This Is Me Trying

Chapter Sixteen

AN: Double chapter to make up for the one I missed the other night! Don't forget to read chapter fifteen (just in case you accidentally skip to this one.) Much love! 💛

Betty

"Thanks for letting me hang out with you today Stef." I said as we pulled up to Danielle's house.
"You can come to my house whenever you want bambina." She reached over and gave me a hug.
I got out of the car, and leaned back through the window.
"Stef, I know I always say stuff about Danielle being my Mom figure, but you are too. You've been helping raise me too. And I appreciate it. Love you."
"I love you too bambina!" She shouted as I walked up to the door.
Danielle opened the front door, and smiled as she saw me. Her face fell slightly when she saw Stefania in her car.
"Hi kid! Did you have fun today?" She pulled me in for a hug.
"Yes. How was your day?"
"Good. I have a surprise for you." We walked inside and she led me to the back yard.

"You bought a hot tub? That's awesome!" I said excitedly.
"I figured we both kinda needed it. Why don't you go get changed and we'll get in."

Danielle

Betty ran off and I heard a knock at the door.
I walked over to it and opened it.
"Did Betty forget something in your car?" I crossed my arms over my chest.
"No. Bambina please talk to me. Give me five minuets. Please." Stefania begged with tears running down her face.
"What could you possibly say. You said everything you needed to say the other night." I stepped outside and shut the door behind me.
"Danielle I'm so, so sorry. I've just been so stuck in my head. I don't know what's wrong with me. I'm sorry that I cheated, I'm so sorry. Please bambina. Please, take me back."

"What am I supposed to do? Forget what you did? Forget what I saw? Forget the things you said? I can't trust you, Stefania."
"Please, I'll spend every day of the rest of my life trying to earn your trust back. Please, bambina."
"Stef, I think you need to leave." I crossed my arms over my chest.
"Okay, okay. I'm sorry for bothering you. I'll see you at work." Stefania turned and walked off to her car.
I stepped back inside and saw Betty standing next to the door.

"Stef cheated on you?"
"Betty." I sighed and rubbed my forehead.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because it would've changed the way you looked at her. And I know how much you love Stefania."
"Damn right it does." Betty scoffed and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Betty. Please don't. Stefania cares about you. Don't take it out on her, okay? Please for me?"
Betty nodded and wrapped her arms around my waist. "I'm sorry Dani."

"Thanks kiddo. Hey, it'll be okay. Alright?"

Betty

I walked on set with Elizabeth laughing about some joke she just told.
"God you're such a dork." I pushed her playfully.
"Betty! Hi." Stefania smiled at me from under her mask as she walked up.
"Hey, I'll meet you on set. Okay?"
Elizabeth nodded and walked off.

"What?" I crossed my arms over my chest.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah why wouldn't I be? It's not like I'm the one who got cheated on."
"Danielle told you." Stefania sighed.
"No. You did. I heard you two when you were outside."
"Betty, I'm sorry."
"Why are you apologizing to me? Like I said. It's not like I'm the one who got cheated on."
"I'm still sorry. I know you're mad. I know Danielle is upset. I'm trying my hardest to get her to forgive me, so we can be a family again."

"Look, I don't know what you have planned. But give it time. She's finally just getting back to the old Dani. She's putting on real clothes instead of sitting around in her pajamas all day. You hurt her. And that pisses me off. Dani asked me to not look at you different or treat you any different than I did before, so I won't. But if you hurt her again, I'll never speak to you again."
Stefania nodded and sighed shakily.

I wrapped my arms around her waist in a hug.
"I love you. But I'm mad at you."
"I love you too bambina."

"Dani? Are you ready to go home?" I knocked on her trailer door.
"You can come in Betty." I heard her say from inside.

I walked in and saw her and Stefania sitting on the couch, both with red puffy tear stained faces.
"I'll just wait outside." I turned to leave.
"No bambina, come sit." Stefania patted the spot next to her.
I walked over and past her, and sat down next to Danielle.
"I owe both of you an apology. I'm so, so sorry for what I've done. It just didn't affect Danielle, it affected you Betty."
"Stefania-"

"I don't deserve for you both to accept my apology. But I'll do everything I can to earn your trust back." Stefania interrupted Danielle.

I rolled my eyes and leaned back in the seat.
"Betty. I saw that." Danielle sighed.
"Can I say something without getting in trouble or getting interrupted?" I asked.
Danielle nodded, reached over and grabbed my hand.

"I haven't had a stable home life in ten years. I haven't been safe, in ten years. Then I met you and Danielle. And for some reason, I like to think it was my Dad, Danielle wouldn't give up on me. She pushed and pushed and gave me a safe place to call home. Danielle, is my Mom. She's a better Mom than my biological mother ever was. And you, Stefania. You're the other Mom I never had. I thought I wouldn't experience anymore hurt in my life. I trust the both of you more than anyone in my life. And you broke that trust. I sat there and watched Danielle pull herself back together by herself, because she has no one else. I never thought that one of my Mother figures would hurt my other Mother figure like this. We were a family. A family that I never had. You, Danielle, me and Jeff. And that family is broken now. It's fucking broken because you cheated. You didn't only break Danielle, you broke me." I felt the hot tears running down my face, and I quickly wiped them away.

"Betty, I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt anybody. Please, bambini. I'm sorry. I love you. Both of you."
"Betty..." Danielle turned and looked at me.
"I don't hate her. And it'll take a lot less for me to forgive her than I'm guessing it will you to. Don't let me and my feelings be in the way of your feelings Danielle. You deserve to be happy." I stood and walked to the door.
"I'll just go hang out with Barrett and Jaina. I'll ask Elizabeth to give me a ride home. I'll call you when I'm on my way."