Smile - CrankGameplays

32. Pause

His foot never left the gas pedal as he continued to press it farther into the floor of the truck. His two hands were gripped tightly along the steering wheel, his veins visible to the eye as they stuck out against his skin. His knuckles were beginning to turn white as he kept his stare fixated on the road ahead of him, speeding his way through the residential areas and passing by all the parked cars lined up along the streets.

He released a low growl, clearly frustrated with what his ex-girlfriend had told him moments before. The events that drove him to hop in his car and floor it out of her driveway, heading straight over to Ethan's apartment.

He wasn't sure what he was going to do but - he had to do something. In his eyes, Ethan was scum. He stole what matters most to him and it somehow ended up being Tucker's fault for all of it. 

Tucker knew the way he was treating Reese wasn't ideal but was it bad enough for her to end a four-year long relationship? Her decision seemed rash and Tucker sensed how nervous she was, she was always nervous when she was conflicted. There had to have been some part of her that still loved and cared for him - there had to be.

He turned the corner and pulled into the empty lot, few cars scattered about in the misty morning as he stepped out of his vehicle. 

He paused for a brief moment and cracked his neck before climbing over the few steps towards the door of Ethan's apartment, placing a couple of knocks on the front door.

A new face emerged as Tucker furrowed his brow, taking in the features of the well-built man.

"Tucker," Tyler coughed as he straightened up, giving himself a few more inches to his height, "What are you doing here?"

Tucker stiffened, "Is Ethan here?"

The other crossed his arms over his chest, "What do you want, man?"

"I asked a question," Tucker huffed, "Seriously not going to tell me?"

"I think you should leave."

"Don't test me right now, Tyler," Tucker said casually, slicking back his raven hair. "I'm being serious. Get Ethan."

Tyler chuckled, "Get the hell out of here."

Tucker stood up, his towering height posing as a threat to the other, "You know what's funny?" his voice dropped low as he stifled a chuckle, "I thought I had to worry about you stealing my girlfriend but I actually had to worry about that little dick."

"Steal?" Tyler scrunched his nose, "Ethan didn't steal anyone from you and it's time for you to go."

"I need to speak with Ethan."

"And I need you to go away, I have an internship I have to head to and you're wasting my time."

"Ethan!" Tucker screamed, "Come out here and show your pathetic face!"

Tyler shoved Tucker off the porch, "What the hell is wrong with you? You trying to wake the neighbors and get the cops called on you?"

"Ethan!" he yelled again, this one louder than the last.

"Dude, stop!"

"Get Ethan!"

"Get off my property!"

It was Tucker's turn to shove Tyler and after a push, Tyler's body went flying back and through the front door. Tyler underestimated Tucker's strength and the taller one knew that. He flashed a grin as Tyler quickly got back on his feet.

"You're really going to wish you didn't do that," Tyler groaned, ducking his head into Tucker's chest and pushing him down towards the asphalt and away from the apartment.

Tucker's body skid along the pavement as he shut his eyes in pain, the impact a lot harsher than he was expecting.

"You're dead!" Tucker spat out as he removed Tyler's body off of him, throwing a punch right into his gut before standing up.

Tyler coughed and released a loud moan as he got to his feet, clenching his stomach where he hit. He stumbled forward and shook his head.

"Okay," Tyler mumbled, "That one hurt a little bit."

Tucker beamed.

"And now you're going to regret that," Tyler said with a devilish grin as he charged into Tucker, tackling him into the ground and straddling his waist. Tucker tried to push Tyler off of him but the other held his ground and launched a fist straight into his cheek. "That's for nearly killing Ethan!" another punch rocked forward and hit him again, "And that's for being an abusive dick to Reese!"

Tucker kneed him forward and Tyler somersaulted out of the position, rising to his feet again and ready to take him on. He wiped his face, checking for blood but all there seemed to be was a darkening bruise.

"Abusive dick?" Tucker shouted, "Get that shit out of here, I was not abusive!"

"You were an asshole!" Tyler laughed, "That's why she broke up with you and chose Ethan, get over it!"

"She chose Ethan because he made her feel safe for a second," he said, "I lose track of her for a cool minute and then Ethan comes in makes her think twice about our relationship."

Tyler backed down, lowering his fists almost in surrender.

"She leaves everything we had... all for a one night stand. We talked about the future and how many kids we wanted. And how I was going to support her in her teaching career and how she was going to support me when I headed off to pre-med. We had our lives planned out and in a blink of an eye... she was gone."

"I think she's been feeling this way about Ethan for a while," Tyler croaked, "And I know that sucks to hear because heartbreak sucks. We've all been there."

"You don't get it," Tucker hiccuped, moving his face into his hands, "She was my whole world."

"No, trust me, I do get it."

"I wish I could just press pause and rewind time, go back to the night of that sorority party and make sure I never took my eyes off her, so she wouldn't have a reason to linger her eyes on someone else."

And Tyler felt the pain Tucker was feeling because he had experienced heartbreak himself from time and time again, and it was almost impossible to not sympathize with the man.

"You know this isn't Ethan's fault," Tyler mentioned slyly, "You got to stop hating the guy. You already kicked his ass once."

Tucker stared at the ground, "If Ethan didn't show up to that party and flirt with her... she would still be with me. He's somewhat to blame."

He shrugged his shoulders, "If Reese was meant to be yours, she would come back to you."

Tucker lifted his dark brown eyes towards the gloomy and grey sky, "I don't think she is... that's why it hurts so damn bad."

Tyler felt a little odd aiding the other in relationship advice when moments ago they were throwing punches at one another but he felt he had to help the guy out. From the looks of it, it seemed as if he was never the one who got dumped.

"I feel like my heart got ripped out of and thrown to the damn ground, stomped on by that Smurf."

Tyler laughed, "No, as badly as you want to hate Ethan, he would never do something like that. And I don't think Reese would either."

The two men looked at each other and they both did one thing - smile.

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Sorry for the lack of Ethan and Reese but come on... Tyler had to take care of some business. 

- domducky :)