The Sweetest Thing (gxg)

Part 27

Over the next few weeks, until the holidays, I wanted to ask Vivienne more about possibly becoming official- finally.

But she was extremely stressed out with her finals for her first semester of law school. And I knew it wasn't the time to do so.

I could tell that Viv was struggling. She was more closed off- not intentionally- however she had to focus on studying. She wasn't able to hangout as much- though a couple of nights I sat with her at Starbucks while she studied, hardly even saying a word, and I would drop off coffee and treats to her house to uplift her spirits.

One of the nights before a final of hers, she asked if she could come to my house to study for a night.

"I can't take being in my room any longer, I'm going to throw all of my books out of my window." she said over the phone.

"Well, we definitely don't want that happening. Of course you can come over." I said to her.

Michelle was already home from school for winter break, and when I told her Vivienne was coming over, she looked delighted.

"I love that you're spending time with her again." she said to me, "You seem happier than you have in a long time."

If only my dad could understand that.

I wish Michelle could just tell him that I was happy, and he could accept that.

Vivienne sat in my room later that night, her laptop and books open in front of her on my bed. I was on my laptop as well, studying some continuing education modules I had for work.

"I fucking hate this." Vivienne said, "I wish I could drop out. I don't even like this! And I know I am not dumb, but I am not smart enough for this."

I looked at Vivienne, "I am so sorry, Viv. You only have two more tests, and then you have a whole month off."

Vivienne sighed, and pushed up her glasses on her nose, "You're right. But then the month will be over and I'll have to start up at school again...you know what. I won't even think about that right now. Or, I'll try not to."

She gave me a weak smile, and kept on studying.

Three days later, she was done with the semester.

"I almost wish that I would just fail out." Vivienne said, "That would possibly be even easier than telling my parents I want to drop out. Either way they would cut me off. But failing out wouldn't be able to let them sway me."

She then shook her head and said, "I can't do that to myself."

I was going to spend Christmas at my mom's house, of course. Grayson was spending Christmas with his girlfriend. Michelle was eating dinner at my father and Nicole's house for Christmas Eve, but she would be coming home that night and then spending Christmas day with my mother.

Two days before Christmas Eve, I was leaving work- when my phone started vibrating. I thought that it was possibly Vivienne. She was going to New York with her parents for Christmas, and she would call me when she had enough of them.

It wasn't Vivienne, though.

It was Nicole.

I stared at my phone, and let it go to voicemail as I walked to my car.

What does she want?

Even though she wasn't as bad as my father, I didn't really have a relationship with her anymore. That also meant I barely had a relationship with my 10 year old half sister, Bella- which always upset me.

I knew that when I got in my car, I would have to call her back. I couldn't just not answer her.

Well, I actually could...