So I apologize GREATLY for not getting this out any sooner. I would have, about a month ago, and needless to say I lost everything I had on my computer, music and all, and had to start from scratch. I dedicate this chapter to B because she has been dying for me to update and she probably is the only person still reading it. I do hope you all check it out. Any feedback is appreciated. Happy Easter!

Chapter 5 – Hundred - The Fray

The dark, desolate room was lifeless, hiding amongst the four walls to never emerge. Slowly peeking through the shade, streaks of light kissed each surface, unraveling slowly the story that was hidden. Brightening each place it touched, the sunlight fell upon the one area of the room that was the lightest and darkest all in one shot. The beautiful Saturday morning was nothing upon the heavy heart that was bleeding as it sat on the edge of the bed in a whirlwind of feelings: Alone, unsure, and afraid. Afraid of the truth that was blinding despite of denying and disagreement. There was no way to tell a heart otherwise as all feelings bled out for the world to see.

And that was exactly where Gio was. A wall had fallen the moment he had wanted to kiss Betty and he ran away. Ran away from the fact that he could not deny his feelings any longer – He was still head over heels for Betty. His heart betraying all the thoughts he had built up in his head. And here he was, early Saturday morning, staring at the photograph that Betty had given him months before that he was originally too disgusted to look at. To look at the feelings he didn't want to confront. But they were sinking in now.

A rush had come to him all evening, the little to no sleep that he had gotten that night as he watched the city that never sleeps move completely by, while Gio stood in the same spot in his life – yearning to have Betty Suarez and have her mind, body, and soul. And those thoughts unnerved him, for she had hurt him so bad and he swore he could never go back.

"Unrequited love." Those words had rocked him to the core. For Betty in her drunken stupor had confessed her biggest secret to him. All he wanted was for her to understand, through all the dark and twisted feelings and months that had past what he had gone through while waiting on the wings while Henry was around. He had no idea what she exactly had gone through for he did not want to know, but she had experiences the feeling of wanting someone who did not return the feelings back.

"Good," he mumbled to himself as he looked up, squinting his eyes as he turned to his window. The day was such a betrayal for he was hung over and miserable. He was not ready for all these feelings to be back to just end up hurt again. "She was really drunk, probably doesn't even remember half of the stuff she was saying…… probably not even true Gio, so get your act together."

He slowly rose from the bed, stretching, and walking towards the window. Softly he heard his phone ring the all too familiar melody. Assuming it was Marco or Daniel checking up on him, he picked up without hesitation.

"Look, I know you are concerned about me. I appreciate you guys trying to give me a good time last night and letting me just let loose, but I'm fine. It's okay, I survived, and I'll live another day. "

"Gio?" a timid voice said over the line, which made him instantly drop the phone in shock.

"Suarez?"

"I'm so glad you picked up since usually I can never get a hold of you. I know it's fairly early still, but I couldn't sleep, alcohol always makes me restless through the evening," Betty babbled on as if her life depended on it.

"It's okay, you didn't wake me up. I've been up for a while," Gio responded while quietly hiding the yawn that escaped his lips.

"Look Gio……" she said meekly before her voice died out. Gio could tell that she was struggling to find the right words to say. She took a shaky breath, "Gio will you meet me for coffee and a bagel or something this morning? My treat, as an apology for last night."

Gio sighed. "Betty, I appreciate it……"

"I know what you are going to say. Just asking, as friends, to make up for last night's embarrassing show that I put on in the club. And maybe just to talk, actually talk. No more fighting, no more snide remarks, just catching up as friend's normally do."

A pregnant pause passed between them on the phone. The silence held so much volume behind it, yet was so short of an answer. Gio pondered the improv meet up. Was he ready to face his problem head on? Could he handle seeing her, putting aside their differences, and trying to go back to the place they had been. So many hurt feelings had built a wall between them that until the night before seemed impossible to climb. And it was…… just slowly Betty was picking at it brick by brick to face Gio one more time.

"Okay Suarez, I'm game."

He heard her softly breathe a sigh of relief. "Oh good! You know I really figured you would say no after…. Yea okay I'm going to shut up now. How does 10 sound?"

Gio smiled slightly before he responded. "That sounds perfect. How about at Higher Ground? You know where that is? It's quaint and quiet which I think will be a good atmosphere."

"Sounds perfect. Well let me go so I can get ready. Again, sorry for the early phone call but I am glad I will be seeing you in a little bit," she said sincerely. He could hear the smile in her voice, which made his heart skip one extra beat than it normally did. "Bye!"

Gio hung up the phone and turned back to the window. The sunlight washed over his face, and he took a deep breath. For the first time in a long time, he felt like he was finally coming out of the dark corner that he had been hiding in. He embraced the warmth of the sunlight and thought that maybe just for a moment, he was finally on the upswing of his life. And if he were lucky, that things would finally start falling into place for him again.

~**********~

Walking silently down the streets toward the coffee shop, Gio was amazed at the amount of people already bustling at almost 10 in the morning on a Saturday. The city that never sleeps seems to never stop either to get a breather. He chuckled lightly to himself as he turned onto the block the coffee shop was located, letting go of any other nerves that he can before having to face her. "It's two friends meeting and catching up, nothing else. Hold yourself together," were the words he kept muttering to himself. He walked up to the shop and looked through the window to see if she was already there. His breath caught slightly in his throat as he saw her, sitting nervously in a chair, her hair cascaded all around her face as her legs bounced nervously against the legs of the table. He was relieved to know he wasn't the only one nervous about their meeting.

The small bell chimed off, announcing his entrance into the coffee shop. The place was practically deserted, the rich smell of brewed coffee reaching his nose, tantalizing his senses. Gio saw Betty glance up quickly, her eyes meeting his and time froze for one second before picking right back up again. She smiled at him before jumping out of the chair, forgetting her notebook that she was scribbling frantically in.

"Is Daniel making you work on early Saturday mornings now?" he teased as he finally reached the table

She laughed so gently but it was heavenly. "The work is all on my accord. Someone once told me to write when the idea strikes to stay in rhythm, since I never know when I may get an opportunity to submit a piece," she finished while adjusting her glasses.

Gio couldn't help but feel a little pride in that one simple statement. Deep down he knew he was a big contributing factor to her getting back into her writing, and knowing that she was still focusing on that made him feel good. "I'm glad to see that the writer is trying to come back out of you. Any interesting pieces so far?"

"Oh, you know, just ramblings of ideas that I have. Nothing concrete, just some thoughts and feelings….." Betty trailed off with, a slight blush appearing on her cheeks, making her look so alive. "Okay! What do you want to drink?"

"Still doing the coffee rounds?" he said jokingly.

"Slowly moving up the ladder, one coffee and bagel run at a time for the Meade's," she teased back before walking over to the counter and putting in their breakfast order.

"Betty, I can get my own breakfast."

She looked at him incredulously, "Don't be ridiculous Gio! It's the least I can do….. especially after you dealing with me last night in my rare state," she stated matter-of-factly while turning back to the guy behind the counter. Betty didn't even realize that her simple statement would bring last night back in such a force that it shock every nerve in his system. He was lost in thought that he didn't even see her return, a questioning look on her face. She wordlessly handed him the cup of coffee and a scone before sitting down in the chair she had been occupying before. She slammed the notebook shut and stuffed it in her bag hastily.

"Thank you Betty," was all Gio was able to manage to pipe out before silently turning to his scone and taking a bite. They ate in silence, the soft jazz music from the speakers above being the only noise that they heard. Sneaky glances were sent when the other was not looking. They acted as if it was high school all over again, who would break the silence, what to say, what was okay to say, etc etc etc. Finally there was no food left to distract them from chit-chatter while their drinks were still warm and hot.

"Gio…" "Betty…" they both said at the same time, leading to them chuckling to themselves, the ice to slowly melt from this awkward meeting. Gio pointed his hand to her, signaling for her to start her train of thought.

"Gio, thanks for meeting me today. I know you really didn't need to, but after everything last night," he opened his mouth to protest but she gave him pointed a look before continuing, "I felt it was the right thing to do. You shouldn't have seen me that way and I am embarrassed enough as it is by it."

He looked at her for a moment before saying anything. "It's okay Suarez, seriously. We all have been there and had our moments. So you had yours. It wasn't worse than when you told me that my 'wiches tasted like sunshine and purple," he said to lighten the mood.

She laughed. "Oh my, I totally had forgotten about that. And you are right, it was similar then, just that I was loopy from that perfume."

"Just as long as you didn't go breaking into my deli last night after I saw you, then it's all good."

She got pensive and looked off to the side before taking a deep breath. "Gio, I really am deeply and truly sorry…… for everything. From last night, to the deli, to the baseball game, you name it. These past few months after our argument, I really reflected on it all. I didn't realize how badly I had hurt you with everything, and I realized that first and foremost I was a terrible friend to you."

She paused and took a sip of her coffee to recollect her thoughts. "I'm sorry for the time that we tried things and I don't blame you for being upset and bitter as you were. I was not fair to you in any way, shape, or form. I saw what it was like, first hand, seeing how putting myself first and just have everything revolve around me, I was not being a good friend like you were to me. You always did such nice, sweet, and caring things for me that I never reciprocated back."

"You had a lot going on at the time B, and it's okay."

"But it's not okay Gio! That was never me! I never was that way to anyone. And here you came along and I acted as if I was stringing you along. And I never meant to, or to hurt you." Gio looked down, because the wall between them and their unsaid thoughts and feelings were coming down, and each little bit re-opened the wounds that he so well had hidden. "I did like you Gio, I really truly did and unfortunately it was a wrong time with where I was in my life."

"I appreciate it, but I still don't think you realized just how much you hurt me. I've never been so led on or used as you had to me Betty. I gave my heart, my soul, and my existence to be your friend. Every night hoping that maybe you would look at me the way that you looked at Henry. And I waited in the wings, and then it was my turn, until Henry came back. Your 'white knight in shining armor' and I was forgotten once again. You could have been upfront with me about how you were feeling, besides the 'exploratory phase' and agreement to Rome. I would have understood. But the way you went about it did not make me understand why you did the things you did."

"I know," was all she could say meekly.

"Did you really think after I got back from Italy I would be thrilled to see you?"

"I…I….I did enough thinking while I was soul searching to put everything in perspective! I realized how I really did feel like you, and all I wanted to do was go back and work on it."

"Well you can't always fix what is broken Suarez," Gio said, a little harsher than he meant it. "Sometimes you can't just go back and erase what happened. Especially this. This helped define me as the person that is sitting here right now in front of you."

"Well you were no gem either. You didn't need to be as nasty as you were when you got back either. Or rubbing in my face that you moved on that night."

Gio sighed, "Well that really was wrong of me, and I do sincerely apologize for that."

"Well, it's a hard imagine for me to get rid of. Every time it just tears my heart in two, to see that you were able to move past it, while I was stuck, wishing that it was me in her place." She looked at him pointedly, their drinks practically forgotten as they both poured their hearts out. "Can you honestly say that I mean nothing to you Gio? Not as a friend…. Or maybe as something more? Because if that is the case, I will walk out of this coffee shop, and you won't hear from me again. I don't want to be a constant reminder, a thorn in your side, or a problem for you when you can just move on with your life."

The silence was deafening. Gio was taken aback because all this time all he wanted to do was forget all about Betty Suarez, the girl that broke his heart. He had wanted to start all over and forget the nightmare of his life. And here it was, his out, that she generously was offering to him. No pain and no problems, just as it was. And he couldn't bring himself to do it. His mind knew what was healthy for him, to shed the baggage, but his heart ached to not give up.

"No," he said tiredly, all the emotions just bubbling to the rim in the short and simple statement.

"Oh," was all she could say before grabbing her bag. "Well, if you don't Gio, that's fine. I'll just go." Betty jumped up and almost darted for the door.

"Wait," Gio said as he grabbed her arm and pulling her back to look him in his face. "You misunderstood me. No, I can't say that you don't mean anything to me. God Betty, don't you get it? You mean too much to me that I sometimes can't even take it. It's why I try to forget all about it."

"So what are you saying?"

"Go out with me next Friday night," he stated simply, his heart hammering in his chest. "And if somehow between now and then Henry comes back to propose I seriously will think someone upstairs is trying to get a message across to me."

Betty laughed and a smile he hadn't seen in a long time came across her face. "I would love to Gio. I'd love to finally have our first date."

"Hey! I never said it was our first date B."

"Well, I think it should be, I think it's time we finally have that date I've always promised and see just how great of a guy you are. I'm looking for THE guy after all," she said with a genuine smile as she walked backwards to the door. "Pick me up at 7?"

He smiled, a true genuine smile. "It's a date."

She walked out the door after giving a small wave, leaving Gio behind to clean up the mess. As he threw out the trash, he threw away all the dark and bitter feelings he had been having. The walls they each had put up as a defense mechanism had finally fallen and crumbled. They each had said their peace in a calm and adult like matter. He was finally going to get his first date, and it may not be Rome, but he knew it had to be perfect. The slate was clean with both of them ready to fall. Gio walked outside and paused to enjoy the nice morning. All he could think about was her smile as she said THE guy because he knew in that instant how he really felt about her.

He was in love.

Leave if you loved it or hated it! Next chapter will be out soon, and will be Getty filled, I promise :)