I headed over to my one night stand's house and we sat on his couch and discussed our days. "You know, it doesn't matter to me that you're seeing someone." he said, sipping on a glass of whiskey. "It bothers me." I replied. "He did not deserve this." "Maybe not, but he got it. I think we could go places together (y/n), places this guy couldn't take you. He could become as wealthy as Bill Gates himself, and still not be able to please you like I can. Hold your hand out, I picked you up something after work today." I held my hand out, and he attached a beautiful bracelet to my wrist. I gasped. "Beautiful, isn't it?" he asked. "Yes...thank you, but I couldn't possibly accept that." I said. "You can and you will. Regardless of what happens between us, such a gorgeous woman shouldn't walk around without diamonds that are as gorgeous as her." I smiled. "Tell me, can this other guy give you these things?" I thought about it. Millionaire. Yep. He could. "Yes." "Does he?" "No." "Why not? You deserve it." Not with what I did to him. "You do (y/n)." he said, pouring me another drink. He seated himself beside me. "I'm smarter, I'm richer, I'm wealthier, I'm more thoughtful...picking me would be a great decision for us both." He certainly was handsome, and wealthy, and that bracelet was thoughtful for sure, but Mark is sweet, Mark is funny...he has his moments of arrogance, his moments of stupidity, and his moments of acting like a complete idiot, but...we all do. "Thank you, Nate, this means a lot, but I don't know who to choose." "Well, that's a choice I cannot make for you...but I advise against picking Mark." I chilled at him saying that. The way he said it was almost threatening. I brushed it away once he smiled that killer smile at me again. "Now listen, you look tired...why don't you crawl into bed with me for awhile?" The offer was tempting, but twice? I dunno about that. "Nate..." "Come on, baby. I feel a connection with you...I want to make things physical." I was torn, but I reluctantly took him up on his offer, and I squealed with delight at the things he did to my body. Afterward, the guilt ate me up inside...like it did the first time. "Nate I should get home." "I won't hear of it. It's late, I don't want you out by yourself at this hour." "I'll be fine. I kinda grew up here, you know." He frowned. "If you must leave the warm comfort of this California king sized bed for the streets below us, so be it. I'll save your spot for next time." Well, when he put it that way. I laid back down. "I'm glad to see you doing that." he said, wrapping a muscular arm around me. How did I get here? Why am I still here? What am I doing? I want Mark. I want him to want me. I love him...somehow. Right?
Weeks passed, and my encounters with Nate slowed. I was straying away from him and he took notice. His sweet good morning texts quickly turned into threats. I was becoming more and more afraid of him. Mark on the other hand had not said a word to me. I wouldn't be surprised if he was already looking again. He has a tendency to fall apart after relationships, but recover in a matter of just a few months. I suppose that's a good thing. Dwelling on the past is...unhealthy. Regardless, I just had to see him. I had to see how he was doing. I walked up his driveway, and was greeted by a big black dog. Oh boy, Dark...and he looks less than thrilled to see me. "Don't start, Dark, I'm here to talk to Mark. Not you." He growled at me, and blocked my path, bearing his razor sharp teeth at me. "Dark. MOVE." I said. "No thank you." he replied. "You're not welcome here." "Says who?" "ME." "Well that would mean something if I cared about what you thought." He growled even more threateningly. Calling animal control wouldn't help. He's no dog, he's a fucking demon. One who probably masturbates to the images of people he's killed, he's nothing to fuck with. "You know, you're not doing Mark any favors by denying him closure." I said. "Closure? You didn't come to offer any such thing." "You don't know that. You think I'm here to hurt him more, I just want to talk." Dark stared up at me. "I'll see what he thinks." Turns out, Mark didn't even know Dark was there playing guard dog. He let me in, reluctantly though. I walked past the black beastie that was once growling at me in the driveway, keeping me from entering. I stuck my tongue out on the way past. He snapped at me. "Dark. Come on." Mark said. We sat in the living room and stared at each other. "So. How are you?" he asked. "Terrible." I said. "Oh..." "Look, I have some things to say." "I'm listening." he replied. "Look, firstly I've seen Nate a few more times." "I figured when I saw that bracelet." Okay, I deserved that little quip. "Well, I'm terrified of him. He's threatening me into seeing him." Mark seemed almost bored. "(Y/N), come on. Get real. The truth is you thought the grass was greener on the other side, and now that you know it's not, you want back in. It doesn't work that way. I'd be lying if I said I had NO feelings for you whatsoever...but, honestly for the sake of my sanity, I cannot take you back." He seemed pained telling me that. "I...I..." I didn't know what to say. "I didn't come back here to tell you I'm innocent. I came back here to tell you I'm scared." He seemed skeptical. "You stabbed me in the back, (y/n). I cannot forgive that. You have no idea what...you just don't know what it's like." I hung my head. "I cannot forgive myself. I know I'm only human, but this is so ou of character for me. I don't know what the hell is wrong with me." I said. His expression changed. We were both quiet. "Look...maybe Friday we can hang out or something, and talk a little more, but right now I have to get back to work...I've gotta clean up the yard, too. Dog shit." "That was me." Dark called from the other room. I accepted that offer. "Can I at least hug you before I go this time?" I asked. He pursed his lips. "Yeah, that'd be okay." he replied, outstretching his arms. I hugged him tightly, and much to my surprise, he hugged back just as tightly. I let go and walked out the door, passing by a brooding Dark.
