SETTLING THE FIGHT

         "What are you talking about?" Ethan asked, completely confused. 

       Tears were threatening to fall from Faith's eyes, but she tried her best to hold them back. She took in a deep breath so that her voice would be firm when she speaks. She went over to the sink and started touching her can food. 

      "Here, look at the things I kept in my fridge," she said, her voice betrayed her, it wasn't firm at all, it was tear-soaked. "I'm busy this period and I stuck my fridge with these so that I won't have to waste time cooking, but I came back tonight only for me to find that the remaining foods here were gone!"  Her voice was rising now.   "You ate all my foods and used my plates, littered the kitchen and even fought me! Like I don't have the rights to complain?!" 

     Ethan looked at Jennifer who was rolling her eyes at every word she said. 

       "Is that true?" 

      "You believe her?" Jennifer asked. "I don't believe this, that you believe this woman over there?" 

      "Just answer me, is she saying the truth or not?!" Ethan barked. 

      Jennifer glared at him and Faith stared at them.  "If you really wanna ask me about anything, come to the room," she said, eyed Faith and stormed out of the kitchen. 

       Ethan followed her.  "Jennifer! Jennifer!"  He left the kitchen too. 

       Faith let out a short cry when they left. She rubbed her hands over her face and looked around, then she shoved away everything that was on the table while screaming. What was happening to her? This was the reason she didn't want to leave with anyone. She wasn't ready for this, she didn't want to have to feel this way. 

      She drew a long stool, sat down and put her hands on her face, weeping. Her cravings for alcohol came again. She went to her fridge and took out the ice-cold bottle of aquavit, removed the cap and slurred it down like she was drinking water, crying all the while. 

      Ethan followed Jennifer to the room, he grabbed Jennifer by the arm and turned her to face him. 

       "Why did you go from there?" 

   Jennifer pouted and looked down petulantly. 

       "Did you do those things she accused you of?" 

       Jennifer slowly nodded, but raised her face immediately and started to explain.  "But I didn't know they were hers." 

      Ethan shut his eyes to soothe the anger that was surging in him. Faith has tried her best to maintain the boundary she created. Ethan knew that she gave those rules for a reason. Just one day he brought back a woman to the house, look what happened. 

      "I'm sorry," Jennifer said. 

       "Jennifer, did you see her name plaque on her fridge or not?" 

        "Alright, I saw it. I never knew she was this uptight. But, she slapped me." 

        "What did you say to her?" 

        "Are you siding her right now? I'm your girlfriend!"

        "That's not the issue here, Jennifer." 

       "Alright, I'm sorry then." 

          "You owe me no apology, you should go apologize to her." 

        "What?" Jennifer  glared at him like she saw a ghost.