I gently push Nicole away. "Nicole, we're not doing this."
"Why?"
"Is it me? You chose me?" I ask her.
"Santo-" She groans, but I cut her off.
"If you aren't a hundred percent sure that you want me and only me, get out." I step away from her. "Right now, that's when you decide. You don't decide when he cheats on you. If I'm not your decision right now, then I don't want anything to do with you anymore."
"So basically if I'm not with you, then you want nothing to do with me?" She asks, shocked.
"No, I don't care if we go back to friends, or if we decide to try, but either way, no more Jackson. If you're still wanting to be involved with him, friendship or relationship, then it's not gonna work between us, even if we don't try a relationship. Cut all ties with him, or cut all ties with me."
"Chres, I.." She trails off. "I'm sorry."
I shake my head, "You can leave now." I turn, heading back to my room.
"You could at least take me to get my stuff." She frowns.
"What do you mean?"
"I don't want to argue with you any more. And you were right, twenty years is worth more than anything." She steps towards me again, and I turn to face her.
"You're completely done with him?" I ask.
"Yes. I don't want to lose you. You've never done anything to hurt me, I want us to be happy." She smiles at me.
I think about it for a minute, and while I am, she comes over to me and wraps her arms around my waist. "You. I want us to happen." She tells me. "I promise, after we get my things, I won't talk to him again, all ties will be cut."
"Promise?" I ask, looking down at her.
"I promise." She smiles, looking in my eyes.
"Then lets go get your stuff and you can break up with him."
"Now?" She asks.
"Yes. I'm not waiting around for you to change your mind. It's now or never." It's simple.
"Okay, let's go then." She grabs my hand.
"You're serious?"
"Yes. I've realized over these past few weeks that you mean a lot to me, more than anyone else. I love you, Chres.".
"I love you." I smile. It feels amazing to hear her say she loves me the same way I love her.
On the way to Jackson's house, Nikki drives because I still have a huge headache. I text my sister.
To: Big Sis
Hey, I had to run a few errands so I'm not home. I'll call you later. -11am
She responds quickly.
From: Big Sis
Okay, she better not still be around. I do not like her. Be careful. -11:01am
To: Big Sis
She isn't, I will. Love you too. -11:03am
"Chres, I'm really sorry for what I put you through." Nikki apologizes.
"I forgive you, and I want to move on from that." I take her hand in mine.
"Good, because I really love you."
"I love you too, but one time of talking to him and it's over. If you have any relationship with him, I want to be as far away as possible."
"Okay." She nods.
"I don't mean to sound controlling, but I'm tired of you and me being hurt." I tell her.
"Last night you were talking and you asked if I thought you would ever have a family with someone who genuinly loves you. My answer is still yes. I genuinly love you." Nikki tells me.
"And I've loved you for years." I kiss the back of her hand.
"Years?"
"Yes. I've known about my feelings for you for a long time."
She kisses my cheek once we stop, "I love you."
"Say it again." I smile, pecking her lips.
"I love you, Chresanto."
"I love you, Nicole."
---
"So you just gon' leave now?" Jackson asks.
"Pretty much." Nicole nods.
"So you were with him behind my back?" He gets louder.
"No, but you keep cheating on me. I'm tired of it. I rather be with someone who loves me. That's not you. I love Chres. He loves me."
"Whatever." Jackson pushes her out of the house. She had already gotten her stuff.
I step in front of her so the slap he was about to deliver to her lands on me. And that's when I start punching him. I get all the anger I had built up out finally.
Nicole pulls me off eventually and Jackson crawls into his house, slamming the door.
He got what he deserves.
"Here, baby." She hands me the box with my stuff in it.
"Thank you." I peck her lips.
"How are we going to tell everyone? They kind of hate me."
"We're going to tell them and they're going to have to accept it." I shrug.
---
"Get in the closet." I gently nudge Nicole towards the closet. My sister and her boyfriend decided to pop up.
"I thought we were him a tell-"
I kiss her quickly. "Baby. Get in the closet. I'll be back in a few minutes to get you."
"Fine. Only because I'm scared too." She smiles.
I go answer the door after she gets in the closet.
Turns out, the whole crew was here.
"What's up." They smile, barging into my house.
"Please, come in. I wasn't busy or anything." I mumble.
I notice TiTi looking around the apartment and kick Nicole's shoes under the couch.
Tey sits on Jacob's lap and looks around, Bre sits on Ray's lap and does the same. Eventually, TiTi sits on Craig's lap.
"You guys are being weird." I tell them.
"I smell hoe." TiTi says bluntly.
"Go get her. We all know she's here." Tey says.
I don't move, in case they're tricking me. "You guys are trippin'." I chuckle.
"I'm not playing with you. Go get her before I drag her out here." TiTi says.
"Okay." I go get her. She was dead serious.
I go to my room, opening the closet door. "C'mon."
"Wait-"
I pick her up, walking to the living room. She stays behind me.
"I knew it!" The girls yell.
"Look, we talked it out and we're together now." I explain as Nikki holds onto me tightly.
"No you're not." TiTi laughs. "Please don't tell me your stupid enough to do that. You're so much smarter and better than that, Chres."
"TiTi, I love her." I admit.
She looks at me and...
Part 4? Thanks for reading! Vote/comment. Did this turn out the way you wanted it to? Sorry it is short. What should happen?
~Michele
