Ethan
That was the last time I saw him. The last time I could remember feeling anything else aside from pain and sadness.
And yet, a few days before the destruction of the world, I was reunited with the one man I most certainly did not want to meet
"Wow," he said, "Has it really been a decade?"
"Not long enough." I replied.
"How have you been?" He asks, "Are you doing ok?"
"Seriously?" I turn to look at him. How could he ask me that question after what he put me through.
"Sorry," He began, "Who would be doing ok right now?" He was referring to the meteor rather than his cruel treatment of me.
"Not that I care," I started to say, "But why are you here?" I made sure to put as much resentment in my words as possible. The last thing I wanted was to spend more time than necessary with him.
Riley looked down at some of my books that he picked up and answered, "To tell you the truth, I had some books that were long overdue. I felt bad because I couldn't return them when I needed to."
"You're a bit late for that." I had a feeling he was trying to play with his words and make it seem like he was referring to something else other than the books. But again, I didn't care. I just started walking away from him, but unfortunately he followed after me.
"Well," he started. "Desperate times call for desperate measures. You have to squeeze in one last good deed to get to heaven."
Who the hell does he think he's trying to fool? "Heaven, really?" I responded. "Since when do you believe in anything involving religion?" I ask vehemently.
"Surprised?" He asked while I packed up my things and rolled my eyes at his stupid excuse. "We can't exactly talk here. How about we step outside?" he continued.
I just scoff at him and ask, "And why do I owe you a conversation?"
"C'mon Ethan," He replies, "We've just reunited as long lost friends."
"WE'RE NOT FRIENDS!!" I screamed as loud as I could, not caring if anyone heard me. I just kept looking at him with my eyes burning with hatred towards him.
"Excuse me," the kind Librarian approached us. "I don't know what is happening here, but could you both take this outside?"
"Sorry." We both said simultaneously.
Riley gestures with his arm towards the exit. "After you." he says to me.
Knowing he is not going to leave me alone, I defeatedly agreed to have that talk with him. As we made our way outside the library, towards the courtyard, One thing I was certain to do, was to make him realize what he did to me and if possible, hurt him just as bad or, preferably, worse.
Riley
I wasn't surprised that Ethan was extremely hostile with me. Not that I blame him. How I broke it off with him was downright cruel. But I have to let him know. He won't listen to me at first but I won't give up.
"Okay," He said angrily, "You want to talk? Let's talk."
I know that it's not the right time to be thinking about it, but the way he's angrily looking at me made me want to have angry hate sex with him right now. He can always turn me on, even when he doesn't mean to.
I shake that thought out of my head and pull out a pack of cigarettes. I take one out and offer him one, which he declines. I light up and take a drag off it and exhale.
"Since when did you start smoking?" he asked curiously.
A glimmer of hope shined through with that question. "Since I saw you last." I answered truthfully. I took up smoking hoping the habit would kill me since I was already dying inside. The fact that he asked me must mean he still cares about me even if he won't admit it.
Ethan just scoffs and looks towards the setting sun. It was a beautiful sunset, though there was a dark spot in front of the sun. It was the meteor. From this view, it looked like a small rock in front of a dim spotlight. But we knew better. The damned thing was still pretty far, but seeing it in front of a sunset was terrifyingly beautiful as a sight to behold.
"Spending the end of your days holed up in a library sounds just like you." I said to him, "Is there anyone special that you want to see?"
"No, there isn't."
"I see." I was hoping he would say that I was on that list, but what was worse than not being on the list was that he didn't have one. There was no one in his life and I am the reason for it.
"What about you?" he asked, "I'm sure you have plenty."
That hurt, but I deserve it. I know he wasn't trying to hurt me with that question, but I'm just like him. No, I had a list. There was only one person on it. Him.
"What about that actress you're dating?"
Old news. "We broke it off a long time ago." Truth was we weren't really dating. She was just someone I slept with, and accompanied to events. I didn't like going to any of them but since I was helping her produce her show I had to keep up appearances.
"You're still the same, I see." He retorted bitterly. If I didn't love him so much, I wouldn't endure this. He's really digging the metaphorical knife into my heart and twisting it.
"To be honest," I said to him. "I don't have a single person reaching out to contact me. I'm facing all this alone."
"That's karma for you." He was right. I do deserve this. But I will win him back.
"Ouch," was all I could say. "You've gotten pretty ruthless over the years."
We sat in silence for a few moments, watching the sunset. The speck in front of the sun is pretty small now, but it will become bigger as the days go by. Like I did back then, I will have to take the initiative and keep Ethan by my side, no matter what.
"Seeing that speck," I add, "reminds me that Earth is actually ending. I'd say fate brought us together. Why don't we spend our last days together?"
"Fuck no." He answered coldly.
"That's pretty harsh." I told him.
"Have you forgotten everything that you did to me?"
I take a drag out of my cigarette, thinking that it is the very reason why I need to spend time with him. I have to make this right even if it kills me.
I put my arm around him and look him in the eye. "I consider our time together to be good memories."
Ethan shrugs me off and puts distance in between us. "Well I don't."
"Please?" I beg of him. I try to reach for his hand, but Ethan stands up and flings his backpack over his shoulder and starts to leave.
"Now who's pathetic." He bitterly pointed out. "Have a nice fucking life and see you never."
I couldn't let him leave, not like this. I had another dilemma I had to deal with but I didn't want to involve him. This was my last chance. My trump card. And I have to play it.
"If I had a drug that would let you die peacefully, without pain, would you want it?"
Ethan froze in his tracks and slowly turned around. A puzzled look on his face when he faced me indicated that my plan worked. Although, I would have to explain about the other thing.
"What are you talking about?" He asked me.
"Look," I told him, "I'm sure death by meteor terrifies you. Well, guess what, I have that drug."
I pull out a packet of sealed capsules, enough for two doses and show it to him.
"Are you serious?" he asked curiously.
"It's yours if you want it." I said, "Provided that you help me out with another matter."
"Help you with what?"
I seriously did not want to involve him in this. But I had no other choice. I have to keep him with me so I can make things right with him. I put out my cigarette and look him in the eye, ready to explain myself to Ethan.
"I need your help disposing of a corpse."
Just then, Ethan showed many emotions on his face. It was a mix of disgust, horror, and curiosity. All he could respond with was "What?!"