Chapter 8: Nobody else but you

Over the next week, Enzo did his best to get through his incident with Mandy. It was now January 19th, 2017 when Enzo stood in his living room finishing up his packing when his doorbell rang. It was Cass. "Hey Will what's up?" Enzo said flatly. "I'm good man but what's up with you?" Cass asked. "I haven't heard from you all week. Is everything alright?"

"Not exactly" said Enzo. "Mandy again?" Cass asked. Enzo nodded to confirm. "I dunno man" Cass said. "I dunno why you don't just leave her already? She ain't right for you…in fact she ain't right for nobody." "You know it ain't easy" said Enzo as he zipped up his luggage. "And you know how I like to have my cake and eat it too, you know what I mean?"

Cass shook his head in disbelief. "You're insane dude" he said. "You're the only guy I've ever known to stay with a chick that wasn't good for him. All you're doing at this point is just using her as arm candy."

"She has her upsides don't get me wrong" said Enzo. "And just because she's good in bed you're willing to continue to put up with that?" Cass said. "Good? Ha" said Enzo. "The broad's amazinggg" but I've had also had better."

"So why stay with her?" asked Cass. "Ain't nothing wrong with being single, lots of people our age are." "It's not about that" said Enzo. "So then what it is about?" asked Cass. "Because please do remind me because I must be missing something here." "Look" said Enzo. "I like to have options. A lot of 'em. Backup plans if you will." "No that ain't what it's about" said Cass. "You're afraid of rejection because you can't handle it."

"Pff" said Enzo. "That's total bullshit." "Man I've known you the 7th grade. I've seen you in action. You can't handle it. You never been able to" said Cass. "And Dean can vouch for me." "We don't gotta bring our man Mojo into this" said Enzo. "That ain't necessary."

"You just don't wanna be outnumbered" Cass chuckled. "Because you'll know you lose then." "Is that a bet you're initiating or somethin' because I am definitely up for that one" said Enzo. "The three Jersey musketeers betting against each other over your emotional attachment issues-yeah okay" said Cass. "Yeah that sounds like a totally fair and fun idea to do."

"Life ain't fair C" said Enzo. "Ya snooze, ya lose." "Yeah but I'm your best friend and so is Mojo" said Cass. "And because I've known you longer than him by at least a good decade or so, I know when even you're getting in over your head and I'll always be here to remind you when it such thing occurs." "Thanks" Enzo. "It's appreciated."

"Now going back to Mandy, aka…the more serious topic at hand" said Cass. "I hope that she'll be outta your life soon because I'm telling you bro, she's the worst one you've ever been with and even if it doesn't work out between you and Mercedes..."

"What are you talking about?" Enzo nervously chuckled. "It will. It'll work out. It always works out for me." "If it doesn't, I just wanted to remind you that you're still pretty young. I mean you just turned 30 a month ago…there's plenty of time to find someone to be with or to just meet someone-anyone but Mandy" said Cass. "Speaking of her, where is she?"

"Off doing some tour for NXT" said Enzo. "And good riddance because lately she's been proving to be a real thorn in my side." "What could she have possibly done now?" Cass asked as he folded his arms. "I'm sure she's done everything on the list by now." "Ya can cross off blackmailin'" said Enzo. "Wait, what!?" Cass asked. "You aren't serious aren't ya?"

"Dead serious" said Enzo as he placed his Gucci snapback on. "She's been upping the ante lately and its beginning to become…concerning." "The moment it shoulda became serious to ya was when she threw that knife at ya" said Cass. "What am I supposed to do?" Enzo said. "Dump a girl 8 months into a relationship?" "UM YEAHHHH" Cass said. "If Leah would've pulled that shit on me I would have beeeeenn called it quits."

"Easy for ya to say kid" said Enzo. "You're the only guy I know who would rather chose to always gotta have arm candy on their arms than to be safe and single" said Cass. "At this rate you might as well finish off your "life" tattoo" considering the amount of risk you've been putting it through lately." Enzo looked off to the side as his best friend continued to talk to him.

"If anything" Cass continued. "Please, just figure out a plan of ending things with Amanda for good please. Dean, Leah and I have never and I mean never seen you this stressed in a relationship. Now that doesn't include how you feel after some of them are over with."

"It's just that…" Enzo said before pausing. "You know how easily I used to break faces as much as I broke hearts. I'm tryin' to be different man it's just so…" "Un-you?" "Cass chimed in. "Yeah" said Enzo as he slugged his duffle bag across his shoulders. "Ya ready?"

"I love you man" said Cass. "You're like a brother to me and I wanna let you know that in life, that it's sometimes alright to let others down but just remember not to let yourself down in the process." He placed a hand on Enzo's shoulder. "There's just so much more to life Eric that you haven't even experienced yet and probably won't be able to until you free yourself from her." Enzo nodded. Cass was right. If he didn't figure out a way how to end things with Mandy, it was going to ruin him one way or another….the problem was, it was a much easier said than done.

Meanwhile, Sasha was at home in Boston when she received a knock at the door. When she answered it, she found that it was none other than Finn, which wasn't a surprise since the two were spending so much time together lately.

"Hey there Mercedes" he said. "How's it going?" "Well" said Sasha. "Very well. Why don't you come in?" "Will do" said Finn as he walked in. "You uh…you've been getting my texts right?" "Of course I have" Sasha said with a smile as she locked the door behind him. "I just wanted to let you know that I enjoyed our little night out the other other…well night" said Finn.

"I did too" Sasha said. "And I just wanted to let you know that your very good friend Alexa and I have something extra special planned out for your birthday next week" said Finn. "Oh you guys do?" Sasha asked. "Yeah" said Finn. "Only for the best woman in the world" said Finn. As Sasha blushed the two made their way into the kitchen.

"Would you like something?" she asked. "No I'm good" said Finn. "I'm just excited for the carnival adventure next week." "Me too" Sasha said as she poured a glass of water for the two of them. "I like to have my birthday weekends off whenever I can and since joining the business, it's been a bit difficult for me to do." "I know the feeling" said Finn. "But seriously Fergal" Sasha said as she handed Finn the glass.

"Thanks M" said he said. "No problem" said Sasha. "But yeah Fergal. I did like the restaurant. It really meant a lot to me. I enjoy just about anything that's seafood related."

"You're welcome darling" Finn said as kissed Sasha. "Anything for you." Despite the fact that she knew that his kisses didn't feel the same as the ones with Enzo, Sasha had decided to put anything she ever felt or could ever possibly feel about Enzo behind her as she figured it would be for the best if she did, even though it was slowly beginning to eat at her.

A/N: Review if you wish to.

~Emerald loves Sapphire~