Chinese Whispers

'I don't understand relationships.' She rolls onto her hip as she speaks, to gauge his reaction to her words.

His slightly glazed eyes lock onto hers. 'Babe, you've been in one for the past three years. What's not to get?' He gives her an easy smile and his eyes roll shut, the conversation already ended for him and probably half forgotten too.

She shook him roughly. 'What's the point of them?' She insisted. 'Why do two people tie themselves together and then work to stay that way for years?'

His response is instantaneous. 'Sex.'

'There are other, far easier ways to get laid. One night stands, if your desperate...'
He props himself up with his elbows, finally taking an interest in the topic. 'And?' His voice was lower than normal, somewhat husky. It was a warning sign, she knew, but she chose to ignore it.

'Will you listen to me? I mean, really listen?'
He nodded, eyes wide now, focused solely on her. It always shook her slightly when she had his attention so intently.

She drew in a breath. 'I can't see why relationships work the way they do. At the heart of it, a relationship is just a friendship with certain... bonuses. Additional intimacy, more physical contact, maybe a bit more trust. Are you with me?' A quick nod from him. 'Ok. So, in a regular friendship, you don't have one friend and think that's enough, do you? You don't find one person and expect all your likes and dislikes and flaws and faults to all match perfectly, do you? You've got, oh, whatshisface, Kevin, who knows all the best clubs and where to get the best stuff, but if he was the only friend you had, you'd go mad. He's a bit dopey, bless him.'

'Have you quite finished patronising my mates?' The question is sharp, she knows she should get to her point.

'Sorry, but fine, Kevin can't stand festivals, and you'd never go to one by yourself. But you have other friends you can go with, so it's not an issue. Why can't relationships be like that?'

His face creased with suspicion. 'Are you breaking up with me over festivals?'

'Oh for fu- no, no, I'm not. This is not 'the talk'. I'm not breaking up with you. I'm just hoping you can answer some questions I have.'

'The main one being, why can't relationships be more like friendships?'

'Yes!' The relief in her voice was almost tangible.
There was a moment of silence as he contemplated the question. The moment stretched on, and she began to nibble on the edge of one finger nervously. He smacked the hand away from her mouth absentmindedly.

Finally, as she she'd almost decided to give up on the whole conversation, he said,'because its more personal, isn't it? I'm closer to you than any of my friends, probably closer to you than anybody at all. That's why they can't be the same.'