AN: So, a little, itty, bitty Betty bashing there at the end. Kinda. Maybe. Not really. Sorry, I just don't like her character much...so, haha, boring. Just one more chapter guys. Reviews =fast update.

Warnings: language

Disclaimer: I don't own "Skins".

Chapter Nineteen
It Was Real For Me

It's a beautiful park, lush and green. A lake laps quietly nearby, and he's surrounded by vibrant green trees. Flowers of a dozen different colors sprout sporadically and fully across the field. At the center is a bench. And sitting on the bench is a girl with bright orange-red hair.

"Hey, Chelle." Tony greets, sliding into place beside her.

"How'd you know I was here?" Michelle asks, voice still choked with the tears that trail down her cheeks in charcoal gray streaks.

"Wasn't a complete dick all the time." He mutters, "I listened. Always wanted me to take you here. Plan some big, romantic picnic."

"You never did."

"Was saving it for when I'd screwed up so bad you were sure you'd never take me back."

"Is that what this is?" The tremor of hope he hears in her voice makes him feel like he should feel bad. Had he truly broken this girl down so much that after everything, she'd take him back after something so...simple? One grand gesture and they're TonyandMichelle again.

"No."

"Didn't think so." But she had; he can tell. The way her shoulders sag down just a little further, disappointed. The way she lets out a single bark of derisive laugh, directed not at him but at herself. "You were just playing me all along, weren't you?"

"Yes." Tony decides that honesty might just be better than any lie he could try and craft. "You were my friend, Michelle. You were beautiful and clever, and you looked perfect on my arm."

"The picturesque queen to your king."

"It was a great picture, Chelle." Tony says, standing to leave, and looking down at her. "But that's all it was. A picture."

"I loved you."

"I know. But I never did." He starts to go as another sob bursts from her. He stops, unable to just leave it as it is. To break her again and not even try to put the pieces back together again. "Stan, though...Stan's always loved you the way I was supposed to."

Tony leaves her there. Sends a brief text to Stanley, and hopes that he can help fix the damage Tony's done.

The park on Poplar Dr. Chelle needs you~~Tony

LINE BREAK

Tony is taking a bite of a crisp, crimson apple when Betty sits down across from him. "Um...Hello?" He tries against her decidedly unfriendly glare.

"Betty." Tea greets in the distantly aloof tone he recognizes as her we had sex, it's not a big deal; please go away now voice. He remembers that Betty had kissed her in front of everybody back when he had been in angsty stare mode. He was not, however, aware that it had progressed farther.

"You've been ignoring my calls. For ages now."

"Some might consider that a hint and take it as such." Tea snarks, and Tony has to hide a smile behind his apple.

"I broke up with Bobby, I came out, for you."

"Yeah, well, I didn't ask you to, all right?" Tea sighs, already annoyed by the drama Betty seems intent on bring into her life. She's got more than enough already. "In fact, I seem to recall specifically telling you I wasn't looking for anything other than a good fuck."

"Because I had a boyfriend."

"Because nobody matches me. You included."

"Hey, now," Toy interrupts, suddenly wanting to make it clear that Tea has indeed been matched even if it's obvious that Betty is not now nor ever will be a threat. "I do believe we've had this discussion, Tea."

"Yes, yes, you ass. Matched me, magnificent screw, blah, blah, blah." Tea rolls her eyes and shoots him a look. "Go away now, the grown-ups are talking."

"You do realize that I'm older than you, right?" Tony sneers.

"Wait. You slept with him?" Betty asks incredulously before Tea can snap an appropiate response to Tony's bantering.

"Many, many times." Tony smirks. "In several fun and very creative positions."

"Keep bragging, Tone. Next time, you'll wake up without balls."

"And on that not so vaguely threatening note, I must take my leave of you. Chris wants to get fucked up before last period. I'd invite you, Tay, but seeing as you've just threatened my manhood, you'll have to find your own dealer."

"See you five, dickwad." Tea asserts because she knows where they'll be and no way in hell is everybody getting wasted without her.

"Looking forward to it." A suggestive raising of his eyebrows and Tony's gone.

Betty, who had for the most part sat there in silence during their exchange, suddenly finds her voice. "Holy shit. You're dating Tony."

"Whoa." Tea exclaims, "We're fucking occasionally. Not dating."

"You're just randomly screwing around with him? Does his cock not get the way of the whole, you know, lesbian thing?"

"You'd think it would." Tea bites out, getting more and more annoyed at Betty's continued presence and accusations. "But, despite that, still a better lay than you."

Tea gets up and abandons Betty to the now deserted table.