Not Good Enough For Truth In Cliche

I Can't Take This (Take) Any More

"Hey, wake up."
"Ugh, Ronnie."
"I gotta go to work, too."
I groaned. "Right. How's the band?"
"It'd be better if I could go to work."
I rolled off of his arm and chest. "You're free."
"Come on, I'll make coffee." He pulled me up.
Once I was standing, I made my way to the kitchen. Ronnie was already making some coffee. "Black, sugar. I know."
"Wow. You'd make a great boyfriend for a lucky girl."
"You know, except for the face tattoos, and the criminal record." He poured some coffee into a mug, dropped some sugar in, and slid it to me.
I took a sip. "Eh, minor things."
"Besides, I have my eye on someone, I just don't know how she feels."
"Who?"
"Not telling."
I sighed. "Go for it, man. She deserves you."
"Thanks for the advice, considering you just dumped your boyfriend."
"I didn't even dump him yet. Maybe I should do that."
"Maybe."
"I'll do it tonight."
"Wanna come meet the band?"
"I have to work."
"Where do you work, by the way?"
"This resturant downtown."
"You waitress?"
"The bookstore fired me."
"Why?"
"I'm associated with you." I checked the time. "Fuck. I have to go in, like, five minutes." I grabbed my outfit and changed. I quickly tied my hair back and put in a lip ring. "Bye, Ronnie."
"Bye."
------
------
------
------
"Ash, there's a party coming in, we need you to waitress."
"Any info?" I asked my manager.
He shrugged. "Five people."
"Show them to a table, please? I need a break. I'm thirsty."
"Be quick."
I drank some sips of water, then went to the table my manager directed me towards. The guys were all looking down. "Hi, I'm Ash, I'll be your waitre-"
"Hi, Ash." Ronnie grinned up at me.
"You're fucking kidding me."
"Nope. Needed a break, thought we'd pop by for lunch. Y'all, this is Ash, she's my absolute best friend. Ash, this is Jacky, Derek, Mika, and Ryan." He pointed at each of them.
"Hi, I'm assuming you're the band."
"Yeah." Jacky looked up at me. "You didn't say she was cute."
"I also didn't mention Craig Mabbitt just cheated on her yesterday?"
"No." He grumbled in his English accent.
"Besides, she's taken."
"By who?" I asked.
"We'll discuss that later."
"What do you all want to drink?"
"Just water is fine." Ryan said, before Ronnie could order anything alcoholic.
"Okay." I went to get five waters and returned. "Ready to order?"
The guys read off their orders and I sent it into the kitchen. After twenty minutes, it was ready, and I carried it out. "Thanks, babe." Ronnie grinned up at me, and my heart ached for someone who cared about me like that.
"Babe?" Mika laughed.
"I've been calling her that for, like, ever."
"You wish." I shook my head. "You guys want anything?"
"Nah, we're good. Thanks."
I went off to my other tables, and finished my work day.
------
------
------
------
"Ash-"
"Craig, save it." I said tiredly. "I can't do this anymore."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm done. I don't want to deal with you cheating, I can't. So have fun with that Bella girl, because I'm leaving you."
"Babe-"
"Don't make this harder then it has to." I whispered and ended the call.
I fell onto my knees and started sobbing. That was a whole two years of my life gone to waste. After a little bit, Ronnie came in. "Woah, what's wrong?"
"I broke up with Craig." I managed, burying my face on the floor.
"Oh, Ash." He sat next to me and rubbed my back. "I'm so sorry."
"The worst part is... I loved him. I dunno if I still do, but I know I did. There were countless times those last six months that I told him so, and he always told me it back. But... It was a lie. I feel used."
Ronnie sat on the floor and brought my head on his lap. "Hey, it's okay."
I bit the inside of my cheek until I tasted blood. "I thought I was something."
"You are. You don't need a man's approval to be worth something." He took my wrists in his hands to prevent me from hitting myself or him. Huh, he knew me too well.
"I know, but... He was everything to me. And he just threw that away."
"I know. I'm sorry."
I wiped my tears and sniffed. I kept my eyes closed, not wanting to see Ronnie's reaction to what I was about to say next. "What if I'm unlovable? Like, I'm just too fucked up that no one could ever love me?"
Ronnie's grip on my wrists tightened. "What the fuck? Why would you think that?"
"Because I am."
"You're not. Don't ever fucking think that, or say it. It's not true."
"I'm not enough. Why else would Craig cheat on me?"
"Because he's a dick. It's not your fault."
I opened my eyes. "But... I'm not."
"Yes, you are. Any guy would be lucky to have you. They just gotta find you, first."
"Like who? What would be my perfect guy?"
Ronnie thought. "Black hair. Tattoos. Can sing."
"That's a lot of people."
"Someone you've known for a long time. A musician, definitely. Like, edgy music, not country or some shit like that. Someone who knows your favorite color, and your worst fears, and like... Your favorite pizza order."
"That's super specific."
"Yeah."
"Got anyone in mind?"
"Yeah." Ronnie lifted my head up and slowly placed his lips on mine. "I've got someone."
I looked at him and sat up. "Ronnie, babe. You know I love you, like a friend. And I know you like me more then that. And I'm not saying no, I'm definitely not saying no, but I don't want to rebound from Craig with you."
"Yeah. That's fair." He looked down sadly.
"Ronnie. I'm not friend-zoning you. I do want to be with you. But I don't want to be hung up on Craig."
"I know. But how bad would it be-"
I leaned forward and started kissing him again. Surprised, his hands slid down to my thighs. "Not bad, not at all." I whispered.
"Wow."
"Ronnie?"
"Yeah?"
"Be my boyfriend?"
He grinned. "Of course. Are we gonna piss Craig off with this?"
"Wasn't my intention, but no doubt."