He gave her a few good hours before returning home. They roomed together in a medium sized apartment. He didn’t want to barge in on her or anything so he came in late. After leaving Amanda’s he went to the nearest bar and got drunk. He felt like shit. He hated making her feel like that but something was bugging him. Yes, he loved her but there was something there. Something he couldn’t explain. Sort of like there was someone else but the thing was, there wasn’t. He stumbled towards the door and after three tries he grabbed the handle. Inside he was surprised to see Amanda sitting on their couch watching TV.

“Panda?”

Amanda looked over from the show she was indulged in.

“Hm? Oh, hey Zeke… Justine asked me to spend the night.”

Zeke focused his eyes on his ex girlfriend’s friend.

“What? She just doesn’t want to be left alone with me.”

Amanda grinned slightly.

“Yeah, pretty much. I wouldn’t think too much of it, though.”

He waved it off as he walked towards the bathroom. It was either the alcohol or his feelings, but he was suddenly pissed. What? She didn’t trust him. Even after all that he told her. He stepped in the bathroom and the shower was on. He glared at Justine’s silhouette and narrowed his eyes. Booze settling in, he wanted answers. With his clothes still on he pulled back the certain and got in the tub. She shrieked and covered herself up. Zeke covered her mouth quickly.

“Nothing I haven’t seen.” He said.

She escaped his grip and backed off, still covering herself.

“Wh, what are you doing?” she asked.

“You don’t wa…nt to be alone with me? Is that it.” He said, his voice slurred from too many drinks.

“It’s… just been uncomfortable. I needed someone else here.”

“WHY? So I couldn’t do this?” he said getting closer.

She had no more space to back up and she was caught in Zeke’s grasp. His clothes were heavy from the water and his breath reeked of beer.

“S, stop!”

He forced a violent kiss on her neck.

“Zeke! You’re drunk!” she shouted.

“Drunk with love.” He stammered as he slid his hands over her slick wet body.

She shivered. This was wrong. No matter how much she liked it, it was wrong.

“G, get off of me.” She ordered, pushing him.

He wouldn’t budge. Slowly his hand slid towards her thighs. She shrieked.

“Keep it down!” he rasped as his hands kept moving.

But they never reached the destination he had wanted. He was interrupted and pushed against the shower wall from the outside. He turned in his drunken state at who had the guts to push him. To his surprise, as well as Justine’s, it was Amanda. Without a word, she grabbed Justine’s wrist and assisted her out of the shower. She led her out, turned to face Zeke, and gave him a scowl. Zeke was left alone, sopping wet, unaware of what he had done or why.

Justine didn’t struggle in Amanda’s grip. She was too scared of what had just happened. Zeke had never been forceful with her. With her free hand she grabbed for Amanda’s. That’s when she realized that she was naked. Her eyes widened and she made an ‘eep’ noise and started to get behind Amanda. Amanda felt awkward as well.

“Um… sorry. I didn’t know what else to do…” she said.

Justine nodded as she huddled behind her friend’s back. Amanda opened the door to Justine’s room and allowed Justine to walk in. Amanda closed the door and turned to her. She noticed that Justine was still wet and she was shivering a bit. Amanda's eyes rested on her for much to long, which forced Justine to look down and cover herself. Amanda, flustered, immediately turned around.

“Ah… you should change. I’ll stay in here though. You know…” Amanda thought for a second before finishing, “’Cuz of Zeke.”

Justine backed off and quickly got pajamas on.

“Thanks.” She said as she got on the bed.

Amanda turned, assuming that it was safe.

Justine’s back was facing her. She still looked like she was shivering. Only slower… kind of. Amanda looked closer. She was crying. She knew even with out seeing her face. Justine liked to cry silently.

Amanda stepped closer and got onto the bed as well. As if signaled, Justine stopped her sobbing. Amanda narrowed her eyes. For some odd reason, she wanted to hold her friend. Hold her until the night was over. So, hesitantly she lowered her arms and embraced her. Justine laid still.

“It’s ok to cry.” Amanda said softly.

Justine said, “I know.”

But there was no trace of sadness in her voice. There was, in fact, no emotion at all.

Justine turned and snaked her own arms around Amanda’s body. Amanda looked to the side and wondered why she was blushing.

“… thanks.” Justine said again.

“No problem.” Amanda said as she watched her friend close her eyes.

Watching Justine sleep made her feel drowsy as well and in no time she fell asleep.

In the other room, the bathroom to be precise, Zeke was also drifting into sleep. Not out of tiredness but out of confusion. He was beginning to sober up.

Why did I just do that… why… was I not aroused at all?

He closed his eyes, the water turning cold.

Tell me why, Dex.