Chapter 22
*Aaron*
Grace slowly began to kiss me back and I lifted my hand to tangle in her hair. I pulled her closer and she began to kiss me harder. I feel a little guilty about this. I shouldn't have these feelings for Grace. I'm supposed to love Victoria, and be with her forever. Sophie loves Victoria, my mother loves Victoria, and my best friend loves Victoria. Even Grace is kind to Victoria and yet, me of all people, is causing Victoria pain.
I pulled away and avoided eye contact. My brain feels like it's being stretched in too many directions. Do I completely end things with Victoria and try with Grace? Or do I bury these feelings I have for Grace and continue my life with Victoria? What will Sophie's reaction be to my choice?
"Why did you do that?" Grace asked softly. She stared at me with wide eyes. "What about Victoria?"
"I told you, we're taking a break."
"Yes, a break! That's not ending things. Besides, you and Victoria are perfect for each other. I don't want to get in-between this."
"I have feelings for you." I admitted. Her eyes, if possible, seemed to grow wider. "Do you blame me? You and I both know that the night Sophie was made, it didn't just happen. We were attracted to each other."
"We were drunk and young. We were fifteen and went to two completely different schools. Yes, it just happened."
"So you're saying that you feel nothing for me? Nothing at all?" I raised my eyebrows and she opened her mouth to speak. She then closed her mouth, changing her mind, and heaved a sigh.
"If I said that, I'd be lying." She lowered her eyes and turned away.
"So there is something? It wasn't just me who felt it.
"That doesn't mean we can be together. I can't do that to Victoria. She doesn't deserve this."
"Victoria will understand. She's a very understanding person. We should try to be a family. We owe it to Sophie, and maybe even ourselves."
"How can you drop her so easily? Don't you feel the slightest bit guilty? She loves you with all of her heart and you're just going to pretend you never loved her?"
"I do love her. I just have to know whether the two of us will work out or not."
"If that's true, why didn't you just end things with Victoria completely?"
I never actually thought about why I didn't just cut all ties with Victoria. It would have been better that way, easier. But would I have done if Grace were to say no? "I guess I wanted to make sure things would work out between us first."
"Well I don't participate in cheating, so either forget about us or officially end things with Victoria."
"If that's what it takes to give us a chance."
*Victoria*
I sighed as I the customer continuously scolded me for making their sandwich wrong and ringing them up incorrectly. I apologized for the thousandth time as the manager came from the back to ward the customer off.
"What's up with you today?" Charlie asked once we were in the back alone.
"Aaron decided that it's best if we take a break. I've just been focusing on what that really means. He said that we should start seeing other people."
"Awe sweetie, I'm sorry. I truly believe that everything was going to work itself out, but it just might. You never know."
"I don't know. I have a bad feeling about all of this. I'm just waiting for him to completely cut me off. He doesn't want to be with me anymore. I'm too inexperienced for him I guess." I wiped the tears away before they could fall.
"Don't cry sweetie." Charlie pulls me into a hug. "He's not worth your tears. He's scum, okay?"
"I still love him, Charlie. And I hate that I'll probably love him for the rest of my life."
The manger came into the back and asked what the issue was. I explained to him that I was sidetracked by some personal issues and apologized.
"Go on home." He said. "If you're not on you're A game like usual, you're not going to help us here."
"If you think it's best. I'm really sorry sir. It won't happen again."
"Yeah, well it better not."
I arrive home to an empty house. Either my mom hasn't made it home from the city yet, or she's running an errand. Either way, I'm kind of glad she's not home. I want to be alone to sulk for a little bit.
I wonder how long it will take for me to get my life back to normal once Aaron cuts me off completely. I know he's going to do it, and I know it'll be soon. I can feel it. Tears streak my cheeks again and I wipe them away. Aaron hasn't even broken things off, so why does it hurt so much? I'm afraid of what it'll be like when he does break things off.
My cell rings and I look to see it's Aaron calling. I take a deep breath and let it ring a little longer before finally answering.
"Hi." I said.
"I hate to call you at work, but do you think we could talk tonight after you get off?"
"Well I'm actually home right now. I left work early." Maybe I should have just pretended I was still at work. Now he's coming over to "talk" and it's obvious what that's code for.
"Okay, I'll come to you then."
He hangs up and I toss my phone on the couch beside me. I run my hand through my hair as the tears pick up again. Why did I let him into my life? How could I have been so stupid?
***
The doorbell rings and I try to hold back the tears and reign in my nerves as I answer the door. Aaron stands with his hands in his pockets and his shoulders hunched. I wait for him to flash the smile he always does when he sees me. Instead he comes inside without a word and I close the door behind him.
"Where's Sophie?" I ask in a small voice, trying to avoid the upcoming conversation.
"She's with her mother. Look, I don't know how else to say this other than to just come right out with it. I'm ending this relationship. I owe it to myself to see if things will work with Grace and me. Sophie deserves a family. One that isn't split and confusing."
"So that's it?" I shrug, the tears welling up again. "These last couple of months meant nothing?"
"I didn't say that." He sighed. "I loved being with you. And I still love you, but it's not fair to you that I've started to have feelings for Grace and I need to know if Grace, Sophie, and I can be a family. You understand right?"
"I accepted the fact that you have a daughter and when Grace came back into your lives, I admit I felt jealous. But I tried not to let it go to my head because we were in love. I even helped Grace sneak past you when she was hung over and abandoned at your dad's beach house after the party. I didn't want to ruin her chances of being a mother to Sophie. I kind of wish I let her get caught. She still parties and gets drunk at stupid parties. That's who you want your daughter to be around? She's a child herself."
"Enough! You call her a child, yet you're acting like a little tattle tale. I don't care what she's done. We're only 18, and believe it or not, we are still children. We like to have fun once in a while and unfortunately make stupid decisions. It's what we do, but don't think we're bad parents because of that. Being a parent is stressful, but you wouldn't know because you aren't one. I tried to do the right thing and come here to break things off rather than being that guy who texts. Now I'm starting to regret it."
"I'm sorry." I apologize, my voice thick. "You're right, I don't know what it's like to be a parent, but remember that I've acted as one longer than she has. I love Sophia just as much as you do and I hope that you won't keep her from me completely."
"I think it's best if Sophie stays away for now. Things will be easier if we sever all ties, you know." I stare at him, his features a little blurred from the tears in my eyes. There's no sign of sorrow from him. This is so easy for him, and I'm crying my eyes out. I hate that I'm so upset over this. He's just another boy, no one special. Perhaps if I tell myself that over and over I'll believe it. "I have to go. I'll see you around."
I want to stop him from walking out that door. I want to beg him not to leave me. I can't imagine not being able to look into his blue eyes every time I see him, or not feeling his arms wrapped around me.
"I love you." I blurt as he opens the door.
He pauses and looks at me. I finally get that smile I've been waiting for and it makes me feel a tiny bit better. "I love you too Vicky."
*Aaron*
I sigh as Caleb continues to interrogate me about Victoria. It was hard enough breaking up with her, I don't need him to push me on the details.
"You fixed things right?" Caleb presses. "She's a sweet girl and she's so good with Sophie."
"I broke up with her last night, okay? Can you stop asking me about it?"
"You did?" Fawn asks. I forgot about my other friends standing nearby. I sigh as I prepare for more questions. "Why?"
"Because it just wasn't working out."
"Yeah right." Connor scoffs. "You two were all lovey dovey. I remember because I was repulsed by it. What really happened? Did she find someone better looking? Come on you can tell us, we're your friends."
"Wait, there she is." Caleb says, nodding towards Victoria who'd just come in. Instead of her usual stylish clothing, she wears baggy sweatpants, a tank top, and a pair of sneakers. Her hair is in a messy bun and I can tell she's avoiding eye contact.
"What homeless person did she mug this morning?" Fawn asks with a giggle.
"She's hurting." Caleb says softly. "She probably only dressed the way she did for Aaron. She probably sees no point in dressing nice."
"Well while you guys talk about what she's wearing, I'm going to go figure out how to get her out of it." Connor starts towards Victoria and I quickly reach out and take hold of his arm. He turns and looks at me with surprise, yanking his arm from my grip.
"You're not going anywhere near her." I say.
"You dumped her, your loss. You can't just prevent every guy in school from going out with her. She's hot, it's inevitable. So, I'm going to give her my phone number first, before she has too many to remember."
Connor makes his way over to Victoria and begins to work his charm. I can see how swollen her eyes are from crying and I feel a pang of guilt. She gives a small, almost unnoticeable smile and jealousy takes over the guilt.
"How can he do that?" I ask. "How can he hit on her just after I broke up with her? He's taking advantage of her vulnerability."
"You know how Conner is." Brittney says. "He does what he wants and goes after whoever he wants."
"Well he needs to find someone other than Victoria. She's off limits."
"You can't say that." Caleb says. "You ended things and now she's free again. And I admit she's really attractive, no matter what she's wearing. Guys will be all over her."
I shudder. I can't imagine another guy having his hands all over Victoria. I may have ended things, but I still don't want her to see anyone else.
***
I pick up Sophie and head over to Grace's dorm. Sophie bounces up and down in excitement as we climb the stairs to Grace's dorm room.
"Am I staying with mommy tonight?" Sophie asks.
"Not tonight sweetie. We're just visiting."
"Okay."
We get to Grace's door and I knock, hoping she's in. A moment passes and the door swings open. Grace stands wearing her school uniform, a black skirt with a white button up and a red blazer. A red and white striped tie is tied around her neck and she still wears her black knee high socks.
"Cute uniform." I said with a smirk.
"Yeah right. I can't wait until I'm finished so I can burn this." She stands aside to let us in. She shuts the door behind us and picks up Sophie who has never stopped bouncing. "Hi sweetie." Grace places a kiss on Sophie's cheek.
"Gracie, have you seen my phone?" A girl asks. Soon she walks into the room wearing nothing but her underwear. Her dark brown hair lays wet across her shoulders. A shiny belly button ring dangles from her flat stomach.
"Teresa!" Grace exclaimed. Teresa jumps and looks up. Her eyes open wide with shock as her eyes meet with mine.
"Oh my gosh! You didn't tell me a hot guy was coming over. I mean... not hot, though you are hot. Wait, uh...." She runs off and I stifle a laugh.
"I am so sorry." Grace apologizes. "We're used to living together and we're both girls so... We don't have guests often, I'm sorry."
"Well hopefully that will change, because I plan on coming over often." I meet my lips with hers and she kisses me back for a moment before pulling away. "What's wrong?"
"Did you really break up with Victoria?"
"Yeah, I did. Her eyes were puffy when she came into school this morning. I feel bad, but I know I did the right thing."
"Well, if you're really sure you want to do this, my parents want to have dinner with you and Sophie tomorrow night." She bites her lip nervously.
"They want to meet Sophie and me? Why? Why after all this time?"
"Well I told them that you and I will be seeing each other from now on and they said they wanted to meet you. They're not very involved in my life, and I'm pretty sure they still want nothing to do with Sophie, so I'm not really sure what they want."
"What if I say no? I don't think I want Sophie anywhere near them. After what they did to you while you were pregnant, they're not good people."
"I understand completely. I'll let them know."
I wonder why Grace's parents suddenly want to meet Sophie and me. I figured they were terrible people who care nothing for no one but their selves, which is why I want Sophia nowhere near them.
*Victoria*
I see Aaron's friends pass by as I ring up a customer. I shift to the side, hoping to hide myself behind the customer. Surprisingly Connor made a pass at me this morning and I admit that it made me feel a little better, especially with how terrible I knew I looked. But I'm not ready for a new relationship and I'm not sure how to tell him. I'm still hooked on Aaron and I probably will be for a while.
If I were to start seeing someone else, I'd probably compare them to Aaron. No one will have his amazing blue eyes, or his soft dark hair. No one will have those same perfect abs and soft skin. No one will have that gentle, but hard touch when caressing my cheek. No one can compare to him and it makes me want to cry again.
If Charlie were here, I'd ask for her to take over my position so I could go hide until they leave, but unfortunately she has off today. Maybe I'll get lucky and they won't see me.
"Hi Victoria." I jump at the sound of Caleb's voice. He stands at the register with a small smile. "How are you?"
"You're really asking me that question after what your best friend did." Tears begin to prick at my eyes again.
"Don't cry." Caleb quickly says, a worried look crossing his face. "I'm sorry. I just wanted to let you know that you and I can still be friends. All of us can be your friend, even Fawn."
"She hates me." I frown.
"Ever since she found out about Sophie, she's directed her hatred towards Grace. You're in the clear. Just come hang out with us whenever you feel like it, okay?"
"Sure." I nod in agreement.
"Okay, see you around then." Caleb gives me a crooked smile before joining up with his friends. Their attention is drawn to me as they look in the direction Caleb had just walked from. For once Fawn doesn't scowl at me and Conner gives me a wave. How would Aaron feel about me hanging out with his friends? How would I feel hanging out with his friends? Can I manage to hang out with him too without breaking down completely? I'm not sure it's possible.
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I apologize for the long wait. I admit this isn't the best chapter I've written, but you deserve something for waiting so long. And unfortunately, the updates may take even longer now that school has started again, and I also work full time. All I ask is for  you all to bear with me.
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