A/N: Hey guys! It's Melly. I'm sorry that I haven't updated lately. Life has been really hectic. :( But I hope you guys enjoy this chapter, and don't forget to review. Thanks so much. *heart*
Chapter 13
After a long five months away from home, Mike was home. And this time, he was home for good. The only problem was Eve didn't like the person that Mike had become since he had come home.
He had changed. He was angry, always bitter, and the once perfect couple was now always angry with one another, fighting back and forth with each other.
Eve glanced at the clock. It was nearly two in the morning. Where in the hell was Mike? Had he gone to Maryse's place to hook up with her?
Eve sighed heavily, running a hand through her hair as she leaned back against the headboard. She wanted her old Mikey back. The one who would never yell at her, or make her feel so small inside.
She looked down at her engagement ring. It was so beautiful. Her fingers toyed with the ring, spinning it around her finger. Maybe she shouldn't be wearing it anymore.
She looked up when she heard the front door open and close. She wasn't so sure she should go downstairs because she wasn't sure that she was ready to face Mike. She knew that Mike coming home this time of the night meant that he was drunk.
She quietly tiptoed downstairs, stopping halfway as she watched Mike stumble around downstairs. "Where have you been?" She asked in a quiet whisper, never moving from her spot on the staircase.
"I was out," Mike coldly replied. "Where else would I be, Eve? Am I not allowed to go out and have a good time?" He snapped.
Eve flinched, tears in her eyes. "Of course you can go out, I was just hoping that you would've asked me to go with you…" She looked down as she blinked away her tears. She didn't want Mike to see her cry in front of him.
She knew that the only reason he was acting like this was because he was drunk, but he was hurting her in the process.
"Did you ever think that I might go out so I can get the hell away from you?" He asked angrily. "God, you always want me to be around you. You're so dependent on me. It's annoying."
Eve only stared at Mike, no longer able to fight the tears that were rolling down her cheeks. "What happened to you? The old you would never hurt me like this."
"The old me wasn't the real me," Mike said bitterly. "The old me wasn't reality. But this is, so you better get used to it."
Eve shifted from one foot to the other. "I think I'm gonna go," she said quietly.
Mike looked at her, and then he said, "Fine, go wherever you want. It doesn't bother me in the slightest."
Eve sniffled, wiping her nose with the back of her hand. "I don't know if I'll come back, Mikey."
"Fine Eve, that's your problem anyway. If you choose to leave me, then so be it. But there's always Maryse," he pointed out.
Eve looked away from him. Why would he use Maryse against her? That killed her inside, but she refused to show it.
She went upstairs, and set her ring on the nightstand. Then she packed a few things in a bag before going back downstairs where Mike was passed out on the couch.
It killed her inside to see Mike like this. To be fighting with him as much as she had been lately. But she knew it wasn't healthy for either of them to be in the same house together right now if all they were going to do was to fight with one another.
She didn't want to give up on her relationship with Mike, or to walk away from him, and she wasn't going to. For now she was going to give him the space he needed, and she would come back to him when he was ready to be with her. Maybe a break was what the two of them needed. "Goodnight, Mikey." Eve whispered, kissing him softly. "I love you."
She quietly opened the front door to their home, and closed it behind her. She swore that the moment the door clicked close, she felt her heart shatter into a million pieces. Leaving Mike was the hardest thing she ever had to do in her life. Especially since she was leaving him by choice.
Twenty minutes later, she stood on Zack's front porch. She was afraid to knock. She didn't want him to be angry at her, but she knew that if anyone could make her feel better when she was down, that it was Zack.
She finally got the courage to knock a few minutes later, and smiled when she saw Zack standing before her. He opened the door in the pair of boxers, and he had bedhead. It looked cute on him. "Eve?" He asked sleepily. "What are you doing here at three in the morning?"
That's when Eve remembered that it was three in the morning, and she felt bad about coming to Zack's in the first place. "I'm sorry Zack," Eve said softly. "I didn't…I forgot that it…" She sighed, trailing off. She didn't exactly know how to explain showing up at his doorstep at three in the morning. "I kind of forgot that it was so late," she finally said.
Zack smiled a little. "It doesn't matter what time of night it is, Eve. You know that my door is always open to you. Come in," he said, stepping aside, and then closed the door once she was inside. "What brings you here at three in the morning?"
Eve's face fell. "Mike and I had another fight," she sighed sadly. "I don't know what's going on with him Zack, but it's killing me inside, and he's hurting me."
Zack brought Eve into his arms, stroking her hair. "I know he is," Zack said gently. "I know he's hurting you, and I'm so sorry," he whispered. "But we just have to remember everything Mike went through when he was overseas, and maybe he's just having a really hard time adjusting to things, and taking it out on you," he explained.
"But how is that fair to me?" Eve asked; looking up at Zack as tears rolled down her cheeks. "I love him so much. With all I have, but he's breaking my heart! You know he threw Maryse in my face today?" She choked as a sob left her lips at the mention on Maryse; that cut deeper than Mike ever knew it would.
"Oh no…" Zack trailed off, stroking her hair as he was at a loss for words. "Shhhh, Eve. It's going to be okay," was all he could think of to say. "Why don't we go get into bed and try and get some rest?" He asked.
"But I can't sleep!" Eve protested. "All I can do right now is cry because I don't know what else to do!" She yelled, she was started to become frustrated. "It's just not fair!"
"Shhhh," Zack said softly, trying to keep his cool. "I know that you're hurting, Eve. But it's going to be okay. You'll see."
Eve shook her head, holding up her hand. "You know I took my ring off?" She sniffled. "I figured that was for the best."
Zack's face fell as he brushed Eve's hair out of her face, seeing the broken look in her eyes. "Oh Eve…" he said softly. "It'll all work itself out," he promised. "Until it does work itself out, you can lean on me like always," he gave her a warm smile. "Let's get to bed."
Eve forced a smile. "Can I lay in bed with you?" She asked quietly. "I don't want to have to fall asleep alone…I've done a lot of that, lately."
"Of course you can Eve," Zack smiled, walking upstairs to his bedroom as Eve trailed closely behind.
Zack closed the door to the bedroom once Eve was inside, and then got back under his blankets. Eve got in bed beside him, lying on her back as she looked at the celling.
She had this aching pain inside of her for Zack to wrap his arms around her, and hold her close, but she felt weird asking him to do that. They were just friends. Friends didn't hold you at night while you slept.
The pain from fighting with Mike earlier, and almost daily was too much for her to handle, however, so she asked him anyway. "Zack….would you mind holding me tonight?"
Zack's eyes opened, he was half asleep. But he still knew what Eve was asking of him. "Sure I can Eve, if that will help make you feel better," He kissed her forehead softly before wrapping his arms around her body, and her head was in his chest within a matter of moments.
She immediately relaxed. It felt so nice to have a pair of arms around her, even if it wasn't the arms of Mike. Though she was relaxed, she could still feel the aching pain inside of her still eating away at her. She knew what she wanted, but she also knew that it was wrong.
She wanted Zack to kiss her.
Her mind went back and forth on the idea of kissing Zack, how it would completely take away the pain she was currently feeling, and then her mind switched to how guilty she would feel for cheating on Mike. Just because she and Mike weren't getting along right now, didn't give her the right to go and kiss someone else.
Zack was right. She had to keep in mind all of the things Mike had gone through while he was overseas. He had gone through hell while he was over there, and that would be reason enough to get drunk every night alone.
Eve sighed softly as she blinked away her tears. Mike was angry, he was in pain, and he didn't know how to deal with in a healthy way, so he turned to drinking instead. She didn't want something to happen to Mike because of all of his drinking. She would be lost.
"Zack," Eve said after things had been quiet for a while. "Do you think you could help me get Mike some help? I don't like the road Mike is going down, and I'm afraid that he's going to hurt himself," she whispered as tears welled up in her eyes again. "I'm so scared Zack…"
"Shhhh," Zack said in a comforting whisper. "Of course I'll help you. But for now, let's get some rest, and we'll think of a plan first thing in the morning when we wake up, all right?"
Eve nodded, closing her eyes. "Okay Zack. Thank you, thank you for everything you do for me."
"Of course, Eve, like I said, I promise that I'll always be here for you, and take care of you. No matter what happens."
Eve smiled. "Goodnight Zack."
"Goodnight Eve," Zack whispered, holding Eve close as they both drifted off to sleep.
One of the things Eve loved about Zack the most was that he always kept his promises. Which meant Mike could get the help he needed to get through all of this.
A/N: I hope you guys enjoyed chapter 13! Don't forget to review! Your reviews mean much more than you'll ever know! I love you all! *heart* Melly.