Page 18 of Quake

Jade

Ooh! So fun!!!

Jade

Okay, sorry for the topic change… but are you leaving Tyler yet?

Kira

Jade! Didn’t we talk about this? When you’re going to say something that may be potentially hurtful, you need to run it by one of us first.

Jade

Sorry! Neurodivergence has entered the chat.

Jade

Did I hurt your feelings, Lark?

Jade’s inability to read the room has always been a topic of discussion among our group, but we know she genuinely doesn’t mean anything by it. She just processes information differently, and that’s totally okay.

Frankly, I appreciate how blunt she is. I never have to guess what she’s thinking or how she’s feeling. It’s refreshing.

No worries, Jade. I was just talking about this with Kat tonight, actually.

Not breaking up, but I’m just processing a lot.

Madison

Not to be a Debbie downer, but Jade’s right. You really need to leave him, babe. He’s not good for you and I’m not even convinced you guys like each other anymore.

The reality of that hits home in a way I hadn’t anticipated. I’m not sure when it happened, but I think if I’m honest with myself, I’ve been justbarelytolerating him for quitesome time now.1

Madison

Kira… you’re awfully fucking quiet.

Kira

My momma told me that if I don’t have anything nice to say, not to say it at all.

I snort at that.

Madison

You’re a fucking liar, and your ‘momma’ is the cuntiest cunt that ever did cunt. So try again.

Kira

Goddamn, kitty’s got claws tonight, huh?

Can we stop this already? You guys realize you’re in your thirties or about to be?!?!

I haven’t figured out what I’m going to do yet, okay? But when I decide, you’ll be the first to know.

Jade

Any one of us in particular?