For Schermionie's 5, 10, 20, 50, 70, 100 Fandoms Challenge.
Michelle takes a long drag from her cigarette, aware of Tony's presence behind her. She exhales, watching as the chilly wind distorts the smoke's shape and eventually blows it away. Resting her elbows on the railing, she tries to look blank as she waits for the silence to be broken.
"I'm sorry, Nips."
She draws in a sharp breath. "This is it, Tony. This is it."
"I know."
Pursing her lips, she tosses her cigarette to the ground, cringing as it hisses upon landing in a puddle. Her throat is closing up on her, though she's not sure why. She'd always known they'd end up like this.
"University was meant to be different," she says when she's sure she can speak without choking. "You promised me it would be different."
"I know."
I know. I know. I'm sorry. I know.
It's all a broken record with Tony. He's a never-ending stream of excuses, apologies and promises for more. Empty words, that's all she ever hears coming from those lips.
She'd always hoped he could change, that he wouldn't always act like he's still in college and going for the record in how many notches one can get on their bedpost. But he hasn't changed and she has absolutely nothing to show for it.
After everything, this is it.
"I can't keep doing this. I'm fucking tired, Tony."
His voice seems almost caring when he says, "You don't have to do this anymore. You don't have to be tired, Nips. We're done. This is it."
"I'll walk away. I won't look back. No more chances."
"That's okay."
Michelle finally turns to look at him. He's shuffling from foot to foot and has both hands buried in denim pockets. If she didn't know him better, she'd say he looks apologetic...perhaps regretful. Either way, it's clear that for the first time in his life, he's not fucking around with her. He means what he's saying. They're done and he doesn't care if he never hears from her again.
"There's no going back after this. I deserve better than this. I've always deserved better than this."
"I know you do." He sighs. "You'll find someone...someone better than me. Someone who treats you proper."
At this, she scoffs. Of course that's what he'd say. Sprouting shit like always. She considers asking him where the fuck this mysterious someone is meant to be and exactly who the fuck they are. Clearly he has all the answers. But she's tired of fighting. She can't handle yelling. She doesn't want to do this anymore.
She pushes past him and re-enters the building without a word. And when she moves through the crowd, head throbbing as the bodies around her jump and thrum, she can't help but think about what she's just done.
All she's ever known is being with Tony. For as long as she can remember, Tony has been her first priority. He's always been everything to her.
But now it's done. It's all done and they'll probably never speak again, let alone get back together. She's just ruined everything she's ever known and it hurts because she really had been planning forever and always with him. It really hurts. But at the same time, knowing it's over makes her feel content in a way that she hasn't in a long time.
She's free. This is it.