Old habits die hard (boyxboy)

(8) Growing great!

Deryk POV

Carelessly I waltzed into Delilah's decorated room and flung myself on her unmade bed with a gruelling grunt. I am so sick of this. The second I rolled over dramatically like a kicked puppy booted by the phone i'm glaring at, she immediately hung up her call.
"What am I listening to you vent about now then?"
Who would have guessed that at least bi-weekly gossip sessions disguised as supporting one another through difficult times were a beloved past time of ours? I suppose that much is quite predictable at least.
"Kellan."
Probably that too.
"Want me to play with your hair whilst you moan?"
"Yes please..."

As I knelt down on her earthy monochromatic rug, she massaged my scalp with her fresh olive manicure and kept me calm whilst I ranted.
"I actually have no idea what the hells got so under his skin that he's blaming it all on me!"
"Sometimes you can get a bit ahead of yourself."
She suggested unhelpfully, in my opinion, but regardless Delilah and I at least know to listen to one another.
"He keeps saying weird crap like that too, seriously what do you both mean?"
I prompted her to continue despite my lacking ability to take criticism well, I had a tendency to take it to heart so opted to push myself too far to terminate opportunities for critique. However frankly this is starting to get on my nerves, what i'm lacking in street smarts I make up with book smarts but that rarely helps in regards to social issues.
"Well I just mean that you don't see when you're wrong, and even when others point it out you're already off on one so can't stop."
Humming reluctantly but thoughtfully in response, my defenses were immediately raised as I instinctually closed my posture. Yet I needed to hear this so I bit my tongue to keep silent and let her continue.
"If you're honest with yourself, have you overstepped when he's been clear about something or another recently?"
Yes.
Yes I have...

"Well maybe but-"
"Deryk, what have you done?"
Unfortunately that tone of voice left no compromise, so begrudgingly I explained my perspective of where it all began going downhill. Emotionally, not physically.
"Pushed him, I pushed him a lot Delilah but I did the right thing honestly!"
She tried to protest but stopped short when I mentioned Avery, quickly lending into uncertainty as her fingers stilled on my scalp.
"Avery's justice was thanks to him, and my admittedly aggressive encouragement. He wouldn't have helped without it but out of the team he's the only one i'd trust to actually do good at the cost of himself."
After saying my statement silence followed, but only for a second until I received a merciless whack to my head that sounded through my eardrums wickedly.
"The fuck what that for!?"
"For being a self centred prick!"

Pulling away from her, I stood above Delilah glaring down at her whilst rubbing the spot on my head. I daren't trust her with my hair now, hell if I said one more thing she didn't like she could make me bald with that temper!
"Shut up Dee, you don't know what you're talking about..."
I grumbled, tantrumming like a disciplined toddler as I trudged over to her artistic floor length mirror to continue the braid myself. She clearly was not in the mood to gossip, so gossip I won't give her.
"Ohhhhh I know exactly what i'm talking about, you really think without you and your 'help' Avery wouldn't have been able to move past this?"
Ah, it wasn't the gossip she disliked, but the accidental insult to her best friend.
"You should know how fucking strong my girl is, unlike yourself and Kellan."
"Hey!"
I whipped my head to face her, I couldn't tell you why I despised when she spoke bad of his name despite contently doing so constantly, I just know I did. She shrugged and scowled in response, labelling me childish with her menacing gaze.
"Well come on now Deryk, look at the mess you've caused now he won't even speak to you stupid."
Eyes grazing her phone now, clearly irritated at me, she just wouldn't stop as she hurled slander mercilessly my way.
"And you're so worked up over your goddamn boyfriend cause why? Cause you're immature and won't fucking grow up!"
I was pissed, me and Delilah never argue, never butt heads, never fight but here we are.