Desolate Love

Chapter 6: Omit

Vaughn POV

"No way.." Alec whispered, "Vanny! How have you been? Why are you here? Are you a new intern?"

"No." I deadpanned, I was not going to show that meeting him again caused thousands of emotions to swirl around my stomach, "I am here to get a job done and then I'm leaving again."

"Oh. When are you leaving again?" Alec asks with an unfamiliar look in his eyes, as if trying to communicate sorrow or some other foreign emotion. Why was he so hard to read now? It used to be so easy to know what emotion he was feeling. If he was sad, angry, happ- "Vanny?"

"In a few months if everything goes to plan. Although I hope it goes quicker. I do wish to leave."

"Oh.." Alec trailed off, "Well it was nice to see you again," he smiled, holding out his left hand to shake my hand.

I looked down at his hand. His finger was no longer bare. There sitting proudly on his ring finger was a diamond covered engagement ring.

"Is it still Tobias?" I asked, watching his eyes fall a little at the use of Toby's full name. I had dropped the nicknames and I wished he did too. We were strangers now.

"Is what Toby.." Alec trailed off before he realised I was looking at the ring on his hand, which he tried to hide a little after catching on, "Oh, um, yeah."

"Congratulations." I said, "Well, I'm going to eat now. Goodbye."

"Wait! Vanny, I'll come with you." Alec announced before sitting down next to me.

"It's all good." I dismissed, "And please drop the nicknames. We aren't friends anymore."

I couldn't stand it. I can't stand his presence. I can't stand the negative memories I had with him. I can't stand the positive memories I had with him. And I definitely can't stand the way my heart still broke as his eyes flattened at every harsh word I threw at him. I can't stand him and I can't stand these feelings. It's a living nightmare - almost comparable to psychological torture.

"Oh right, yeah of course." He stated sadly, "Sorry. I guess it was just a habit."

"Well drop the habit. It's annoying."

"Sorry."

Several minutes of silence passed before he tried to start up a conversation again.

"How has life been since you moved?"

"Better than when I was here," I said blankly before adding, "Way better" as an after thought.

"Well... that's good I guess." He faintly smiled at me, "As long as you are happy."

"I am." I tried to shut down the conversation again in hopes that he would leave me alone but he just kept pushing at it.

"So... How's it like being back?" Alec asked, "Did you miss us- this place?"

"No. It's awful to be back." I replied honestly, "It's like walking on egg shells, hoping to not run into anyone I used to know." I put emphasis on the 'used' in hopes he would get the point that I didn't want to talk, let alone be friends.

"Well, at least you aren't staying for long I guess.." He trailed off, a sad longing look present in his eye. He was acting as if I had just shot his puppy.

"Why do you care?" I, rather rudely, snapped at him, "You are one of the many reasons I was unhappy here and you didn't care then, so stop acting like you care now. You can't rekindle a friendship that you ended long ago."

That seemed to get him to finally shut up as he turned away from me and looked at the wall. It was many moments before he even answered back.

"I.. I want to at least try," He started, "I've missed you a lot Van- Vaughn. Both me and Toby regret everything so much and we always have. Can't you join us both for a dinner? So that we can at least try and make it up to you."

What kind of bullshit is he spewing out of his mouth now?

"You can't make up the shit you put me through, especially not with a single dinner." I stated, "I'm not interested with your regrets or worries. It doesn't take back everything that happened. If you can't do that, then leave me alone."

With that said, I stood up and walked back to the CEO's office.