Chapter 5
The next morning, Nick sat at the kitchen table, staring down at the phone. This should be easy, just call her up and talk to her, tell her how he felt. She'd understand and maybe he was just making a big deal out of it. She'd tell him that she was sorry, and things would go back to normal. With that thought in mind, he picked up the phone and dialed.
"Hello?"
"Vanessa."
"Hey baby. What's up?"
"We...we need to talk."
There was silence.
"Vanessa?"
"Yeah...ok. What did you want to talk about?"
Maybe this wasn't going to be so easy.
"I wanted to talk about us. You know things have been kinda strained lately."
"Mmm, yeah."
"So, how do you feel about it?"
"I think, I think you've been acting differently."
"You think so?"
"Yeah."
"How?"
"You just, you're so much more physical now. Always wanting to hold hands and make out and stuff and it's not like you."
"Vanessa, I've always done that. In the beginning you didn't seem to mind, you used to like it. Are you sure, it's not you that's acting different?"
"What are you saying?" Her voice suddenly cold.
"Well to me, you seem to be pulling away from me. You don't wanna hug me, have any sort of physical contact, shit Vanessa we don't even make love anymore."
"So that's what this is about right! You can't get laid and you're getting pissed off!"
"No that's not what this is about Vanessa! Are you even listening to me? I feel like I'm in this relationship by myself! You don't wanna go out or do anything anymore, we can't talk to each other cause you won't talk about anything but your job, nothing about us."
"Well I'm sorry, but my job is important to me. I like to share that with you."
"I'm glad you share that with me baby, I am. But what about everything else? Just hanging out, talking about non-work related things. You won't meet me halfway anymore. What's going on Vanessa, why don't you wanna be near me?"
"Ya know something? I don't need to take this from you ok! I don't need it right now. I thought you wanted to talk about what was wrong with us and instead you're blaming it all on me! If you can't talk to me the right way, then don't talk to me at all!"
She slammed the phone down hard causing Nick to flinch. He pressed the talk button and set the phone down on the table. That didn't go well at all, he felt horrible. He looked at his watch. It was still early yet; another six hours before Illana got home from work. He'd have to wait till then to talk to her, he had to do something; his relationship depended on it.
