What is this? News that I in fact did not start typing and then fell off a cliff and died without being able to finish my stories? Yip! I appreciate all the concern on my status of living or dying.

Obviously you all know of the troubles of first exams you do in high school, going away on holiday, being preoccupied with a whole load of work & dancing & music & family & holidays & life.

So forgive me by reading this terrible chapter that probably sucks cheese balls...

Chp 21

Tony's POV

I was relaxing because we were just getting take outs for supper. I was busy thinking over everything, sitting on the couch with a glass of wine. I looked up as someone opened the front door.

Will gave a brief smile before closing the door and letting out a big sigh. "Long day? I asked, smiling.

He nodded and chuckled. He put down his laptop and everything else before grabbing a beer and joining me in the lounge. Kieran came through from the bedroom from having a nap.

He grabbed a beer and sat down. "Sup." He greeted.

We were lightly chatting before the door was opened again and Percy and Annabeth came in. "Hey." Annabeth greeted smiling at us all.

They joined us too. "Where's Mel?" Will asked.

"Oh, Mark's taking her out for dinner." Annabeth said. The pain felt dull now. I was used to seeing them together now. If I wanted to be happy, I had to let her go.

"I'm sorry to be rude and blunt, but does it suck seeing Mel with another guy?" Kieran asked.

I almost chocked on my beer. The others scolded him. "I'm sorry, it's just a question." He said, raising his hands in surrender. But I guess they were all wanting to know my feelings on the subject.

"It sucks - a lot - but if she's happy then I'm happy. I was the one who left anyway." I said.

Annabeth but her lip. "Okay, I'm only going to tell you this because I feel the need that you should know." She blurted out. I leaned forward to listen.

"Mel was really depressed when you left. I believe she was really in love with you. Her and Mark are serious now - but when they met she used to tell me she saw you in everything he did. She went looking for another you."

That was knew. "Well surely he's doing something better than I did."

"Well he didn't leave her." Will pointed out.

There went the guilt trip again. "Tony, when he asked her on a first date she came up with an excuse and cried to me that she couldn't betray you. And, no offense in the next thing I say, I told her that moving on is the best medicine for a broken heart."

I felt better hearing that, but didn't want to talk about her anymore. I was going to ask for us to change the subject when Will said, "While we are being honest, for those first two months I really hated what you did."

"Thanks, that's great news." I said, bitterly.

"Look, Mel went through a lot of stuff growing up. I thought she was used to being knocked down, but when you left I saw an emotion I had never seen from her. She looked more depressed after you left then when she found out her cancer had come back when she was ten or so."

I swallowed hard. "Look, I understand you are trying to get back for hurting your sister. But things were hard for me too. I had to remind myself that I hadn't been looking for the perfect ring, that I wasn't thinking of her whenever I saw a wedding boutique in Paris - that I wasn't that close to asking her to marry me."

They were all quiet. "Trust me, Will, I'm well aware of who I've lost." I said.

The Chinese delivery guy chose the perfect time to show up. I got up and paid. We all had dinner - despite the aura of tenseness coming from me.

It came to the end of the night when Kieran was listening to some mix on his laptop and Percy was going back to Annabeth's place. I was just ruffling my hair to get into bed when Will called, standing in the bedroom doorway.

"Look, I'm sorry about what I said. I know you loved her too. But I just had to let it off my chest." He apologized.

"It's fine - I understand." I assured him.

"So we're cool?"

I smiled. "Yeah."

~ Line Break ~

I found myself at the airport, my two weeks haven flown by so fast. I gave all the guys 'bro hugs', and gave Annabeth a hug. "Keep this one out of mischief." I joked, gesturing to Percy.

They chuckled and I turned to Mel. I gave a smile. I need tough love from Will and the others to fully get over her and accept she was taken. I felt settled about it.

"Keep well, Mel." I said. She smiled.

"Enjoy cooking your heart out. Meet someone new too." She said, smiling. I chuckled. "Okay."

"And don't skip out on your stories of incidents with Charné and cutting yourself with a knife in our emails. I want to hear about every last plate you scrub and every macaron you make and every customer you satisfy with your amazing talent." She said.

I chuckled and hugged her tightly. "Most definitely."