Chapter Twenty-Three: When You Break Her Heart

A/N: I was initially not going to do this... and after you read it you might understand why I didn't know how to write it, and why I wrote it the way I did. I hope you guys like it though... I surprisingly do! ;)

Disclaimer: I don't own House of Anubis… 'cause if I did, I'd make it VERY clear in the season three trailers that Eddie and KT are step-siblings and will NOT on ANY occasion ever being ruining my Peddie babies. LIKE EVER.

***o***

When you break her heart...

"This fighting's just not good for us, you know that, right?"

"Everyone fights!"

"But ours is constant."

"Just spit out what you have to."

"I think we need to you know, maybe take a break?"

"A break." Patricia shook her head. "You mean just stop seeing each other."

"Well… um no."

"Eddie, that's what happens. Breaks turn into months, into years, into forever. I may not be as experienced as you in relationships but I know that much."

"Then we'll hang out as good friends!"

"Uh sure." Patricia scoffed. "That's even more far-fetched. Nether of us will be able to hang out normally together."

"Do you want to, then-"

"I don't even know why I'm bothering. You already said you don't want us." Patricia quickly turned on her heel, and swiftly walked out of his room, slamming the door behind her.

***o***

It was like an incessant and horrifying tape that continued to replay through Patricia's mind. As hard as she tried to rid it from her memory it seemed physically impossible. Sure, she had moved on. In a way. She had settled down, she was dating someone. But seven years later, Eddie still remained in her mind. He was like a permanent marker. As hard as she tried to get him away, she couldn't. He was stuck there, in the back of her mind forever. She knew it should have been easy for her to forget about him. He was her first boyfriend, after all. But she wasn't like any other girl. She didn't jump from guy to guy after wards.

She knew honestly when someone was right for her. Which was why she was only on boyfriend #2. She didn't have any other experiences to override her relationship with Eddie. And she was learning to accept the fact that he was just the beginning.

She continued to tell herself that everything happened for a reason. Eddie broke up with her, and she realized that she was capable of moving on and loving someone else. Now, she had James to come home to everyday, James who held her when she was upset, and James who came with her to her parent's holiday parties. And although she never admitted it to anyone, sometimes when she walked through that door, their fingers intertwined, she would just picture that it was Eddie. The way it had been for one year. And one year only.

The two of them had tried so desperately after their break up to be friends. It was hard, and extremely awkward but they tried because they didn't have much of an option, living in the same house and all, and in order to not strain their friendships with their other housemates. And it was rare, but even to this day, they occasionally texted each other. Sometimes it was for advice, but generally it was if they just wanted to say a quick hi to each other. But she knew he had gone back to America for college, which totally ruled out any ideas of ever visiting him. Which she was sure she would try if he were still in England.

The thing that really bothered her though, was how un-bothered she was by the fact that she was thinking constantly about a boy her boyfriend knew nothing about. It felt almost normal, wanting Eddie around her. But she knew it wasn't right. Especially because she was still slightly nervous about having him around. She hadn't realized how fragile she was until their breakup. If he broke her heart again, she didn't know what she would do.

She would crumble. Her world would come crashing down.

***o***

It wasn't long into her mother's 'oh so wonderful Christmas party' that Patricia was incapable of handling herself. Her arm was looped through James's when she first noticed the picture. Hanging on her mother's wall, was a small 3 by 5 that she had never noticed. Of course it was impossible to find a specific picture in the mess of all of them on the wall. But there it was. Her arms around his shoulders from behind, the beach in the background. It had been the best vacation she had ever taken. Their second summer together, when her family had flown to America with Eddie. She had realized how much she loved him on that beach.

She didn't say anything to James, but just silently slipped her arm out of his, and went outside into the cold December air. Hugging her waist in an attempt to keep herself warm. She blamed herself for being so confused, but she couldn't help it. The memories of Eddie were getting more constant, the less she heard from him. She tried to be happy near James, and she knew it was wrong to even be thinking about Eddie, but the feeling in her gut was a mix of never wanting to see the bad boy American again, and wanting him to hold her and hug her, and kiss her the way he used too.

She jumped suddenly when her ringtone cut through the silent night air. She rummaged through the small handbag she brought with her, and quickly pulled out her phone. It only a took a second for her heart to stop when the name appeared on the screen.

Maybe it was ironic that Eddie was calling when she most needed him. But what was more surprising to Patricia, was that James hadn't come after her. She quickly disregarded the slight happiness she felt at the realization, and pressed the answer button on her phone. Drawing in a sharp breath, and ignoring the snow that started to fall, she pressed her ear to the phone, and prepared herself for whatever stupid thing she was destined to say to the guy that had a reserved spot that evidently irreplaceable in her heart.

The pain NEVER really goes away.

***o***

A/N: yeah…. I don't know. I really needed to update the story, so I sorta just through this together. And I obviously cannot write anything dealing with Peddie break-ups… that's a touchy subject. I mean how could you want to split them up?! I just can't… ;) But anyway, tell me what you thought! And thanks to guest… I've been reading your recent comments, thank you for your kind words and liking my story so much! It means a lot to me! Merry belated Christmas!

~Grace