Middle of the Night

Chapter 1
It Begins

Chapter Description: This was the night my troubles began. I had no idea what I was getting into.

I sat on the couch and stared down at my girlfriend. She had her head on my lap and was texting one of her friends. We met at a social event last week, and, for me, at least, it was love at first sight. Looking back, I think I was probably more into her than she was into me, but she seemed pleased with the arrangement at the time, which was enough to let me read too much into it. We’d just moved in together and were presently taking a well deserved break from unpacking. I smiled as I watched her fingers work her phone. Finally, I looked over at the kitchen clock and realized the time, "Shouldn’t you be heading to class?" I asked.

Jen looked up at me and shook her head. "I just got a message from my professor. He’s feeling sick today, so class is cancelled." She returned her attention to her phone. Jen had told me that she was a full-time student who was studying a nursing program and still managed to hold down a part-time job. I’d just completed trade school and worked full-time construction. It wasn’t a bad job, but between rent, loans, and other monthly expenses we were broke and generally didn’t have free time to spend with each other as we had that day. I kissed Jen’s forehead as she continued to type texts for her friends.

"Well, I need to get going," I said, thinking about the day ahead of me, "if you need a ride to work you’ll need to call someone else." We only had my car between the two of us and she hated being at her fastfood joint several hours before her shift, so we resolved that she could call a friend for a ride when I couldn’t giver her one.

Jen grabbed me by my back and pulled me down. She gave me a kiss. "You have a good day at work. I need to study for an exam that’s coming up. next week. I’ll try to get some unpacking done while you’re gone."

I smiled at her as I left our apartment. I loved my girlfriend, I loved my job, and life seemed like it could only get even better. I was not prepared for what was to come later that night.

***

I had a very long day at work that day, but it wasn’t the work that made the day so memorable as much as what happened after work when I got home. My girlfriend was still at home, still dressed in her scrubs, as if she’d never even bothered to get ready for work. "Jen, are you feeling alright?" I asked.

"I’m feeling great, Bryan," she replied enthusiastically. Her level of excitement was a little out of character, considering before then she’d been very mellow and paid ninety percent of her attention to her friends on her phone, which told me something had to be up.

Fearing for the worst, I decided to address the elephant in the room. "You’re not.... taking anything, are you?" She’d skipped school and work today and looked too chipper for any other problem.

Jen shook her head, "No... they just sent me home early tonight and I thought I’d wear my scrubs to bed since they’re so comfortable."

I gave a skeptic nod. "Well, you need all the hours you can get. I don’t mind paying most of the rent and groceries, but it’s going to be exhausting if it’s just me paying for everything."

Jen simply answered with a peck on my lips. It was at this point that I began to seriously question whether I really wanted to live with this girl, but it had been a long day at work and I was tired.. I walked into the room only to find that the bed had not yet been made. Normally I wouldn’t have cared, except that I’d thrown the linens in the wash today before I left, and I’d suspected they were probably still in there. The problem was that the bed was stripped bare and I was counting on Jen to make it today. "Jen!" I called after a long pause, during which I collected my thoughts.

"Yes?" was the only answer I got. For someone who was supposed to be helping out financially as well as around the house, she really didn’t seem to be pulling her own weight. I started to think my friends and family might have been right about it being a little too soon for us to move in together, but I just held my tongue until I was back in the living room.

"Baby, you haven’t made the bed yet-" I began.

"Baby?" Jen looked up from her phone, clearly upset by the pet name.

I slapped my hand to my face. "It’s just a term of endearment... you know what, it’s no big deal." I said as I grabbed my sleeping bag from the pile of storage boxes we had yet to unpack, "Goodnight." I stared at my girlfriend as she just nodded and returned her attention to her phone.

I lay awake on bed for several minutes before finally drifting off to sleep. Was Jen just using me to get a free ride? Should I consider kicking her out soon? These thoughts all filled my head as I drifted off into an uneasy sleep.

To Be Continued...