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She crosses her arms defensively, her eyes blazing with frustration. “Well, it certainly sounded like it. ‘If you need any help with transportation, just let me know.’ What am I supposed to make of that?”
I try to keep my own anger in check, but it’s getting more and more difficult by the second. “I meant exactly what I said. If you need assistance getting back to the city, I would be there for you. It’s not about wanting you to leave or pushing you away.”
“If you want me to leave so badly, I can call a cab or something.”
I shake my head in frustration. “That’s not what I want. I just want to make sure you’re taken care of.”
Susan looks at me skeptically. “Whatever. Just let me know when my car is ready.”
My frustration overrides my logic.
“Fine, Susan!” I retort, my voice tinged with frustration. “Let’s not forget that you were a trespasser in the first place! If it weren’t for the snowstorm, you wouldn’t have stayed with us this long anyway.”
I immediately regret the harshness of my words as they hang in the air, tension filling the room. Susan’s expression shifts from hurt to disbelief, her eyes welling up with tears.
“I…I can’t believe you would say that,” she stammers, her voice quivering. “I didn’t realize my presence was such a burden to you.”
I watch as Susan storms out of the room and up the stairs, her footsteps thumping heavily against the wooden steps. I can hear Ollie and Artie trying to say something to me, but I don’t care. My mind is racing.
How could she be so ungrateful after all we’ve done for her?
I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. I know I shouldn’t have brought up the fact that she was a trespasser, but I couldn’t help it. The truth is, we don’t know her, and she could have been anyone.
“Hey, hey, let’s all take a moment to cool down,” Artie urges, his voice calm but firm. “We’ve been through a lot together, and we don’t want things to fall apart now.”
Ollie chimes in, his tone soothing. “Ed, maybe it’s best if we take a breather and give Susan some space. Let her gather her thoughts upstairs.” He steps forward, his expression serious. “I understand your frustration, but we need to find a way to resolve this. Susan doesn’t deserve to be treated as an outsider, especially after everything we’ve been through together.”
“I’m not disregarding her feelings, but I refuse to be made out as the bad guy here. If she can’t understand our perspective, then maybe it’s better if she leaves.”
“You can’t be serious right now,” Artie says, shaking his head. “That’s extreme. You have to get that, Ed.”
“Don’t tell me you guys haven’t noticed how weird she’s been acting for the past few days.”
“Has it occurred to you that she doesn’t want to leave?” Ollie says.
His words give me pause. “What?”
Ollie sighs. “Don’t you see? The snowstorm has ended. There’s no reason for her to stay here anymore. Maybe she doesn’t want to leave. That’s why when you brought it up, it hit a nerve.”
I shake my head. “You have to admit that was an extreme reaction,” I say.
“Of course, I agree,” Artie says. “But let’s just consider what she’s feeling. Susan is just overwhelmed.”
And what about me?I want to say, but I realize that might make me sound like a petulant child.
“Get something into your head, Edward,” Ollie says, raking a hand through his hair in frustration. “If she fucking walks out of here, like this, because of you, I’ll never forgive you.”
“Then you’re free to leave with her,” I say.
“Guys, just chill,” Artie says. “Susan is more important right now.”
Ollie and I continue to glare at each other until Artie practically drags him away. “Come on, we’ll go talk to Susan. Help her calm down. She’s the more reasonable one anyway.”
“Ass-kissers,” I mutter under my breath.
Artie holds out a hand. “Ed, just, please. Can you not do this right now?”
As Artie and Ollie make their way upstairs to talk to Susan, I find myself torn between stubbornness and a nagging feeling of regret. Part of me wants to stand my ground, believing that Susan needs to understand the consequences of her actions. But deep down, I know that shutting her out completely isn’t the right approach.
