You Don't Love Me?

Part 1

AN: Read and Review please! :]

Although there were many words to describe Nate Grey, the main ones Caitlyn Gellar would use right now would most definitely not be PG. She was sitting at the restaurant, as usual, alone. She was waiting for him. Again. It seemed to her that she was always waiting on him to spend time with her. To make matters worse, this day just happened to be their fifth anniversary. That fact alone made Caitlyn feel happiness radiating throughout her being. Therefore, being the nice person that she was, she decided to give Nate another fifteen minutes to get to the restaurant before having a complete hissy fit. That was exactly an hour ago.

She scowled at her phone for the millionth time since she had gotten there. Just as she was standing up, she saw that curly head of his that she loved so much.

"Cait! Hey! I'm so—"

"Save it."

Oh yeah, Caitlyn was pissed. This was the tenth time Nate had stood her up this week and she was getting tired of it.

Nate opened his mouth to apologize.

She rolled her eyes and whispered, "Let's just go. We'll talk at home."

He shut his mouth and nodded. On the way to the limo, Caitlyn didn't let Nate slip his fingers through hers. That's when he knew everything was about to go extremely, horribly wrong.

--

Dedication. That's one word Caitlyn would use to describe Nate when referring to his famous band. Lousy. That's one word Caitlyn would use to describe Nate as a boyfriend. He had spent so much time over the past few months of their relationship with his brothers. This year everything just seemed to fall apart.

--

When the couple arrived at their apartment, Caitlyn stormed into their bedroom and slammed the door closed.

"You look beautiful, by the way!" Nate shouted hopelessly after his girlfriend.

He ran a hand through his hair. He just didn't know what she expected of him anymore. He knew his long hours as part of Connect Three, his band, were doing a toll on their barely-alive relationship. He felt horrible about everything over the past few months. He had been working on a special album for Caitlyn. For her birthday. Of course, he'd admit that some of it had been just goofing off with Shane and Jason, the other members of the band. Caitlyn stormed out of the bedroom in her pajamas. She was ready to yell, he could tell. He opened his mouth, but it was quickly shut when she uttered the four words he never wanted to hear escape her mouth.

"Do you love me?"

"WHAT?!"

"You heard me." Caitlyn replied, folding her arms across her chest and making that face Nate found adorable.

Nate stared at her, "Of course I do! Why would you even ask me something—"

Caitlyn rolled her eyes, "You're never home, you're late all the time. I just.. I can't see us having a future when you put music in front of your girlfriend!"

Nate opened his mouth, but she put a finger up to silence him.

"I'm not done!" She yelled and then continued, "You never call to tell me you miss me, just because you can! You never text me to tell me you love me! I can't take this anymore! I feel alone. All the time! I just want you to want me."

Tears were rolling down Caitlyn's face as Nate stood there in shock. He never knew she felt that way.

" I thought for a while that I could live without all that, you know?" She sniffled and took a deep breath, "But I can't and I admit that now. I love that you found what you were meant to do, Nate. Really, I do. I don't think I'm meant to sit alone on the couch sobbing my eyes out because you stood me up again."

Nate's heart broke and he felt sick to his stomach. She had always forgiven him. He had assumed she went out with Mitchie or something. He didn't know how much his actions hurt her. She was always so strong around him.

Caitlyn took a deep breath, "I just need to know. Do you love me anymore?"

She had braced herself, but it was nothing compared to when he said the words she hated.

"I never loved you."

Her chest filled with an unbelievable amount of pain. Although, she didn't fall to the floor like she expected herself to. Instead, she held her head up high. He knew what he was doing was wrong. Lying to her like that. He also knew he had to let her go. Neither said a word as she walked back into the bedroom, crying. His bravado crumbled as he made his way to the bathroom. He cried for her, for living with the kind of man he swore to himself he would never be. He cried for their relationship, because it was painfully obvious that it was all over. Especially when he heard the front door slam shut. He didn't bother getting up to greet her goodbye. He knew that he wouldn't be able to let her go if he did. So, instead, he locked the door.

One Week later…

"Dude, you gotta come out sometime."

"It's not working, Shane."

"Well, thank you Captain Obvious."

"No need for the sarcasm."

"I thought the situation demanded it."

"You thought wrong."

"Look at you, getting all good with your come-backs. My little Jason is growing up."

"SHUT UP"

Neither of the brothers had noticed Nate unlocking the door and opening it until he was there in front of them. Shane and Jason stood there, mouths agape at the sight of their little brother. He looked as if he hadn't shaved in years. His eyes had dark bags underneath them. Truth be told, Nate looked like shit.

"Dude. You haven't been returning our phone calls. We were getting worried." Shane said worriedly.

"What the hell happened to your face?" Jason asked at the same time.

Nate ran a hand over his face and said, "I'm fine."

Shane rolled his eyes, "Obviously so, with your homeless man slash crack addict look."

Nate looked at his brothers, "I've been busy."

Jason rolled his eyes, "Let us in."

Nate's eyes didn't show any emotion as he let his brothers into his apartment.

Shane and Jason literally gasped at the new style of the apartment. Clothes were everywhere. Pizza boxes were casually thrown any and everywhere. Even on the lamps.

"What the—" Shane started.

"Where's Caitlyn? I know she wouldn't want to clean this up." Jason exclaimed as he picked up a piece of old pizza and then threw it down.

Nate's throat tightened. It was the first time he had heard her name in over a week and it still hurt. Suddenly his vision was becoming dizzy.

"She and I…" Nate paused and swallowed.

"What happened?" Jason asked seriously.

Nate closed his eyes and said hoarsely, "We broke up."

"What? That's insane," Shane, laughed, "You and her have been together since Camp Rock. Even before Mitchie and me. Tell me you're kidding."

"I wish I could." Nate said bitterly and pushed away from Shane.

"Oh, God." Jason muttered as he watched his little brother pull out a beer from the fridge.

--

"I told her I didn't love her." Nate slurred as he slowly paced across his small living room.

"Dude!" Shane and Jason exclaimed.

"It's what she wanted to hear anyways," He slurred again but paused to take a sip out of his beer, "She needs to be with someone who loves her and treats her right. Not like me. I don't deserve anyone."

"That's not true, Nate. You and Caitlyn belong together. Why did you say that to her?" Jason asked curiously.

"I don't wanna talk about it." Nate said and took another drink of his beer.

A few seconds later, Nate was rambling about how he was such a jerk and how much time he wasted making that stupid album when all he wanted to do was be with Caitlyn. His brothers shared worried glances and comforted their brother the best they could.

AN: Next time: what happened with Caitlyn. Is she better without Nate or worse?