Tough Love

Chapter One

"Happy Two Years Anniversary Baby!!" I hugged him in excitement, he hugged back with less affection.

"Happy anniversary, babe." He said with a small smile on his lips.

"Are you alright? You seem a bit off." I ask, trying to put a little happiness to it. I prepared dinner for us, I cooked, which is a miracle.

"Yeah. No, I'm fine, just a bit tired." He said taking a seat at the dinner table, I stood in front of him smiling, secretly waiting for him to pull out the chair for me and let me sit, like what he used to do during our first few months together. I cleared my throat.

"What?" He asks again. Looking at me with a clueless look. I grit my teeth and force a smile. "Nothing baby." I sat down.

He's been like this for months now, he's been ignoring my efforts, unacknowledging my love for him.

"I cooked dinner. Steak and potatoes. Just how you like them." I smiled, I worked so damn hard for today, I cooked and bought a new dress, plus put on make up in which I barely do.

"Thank you." He starts eating, there is definitely something wrong. He started eating. No happiness in his eyes.

"Ash, baby." I get his attention. He looks up at me, raising his eyebrows. I got us tickets to Croatia, to get his mind off things. See, he's 19 and he works for his dad at their hotel, he currently goes to online college. "I love you and I noti-" his phone rings. Takes out his phone and excuses himself from the table, without even waiting for my response he steps out into the back yard.

From my seat I can see him clearly through the glass doors. He's smiling widely, like how he used to when we go on dates, he started laughing and smiling again, he glances at me and turns away from me, I look back down at my untouched food. I see droplets falling on my plate. I haven't realized I've been crying, I wipe my tears with my hand.

"Amy?" He's the only person who calls me that. I don't look up, from my peripheral view I can see him being nervous, scratching his head, rubbing his palm against his face. He finally clears his throat.

"We're breaking up, aren't we." It sounded more of a statement rather than a question.

I was waiting for a dreadful response, but he said nothing, which hurt me even more than I already am.

"I'm sorry." He whispers and steps closer to me.

I inhale deeply and pick up both our plates and throw them in the sink, breaking them in the process. I place my hands on the counter. My tears falling freely onto my lace dress.

"Just go. I got this." I force a smile on my face. I may be seventeen but I'm not as dramatic as other girls in my generation.

I waited for another response. Then I heard the front door shut, hoping it was my mom, waiting for her to annouce her presence but it didn't come. I slowly turned around and saw nobody.

I sucked in a breath and pulled out my phone, I dialed my best friend's number.

"Penny?" My voice cracks.

"I'll be there in a few." She said then hung up.

Penelope is my very best friend, we knew each other since we were five, she lived four houses down. She's taller than me, has pale skin and bright blue eyes, her hair is dyed red at the tips of her brown hair.

In not more than three minutes, I hear the door open then shut, I haven't even moved from the kitchen counter. She came in and looked at me, she pulled me into a tight hug, that's when I lost it. I broke down, my knees gave in, Penny caught me and we both slowly slid down to the floor.

Minutes felt like hours, we sat on the floor for God knows how long. My mother is currently at Canada, visiting her sister coz she just gave birth, I asked to stay behind because of all this with Ashton.

"Are you ready to speak now?" Pen whispered. I nodded.

"Ashton, he's changed. He never tells me he loves me anymore, he never hugs me enough anymore, he barely even kisses me anymore. I gave him everything, every single thing I have, I gave it. I left nothing for me Penny, not even love, I gave him all my love, and left not a single drop for me. I believe I wasn't a bad girlfriend, his needs were more important than mine, and he just threw me away, like I was just some side chick. Was I?" I look at her and she just shrugs.

"I have a feeling, that he's cheating on you, or rather, cheated." Penny stated. I look at her and she gave me a small smile. I want to believe her, but I have to find out myself first before I conclude.

"Maybe." I whispered, I told her what happened that night. Which reminded me of my gift. "What am I supposed to do with two tickets to Croatia now?" She look at me, and smiled again.

"Let's go! You and I, a best friend week out. We need this, your tickets are for spring break, we'll both be eighteen by then! We're legal by that time, which means we can travel alone!" She stood up in excitement, I laughed at her enthusiasm. She pulled me up, of course I want to go with her, nothing could be better.

"Okay then, be ready in two months." She squealed and hugged me.

We both fixed up the mess I made and head up to my room after lockig all the doors.

"So, what are going to do now?" Penny asked. We were both lying on my bed, thinking about where I went wrong. I scanned through our messages, he's the one who lost the affection.

"Where did I go wrong, Penny? I did everything, I supported him all the way, I helped him when he was down, and this is how he repays me? Never have I ever taken out my anger on him like he did to me, never did I slap him or hurt him physically, never did I humiliate him in front of a crowd." By this time tears spilled from my eyes again. Thinking of the things I went thru just for him.

"Hey, shh. Stop crying sis. He's not worth it. Okay? I want to be honest and say he was a jerk since then, I don't know how you survived two years but I adore you for your strength, Ashton was never your type, but he did things that would make any girl fall. But right now, I don't know what I'd do if I were you. We can stalk him and find out what's wrong." She suggested

I gave her a nod. We talked all night. She fell asleep next to me, but I couldn't sleep. Two years, two damn years, wasted. How did we end like this. I just wish he proved me wrong when I asked him if he was breaking up with me. His voice rang through my head.

'I'm sorry' I scoffed at the memory. "Sorry, my ass"

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THANK YOU..