Fred walked through the crowded sidewalk with Melanie at his side.
“Why are you so quiet?” he said.
“Because.”
“Because why?”
“I’m thinking,” said Melanie.
He chuckled. “You and your thinking. It’s no good for you, ya know.”
“Isn’t it.”
Fred shook his head. “It’s just pointless. You should interact more. You should talk more. No need for you to be such a bore.”
“Oh,” Melanie continued walking.
“I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just, there is nothing wrong with having some personality. You should try to see the beauty in life more.”
She scoffed. “Beauty is all I see.”
“Then why do you seem so glum? Why are you always so short with me?” said Fred.
“Because you can’t keep up with me.”
“Can’t I?” said Fred.
“I see the way you chuckle and its ugly to me. The way you always try to act like everyone else. It’s unattractive. I don’t like that. There’s no beauty where you want me to look.”
“Then where should I look?”
“Where I look.”
“Which is?”
“Originality. Uniqueness. The same way one man wears a suit and another wears a hoodie.”
“I don’t understand,” said Fred.
“Because you’re an idiot.”
“What? Why?”
“Don’t you know why you’re in love with me?”
“What?” Fred laughed awkwardly. “I’m not in love with you.”
She walked away.
“Wait! Why would I be, if I was? I mean, why do you think I would be?”
“Because I don’t care about you.”
“Huh?”
“That’s the reason you love me, Fred. Because I truly don’t give two shits about you.”
Fred scratched his head, scoffed, then chased after Melanie.
– Thomas M. Watt
Thomas M. Watt 