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Riker:
He wasn't saying a word to you. Just sitting across the room, watching you pack everything up. You hadn't planned on leaving so soon. But you just couldn't be around him if he was going to bring back old drama. He was never going to learn. You had used up all your tears in the conversation you had just had, begging him to think all of this through. He claimed he had and that this was the right decision. You couldn't accept that. So you had to go. There was no room for you over here anymore. He told you she would be moving back in, and you certainly didn't want to be around when that happened. You didn't even want to think about the conversation you would have with her if in her presence. This was so difficult. You had fought so hard and thought you had won. You lost though, in the worst possible way. You were losing one of your closest friends. You knew the moment you walked out of this house, things between the two of you would be different. You look up at him. He's still just sitting in the armchair in the corner. His elbow resting on the arm as his hand covers his mouth. His eyes meet yours, but you feel nothing. There is no connection. It usually only takes you seconds to get lost in his stare, but there is absolutely nothing between you anymore. The days leading up to this had been torture. He didn't want to tell you anything, knowing this would most certainly be the outcome. If he didn't want this to happen, then why did he go back to her? That was a question you would never know the answer to. He wasn't willing to answer it. He didn't know the answer, the true answer that is. Or at least that's what you thought. He kept telling you that he still loved her and really wanted things to work out because he knew deep down that they were meant to be together. You had to deal with that answer. You didn't have to accept it, which you absolutely did not, but deal with it, you had to. If he was going to give you excuses, which is what you took his reasons to be, you weren't sure you wanted to be here. The eerie tension between the two of you leading up to this moment helped that decision along. You had made it pretty obvious earlier in the week that you knew what he was up to, and you waited and waited on him to address it. It was his doing, so you felt it was his job to bring it up. He never did. But when you finally did, a couple of days ago, everything blew up in your face. Obviously, because now you were the one packing to go home. He wasn't even trying to stop you. You look around the room, making sure you have collected everything. You walk past him and into the bathroom, looking for anything else you might have left behind. Everything has been cleared out, even the things you had permanently left here. You aren't sure you're ever going to come back. Just that single thought brings more tears. You were so sure they had all gone. You quickly wipe them away; they make you look weak. If he could do this with a stone face, so could you. You walk back out of the bathroom, past him, and over to the bed where your bag still sits. You zip it up slowly. In your mind you want him to stop you. You want him to tell you to not leave, that he is going to tell her that she at least can't move back in. That's what is really making you leave. He knows that. Why hasn't he said anything? You want to scream at him to stop you. You didn't want to leave. You wanted to stay with him, to help him. He obviously doesn't want that. You take in a deep breath and pull your bag onto your shoulder. There's still time, you think. You look over to him. He's looking at you. Say it! Say anything! Your mind was begging him. Nothing comes, though. You nod, the silence was your answer. "Bye," you say quietly, choking on your emotions, as the tears return, fogging your vision of him. "Bye."
Ross:
You were so excited to have him back. It wasn't for very long, but you were getting back into the touring routine. Every little break he had meant time you could spend with him. You had been working hard these last couple of days to show him that nothing between you had changed. You still had the same relationship as you did a year ago, or two years ago, everything was the same. He seemed to be easing back into the idea, even though you weren't sure why there had ever been a doubt in his mind. There had been more phone calls and more Skype sessions happening, the distance not even being an issue. This was the Ross you were used to. You were waiting on a phone call now. One from him that would tell you when he had landed back in town. He had given you an estimated time, but that time had passed by three hours ago. Maybe there was a delay or an unexpected layover. You had tried to call him a couple of times, but everything went straight to voicemail. You were left to wait. The hours pass and worry begins to set in. Surely by now he would have been in touch. You grab your phone and scroll through the contacts, making your selection and putting the phone to your ear. "Hello," a calming voice answers after a few rings. "Hi Stormie, has Ross landed yet, do you know?" "Oh, yes, dear. He landed in London a couple of hours ago." London? He wasn't meant to be in London. "Oh. Do you know when he's meant to be up here?" "Up here? Oh love, I don't think he's planning on coming up this time. At least he hasn't said anything to me about it." You don't know what to say. "Oh, okay. Thank you." You hang up the phone there and just stand in silence. He hadn't believed you at all this week. Everything you had done to keep him close, it meant nothing to him. His mind was already set. Set in his own way of thinking, he had completely written you off. He was ignoring you now, knowing all of the questions that would come if you were to get the chance to speak. He isn't planning on giving you that chance, and you know it. As confusion sweeps over you, you take a seat in the floor of the kitchen. How had it come to this? Had you let him down this bad? He wasn't even willing to talk to you. He had seemed so happy this past week. Making time for you, and always checking in. What had caused the change? You begin to think back at the week. Trying to remember anything that may have caused this, specifically in the last day or so. Cameron. You had gone out with Cameron yesterday. It hadn't even registered with you, though. Spending time with him came so natural. Someone must have been taking pictures. You could always rely on someone to share your life with everyone else around the world. But even still, Ross had promised to call when he landed and that was after he would have seen the pictures, surely. You can't understand his actions. You had always thought Ross to be such a support system in your life, someone you can always fall back on. He isn't here now. You need him. You need to talk to him. But he isn't here. This has never happened. In the twenty years you had known Ross, he was always the first person you called on whenever you were feeling down, or just needed someone to talk to. Everything was falling apart though. All because you had brought someone else into the picture. But how is this your fault? You aren't even dating Rodd, you never have. So why is it that when Cameron shows up, Ross is unrecognizable? Maybe he was right though, maybe things were changing.
