It Begins With Us

34.

Alba:

"What?" Lily asks narrowing her eyes at me and I childishly narrow them back at her.

"For the third time." I raise an eyebrow and tilt my head. "None. Of. Your. Business."

Lily gives an annoyed frown and turns away.

"I don't understand why you're putting up with his issues. " She whispers and my ears perk.

I've been waiting for this from the moment Marshall explained to me what Ryle's deal was.

"I help him solve his issues because I love him." I say calmly, though I really want to snap her head off.

"I love-" Before she could go on I cut her off.

"No, no. You did not." I emphasize on the past tense hoping she'd take a hint. "You married a broken man even though you weren't over Atlas. You kept the things that Atlas gave you, and even had the guts to incorporate them into your shared space and daily life. That is a form of abuse, mental abuse, cause you're hurting the husband you claim to love. You were selfish as well as Ryle. If you actually loved him you'd have at least tried to help him, understand him. You were his wife for God's sake!"

I stop to take a deep breath and then a thought hits me.

"Even before the two of you married, you both knew you had your own issues to deal with. Why didn't the two of you try to solve those issues before marrying?" I ask incredulously.

I feel my heart break and that because I honestly hate their story, I hate it. 

They both had big problems but they ignored them and got married, their families were useless and of no help, and then Lily just had to keep all of Atlas's things. What makes me the most angry is that Ryle didn't ask for therapy. He just found 'the love of his life', that should have been enough to push him to get help. Push him to be better, because that's what true love is.

Lily freezes up and her eyes widen. Then quickly she averts her stunned gaze and I know. I know that she's only now realized where they'd both gone so horribly wrong. They should have seen the signs and taken them into deep consideration.

"You are the dumbest f***ing idiot I have ever met in my life." I confess, but I'm thinking of Ryle.

Lily opens her mouth to say something, her eyes shining with anger, but I don't let her. Not today.

"And Atlas," I hold up a hand and she stops, "do me a favor and be loyal to him. He chose you, don't disappoint him."

I almost Z snap when I realize that really would be too much. I get up, not in the mood of waiting around anymore. I stride out of Marshall's place.

'Ryle's not going to come to me, fine. I don't need to wait around for him.'

Ryle:

I hear a loud banging on the door and run over.

"Marshall-" I start yank the door open only to see that it's not Marshall.

It's Alba.

"Alba." I breathe out, my heart settling in my chest at the sight of her.

Albeit an angry sight, but a sight for sore eyes none the less.

"You seriously didn't come for me." She says her voice low and deadly.

Alba pushes me in and follows me in through the doorway, slamming the door shut behind her.

"I was-" I start, but she cuts me off.

"You were what?!" Alba asks her nose going pink. "Getting ready to go out and have some fun while I waited for you?!"

I marvel as she stalks towards me, backing me up into the hall. I've never seen her like this, never. Alba's always been so kept together, even when she's falling apart. Instead of staring at her like a gaping fish out of water, I try to explain to her.

"I don't want to hear excuses!" She growls, and I nearly blurt out how absolutely sexy I think she's being right now. "When I leave, I don't leave because I don't want to see you anymore. I leave so that you can come get me!"

Alba explains furiously and I can't help the grin that comes unto my face.

"You're grinning?!" She seethes and I don't think I've ever heard her voice so high. "Why are you grinning?"

I watch as she swings her purse off of her shoulder and swings it at me.

"Babe! Wait! List-!" I try to get my voice over her's, but she ignores me.

"Calling me babe?! Are you crazy?!" She screeches and her purse catches me on the shoulder as we bump into the room.

"Okay, fine, Alba-" I try again but she's not having it.

"Don't say my name!" She growls picking up the clothes, I had left on the floor in a rush to go find her, and chucking them at me with frightening speed.

"Then what am I supposed to call you?!" I ask incredulously flipping over the bed making sure that she's on the other side.

"Don't call me!" She wails with fury and I cross my arms tightly on my chest.

I watch her with a happy smile that I can't seem to swallow. Just the sight of her, walking, talking, breathing in my home again is driving me crazy with relief. With happiness. Her eyes flick over my face, my expression and she freezes. I watch, my heart sinking into my chest as her anger blinks into sadness.

"I can't believe you." She whispers, and turns away from me.