Dylan (18+) [ON HOLD]

chapter thirteen: B R E A K

Dylan

. . .

"No," I repeat, prying my way out of Stella's grasp. "I... I broke up with you?"

The statement comes out as a question, though I don't mean it to.

I'm usually more direct, but with feelings involved, I've been trying to spare Stella any unnecessary pain. Obviously that was the wrong decision.

"Dilly," she coos in a patronizing tone. "I get it. You've known her your whole life, she's family. But, you can't expect to ever have a healthy relationship if the two of you don't get some space from one another. I got us the house so that—"

"No, you got you the house. You did this for yourself. Are you not hearing the part where I broke up with you?"

"Dylan, you can't honestly expect..." Stella trails off seeing the expression on my face, which I hope is as annoyed as I feel. She blinks rapidly, taking the smallest of steps away from me, but still remaining too close for my comfort.

I take a step back myself, crossing my arms over my chest, mirroring Stella's defensive stance as she stands with her arms in front of her like she's placating a wild animal.

She licks her lips and in an incredulous tone asks, "Do you like her?"

I can feel a vein bulge on my forehead as my eyes narrow. "Like you said, she's family."

"That's not," another Barbie-like blink. "Do you want to be with her?"

"No. And even if I did, it wouldn't change the fact that I don't want to be with you."

"Dylan we have been together for two-years."

"And you have never, for more than a week, made me happy."

"Then let's take this on a weekly basis," she stomps her foot, her mollifying hands dropping to fists at her side.

"No. I don't love you."

"Love is for suckers. No one does that shit on purpose!"

"I don't even like you!"

"Then try!" Stella breaks into tears. "Why won't you even try? The second your day's a little bad and you want to break up. Do you even know how long I've been unhappy? No, because I've been trying."

"So have I."

As a reflex I want to go to her, comfort her and dry her tears but I don't want to give her any types of impressions. Furrowing my eyebrows at the bawling blonde, I shift on the balls of my feet, unsure of what to do. I bite my lip, giving in.  "Stella," I step closer, but stop in my tracks as she takes a step backward. "If you haven't been happy then us breaking up is what's best for both of us."

Her sobs turn silent, though her shoulders still shake. 

"Stella."

Once again, I try to step forward, but this time, she holds a hand out. Reaching into her little purse, she pulls out tissues and wipes at her face. Her eye makeup doesn't move, but the pink on her cheeks smears a bit.

"No." 

Her tone forces me to take a step back. Stella has always been, in the eyes of the public, a ditz, sounding breathy and unknowledgeable. And in private, she was still for the most part submissive, demanding, but never in charge. Now, she sounds like a bored CEO, one who is witnessing the long anticipated downfall of a shitty company. "Fine. Tell Leo to tell Meala and have them deal with," she waves her hand in my general area, "this."