"Come on Victoria, you can't do this. You can't just leave."
"Why do you care? You dumped me. You have Grace and the family that you wanted. Why can't you leave me alone and let me move on?"
"Because it's not that simple."
"You think you're such a great guy and that no girl would ever turn you down. Let me just come out and tell you. You're an a**hole Aaron. And I pity any girl who is stupid as I was to fall under your spell.
*Aaron*
Victoria gets up and walks away. I lean back in my chair and run my hand through my hair. Does she really regret ever meeting me? I thought what we had was great. She loved me and I loved her. I still do.
"Way to go." Caleb says. "You may have just ruined things for both of us."
"Why are you interested in Vicky all of a sudden?"
"I was just cleaning up your mess like always, and I just happened to see what you didn't. You didn't deserve her. She isn't like the sluts you've dated. Victoria actually has feelings, and goals. She's loving, and unfortunately trusting. You broke her heart in a way no one else could. And that's something you have to live with."
Caleb leaves me and I watch as he leaves the cafeteria. First Victoria, and now Caleb. Soon I'll only have Sophie left.
***
I meet Grace at my house. She text me at lunch that she wants to talk and I don't have a very good feeling about it. She sits on my doorstep with her hands buried in her pockets.
"Hey." I greet her.
"Hi." She gives me a small smile. I unlock the door and we go inside. Sophie greets us at the door and Grace immediately picks her up, placing a kiss on her cheek.
"I'm late for work, Aaron." My mom says. "I'll see you when I get home." My mom glares at Grace as she grabs her coat and walks out the door.
"She hates me too, huh?" Grace asks, biting her lip.
"I don't hate you." I sigh.
"Daddy, can I watch a movie?" Sophie asks.
"Sure sweetie." Grace waits for me in the living room as I put a movie on in Sophie's room. She doesn't need to hear our conversation or sense the tension. I crack the door to her room before going back downstairs.
"Your lawyer contacted my parent's lawyer." Grace says, now sitting on the couch. "I guess you're actually going through with all of this."
"It's not that I want to." I sit on the couch beside her. "I'm doing what's best for Sophie."
"How is this what's best for Sophie? My parents just want to get to know her. They want to see her occasionally. Is that so bad?"
"After what you've told me, yes it is. You're parents aren't good people. I don't want my daughter around people who can leave their own child on the streets. They're corruptive!"
"So I'm corrupted?"
"You said it, not me."
"I can't believe you!" She jumps up. "My parents are just as deserving of a second chance as I am."
"It took a while before I gave you a second chance." I stand to be closer to her level. "You left your newborn child on my doorstep. Only someone raised by your parents would do something like that. Child abandonment seems to run in the family."
Grace's hand strikes across my face and my head snaps to the side. My cheek begins to throb from her slap.
"How dare you." She says, her voice thick. A tear slowly streaks her face. "I've apologized countless times. I've done nothing but try to make it up to both of you. I love my daughter to death, but you have no idea how much I wish I'd never slept with an a**hole like you. Goodbye Aaron." She quickly wipes away a tear and walks to the door. "And if it wasn't clear," she pauses. "we're done."
Grace leaves and I plop down on the couch, heaving a sigh. I should have known Grace and I would never work out. I should never have put Victoria through that heartbreak.
"Daddy?" Sophie says as she slowly comes down the stairs. "You okay?"
"I'm fine sweetie. Mommy and daddy just... aren't friends anymore."
"Why?" she crawls onto the couch and sits on my lap.
"Don't worry about it, okay. No matter what, mommy and daddy still love you."
"Okay." She gives me a small smile and I know she's not really convinced.
*Victoria*
I sigh as I pack the last box for our living room. I hold the box closed as my mom seals it with packing tape. Before we know it, it'll be time to move. We leave next Friday and it's coming up fast.
"Wanna take a break or start on the kitchen?" my mom asks.
"I could use a sandwich, actually. It's after 6:30 and I haven't eaten since lunch."
"Okay then, I'll whip us up a snack. How about you do a quick sweep and make sure we didn't forget anything."
As my mom fixes us a sandwich, I wander the living room checking to make sure nothing has been forgotten and that every box is sealed. My phone vibrates as I check the last stack of boxes and I look at it to see a text from Caleb. It reads: I was a jerk and you have every right to hate me. I'd hate me too. Maybe we could get together and talk about this?
There's a knock at the door and I set my phone down as I go answer it. I open the door and Caleb stands before me with his hands in his pockets.
"What are you doing here?" I sigh. "I told you to leave me alone."
"I know, and that's why I'm not going to. You can't get rid of me that easily. I'm not going to make the same mistake that Aaron did."
"Caleb, go home, please."
"No, I'm staying here until you forgive me." He steps inside and shuts the door behind him.
"You laughed at Connor's cruel jokes! You lead me to believe that you actually cared about our friendship. But it was all a lie, just like Aaron's feelings for me. You two are the same. You're both liars and manipulators. You care about nobody but yourselves. It makes me sick."
Why can't he just leave me alone? I want to move on from them. I want to move to New York and start a new life where no one knows who I am or what I've gone through.
"Please Vicky. I'm begging you to give me another chance."
"My answer is no, Caleb. Please leave before I have to make you."
A sad expression crosses his face and I look away, my gut clenching. Instead of leaving like I expected, he moved closer and I looked up to yell at him. Before I could, he met his lips with mine. My eyes open wide as he gently caresses my cheek. When he finally pulls away, he gives me a crooked smile.
"I've been wanting to do that, but I've been too afraid. But I guess if you're officially kicking me out of your life, why not do it and get it over with? I really do like you Vicky and I really hoped that you would eventually see me as more than just a friend. Aaron has broken many hearts and I've always been there to pick up the pieces and help that broken hearted girl move on. I thought I'd do the same for you, only you're different from them. Those other girls, they were the same ones every guy had gotten too, but you actually have self-respect. You have goals and ambition. You're caring and sweet, and I think you're absolutely adorable. I hope you find everything that you're looking for in New York. And if we ever cross paths again, I hope that maybe we can be friends."
He gives me a small smile before he finally leaves. I want to believe that Caleb is a good guy, but how can I when I can't trust anything that he says anymore?