IC CONTACT.

[glassbox]

it's diamond lil.
leave a message, hon.

Comments

[glassbox]

[ once renee stops, her grip on renee's arm loosens, but lingers. ]

Hon, honestly? He didn't say all that much. Just that y'were on the rocks an' that he loves you. He asked me t'tell you that he wants a second chance. That's all.

[withamask]

"On the rocks"? [ Shaking her head, Renee scoffs. ]

Lil, this isn't some kind of breakup. We're not— [ A frustrated pause. How does she describe this situation without divulging too much detail? In exasperation, one arm extends in front of her to gesture in the air. ]

We never were anything.

[glassbox]

[ her other hand moves to gently grasp renee's other arm, though it's meant to be calming this time -- not restraining. her thumbs rub against renee's sleeves soothingly. ]

Okay, okay. I'm just tellin' you what I heard, alright? [ she exhales. ] Look, if I upset you, then I'm sorry. But y'never talk about this stuff. How the hell am I supposed t'know? Maybe Harvey's crazy, but all I got is what he said t'me. An' it seemed real, when he said he loves you.

[withamask]

[ Those words seem to pacify her, and she exhales as well. There's a long stretch of silence, as she debates continuing toward the house. However, she ultimately doesn't move. ]

It's not exactly an easy thing to talk about.

[glassbox]

I know that.

[ she lets her hands drop from renee's arms. ]

But I thought we were friends.

[withamask]

[ Renee pauses, eyes widening a bit before her brow furrows. She reaches out to touch Lil lightly on the arm. ]

We are friends.

[ A defeated sigh, as her hand falls back to her side. The anger she felt only moments ago has turned into exhaustion. ]

Lil, listen...

He's an insane stalker. He ruined my life. I don't know how to just bring that up in conversation.

[glassbox]

It ain't jus' that. I mean -- y'never talk about anythin' personal. Honestly, I barely know you.

[ she doesn't know why this suddenly seems important. maybe discussing it like this reminds her of other people that matter to her -- other people who don't let her in. it feels like she's always fighting for it. ]

I'm always tellin' you shit about my life. 'Cause I trust you. Is it 'cause y'don't trust me?

[withamask]

That's not—

[ But isn't it? It's a flaw Renee has always struggled with: being emotionally distant, concealing too much from others, even those closest to her.

With a soft exhale, she shakes her head. Her next words are weighed down by guilt and frustration, yet also sound a bit defensive: ]

Can we talk about this later? There are bigger issues here.

[glassbox]

Bigger issues like what?

[ she puts her hands on her hips, her own frustration starting to show. ]

I ain't lettin' y'go in there an' pick a fight with Harvey, Renee.

[withamask]

[ Her brow furrows. ]

Didn't you hear what I just said? He's crazy! He's a criminal, a murderer. He needs to be stopped.

[glassbox]

[ stubbornly, she refuses to move, continuing to stand in the way. ]

I talked t'him. He ain't that crazy. Anyway, can y'really blame 'im? Love makes people crazy, alright, an' it only gets worse if someone don't love y'back.

[withamask]

[ Her arms lift in the air, complementing the disbelief and anger on her expression. ]

Are you really taking his side?

[ Renee takes a deep breath, reminding herself to calm down. Whatever lies Harvey's filled Lil's mind with, it's not her fault. ]

[glassbox]

I'm sympathizin' a little, yeah.

[ she rises to the accusation with heat in her voice, hands impatiently finding her hips. it's an emotional response that makes her argue now -- something not fully rooted in logic, influenced by her own past experiences. ]

Look, y'don't have t'give him another chance if y'don't want. But I ain't gonna let y'go in an' fight with him, I told y'already. Bad enough he's pinin' for you.

[withamask]

[ That's it. She's tired of this nonsense. With clenched fists, her arms fall back down, and she tries to move past Lil. The other woman may be stubborn, but so is Renee. ]

[glassbox]

[ her height and build gives her an advantage when she moves to stop renee again, catching her a second time by the arms, her voice more forceful than her grip: ]

Don't.

[withamask]

[ It's a futile effort, yet Renee still tries to pull away. The anger builds in her voice. ]

Get your hands off me.

[glassbox]

[ lil's grip stays firm, but temper breaks in her face. ]

Hey. Who the hell y'think you're talkin' to?

[withamask]

[ Renee struggles for a few more seconds before giving a low, bitter exhale. ]

I could ask you the same question. That bastard ruined my life, and you're defending him.

[glassbox]

Y'didn't tell me he ruined your life. He didn't tell me anythin' about him at all. I had t'find out once I startin' livin' with him.

[ her grip lingers, even after renee stops struggling against her. ]

Anythin' else y'feel like tellin' me? Something a friend might need t'know?

[withamask]

[ Her eyes narrow, and with more strength, Renee yanks her arms away and starts to storm off. This time, however, in the opposite direction of the house. ]

[glassbox]

[ lil makes a huffing, irritated noise, starting to follow after her. ]

Renee. Renee. Where the hell are y'goin'?

[withamask]

[ Renee doesn't reply, instead continuing on her way. She realizes that she's too overwhelmed with emotion to think clearly and needs to calm down before she does something she'll regret. ]

[glassbox]

[ after a while, she stops following, just calling after renee one more time with something both unhappy and impatient in her voice: ]

Renee.

[withamask]

[ She doesn't stop, nor even glance back.

There's conflict etched on her countenance, but her back is turned and obscures it from view. ]