[The STE]

part 2:
Brief interlude, more back-story on your humble narrator. I'm really unlikable. It apparently doesn't transfer via Internet, because I'm not rampantly hated here. Nor am I rampantly hated anywhere else, but I know that I'm unlikable. I should, I spend more time with me than anybody else does. And don't think I didn't tell her this. For the first month I actually tried talking her out of us having any sort of relationship. "But, Sam, wouldn't just not getting into a relationship at all work if that's the case?" Sure, Imaginary Quote Person, but I'm selfish, and obscenely perverted, and if we're in a relationship then that leads, in theory, to loud obnoxious sex. So, it works out for me. But, given that I'm unlikable, and avoid people, I hadn't had any sort of girlfriend before. I'm trying to get this so that it doesn't sound all mushy, because I hate that, but the terminology isn't helping.

Next time I saw her was the homecoming dance. I know, I KNOW, but shut up. 'Side from a brief makeout...uh...and us having loud obnoxious sex behind the bleachers (*cough*)...fine, I'm lying about that last part. 'Side from that, it's largely uneventful. Between then and the Halloween party, I was at her house, which was about the same as the Homecoming dance as far as eventfulness goes. Halloween party rolls around (I'm a priest, btw), and is seemingly going to be even less eventful. And then it wasn't. I will again spare details, but this time for a different reason.

At this time, we still eat lunch (by eat, again, I mean that we don't) on the same shift. Along with her friend Diane, and our mutual friend Ruben. Ruben drove me home from the Halloween party, and bought a copy of my movie (The Good, The Bad, and The Iliad) for $10. I got half, the other person who was involved as part of the school project got half. But I digress.

School went on about the same. However, Diane and Emmet seemed to have developed a habit of taking Jasmine off, so that I specifically can't hear, and talking to her about something. Out of curiosity, I'd ask what it was about, and it was usually some stupid shit that would warrant any kind of secrecy. That was, of course, when I was told what it was about. But whatever. Then, the semester was over. We're nearing the end, don't worry.

Over the winter vacation, I didn't see her at all. Actually, I did see her on New Year's Day, which was when her birthday party was. Nothing of note happened here. This semester, we did not eat on the same lunch shift. We didn't see each other after any of our classes. Just before and after school, and she seemed to be awfully avoidant of me. Dear reader, we can now cue any ominous music you might have lying around. The first Friday back, there was a science club meeting. Hilton (yet another mutual friend) came in and said to me that Jasmine told him to tell me that she wouldn't be there. He also said that she told him why, but didn't want me to know. He told me anyways. Apparently she went to look for a job with Ruben. Uh-huh.

She did stop by briefly, I asked why she couldn't stay, and she just said that she was leaving. After science club, the subject comes up, and I was told, in no uncertain terms, that both Emmet and Sherri had seen Jasmine either making out with or way too close to Ruben after sixth hour one day. Not through any grapevines, either. This was told to me directly from the two of them. Now, I've seen Raging Bull, and O, and Chasing Amy (which doesn't fit as good as the other two, but still holds some relevancy). Having seen these, I can assume that the mature and logical thing to do is ask her direct. Because I trusted her, but this is not something one can ignore. But...and, reader, there always is a but, I did not ask that question first. I asked where she was during Science Club. Whether or not this was a bad move or not, I do not know, but it hardly matters at this point. Regardless, she flat out said she didn't want to tell me. Then I asked about the cheating. I get what is either a very rehearsed, defensive, or annoyed spiel as a reply, telling me that she isn't cheating and that if she were going to cheat she would just break up with me. Fair enough, although a simple "no" would have sufficed. In e-mailing her, filling her in on what she missed during the meeting, I say that I don't think she's cheating on me. It seemed smart, and I thought showed that I trusted her. Since, you know, I did and all. Now...show of hands...who would have thought that would be a bad move? Apparently there will be more than 0 hands up.

I get a note that Monday, telling me that she doesn't care what I think at this point, and going on to say that it would be best if I didn't tell her what I think, and going on even further to reiterate that she was not cheating on me, and that if she were, she would have just broken up with me, and make it perfectly clear that we are broken up and she wants someone new. Fair enough, even though the note mostly consists of bullshit excuses to be pissed at me. Also, the fact that this was in note form and she didn't say two words to my face was also a bit infuriating. But what I did could have been construed as an accusation. Fine. It's stupid, but God help me, I'll put up with some stupid stuff in some circumstances. The next day, nothing of note. However, on Wednesday, Cody (friend of mine, apparently of hers as well) says that he heard that we were broken up and that Ruben told him that he and Jasmine were going out. Suspicious, yes, but one person hearing something from someone else is hardly evidence. But then at lunch, an acquaintance, whose name escapes me, asks why Jasmine and me broke up, and had heard that we were broken up from Emmet. So, I ask her. I actually have to seek her out after school and ask if we are broken up. As you probably have guessed, the answer was yes. I sarcastically thank her for making it perfectly clear, and that was the last we spoke.

In hindsight, she was cheating on me after all. Her one defense was that if she were cheating on me she would make it clear that we were broken up, and I had to track her down to get this information. Perhaps she didn't get the chance to tell me. She was standing not 2 FUCKING feet from me for a good 3 or 4 minutes before school. So, she was cheating on me. I didn't think she was when we were going out, but I did afterwards, but since we aren't dating I don't care. Some of the stuff involved still pisses me off, though. Like the fact that when I was told she was cheating on me, it came after a half-serious statement from me that, *cough* she was cheating on me */cough*. Their reaction was like I had just figured out something that was common knowledge. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but is this not the kind of shit you tell someone? The fact that seemingly everybody knew, including Emmet, for quite a while pretty much negates every nice thing they've done. This is where the title of this thread comes from. The shitty high school production of Closer. So, I've cut ties with all of them, and have gone back to my corner. Right where I started. It's not nearly as boring as I remember it being.



...maybe I should have gone with Amanda instead.


The point of all this? Possibly venting, or getting all the memories of this straightened out. There must have been a point somewhere where I could have walked away feeling nothing. I must have missed it. Oh, well, I'll know better for next time.