There was never a moment I felt more like an idiot than trying to dodge any and all confrontations from Tony. I realize that just two weeks ago we had broken up—yet again!—and now I was ducking and diving to keep me off his radar. However, unlike our first breakup he was literally giving me the cold shoulder. Last Monday when we made eye contact, it was brief; barely three seconds, saw the utter disdain in his expression. Tony’s eyes, that were once warm chocolate, resembled frozen stones. I felt guilty, guilty for being justifiably upset with out last conversation. However, my conscious was screaming for me to talk to him, to make things better, or at least mediate the tension. Nonetheless, my chicken-shit-ways won because I would bolt the opposite direction from Tony. Things were so bad that Mike would be the only one eating lunch with me and Callie. On occasion, Austin would eat with us but that was rare.

“I think you should just kick him square in the nuts.” Ronnie advised while we were browsing through the sale racks of Charlotte Russe.

Ronnie had a weekend pass again and decided to do some well deserved shopping. Her body positive attitude made the entire shopping process much easier since she no longer cringed while glancing at her size. Her eating habits have microscopically improved as well. She no longer pecked at her food, but rather actually bite into it without having to slowly chew her food.

“Or you could even sit down with him. Talk it out.” Callie countered.

I rolled my eyes at both suggestions. I wasn’t even looking for clothes to buy, but I found myself analyzing each garment with scrutiny, as if the thread count of a shirt was what I was truly interested in.

“You guys don’t know how bad it was.” I replied through an exasperated sigh. “I mean, you should see the way he looks at me now—if he even looks at me. It’s like he hates me.” I sounded whiny and it irritated me that I couldn’t have a conversation that wasn’t boy-related.

“Kick him in the balls.” Ronnie answered.

“I’m sure he doesn’t hate you.” Callie dismissed. “He’s just angry.”

I looked at my best friend and my sister with skepticism. “You weren’t there that night. It was awful.” I groaned while burying my face in the overpriced clothes.

“Maybe we could understand if you talked about that night.” Ronnie pointed out. “I mean, every time I asked you about it you just go quiet.”

“She has a point.” Callie replied agreeing with Ronnie.

“Uh, excuse me, you are supposed to be on my side.” I pointed out with a whiny tinge to my voice.

“What is this grade school?” Ronnie scoffed. “V, I love you and what I’m about to say is purely out of the spirit of sisterhood and love, but you are acting like a child.”

“I’m acting like a child?” I asked incredulously. I was gaping at my sister who in return cocked her eyebrow at me.

“Yes, you are.” She said with an even tone. “You’re so afraid of what Tony will say or how he will react, but all you need to do is just listen to him. I mean, yeah I’d be pissed if I were in your situation but at least Tony didn’t try to hide the fact that his dumbass ex suggested to move in together.”

I blinked back at my sister while Callie tried to stifle her snickering. “Since when did you become so…perceptive?” I asked.

Rolling her eyes, Ronnie said “Its all of those extensive hours spent in therapy. I tend to pick up on a few things now that I wouldn’t even have noticed before.”

I mulled over her suggestion for a while, wondering if I should actually speak to him. In my defense, I was giving Tony space. It wasn’t as if he was trying to speak to me anyway.

“I’ll think about it.” I replied, breaking through the silence.

---

*Tony’s POV*

“What happened anyway?” Mike asked.

We were currently in my room, watching some action movie that Vic illegally downloaded. The plot was all over the place and the movie was filled with nonstop gunfire and explosions that it was rather difficult to keep up with the dialogue.

“No idea dude. This movie makes no sense.” I answered.

I could hear Mike sigh. “No, not the movie ya jackass. I meant, what happened with you and Verity.”

Oh, that.

A part of me was still angry at her, but most of the angst was mainly directed at me. I was angry that I couldn’t be myself around Verity because I was always worrying that I’d upset her. I knew she could tell that I was tiptoeing around her, but I didn’t want to lose her. Looks like that plan backfired.

“We had an argument.” I replied vaguely.

Mike groaned again. I could see him run his hands over his face. “Callie wanted me to talk to you so I can tell you to make up with Verity.”

With a small smile on my face, I mumbled “You’re so whipped.”

Mike returned the favor by flipping me off.

“Why does Callie want us to be a couple? I would’ve thought she’d want me to stay far away from Verity.” I mused.

Mike shrugged. “She doesn’t know what happened between you two—neither do I, by the way, but apparently Verity misses you.”

“Really?” I asked.

I thought she hated my guts.

“Yeah, or at least that’s what Cal’s tells me.” Mike responded. “Just tell me what happened.” He egged while nudging me with his foot.

“It’s nothing really. I guess we just figured that we don’t really mix or whatever other cliché line you can conjure up.” I answered.

The fucked up thing is that a small part of me actually agrees with that statement. Verity deserved better—she deserved to go to New York without a relationship holding her back, she deserved to find some big shot college guy and fall in love, and above all she deserved to be with someone who doesn’t come with a lot of baggage.

“Do you even believe the bullshit you’re saying?” Mike asked skeptically. “We’ve been friends forever, so I know when you’re trying to convince yourself rather than trying to be honest.”

“You don’t understand.” I interjected.

“Then tell me.” Mike practically snapped. “Help me understand why you think that you don’t belong with the only girl you’ve ever loved.”

I shook my head. Mike wouldn’t be able to understand just how muddled everything is. Mike was still blithely unaware of Carmen’s pregnancy.

I groaned. “She’s pregnant.” I said with eyes closed.

“Verity?” Mike asked in a shocked tone.

“What, no. Carmen is pregnant and she’s saying the kid is mines.” I corrected.

Mike went quiet. There was a look in his eyes that wanted to tell me differently. “I don’t think the kid’s yours Tone.” He finally spoke after a few moments of silence passed over. The action movie was still rolling—the explosions and the gunfire and the occasional car chase sounds filling up the compact room.

“And why do you think that?” I asked in defeat.

“Well…I know for a fact that you weren’t the only guy who’s slept with her.” Mike eluded.

“You slept with her?!” I said with pure accusation in my tone.

“Hell no!” He snapped. “But I heard her and Austin going at it when the girls were in Greece.”

“What?” I asked as if I somehow heard wrong.

“Yeah, Carmen and Austin were getting crazy. I think it was once everyone headed home, but I stayed to help clean up, and well, I heard everything.”

“So you’re telling me that Carmen could be lying?” I asked breathlessly. It actually sounded more like a squeak because I was literally dumbfounded.

“Wouldn’t be the first time she lied to you, right?” Mike replied before turning his attention to the television screen.

Notes

My oh my, that happened.

I'm so glad to see that you guys commented. I honestly thought most of you would've given up on me because I took hella long to update. I hope this chapter wasn't shitty and I apologize if it was.

Have a great day guys, and if you can let me know what you think! :D