The Romantic Turnabout [EdgeworthxOC]

50. The Turnabout Separation

While on their way, Miles and Rachael sat quietly as he drove. Her mind was clouded by the stressful situation that was befalling them all.

Rachael's stomach churned, and she winced, gripping the stomach of her dress.

As Miles noticed, he gently placed his hand over hers and squeezed. "Don't overthink it."

"...can't help it."

Meanwhile, back at the restaurant, Nick sat staring into space. Once Maya returned with the others, Nick immediately stood up, dusting his suit off.

Maya looked around. "Where did everyone go?"

"They left."

Maya became disheartened.

Ema rubbed her eyes. "I'm sorry Nick, I didn't mean to storm off like that..."

Nick shrugged. "No point in even apologizing to me. Everyone already left." He placed the cash on the table and placed his hands in his pockets. "Are you guys ready to go now?

All of them stood silently, having Nick eye each of them.

Sighing to himself, he began to walk. "I'll take that as a yes."

Maya turned to look back at Ema, Lana and Larry.

"We'll just continue this another day...it's best to just let everyone go their separate ways now."

"...right." Ema mumbled.

Catching up with Nick outside, Maya yielded, ambling behind him closely. She felt extremely bad about how tonight went.

If it weren't for me...none of this would have happened. She thought anxiously.

Eyeing Nick from behind, she could tell that his eyes were roaming in his thoughts.

Slowly, she wrapped her arm in his.

Nick stopped walking and glanced down at Maya.

Startled, Maya tried to speak up, but Nick already began to talk.

"Do you think I'm a good friend, Maya?"

"...why?"

"Because, no matter what I do, I can't keep my friends together..."

Maya was at a loss for words, but she felt the pain Nick was expressing.

"What am I doing wrong?" He mumbled. "I just want everyone to be happy..."

Unable to voice her opinion and cheer him up, Maya embraced Nick. "...I'm really sorry, Nick." She whispered. "Don't blame yourself...it's all my fault."

"Yeah," Nick wrapped his arms around her. "Only partly, though."

Looking up at him, Maya raised an eyebrow. "Partly?"

"The way everyone else was acting towards one another—besides Rachael, Lana and Larry—was just ridiculous." Nick frowned. "And the way Apollo was acting was just uncalled for."

"Apollo looks like he's been going through a lot..."

"He is." The attorney grumbled. "And he's not telling anyone about it."

Maya didn't know what else to say from that point onward.

Kicking the dirt from under his shoes, Apollo stood by the pier, just as he had before, and sulked to himself.

He was fighting with his inner being of letting himself vent his stress through his tears, or just bottling it up.

He had no wine, no liquor, no beer to cheer him up. His conscious ate at his mind, and he didn't want to be viewed as a drunkard anymore.