I Want You

Chapter Ten (Part I)

To be honest, when I was packing a few sets of clothing and stuff I'd need, I didn't expect for Jenny to arrive.

The front door opened and closed and I heard talking. Bracing myself from the unwanted situation and the nasty comments I knew would come my way, I walked out of my room. The kitchen and living room where empty, until Nathan came walking down the hallway from Jenny's room carrying a box.

He stopped, raised eyebrows, as if surprised to see me standing there. His eyes swept all over me and he sneered.

"You're moving out and you decide to kick her out? Couldn't you have let her stay here? You know, that's what real friends do." he shook his head. "I was so wrong about you Darcy."

"You don't get to say that, after everything, you really don't get to say that." I snapped. "It's none of your business, but I am not moving out and even if I was, this is my apartment and I can do whatever the hell I want with it. I've had enough of you people walking all over me and telling me how I should behave. So don't say you had the wrong idea about me because the only one who should be disappointed here is me."

"Look at you, still playing the victim." Came Jenny, also carrying a box. Good, she is moving out. I honestly thought I was going to have trouble getting her to leave.

"I'm not playing the victim, I'm standing up for myself. About time I did." My phone started ringing. "Since you turned down my offer of more time, I expect you to have all of your things out by tomorrow. If not, I'd throw them out. Have a nice life Jenny."

Was it me, or did I sound like a bitch?

It seems as if I'd been surrounding myself with idiots all my life. Maybe I'm the idiot. It could be both.

"Hello?" I answered the call as I walked out of my home.

"Could you stop by the market and buy me some olive oil and spinach?" Maeve said from the other end of the line. "Please."

"Sure, I'm on my way." We said our goodbyes, which still went by kind of awkward. I wonder how long it'll last. Surely our relationship won't always be like this... right? That'll make family reunions very difficult.

After three trips to the car, sweat, a snack and a shower, I found myself standing in the middle of my now art room. I tried my best to place everything nicely to fake the neatness I did not have in me. It seemed decent enough.

"Are you any good?" Maeve's voice startled me from the doorway. Seriously, was this woman a ninja or what?

"Excuse me?"

"Are you good at painting?" she motioned with her tea at my mess.

Before I could reply Armand came to step next to her and grinned at me. "She's amazing."

"I wouldn't go that far." I think I'm blushing now.

"Stop with the modesty. You make beautiful things with those hands. Show ma what you're working on." Armand encouraged, then to Maeve: "It's breathtaking I'm telling you."

That made me wince. I hadn't told him what happened and now I have to do it in front of his mother.

"I don't think that's possible."

"Why?" Armand frowned when he looked at me. Worry evident in his eyes.

"Jenny destroyed my latest work. Both paintings are useless." I swallowed back tears.

It hurts, you know? Having worked so hard on something, put part of who you are in it, then you start to feel proud of what you've achieved, only for someone to come barging in and ruining everything in a careless manner. Now add to the mix that said someone is your—who you thought was your best friend... now, that stings like a bitch.

"She what?!" Armand came into the room with long strides, reaching me in no time and extending his arm to hug me. "When did this happen? Oh, Darcy, I'm so sorry."

"The day of your accident." I hugged back, resting my head on the crook of his neck and finding comfort in the way he smelled. Still, I was very careful not to put much weight in the way I was leaning into him. There's no way I'm hurting him.

We stood there for a while. I knew he wanted to keep questioning but the need to comfort me seemed stronger. I felt safe. He'd become my anchor, my home, and part of me is still afraid that it's a bad idea.

"I love you." I sighed and moved my head to kiss his chest, then pulled back just enough to look straight into his beautiful eyes. "I really do."

"I love you." He smiled, pressing a quick kiss to my nose. "You do make me happy so."

We chuckled and after another moment of silence, he pulled me to the couch on the far end of the room, one that was now covered with plastic. I couldn't be sure when Maeve left, but I'm glad for the privacy.

"Please tell me what happened." Armand sat down, leg folded and facing me. His hand holding mine gently rubbing his thumb over my knuckles.

I did. Everything came out of me, from the moment I saw the torn canvases to Nina's call to me kicking Jenny out and today's encounter of sorts. I told him everything and managed so without spilling a single tear.

"And how do you feel now?" he asked after I finished.

"Is it bad to say that I'm relieved? Jenny's and I friendship stopped being healthy the day we moved in together. We just drifted apart and hurt each other. I'm relieved it's over. Sure it hurts, but I have to move on. I think its better this way."

"It's not bad. You have every right to feel that way. You're such a strong woman Darcy, you try to see the best in people, you're kind, and so strong. I'm so glad I recognized you at that parking lot. " He lifted our joined hands to kiss mine. "I'm so proud of you. We'll get through this, I'll always be here."

"You're going to make me cry. I made it through that whole speech and now you're going to make me cry with how sweet you are." I blinked back tears and failed at glaring at him.

"Hey! There's nothing wrong with a few tears."

"I'm talking about a flood."

"Well then, let me just grab a few buckets and we're set." He started to get up and I held on to stop him.

"You're ridiculous, you know that?"

"Ridiculously in love with you."

I don't know why, but I started laughing and soon he did too.

"Um," Maeve stood on the doorway holding two mugs and staring at us with a surprised look on her face. She must think we're crazy. To be honest, I don't know what about the situation seemed to be hilarious, because we kept laughing and Armand groaned in between from the pain.

Maeve left again, leaving the mugs on the first "clean" surface she found. Seconds after, Armand went to grab them and grinned.

"Ma likes you." He handed me a mug and I found out it was tea.

"What? She's always glaring and watching my every move."

"She would ignore you if she didn't really like you and she wouldn't have made you tea if she didn't like you at least a bit." Armand explained.

"This is good right?" the tea sure as hell is.

"Very." Armand grinned. "Now I can start to warm her up to the thought of us getting married."

This time I didn't object.