Chapter Seven.

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Song: Brother by Gerard Way.

"Why did you get back together with him?" Olive says a bit too loudly for comfort. I mean, we're in a public place, she could at least quiet down her tone. We're at Starbucks and have been here for about half an hour, discussing me getting back with Tay.
"You could've gotten together with that dude you took to the Muse concert." She continues. As I expected she isn't too happy about me getting back together with Tay. I decide not to tell her what he told me the other night about not being allowed to go see Dan. It's been a couple of days since the dinner we had with Dan and Phil and I haven't heard anything out of Dan. I've texted him a couple of times but he hasn't replied. I glance at Olive's left hand and see the engagement ring that Will gave her. It's just a little diamond on a silver band, simple but pretty.
"Your engagement ring is pretty," I tell her, changing the subject off of me getting back with Tay.
"Thank you," Olive says. "But don't change the subject. I demand you break up with him and get together with Dan."
"I can't, Olive." I say, sighing as I shake my head. "I feel stuck with him now."
"That's because you shouldn't have gotten back together in the first place. He treated you like shit, Zo, and he'll start treating you that way again."
"I won't allow it, I'll fight back."
"And what will you do if he hurts you, hm?"
"Call the police."
"They can only do so much. Break it off with him now before it becomes too late. Go be happy with Dan. You deserve to be happy after what you've been through with Tay. You aren't stuck. Picture it like a cat in a box. All four sides are closed but the top isn't. So there's a way to escape. You're not stuck with Tay."
She looks at me, a scowl creasing her face.
I glance down at my watch and see that Tay will be getting home from work in a few minutes. "I've got to go, Tay will be home in a bit." I say as I grab my coat and stand up. "I'll see you later. Congratulations on the engagement, by the way."
"Thanks," Olive says and then stands up to give me a hug. "I mean what I said about you breaking up with Tay, Zo."
I nod and then head out into the cold weather. It's gotten colder and snow is starting to fall. I don't want to get a cab home so I walk, which is probably not a good idea. It'll be getting dark soon and will probably be dark before I get to my apartment, but I just want some time to myself. I'm upset about the whole thing with Dan. I'd text Phil if I had his number but I don't. Tay didn't say I couldn't talk to Phil, just not Dan. Maybe if I go by their apartment I could see what's up with Dan. No, that would be rude showing up unannounced (though I'm sure Phil wouldn't mind). They might not be home though so I discard that idea. But on my quiet, cold walk home I come up with a plan. I'm going to do like Olive said: I'm going to break up with Tay now before our relationship gets too far again.
I eventually arrive home, freezing, disgruntled, and with snow in my hair. Like I predicted it was dark long before I got back. The smell of pizza greets me when I walk through the door and I find Tay sitting on the sofa, his legs propped up on the coffee table, watching television. I also notice that there are two bottles of beer on the table next to his feet. Both of the bottles are empty and there's a full one in his hand. He must have went to the store to get those beers because I don't keep beer stocked.
"You're home late," Tay notes as I shed myself of my coat, shoes, and bag.
"I walked home," I reply. "I wanted some fresh air and time to myself."
"There's some pizza in the fridge," Tay says, seemingly ignoring what I said. "And please don't walk home again. Especially as cold as it is."
"Please don't tell me what to do," I mumble under my breath as I go to the refrigerator. "I heard that," Tay says. I bite my lip as I grab the pizza and a drink, expecting Tay to say something more. But he doesn't. He does come into the kitchen though, bottle of beer in hand.
"Soo, I'm going to assume you had a bad day at work." I tell Tay as he sits down across from me. "Judging by how many beers you've had."
"I got fired," Tay replies.
"You're joking, right?" I ask, dropping my pizza down on the plate. "You just fucking got hired!"
"Do I look like I'm joking?" Tay ask, glaring.
"Why did you get fired?" I ask, ignoring the stinging bite from his hateful tone.
"I got in a fight," he says simply. "I didn't like the way one of my co-workers was talking to me so we got into it. And the result was my boss firing me."
There goes my plan.
"So you're drinking now because of it?" I ask, pushing my plate away.
"No, I just wanted some beer." Tay says before guzzling half his beer down. "I'll start looking for a new job tomorrow, I promise."
"You'd better," I say as I stand up and throw my pizza away. "I don't make enough to support both myself and you."
Tay says nothing and I go into the bathroom where I take a long shower. By the time I get out, Tay is back on the sofa with a fresh beer in his hand.
"I'm going to bed now," I tell Tay. "I've got to get up early in the morning."
"Come give me my goodnight kiss," Tay says without looking away from the television.
"You know I don't like kissing you when you've been drinking," I tell him, scowling.
"Zosy," Tay says, a warning edge to his voice. I sigh and go over to the sofa. He looks up at me and I bend over to give him a quick peck on the lips. Even that tasted like beer. I then go in my room and get in bed where I lie awake for about an hour, listening to the television and Tay getting up to get a fresh beer every so often. He's going to be hungover in the morning and I'm glad I'll be at work so I won't have to deal with his mood.

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Dan and Phil, third POV.

"Dan, why won't you come out of your room?" Phil calls through the bedroom door. "You've been in there for, like, three days."
"Go away," Dan calls back, burying his head deeper into his pillow and pulling the covers further up.
"What's wrong?" Phil asks as he turns the knob of the door and goes inside of Dan's room. He doesn't like seeing his best friend sulking.
"It's Zo...." Dan mumbles. "I really like her, Phil, and she's with that jerk and will probably never dump him."
"You don't know that, Dan."
Dan's quiet for a few minutes and then says, "She's texted me, like, five times and I haven't replied. I've been ignoring her."
"Why!? She probably thinks you're mad at her, Dan. Text her back right now."
"She's probably in bed, it's almost one in the morning."
"Then text her in the morning, Dan. Don't ruin your friendship with her."
Dan waves a dismissive hand and Phil rolls his eyes before patting Dan's back over the blankets and then standing up.

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