It was Red's idea.

Tulip stood in the corner of the study room in awe of what had happened. Not that it happened for the first time. She moved her hand in a slight circular motion to ease the pain on the now red and bruised cheek. She kept staring as nick compiled the scattered paper from the floor into a bundle. He sat down at his desk and resumed whatever he was doing. 

Tulip was now breathing heavily, she wanted more. She slowly moved along the wall towards the open window, careful enough not to disturb nick. She looked out of the window and saw children running around having fun. She wanted some fun time too. She turned back to check on what Nick was up to. Nick paid no attention to what happened around the room.

Tulip went back to looking out of the window. A tiny Basil plant swaying gently in the nonexistent breeze caught Tulip’s attention. The lush green leaves in the white ceramic pot filled with just the right amount of dark brown soil seemed visually appealing to Tulip.

‘Nick Darling’ she called out in an amusing tone.
Nick didn’t reply.
‘We should get more of these. This one moved a little.’

Nick didn’t bother to turn around; he didn’t say a word and kept working. Tulip grabbed the tiny plant and in a sudden burst of rage threw it at Nick.

‘Look at me when I fucking talk to you.’

The three second silence in the room made Tulip realize what she had done. She knew what was about to follow, she braced herself.

Nick, on the other hand didn’t react. The pot had shattered as soon as it touched the back of his crown; the recently watered plant had skipped his shoulder and landed right on top of his paper work. The moist soil and roots added to the mess, smudging the ink on the paper. Nick stood up and dusted the plant off of his desk and brushed the dirt from his shoulder and looked back at Tulip. She stood dumbstruck in front of the window.

‘You know I don’t like distractions when I work. HOW MANY FUCKING TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT?’ Screamed Nick at the top of his lungs.

‘But I’m getting bored.’ Replied Tulip

‘Then why don’t you clean the mess that you have made.’ Nick reached out for the bottle of ink on the table and threw towards Tulip. The bottle smashed against the window pane right above Tulip. Nick never had a good aim. The ink splattered all over the window and of course over Tulip.  She tasted the ink from the tip of her lips. The bitter taste made her experience even better. She heard the children scream from below and looked out. She wasn’t the only one covered with ink. She quickly closed the window and turned back. Nick had already gone back to work. 

Tulip tip toed out of the room and into the kitchen where she had a Barred Tiger Salamander in a medium sized fish tank.

‘So, how did it go and what’s with the new beauty product on your face?’ The Salamander asked.

‘I did make him talk but your plan didn’t work.’ Tulip replied.

‘Okay then, you got what you needed now let me out of this smelly tank.’

‘Not today Red, maybe tomorrow. I’m going to take a shower and get this ink off my face. Maybe I’ll throw a bucket of boiling hot water on him next. I love it when he does things to me.’