Distraction

Fourteen.

"What the fuck, Austin?" Justin pushed him away from him. "You know I'm surprised you even let her come back with obsessed you were with her."

"Justin, please," Clarence spoke as the two men glared at each other. Austin huffed out a laugh as he stepped closer to Justin.

"Unlike you, I listen to what she wants. I don't force her to live out my fantasy. Maybe that's why she had to run away from you." Austin smiled at Justin was cold eyes.

"Austin, don't." Clarence scowled as she tried to pull him away from Justin. Justin just shook his head.

"She may have needed time away from me, but she came back for me, didn't she? She might have let you play house, but I'm the real home. Not that you know anything about happy homes." Justin laughed. Clarence stared in shock at the two men before her.

"Last I checked you didn't either." Austin hissed out as he pulled away from Clarence. "At least my dad is still alive."

"Austin, stop it. What is with you guys?" Clarence finally yelled out of frustration. Tears were falling down her eyes. "This isn't how it was supposed to be. You guys were best friends till I ruined it."

"You didn't ruin anything, Lucky Charms. He did that on his own." Austin glared as Justin just laughed. Faith pulled Clarence away from the pair of angry men.

"Let them work this out, Clare. I don't want you getting hurt." She whispered in Clarence's ear as the tension raised with the men.

"Me? You were the one that picked my girlfriend over me." He shouted, "What have I ever done to you?"

"You were never there, Justin. I needed you! I needed a friend. I needed a friend when my dad was sleeping around. I needed a friend when my dad hit me. I needed a friend, but you were too distracted with Clarence, Noah, or whatever the fuck. She was there." He shouted back. Tears were stinging his eyes as he stared at Justin. "Maybe that's why I and her fit together. We are there for each other."

"What did you expect for me, Austin? I was a teenager! You came to me with a bruised eye from your dad who use to drive us to baseball practice. I couldn't process that." Justin stared in defeat at Austin while he just shook his head.

"You were there for her." Austin laughed. "Actually, you stopped being there for her, didn't you? I know that because I had to start holding her when she cried. Where were you?"

"I don't know, okay? I was sick of the drama! Ten years of the same fucking stories and tears. It tears away at you, Austin. I wanted to pretend I had a normal girlfriend who didn't get nightmares every night and flinch at a high five!" Justin shouted at Austin. Clarence felt as though she was just punched in the gut.

She stumbled away from Faith who tried to pull her closer. Clarence shook her head at Faith as she started running out the door. Tears were falling down her face as she made it out the door. She heard the voices calling back to her. She heard Justin's voice calling to her, but she couldn't talk to him right now, so she ran.

She didn't know where she was running, but she knew she had to leave that house. The men she loved were fighting because of her. She ruined their friendship. She ruined Justin's life. He said so himself that she was just a burden to him.

The trio in the living room just stared at each other in silence. The tension was high as Austin glared at Justin.

"I hope you're happy." Austin shook his head. "I hope you know your relationship is over."

"I didn't mean to say those things. I was just... I don't know." Justin sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. "I love her, Austin."

"No, you don't." Austin laughed, "What don't you understand, Justin? You loved her in high school and maybe even college, but you don't love her anymore."

"Oh, but you do?" Justin hissed as he stared at Austin. Austin smiled without emotion as he raised his left hand. A gold band shined in the light.

"Till death do us part." He smiled until he felt a fist slam into his jaw.

I wonder where Clarence will end up...

As always, have a lovely day and vote/comment, please! Thank you so much!