I laughed. “Oh I don't know, Julie. One minute I'm out trying to have a drink with my friend, and then next thing I know she has disappeared, leaving me alone with a man who has stalked me in more ways than one.”
“I think you were in pretty good hands; otherwise I would not have left you there.”
I smiled softly. “Julie, why did you do it? I know you meant well, but what happened to the girl code? Why would you go to Jet and tell him about Tom? I did not want him to know anything about him.”
Julie frowned, looking sad. “I didn't think you would see it that way. I'm sorry if I did anything that made you feel like you can't trust me. That wasn't my intention.”
“Well, what was your intention?”
“I was trying to get you out of your funk. I didn't really believe you needed another drunken night, another hangover. I knew Jet would protect you, and he did, didn't he?”
“You could have just told him that I was sad. Why did you have to tell him about Tom? I found it embarrassing.”
“I'm sorry.”
“And then you left me there with Jet, whether I wanted to be there or not.”
“You didn't want to be with him?”
“That's not the point, Julie; you just left me there.”
“Are you mad at me or something?”
I sighed, taking a sip of my coffee; it was liquid perfection.
“No, I'm not mad at you. I just want to know what you were thinking, Julie. And in the future I want to know that you have my back, and not Jet’s.”
“Oh, Natalie, of course I have your back.”
“Well, I don't feel like you did last night at all.”
“You should be with Jet. That's all I meant to do that night. I wanted to have you focus on him instead of freaking out about Tom. You shouldn't have even been worrying about Tom. He's an asshole, and you deserve far better than him. Maybe Jet isn't perfect, and maybe he doesn't have the best reputation, but I believe that he cares a great deal about you. In fact, I have reason to believe he may adore you.”
“Oh, come on, Julie. I admit the guy likes me, but let’s not get carried away here.”
Julie sighed, shaking her head. “I am your best friend, Natalie, and you are mine. Please don't ever think I will put some guy above you. I was trying to protect you from Tom, and maybe I didn't handle it very well, but my intention was not to harm you in any way.”
“I know. I just wish you hadn't left. Why couldn't we all have just hung out? What if Jet had gone back to Katie? I would have been there alone.”
“You and I both know that Jet has no interest in Katie. Yes, she was pawing on him last night, but as soon as he saw me walking toward him, he dropped his hands from her immediately, and looked around for you. And when I explained to him what happened, he went to the bar immediately without even saying anything to Katie, not even goodbye. He walked away without looking back at her. And that girl was pissed! She glared at me before she went to talk to that roommate of his.”
I stared into my coffee, unsure of where to go after that moment. I was confused about the events that happened that night. Not only that, but I wasn't sure how I felt about Julie's involvement. She was my friend. I knew that she would do anything for me. I just didn't like being forced into situations that were beyond my control. Yes, everything turned out for the best, but what if it hadn't? What if Jet had left me alone last night? I'm not sure that I would ever have forgiven her if Jet had left me in the bar alone.
“Natalie, what happened after I left? Did something bad happen?”
“No, nothing bad happened.”
“Then why are you unhappy with me?”
“Because I didn't know if something bad was going to happen. I have trust issues, obviously. So from now on, don't assume that you know what I need or want. I want to make my own choices. If you leave me alone again, I'm not going to be very happy with you. I hope you can understand that.”
She nodded, although she still looked a little sad. It was obvious she hadn’t expected this reaction, and maybe even thought I was being unreasonable.
“I was just trying to be a good friend and help you along with Jet. You guys have been stuck in a perpetual circle for months now. I just feel like you should either give it a shot or let him go. I think you are killing yourself by ending up in his bed all the time, and then running away from him. Don't you see that?”
“I admit that I have been a bit of a mess lately, but do you blame me?”
She laughed. “Of course not. Tom put you through the wringer. But that's why I don't want you to focus on Tom?to worry about him or stress. He's not worth it, Natalie. Ignore him and move on with someone else. Either Jet or someone else.”