Emily could instantly tell the
just-turned-twenty-one crowd apart from those who had been
frequenting bars and other establishments that served alcohol for
years by how loud they talked and laughed. The typical frat boys
always made as much noise as possible as they shuffled outside to
smoke and then return inside, always checking out the same girls in
the booths (like Ariel) on their route to and from, in what she
assumed was some sort of primal method of establishing dominance in a
pack ruled by seniority.
“Do you think that guy over there is
checking me out?” Ariel cocked her head behind her towards the bar,
where the bartender was still stealing the occasional glance at their
table.
“I don't know.”
“He's kinda cute.”
“I suppose.” Emily noticed Ariel
still had her phone in one hand, and she glanced at it occasionally
between bites of food.
“Mmm,” Ariel swallowed her food,
“did you hear this one. Someone just posted this link on my wall.
This news headline says 'Suicide now leading cause of death by
injury' or something. Hmm.”
Emily looked up. “What?”
Ariel looked up. “What?”
“What did you just say? Read that
again. What does it say?”
“Too long, didn't read,” she waved
her hand as if shooing a fly.
“Whatever.” Emily rested her chin
on her hand and turned her attention the other way. Ariel continued
looking at stuff on Facebook, watching videos and laughing at
people's pictures. Finally Emily realized they had found something to
talk about. “What do you think accounts for that?”
“What?”
“Why do you think so many people
commit suicide nowadays?” She leaned forward.
Ariel looked puzzled. “How should I
know? Aren't we in a recession?”
“Well, sure,” Emily trailed off,
frowning. “But...”
“Oh for Christ's sake, Emily,”
Ariel put her phone down on the table and looked at her. “Don't do
this. I'm trying to have a good time.”
“What are you talking about?”
“This. What you always do. Let's
just talk about something else. You always want to give some lecture
or start a debate.”
Emily gritted her teeth. “You
haven't said more than three words to me since we've been here, and
now you come at me like this? What the fuck?”
“Oh, don't patronize me. This is so
typical of you. I'm not here to argue, and I'm not here to let you
put me down just so you can feel superior.”
“What does that even mean?”
“Just because I didn't get a fancy
degree doesn't make me less intelligent than you.”
Emily's eyes widened. “When did I
even begin to imply that?” Her voice went up a register. “All I
wanted was to have a conversation with you. You know? Actual talking?
Instead of just your new favorite songs on the radio or what's o n
MTV. Don't you remember how to do that?” She put her hands up.
“Well, I apologize. I must have been asking for way too much.”
“You know what?” Ariel slammed her
hand down on the table and grabbed her phone in one motion. “Fuck
you. You used to be cool. Then you went to school and decided to get
all philosophical and worldly. You haven't even left the United
States. What have you done with your life? You work in advertising.”
Emily's face reddened slightly in
spite of herself.
“Exactly.” Ariel leaned back and
took a breath. “I get it. You think I'm so shallow and fake. But at
least I don't try to be someone I'm not. You know what? You're the
one who's fake.”
Emily slowly started to become very
confused. “Ariel, wait,” she started.
“No. I'm going to sit here, drink my
drink, and then leave. You can...” she waved her hand again, “do
whatever.”
She looked around and felt lost. “No,
please. I don't want to fight. Ariel? Let's just talk.”
Silence.
“Please. I just need to talk to
someone.”
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