Forever Never

Chapter Two | Success and Exploitation

Tyana

Whenever Elle came up with a bad idea the first victim she dragged in to do it with her was always me. Trying to change her mind was simply pointless. Then all she does is says she'll pay me and I can't help but accept. I may be her best friend but my services weren't free, not even for her. Her latest was doing a live stream while tipsy, answering questions and she asked me to be in the video.

"I'll pay you I swear," she finally said while throwing a grape in her mouth. She was preparing her workout shake as we were about to go to the gym. "What's the worst thing that can happen? It's gonna be fun, trust me!"

I sighed. "Many things can go wrong. But fine. It's your funeral," I conceded. As her best friend I should stop her from making bad decisions but at the same time it was always fun to watch her when wasted.

She fist bumped the air triumphantly. Her eyes darted from me to something over my shoulder. "Ooh Lee-"

"No." Leroy interrupted immediately and her big smile fell flat just as quick.

"You don't even know what I'm gonna say!" she replied defensively.

"I know that's that asking-for-something pitch in your voice so let me save you the time and say hell no."

I turned my head to see him standing in the door opening in a pizza delivery uniform, with a red cap, polo and pants. But what caught my attention was the glasses resting on his nose bridge. They were those round-ish Harry Potter glasses only the finest men could pull off.

I must've been staring a little too much because when he looked at me instead I had to look away to save myself from embarrassment. "You deliver pizzas for a living?" I teased instead.

"Temporarily." he replied. "I'm actually an entrepreneur. I will be successful, just dealing with a minor setback that's all," he added and I was back to looking at him directly.

"I don't know if being on the brink of bankruptcy is a minor setback but whatever works for you," Elle chimed in and he glared at her.

"I know you did not just air out my business like that." he widened his eyes and clenched his jaw.

"Oh please get over yourself. I promise you Ty doesn't give a damn," Elle rolled her eyes. He shook his head and started brewing himself some coffee.

"I actually think it's cool that you're still ambitious even after a setback." I spoke for myself. "Successful people don't give up."

"Thank you! Someone gets it," he said gesturing his arm in my direction. Elle just shrugged while continuing eating her grapes with nonchalance.

"Or they exploit others to get where they are like... literally every billionaire ever."

"Whatever," he focused on me instead. "What do you do then?"

"Edit videos for others. This one happens to be my best customer," I replied, gesturing to Elle.

"Mixing business with pleasure. Bold," he nodded. Soon he left with his coffee and lunch in his little bag.

"You're gonna lock up your neck," Elle said throwing a grape at me and I stopped staring after Leroy.

"Girl you never told me you had a cute brother," I whispered, just in case he was still in the building and could somehow hear me, and she just laughed.

But when she realised I wasn't kidding she stopped. "Wait you're serious?" she asked and I shrugged.

"I don't know. There's something to him. Like he's so damn fine but doesn't realise it which makes him even more fine y'know?" I watched as disgust and utter confusion gradually colored her face.

She put her waterbottle down slowly and leaned against the counter. "Okay let me save you the trouble of having to find this out on your own and wasting your time. That man is the definition of emotionally unavailable. Trust me, you don't wanna go anywhere near that one," she adviced.

"Girl neither am I right now. Either way you don't have to worry. I'm just an admirer that's all," I told her. Elle didn't seem too bothered with the idea of me messing with her brother, but just to be safe I had no plans to.

***

Someone should've taught me early on how to navigate a breakup, especially one as difficult and messy as mine. Or even better given me some sort of cheat code to blowing past it all with minimal damage. Instead all anyone's told me was to take it day-by-day.

There was a knock I thought I heard but was drowned out by the guitar I was absentmindedly playing on only for the doorbell to ring next. "You expecting someone?" I asked Daisy as she strolled after me to the door. She simply sat at my feet, waiting.

Through the peephole I saw someone I was convinced I hallucinated onto my doorstep and opened to confirm. "Ty..." he breathed.

"What the hell? Who told you showing up at my apartment this late after blowing up my phone all week was a good idea??" I went off.

"Look you have every right to be pissed off with me right now. But Ty please... I'm falling apart. I need someone to talk to," I noticed his voice was trembling and tears slowly made their way forward.

"Tim..." I sighed, unsure.

"Please, Ty."

The part in me that still cared for him wanted to let him in and be there for him. After all we promised to each other that should we need someone to be there for us, we'd always be for one another. And his whole demeanor told me he desperately needed company right now.

I finally let him in and he released a thankful breath as a single tear trailed down his cheek and beyond, onto the floor. He followed me to the kitchen where I made him a cup of coffee as he sat down at the table.

"So what's up?" I asked, sitting down opposite him and leaning against the table. He pinched the bridge of his nose with two fingers as he sat in silence for a moment, just breathing.

"I just-" he paused. "Feel like I'm going insane. I can't... get a moment's peace with these... thoughts in my head. I- I- I... feel like I'm drowning," he sniffled without looking at me or anything in particular.

"I'm sorry, Timmy."

"Wish I could say it was anything new," he finally glanced up at me. "The only time it felt like I could handle it, only time it didn't feel so damn overwhelming was when I was with you. You're my moment's peace, Ty."

"Tim I can't..." I shook my head in hesitation.

"No no I'm not asking to get back together. I just need a friend. There's no one else I feel comfortable enough with to talk to than you. You're all I got, Ty..." he looked me in the eyes as he said that, pleading.

"Listen, I'm not qualified to give you what you need. You need to seek an expert," I adviced him and he looked down again, laughing slightly.

"Lot of good that did for Cory," he scoffed. I tilted my head at that.

"You're not your brother. I'll be your friend but only if you also seek professional help. Or at least give it a try" I told him. He was quiet for a while, wiping away tears and snot.

"Fine." he finally gave in. "I'll do it."

The last thing I would want was to abandon someone in need of a friend. I wouldn't forgive myself for whatever happened to him if I at least didn't try to help. I've already made that mistake before and I was not about to repeat. Besides I did give him a promise and I was not one to break one.