You've Got A Friend
Destiny pushed Drew into the Buena's Dias in his stroller. James waved at her as she walked in. She walked over and sat with him.
"What's up?" Destiny asked.
"Just grabbing a bite before work... Hi Drew. He has your smile." James said.
"Thanks... You know I graduate in a few days. It's been difficult but I got through it. I was so close to valedictorian but I did great."
"I'm proud of you. If anyone understands overcoming obstacles it's me."
"Yeah, look at you. With everything you've been through, you're in college, you're holding down a job and an apartment. I'm proud of you too... So what are you majoring in?"
"Law."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I either want to be a detective, investigator or personal security. I don't know, all I know is I want to protect and help people. I pretty much decided that after I found Starr and a Hope after they were kidnapped. What if I never got there? You don't know how many times I wanted someone to save me as a kid."
"You're a good person, James."
Vina walked over to the table.
"Hey Des! Mr. Ford are you enjoying your meal?" Vina asked in her bubbly southern accent.
"Yes. You know you can call me James."
"I know! So what will you have Des?"
"The chicken salad and a lemonade. Thanks."
"I'll be back!" Vina walked away.
"So what are you doing today?" James asked.
"Well, the busy part of my day is over. I had graduation rehearsal, then work, picked up Drew and now I'm just waiting for Matthew to meet me here. Vina and I will probably hang out when she gets off."
"You and Vina seem close."
"We've been becoming great friends since she's moved here. You know, I can't go out like most people my age and Vina was just like, 'You can't come with me, I'll come to you.' And when I was pregnant, everyone was all, 'I'll babysit!' Most of them were all talk but when emergency struck, Vina was there."
"I'm sure Dani helped you out when she could."
"You would think. Dani kept her word one time, the other few times, she bailed on me and Téa ended up helping me out instead. I usually excuse it... It's not like I have to turn to people outside of my and Matt's family often but when I do, it's nice to know someone has my back."
"I understand... We should hang out sometime and if you can't come with me, I'll come to you." James smiled.
"Sure thing." Destiny smiled.
"I should get to work. I'll see you soon." James left. Vina soon brought Destiny's salad and lemonade to her and she sat for a moment.
"Did you break up with Matt?" Vina asked.
"No. I'm getting to it. He's on his way."
"Are you nervous?"
"No. I think he might be relieved... Speaking of, there he is now."
"Good luck. I get off in a half hour by the way." Vina got back to work and Matthew walked over and had a seat.
"How was your day?" Matthew asked.
"Fine. Yours?"
"Same as usual."
"Matt, I didn't ask you here today just so that we could eat or whatever... We need to talk... I feel it'd be best if we broke up."
"Break. Wait. Huh?" Matthew was surprised.
"We shouldn't be together right now. I know you must agree."
Matthew just had a confused look on his face because he never expected Destiny to say that to him.
"... Really? You want to break up?" Matthew scratched his head. "Why?"
"Why? Is that a legit question? I can't keep doing this."
"What?"
Destiny rubbed her forehead.
"Matthew, the affection we had in this relationship is gone. You walked over here, no kiss, no stroke of the hand. I'm not one of those needy, clingy girls but I need to feel like you're in love with me. We can have sex and then you can just ignore me, not even look at me. I can walk in the room, you won't look at me. I can leave and you still won't acknowledge me. I don't want that. I deserve more than that and I don't want my son to see that... I am not your Olivia Pope."
"First of all, you watch too much TV. Secondly, it's not that. I don't mean to make you feel like I don't care. I have a lot on my mind. All of this is stressful to me."
"I know. That's why I'm giving you a way out. I am one less thing you have to worry about. You can't walk away from Drew or school but you can walk away from me. You're not trapped in this relationship. I understand. This all happened so fast and you really didn't have time to adjust. You have a lot on your plate... Maybe this is what I need too... I love you. I always will. We will always be friends and if it's destiny for us to be together then we will be but if not then at least we did ourselves and Drew a favor. Staying together for Drew's sake isn't better for Drew. If we're not happy, he won't be."
"So this is it?"
"For now at least. I know this is what you want, even if you won't say it. You're not putting up much of a fight, you just seem surprised I actually did it."
"Destiny..."
"This is ok. We are ok. It's ok for us to just be friends."
"... I'd take Drew today but I still have a lot of homework to do."
"I know."
Matthew took Drew out of his stroller and held him for a while.
"It's my weekend to have him so I guess you get to enjoy your graduation weekend. What do you have planned?"
"Dani and I were supposed to do something but we're not exactly speaking right now so I don't know."
"Why aren't you speaking?"
"I tried to help her... But really, she's dealing with some issues right now so she's pushing me away. I know that. You two have that in common."
"...Is she alright?"
"Not really."
-v-
The babies were in their bassinets and Téa was pacing the floor. She just called Dani for the third time.
"Where is your sister?" Téa wondered. She had already reached her peak of impatience and annoyance. "Ok... Forget it, I can't wait any longer." Téa got the twins in their car seats and into the car and grabbed the documents she needed for her client.
-v-
Matthew went to La Boulie to hang out with David after he left the Buena's Dias.
"So Destiny broke up with you?" David replied.
"Yeah..."
"How do you feel about that?"
"Conflicted. I guess apart of me misses what we had at first but the other part of me feels like a bird that's just been let out of a cage. I'm a peacock, let me fly."
"Peacocks fly?"
"No. I heard it in a movie. Thought it was funny. Anyway, I should've been honest. Pushing her away only made things worst."
"Destiny did you both a favor. You're young. You don't need to live like you're forty. Focus on yourself as much as you can right now."
-v-
Téa walked into the Buena's Dias stressed out and rushed with the twins covered up in their twin stroller. Meanwhile, Destiny and Vina were talking at their table.
"OMG, could watch Drew for a second?" Destiny asked.
"Sure." Vina replied. Destiny went over to Téa.
"Are you alright?"
"No. Dani didn't show up. I'm late for my meeting. The babies cried the whole way here until they fell asleep."
"Let me help you. I can take the babies home and babysit for you until you get back."
"Des, you have Drew."
"Vina can help me. Between the two of us, we can watch three babies. Let me do this for you. You've come through for me a few times."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive."
"Thanks."
"Destiny talked to Vina, she instantly agreed to help her with the babies so they went back to Téa's.
"I am going to kill that girl." Téa thought. She was so frustrated with Dani at the moment. Her client, Ralf Channing walked over from the restroom.
"I am so sorry! Thanks for waiting for me."
"Let's get to business, shall we." Ralf said.
-v-
Meanwhile, Dani walked to the Buena's Dias with Becca with shopping bags in hand.
"Today was so much fun! Do you want to have more fun?" Becca asked.
"Sure..."
"Try this." Becca handed Dani a bag with pills in it.
"What's this?" Dani asked.
"It's called Ku Co. It'll help you take your mind off your problems, especially take them when partying."
Dani put the little bag in her purse. Then
As Ralf Channing walked out, Dani and Becca walked in.
"You went shopping?" Téa exclaimed. Dani was startled by Téa's voice behind her. She turned around.
"Mom!" Dani exclaimed.
"Don't mom me. You were supposed to be home an hour ago to watch the twins so that I could go to my meeting."
"I'm sorry. I forgot."
"You forgot? You forgot? You remember to use my credit card and forgot how I pay the bill... Hand it over."
"What?"
"Now Dañiella."
Dani handed Téa the card then Téa walked out.
"I should probably go." Dani said.
"Let her cool off." Becca responded.
"Tempting but no. I'll go home. See ya." Dani left.
By the time Dani got home Téa was already home but she was in the bathroom. Destiny and Vina were still there.
"What are you two doing here?" Dani asked.
"Well someone had to come through for your mom when you didn't. Get your life together Dani, seriously."
Téa walked into the room.
"Destiny, Vina, I really appreciate girls doing this for me."
"No problem." Destiny said.
"I left my number. If you ever need a sitter, you can call me." Vina said.
Destiny got Drew ready then the three left.
"Mom-" Dani started.
"Save it. Something is off with you lately. This entire family has been through a lot, that doesn't give you permission to do whatever the hell you call yourself doing. Get it together, I suggest you do it before I figure it out." Téa said then Tori began to cry and Téa tended to her.
Dani just went to room. There was nothing else to say. Nothing else to do.
Poll: Other than Victor, who would you like to see Téa paired with?
