The next morning you're finishing getting ready when you hear the doorbell ring. You rush downstairs, opening the door to see a handsome Chris standing there. The night before you just wanted to forget about it all.
"Good morning." He smiles.
"Morning!" You grin. "Do you mind waiting like 5 minutes? I just need to finish up."
"Sure! No problem. I'll be right here." He smiles. You run back upstairs to finish your last minute things. You were rushing around your room, too busy to hear the footsteps of someone else going downstairs.
"Chris." Mark says, greeting him.
"Mark." Chris responds. He's fighting the urge to ask Mark the question. The same one he asked you last night. He isn't sure if he believes you. You weren't terribly convincing to him. He wants to, but he's also unsure if he wants to hear the answer.
His mouth doesn't give him a choice. His brain doesn't want too but his mouth does.
"Can I ask you something?" He blurts out.
"What?"
"Are you fucking around with Y/N?" Chris asks. "You stared at her for almost our entire date last night."
"So?" Mark asks. "Ask her."
"I did. She denied it. But I don't know if I believe it." Chris says.
"What does it matter if I say yes or no? It won't change anything. Either way she'll never be yours." Mark chuckles.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means that she comes to me no matter what. She can't stay away from me, it won't matter if you're her boyfriend or her husband, she'll always run back to me." He says, patting Chris on the chest. She's addicted and has no plans on getting help.
"She deserves better than you." Chris laughs. "You're using her. Keeping her as a secret as your own personal cock warmer, right?"
Mark sees nothing but red. He lunges for Chris, fist raised, punching him in the face, knocking him back. You come down the stairs just as Chris gets back up and hits Mark back.
"What the fuck are you two doing!?" You scream as you run down the stairs, just as Chris raises his fist to Mark again. You place your hand on Chris's chest, looking up at him with worried eyes. He's so focused on Mark he barely notices you there, until you press your hand harder on his chest. He feels you, he looks down, into your eyes and breathes. You can see the bruise forming under his eye right before you. He lowers his fist, unleashing his hand.
"I'm sorry, Y/N." Chris sighs.
"Are you okay?" You ask, gently running your thumb over his swollen face.
"Nothing I haven't dealt with before." He chuckles. You smile at him before turning around. "You." You snap, pointing at Mark.
"What?" He asks, crossing his arm.
"What the fuck is your problem!?" You yell. "Why are you punching Chris?"
"He fucking deserved it." Mark spits. Chan lunges for Mark. You get in between the two, pushing Chris out of the house.
The two of you walk to Chris's car as he tries to calm down.
"He's such a fucking asshole." Chris groans, speeding away from your house.
"Tell me about it." You sigh. You glance over at Chris, as he turns onto different streets to get to the restaurant. You watch him as he chews on his bottom lip, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel as he drives.
"What's up?" You ask, giving him a smile.
"What do you mean?" He chuckles.
"You look like you're deep in thought over there." You giggle.
"Yeah.. I'm battling internally about bringing up something. I don't want you mad at me."
"Just ask."
You knew it was going to be about Mark. And this time you weren't going to lie.
"You and Mark…" He pauses. You sigh.
"Yes." You begin. "Mark and I have been sleeping together periodically but.." you now pause.
"But?"
"but.. I'm not sure to be honest. I don't know what it is. He's never taken me out, he tells people I'm not his type, he gets jealous when I'm with other guys but he doesn't want to be seen with me.. he won't tell Jake about us but he'll go date this Maya girl.. and still fool around with me.. and I know I should stop it, I know he doesn't treat me good, he's mean but he's protective.. and I don't know, I'm just so confused." You groan, dropping your head into your hands.
"Come on, I'll say what I need to say inside." He smiles, getting out of the car. You'd been rambling so long you hadn't even noticed the car had stopped. The two of you walk into the restaurant, to be seated immediately. You browse the menu, deciding to go with your favorite brunch menu item.
"So." Chris says, clearing his throat. "It's good that you realize he's not treating you how you should be treated - and yes, I'm giving you the 'you deserve better' lecture, because you do." He says. "Y/N you're bright, and beautiful and you absolutely deserve the world and someone who is going to publicly praise you in that world." He smiles.
Your heart flutters. Chris was so sweet, thoughtful and caring. Not to mention so handsome. You felt safe with him and you liked him, so why couldn't you stop thinking about Mark? And why couldn't you feel those butterflies with Chris like you did with Mark?
"I think I need time away from him." You say, resting your head on your palm. Time away would do you good but why did it have to hurt your heart so much?
"I think that's the best idea. You're more than welcome to stay with me." He smiles.
"As much as I appreciate that, you live with Mike, Sam and Jordan in a two bedroom apartment. I don't think there is much more room." You giggle.
"I think you're right." He laughs.
Later that day, you had messaged Hayden about crashing on his couch. You vaguely remembered your drunken night together, but definitely remembered him trying to kiss you. You decided that it was just from the two of you being drunk and left it at that. He of course, said yes about 3 seconds after you texted him. When Chris brought you home, you ran upstairs to pack some things, clothes, toiletries, stuff for school, things you would need to be gone for a week or two.
You ran back downstairs and left while there was no one home, got back in Chris's car and he drove you over to Hayden's place. You hadn't even told Jake that you weren't going to be home. You wouldn't have been able to do it in person, when he asked you why, what were you going to say? You fucked his best friend and he continued to treat you like shit but you continued to let him fuck you? No, you weren't ready for that conversation. It was easier to lie over text, for you at least.
When you did text him, you told him it was for a school project. He believed you, of course he did. He knew how you were about school.
"So." Hayden begins. "You wanna tell me why you're staying here instead of your house?" He asks.
"Not yet." You smile. "I've got a lot of things to sort out."
"Is it Mark?" He asks.
You nod your head.
"Did he hurt you?" He asks.
You shale your head no. "Not physically. But I've got a lot going on in my head to figure out." You sigh.
"Take your time, sweet. I'll be here whenever you need me." He smiles. You curled up in the spare bedroom, in the new bed, in the new sheets that Hayden went out and bought today, specifically so you didn't have to sleep on the couch. You told him you would have been fine but nope. That's not how he does things.
As you laid alone with your thoughts, you couldn't help but feel like somehow this whole thing was your fault. You technically did start this whole… whatever it was. But you knew it wasn't. He started it too, not just you. He's as guilty as you, if not more. You felt like you needed to talk to him to see where the two of you stood, but after what he said to you at the restaurant and then him punching Chris, and last night.. how could you even face him?
You couldn't.
And in fact, you didn't want too.
The first week he texted you, a few times a day. He asked you what was going on, why weren't you home?
'I miss you.' You could hear his voice in your head from his message.
Did he? Or did he miss the hole that couldn't say no to him.
You never answered him. You read the messages and used a lot of self control to put your phone down and ignore him.
The second week it was mostly Jake who messaged you. He was starting to believe it was not a school project that had you out of the house. He asked you to come home so he could talk to you.
But you couldn't.
Not yet.
You were finally starting to feel a little bit different. Thoughts of Mark didn't fill your head at all hours of the day anymore, everyday it seemed to be less and less. You were starting to feel like it wasn't your fault that he didn't want anything more with you. You had often wondered, what was wrong with you? Why weren't you good enough?
And then on the 3rd week, you realized that it wasn't you. It had nothing to do with you and it was all him. You were worth more than what he was giving you. Jake had messaged you, asking you what the hell was going on. Why Mark was sulking around the house, his fuse was short and he lost it over nothing. He said Mark was miserable and wanted to know if you knew anything about it.
You said you didn't.
By the 4th week, you were feeling better than you ever had. Even Hayden had noticed. You were brighter, happier and seemed to be more like yourself.
"You look like you've finally worked through everything." Hayden smiles.
"You're right." You laugh. "I've finally realized my worth."
"Good. You deserve nothing but the best." He says.
"Jake said he was gonna be out tonight with Jessie and..him. I'm gonna go home and grab a few other things. Thank you again, Hayden. You really saved me."
"I'll save you anytime you need." He grins.
Later that night you walk into the house you hadn't stepped foot in, in a month. It seemed different but the same at the same time. It smelled the same but different. You didn't know how to explain it. You quickly ran up the stairs, walking into your room to grab your things. You got some clothing items and a few other odds and ends you needed. You were going to turn around when you heard a door upstairs shut, footsteps coming down the hall. You freeze. You left your door open. You weren't facing it but you knew. You could feel a pair of eyes staring at you.
"Y/N?" He whispers.
"No." You panic. "I have to go." You say, rushing past him, and down the stairs.
"Y/N!" he yells. "Wait!" he chases you down the stairs. "Y/N! Please, wait!" he says, reaching out. He grabs your wrist, pulling you closer to him. You dropped everything in your hands.
"DON'T!" You yell, breathing heavily. "Don't touch me. I don't want to talk to you. I'm finally getting to be in a better place." You gasp.
"I'm fucking miserable, Y/N. I miss you." He cries.
"Do you miss me? Or do you just miss fucking me?" You snap.
Mark looks shocked. "What?" He asks.
"Is that a hard question to answer?" You scoff.
"I miss you." He says. "I.. I want to be with you."
"In public? With everyone knowing? With Jake knowing?" You ask.
"That's.. it's just.." he pauses.
"Yeah that's what I thought." You laugh. If you didn't, you'd fucking cry and you didn't want to waste anymore tears on him.
"What can I do? What can I do for you to stay with me?" He asks.
"You seriously don't get it, do you?" You ask.
"Is it because of Chris?" He asks.
"You really don't fucking get it. I fucking loved you!" You cry. Tears rolling down your cheeks, you couldn't hold it in anymore. "I fell in love with you and you used me. And I went along with it because at least I got you in some way." You breathe. You didn't hear the front door behind you open. Or the footsteps quietly walking in. "But you couldn't be bothered to make any kind of effort for me. Instead you got jealous when I was with other guys, you said vile things to me, you made me feel worthless but I still let you fuck me! I loved you and you broke me! Because you refused to be honest with yourself or with Jake"
"You did what to my sister?" You hear from behind you. You turn around, Jake stands there, Jessie by his side as he shakes with anger.
"What the fuck did you do to my sister!?"