Juliana's pov
"What in the name of God is going on here?" Maggie asks, looking at the mess in my bedroom. I have removed almost every dress I own and they are scattered everywhere. I am supposed to go on a brunch date with Marcus today but I still can't decide on what to wear.
"Trying to find something to wear for my date with Marcus," I tell her. Maggie just stares at me for what feels like an hour and then shakes her head.
"What time is your date?"
"It's at ten I only have one hour twenty-five minutes remaining. I want to look beautiful, Maggie but nothing here is good enough," I tell her, removing some more clothes.
"Are you having a date in the morning?" Maggie asks.
"Yes, we are having brunch at the buzz."
"So it's just brunch then, there is no need for you to be all worked up, Just wear anything, Don't make a big deal out of it."
The way that Maggie is talking is like she doesn't know how important this is for me. I am going on a date with someone I like after so long and the one person I want to support me thinks it's not a big deal. I have noticed changes in Maggie's behavior these past few days, it's like the Maggie I know is slipping away slowly. She doesn't even spend time with me anymore.
"This is not just brunch Maggie, this is a very important date for me. I thought you of all people would be happy for me. You always told me to go out there and have fun but now that I have, you don't even seem happy about it." I tell her.
"The World doesn't revolve around you Julie, I also have a fucking life I can't just concentrate on yours. Do whatever the fuck you want to do and wear whatever the fuck you want to wear. I don't give a shit anymore." She says storming out of my room.
I don't know what's wrong with Maggie but I am going to find out. I follow her into the kitchen where she is pretending to be busy with something I can't see. I don't understand what I did to make her this angry. I am sure whatever is making her angry has nothing to do with my inability to find clothes for my date.
"What's your problem? Why are you acting like this?" I ask her.
"You are the problem, Julie." She shouts, making me flinch.
"What....what do you mean I am the problem?" I can't believe her right now. What does she mean that I am the problem?
"You are always complaining about almost everything. You are not the only one with problems, we all have them, but you don't hear me complain every time, do you?" Her voice is high. I am sure the neighbors can hear her shouting like a fucking lunatic.
"That's not true, I don't always complain."
"You do Julie, You complain about everything. You even complain when guys look at you it's not like you are even that beautiful. You use an incident that happened three years ago to gain sympathy. I am tired of always solving your problems, for once just do it yourself. If that guy you have been running to lately hurts you, which he is going to do, don't expect me to comfort you."
I look at her not believing the words that come from her mouth. I don't even recognize her. My best friend that I know would never think that I use my trauma for attention because she knows how hard it has taken for me to start opening up to people. I don't recognize the woman standing in front of me. I can't stop the tears that are coming out of my eyes. When I woke up today I didn't imagine that I would hear hurtful words from a person I consider to be my sister.
"How can you say something like that? How can you accuse me of using my trauma to seek attention? Do you even know how much that hurt?" I ask her looking into her eyes. I expect her to apologize but she looks at me like I am not of any importance to her.
"The only thing I know is that I shouldn't have let you turn me into your servant all these years. It has been like this since high school. I just can't take it anymore." She says with no emotion in her voice.
"You never said anything about how you feel Maggie. I have never asked you to do anything for me, you do it on your own free will. I wish you had told me that I have been a burden on you. I would have found a way to lessen it." I tell her and I mean it. If she had told me how she felt I would have acted differently.
"You call yourself my best friend yet you never noticed my pain. The only person you care about is you and only you. You are doing the same thing you did three years ago. You are running off to some guy who will just break your heart. You are ignoring my warning just like before." She says with so much anger written all over her face.
"Stop comparing what happened three years ago to what is happening now, because they are two different situations. Don't ever compare Marcus with that monster. I can't believe you are saying this to me right now. When you know how hard these past years have been for me." I tell her.
"Stop acting like you have suffered a lot, Julie, your family has always been there for you since the day I knew you. And yet here you are complaining about having a hard time."
"Now, that's not fair, You know my parents have always been there for you too. They have always considered you as part of the family." I don't know where this conversation is going. We were talking about me and now my family. I don't know the point she wants to make.
" The only thing they consider me to be is a girl their precious daughter is friends with and nothing more."
"How can you say that? Mom has never differentiated between us, not when we were in high school or college. God, even now she doesn't. When she is sending something for me she makes sure to send it for you too. I don't understand where this is coming from. Why are you saying all of this Maggie? Did I do something to make you this upset?" Maggie just looks at me and then puts some water in a pot and puts it on the stove.
I want to storm out of the kitchen and get ready for my date but I decide not to. I need to find out what's going on with Maggie, she has never acted like this before.
"Are you going to tell me what's going on? Because I don't believe that I am the reason for your outburst."
"I have already told you what I wanted to say. Whether you believe it or not, that's your problem."
"What do you want me to do Maggie? I am trying to understand you right now but what you are saying is not making sense."
"I want you and your family to stop treating me like I am some kind of charity case." She screams.
"I have never treated you that way, I love you the same way I love my siblings."
"If that's what makes you sleep at night then okay, we are family. Does that make you happy?"
Okay, I said I was going to find out what's wrong with her but she has now started to piss me off and I am getting late for my date.
"You know what Maggie, I am not going to stay here and listen to your nonsense. I am going to get ready, I hope you will be in a good mood when I come back." I am about to enter my bedroom when Maggie says something I never thought she would say.
"Yes, yes go and be his little whore?" She says in a low voice. I don't think she intended for me to hear but I have and I am not going to let slide away.
"What did you just call me? You have been a total bitch since I started seeing Marcus and I have had enough. And you are now calling me a whore. And if there is anyone who knows about whoring, it is you since you are a daughter of one." The last part comes out of my mouth before I can stop myself. I look at Maggie and there is hurt in her eyes. I try to apologize but she raises her hand to stop me and goes to her room.
I stand in the kitchen for a bit contemplating what just happened. Maggie and I have never fought like this before. I look at the time and I have an hour remaining. I can't believe I have wasted twenty-five minutes fighting with Maggie. And I haven't even decided on what to wear. I am just glad that I won't need to book a taxi since my car was brought back this morning from servicing.
I rush to my bedroom and start rummaging in a pool of clothes lying around. I just hope I will find something to wear before I lose my mind.