Ben
I can't believe Sam, sometimes. I tell him that I see him as just a friend now and he tells me he respects that. However, he constantly acts either like he is still my boyfriend or worse, my parent.
After lunch, I took Bryce back to the apartment and during the entire drive home he just looked out the window, breathing loudly. I knew he was pissed off, and knew it would be best to take him home and talk it out.
Once I entered our parking space, Bryce didn't even wait for me to put the car in park. He opened his door and got out of the car, heading to our building's entrance. I try to remain calm and brace myself for the fallout.
We enter the apartment and Bryce throws his bookbag on the couch, still refusing to talk to me.
"Bryce," I called out to him, "What's going on with you?" Bryce tried to walk away but I grabbed his arm and gave him no other option. "Would you just talk to me?"
Bryce shrugged himself out of my grasp and looked me in the eye, "I have nothing to say to you."
"Then why are you mad?" I asked.
"Why?! Because I found out that my boyfriend has trouble handling raw and spicy foods from a fucking stranger."
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you," I answered, "But why are you making a fuss about this?"
"Because," he replied, "We had dinner at a sushi bar and you didn't really enjoy it. I went there with you thinking you liked it too and we would enjoy it together. Now I feel like a fucking idiot because you pretended to enjoy something for my sake."
"I wasn't pretending," I said, "You wanted to eat there and I wanted to make you happy."
"You think I would be happy enjoying something while you don't? I want us to enjoy things together. You don't see me pretending to like something for your sake. To me, that counts as lying. I want you to be honest with me."
"I will," I said, "For the record, just being there with you is enough for me."
"And another thing," Bryce added, "I don't want you to see that asshole again."
"Why," I asked, now annoyed with this childish request, "What reason do you have to make me cut ties with Sam?"
"Because I say so," Bryce angrily replied, "I hate that bastard and don't want you hanging out with him anymore."
"And if I say no?"
"Then," Bryce said, "Let's break up."
Suddenly my heart felt like it was ripped out of my chest. Tears began running from my eyes and my voice started to crack, "You really don't care about my feelings," I said, "Even though you hate Sam, and learning things about me from him, he understands me more than you do. If he were here right now, he'd tell you that any mention of breaking up hurts me the most."
Bryce
Hearing Ben say that immediately killed my anger, and me as well. What have I done? Why the hell did I say that? I have no intention of breaking up with Ben, not even using it as a threat. Why did I say that?
"I'm going to class," Ben said, wiping his tears but still, obviously hurt, "I don't know when I'll be back."
"Ben.." it was too late, he left and closed the door, "I'm such a fucking idiot." The one person that has stood by me through thick and thin may now be gone forever because of my stupid temper. I don't know what I would do without him, nor do I want to find out.
I sank to my knees, wracking my brain on how I can fix this. Last time we were in a fight like this was while I was with Fae. I needed to do something to make this right.
I texted the big guns to help me with this. And by big guns, I mean Gavin, Shu, Tom and Techno.
All of them came to the same conclusion. Threatening Ben with a breakup was stupid, cruel, and downright childish. Giving Ben an ultimatum between Sam and I was uncalled for, and I shouldn't force Ben to end or keep any kind of friendships he may have.
It basically came down to me being a lousy boyfriend who never cares about Ben's wishes or feelings. I need to really work on that if I have any hope of keeping my boyfriend.
I did what I normally do as an apology, I went out and bought Ben his favorite burger and a twelve pack of Dr Pepper. I waited for Ben for several hours, I dozed off and didn't realize he came back until he came out of the shower, dressed for bed.
He didn't say anything to me. He didn't even look at me or acknowledge I was there. The silence weighed heavily between us which meant that he was still hurting.
"Ben," I called to him, "I'm sorry." He crawled into bed, turning his back to me. "Please, turn around and talk to me." I begged like I did that night when I came home after my last date with Fae. Only this time, he didn't turn around, he didn't say anything. Even with me kneeling down beside him, begging for him to look at me, he refused to speak with me. "I didn't mean to say that." I said, hoping that he would hear how much I regret suggesting that we break up. "I don't want to break up with you. I said it without thinking."
Ben didn't turn around, but he did say something. "I'm really tired, Bryce," he said, "You have class tomorrow morning. You need to sleep."
"Ben, please." I said, my voice faltering, my eyes red and blurred with tears, "I really am sorry. Please forgive me."
Ben didn't say a word, he didn't budge. He just laid there staring at the far wall, unphased by my sincere sorrow and apology.
Ben
Bryce had hurt me too much this time. A simple apology wouldn't erase the pain he caused me earlier. I didn't want to see him. I didn't want him to see how devastated I was. As much as his begging and crying was tempting me to reach out, I was crying as well. I couldn't tell him if I could forgive him. I felt him leave my side and I just continued crying silently.
But then I felt something freezing cold and metallic on the back of my neck. "What the hell, Bryce?!"
Bryce was holding a can of Dr Pepper as if offering it to me, "I know I fucked up, and I'm sorry for hurting you. I have a foul temper and a foul mouth. I'm sorry that I started this fight. I don't want to break up with you."
I sighed and took the can from him. "If you didn't want to break up, then why did you say it?"
"I said it without thinking," he answered, "I was angry and it just came out."
"And what if I said I want to break up with you," I asked him, "Would you even care? You probably won't suffer like I would."
"Ben, look at me," he said, "If I didn't care, I wouldn't be like this. I'm already suffering as it is. Please, forgive me."
"From now on," I say to him, "Will you take my feelings into consideration? And never mention breaking up again?"
"Yes," he answered, "I promise."
"Fine then," I responded, "I forgive you, you jerk."
"Thank you," Bryce stopped crying and stood up, "Now it's your turn." Bryce suddenly went from sad and regretful to someone slighted in the blink of an eye. "You need to apologize to me."
"For what?"
"For Sam," Bryce said, "You say that he's just a friend."
"Because he is," I tell Bryce, "More like a brother."
"He's more than that," Bryce said, "He's your ex."
The revelation left me stunned, "How did you know?"
"So you admit it?"
"Yes," I admitted, "He was my first boyfriend."
"Shameless hussie," he said to me in his fiery mood, "Still friends with him after the break up."
"Why are you upset about that," I asked, "Sam and I broke up because he went to college and we ended amicably."
"Not according to him," Bryce told me, "He said you are his first and only love, and that I am barely any competition compared to him."
I laugh and pull Bryce into bed with me. "Litte, does he know, the competition has already been won by you. This trophy husband is, has been, and always will be yours."
"What contest in hell did I win to get you?" Bryce asked with that cute devious grin that drives me crazy. A surefire sign that we have survived our first big argument and the harmony of our relationship has been restored.