Tough Love [COMPLETE]

#25

Celine~

I arrive 30 minutes earlier to work and lean against the counter in the break room. It was strange how when I woke up, I felt strange being next to the man I've been in love with for a while... 

I just wanted to get out before he woke up, he's not working today... I mean, god, I didn't even ask him.

What's even wrong with us? 

"You sleeping?" 

I gasp, and hold my hand over my chest... I roll my eyes. "Sam.. don't creep up on me." 

"I never meant to 'creep' up on you." He shrugs. 

"What are you doing here anyway?" I sigh, turning away.

"What's on your mind, that got you looking so... lonely...?" 

I frown. "You were watching me?" 

"I was concerned for a second or two." 

"Never mind, Sam." 

He crosses his arms. "You should tell me, before I get late to my flight." 

"That's your problem.." 

"Come on.. something's bothering you." He smiles.

"God! You and your damn curiosity." 

"That's me." He winks.

I shrug... and then it hits me... Sam's his best friend.. he's always flying with him, always chatting.

"How's Luis been doing?" I say back.

"Oh... so this is a lovers-quarrel.." He smirks.

"It's not a quarrel.." I roll my eyes. "So...???"

"Oh, he's good. He's mostly focused on work nowadays, different from a few months ago." 

"Different...?" 

"He used to be more lovey-dovey, if you know what I mean." He shrugs. "I mean, it's normal to ware-out the ... how can I say this... The beginning of the relationship and the middle of one are totally different feelings. He's gotten used to the idea of you guys, there's no.. surprise." 

I look at my feet. "Bad way of saying it... He's gotten bored of me." 

He frowns. "That's not what I'm saying, at all. He loves you." 

"Really? Because whenever I'm in the same room as him, it's like we're strangers.." I close my eyes. "It's like... he's not into me like before." 

"You.. want me to do something?" 

"No... it's nothing.." I sigh. 

"I'll talk to him, see where things lay for him, okay?"

"You don't have to do that, Sam." 

"Don't have to do what..?" 

We both turn to the door, and there.. standing gracefully, arms crossed... is Luis.

"Wow, hey.. I thought you didn't work today." I say. 

"Came over to see if you're alright... as I didn't see you this morning." He narrows his eyes and looks at Sam. 

"Surprise, you usually like the days off." Sam chuckles.

"Not too much." Luis says back, seriously.

I frown. "Are you alright?" 

He turns back to me and I notice anger. "Am I okay? I don't know... I was expecting to wake up next to my girlfriend, like usual... but then I come here, and see you alone, in the break room hours early, with my best friend, talking about.. something?" 

"Luis, mate--" 

"Sam... I think you should go.." I say quietly, glaring at Luis.

"Sure thing.. see you." He nods towards us and walks out.

Luis laughs a bit, "Woww... awkward." 

"What's going on with you!?" I contain the amounts of anger building up.. which I never usually do... Yay me.

"Me..? Weird.. because something is going on with you."

I raise a brow. "This isn't you.." I say, shocked. "Not us." 

"You're cheating on me, aren't you? And with Sam.. that's low." 

"Where the hell are you hearing this from!?" 

He laughs. "Shelly, can you believe it?" 

"Shelly? You're going to believe something from your Ex? Of all people!?" 

"Tell me it's not true." 

"IT ISN'T!" I shout.

He throws me a recording. "You want to know why I've been distant? Go ahead, listen." 

"What's this..?" I ask, my voice shaking.

"Yours and Sam's moans? The words of you telling him that you always loved him.." He chuckles darkly. "Thought it was all a lie, but now... the recording makes sense.. you in a empty room, just you two..." 

I shake my head. "I would never, ever.. do that to you! Fuck Shelly, she's lying!!" 

"Those words on the tape... oddly sound like yours and his, clearly." 

"She's got some tech. guy doing this stuff... god sake, she's manipulating you!" 

"Or, are you?" 

"You can't honestly believe her, over your girlfriend, seriously..." I shake my head, surprised.

"You tell me." 

"You want to know what I was doing here? I was feeling, lonely, even with you being next to me and I needed to think. Sam came and tried to comfort me, he was just helping out." 

"So, that's the story you both came up with?.. That's worse." 

I frown. "You still don't believe me? I was asking him if he thought you still were interested in me! I was thinking you weren't into me anymore, for fuck's sake Luis! If you can't even trust me, how will this relationship work? You're letting your ex take the ropes, she obviously wants to damage us and come between us!" 

"How long has this been going on?" He says, voice filled with emotion.

I widen my eyes. "You can't believe this, come on.. please.. Don't you see what she's doing?" 

He shakes his head, kind of wiping the thoughts out of his head, when he opens his eyes, their glossy.

"Swear to me that you aren't cheating on me." He says.

"I swear!"

He frowns, looking at the floor and then shakes his head. "I'll see you later, I need space." He says, and walks out.

"Luis! Luis! What the hell!?" I run after him and grab his arm. "What's going on with you?" I say quietly.. my eyes are getting glassy too.. by now I could cry.

He takes his arm back and walks off without a word.. I shake my head at him and lean back on the wall.. how could it get this tough!?

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Well, this is where the Title comes in...