sick and tired of having to worry about what you’re going to think, about how you’ll react. So, I’m not going to anymore! Lilah doesn’t believe you about all of the stuff you told her--I’m just going to go stay with her. Don’t expect me to be back any time soon,” I fumed. 

“Fine! I don’t care! It’ll be a relief to not have to be heckled about my personal opinions. And I thought when we first started dating, that you would respect my beliefs.” Garnet stormed out of the kitchen and into our bedroom. I jumped as the door slammed. 

--- 

My words were backed up with actions. I took all of my things, packed them away, and moved to my best friend Lilah’s house. I stayed there for a good month. She welcomed me gladly and helped me in my bad moments about Garnet. Lilah understood those times (she had had a divorce just a year ago). After that month, I decided to go back home. God, I wish I didn’t. 

--- 

“Why’d you come back? I thought we were over,” Garnet said. My eyes threw daggers at him as I put my tee shirts in the dresser. He was sitting on the edge of the bed. 

“What the heck?! No! I just need a break, okay? We never decided that we’re ‘over’. So shut your mouth.” I slammed the dresser drawer close and ambled to the closet, hanging up more of my clothes. 

“Well, maybe I did want to decide that. Maybe I’m sick of living with you and your petty attitude, and the fact that you can’t come to terms with the fact that we have different opinions.” Garnet stood up from the bed and I could feel him staring at the back of my head. I spun around and stared at him in the eye. 

“Fine! If you want that, then you can pack up and move out! I’m over you, too! Get out! You never liked this place, anyway!” Tears filled my eyes as I flung my arms out, then let them drop to my sides. 

“Fine! This is what I wanted! I’ve always wanted out! Bye!” Garnet screamed. He stomped out of the bedroom. I listened to his footsteps make the floorboards creeeeeeak under his weight. When the front door slammed, I jumped before collapsing to the floor, sobbing. I don’t know how long I stayed there, just crying. I was alone, and that was going to be true for a long time.