She hated him?

Angela hated him?

Tony felt like he had been punched in the stomach. That was one of the last things he thought he would ever hear from her. He rather she would have slapped him. Yes, that would have hurt too but only for a few seconds. This was deeper. But could he really blame her considering all the shit he had put her through the last few months-no the last few years? What did he expect? For her to just forget everything and come running into his arms?

Okay he told himself. You can fix this. You have to fix this.

Angela couldn't believe she had just said that she hated Tony. She had never said that before to anyone. Not to Shane Carter who pulled her dress up in the third grade revealing her underwear to the entire class, Not to Lisa Williams who used to tease her mercifully about her weight and acne. Not to Trish who was always walking all over her. Not to Michael who never saw or wanted to see the woman she truly was. Not to Jim Peterson when he made those disgusting innuendos about her.

But the truth was she did hate him. She hated that she did but there was no denying it.

Tony sighed heavily.

"I guess I deserve that."

"Yeah, I guess you do.'

"Tell me what I can me what I can do to make this up to you." He pleaded.

She shook her head. "There isn't anything. The damage has already been done."

This time he felt his heart break.

"Angela please!"

"Tony, when I said I hated you..I meant it. I never said I hated anyone in my life before and you were the last person I ever thought I would say it to. But after everything that has happened I just can't deal with this right now. Because you see I don't just hate you because of what you did to me and to us I hate you for what you did to our family. I know we weren't an official couple but one day we were going to be. At least I thought we were. But you obviously had other ideas. You never would have gotten involved with Kathleen in the first place. Okay, maybe you would have slept with her that night because you were stressed because of your exams but you wouldn't have told me the next day you didn't know if it was over with her. But you did. You did and because of those three words we are here. And believe it or not I hate you for what you did to Kathleen and Andy. Because of what you did they were dragged into all this." She waved her hands in the air. "And that's not fair to them."

"You're right. It's not fair. I hate that I put them in this situation. But most of all I hate that I put you-us in this situation. I am so sorry. But if you need time I will respect your wishes and give it to you. But please, please don't marry Andy!"

She looked at him sharply. "I don't think that's any of your business!"

"Angela, you don't love him! I mean what are you going to do marry him to get back at me?"

She looked away and counted slowly to ten. She looked back and into his eyes. She took a deep breath and said the only thing she could.

"I don't know."

He winced at her words.

She stood up.

"I guess we're done." She walked over to her car.

"Angela, wait!" He jumped up and walked towards her.

"You don't have to worry Tony. I'll go right home."

He sighed in relief. "Okay, but I'm going to follow behind you." Off her glare he sighed. "I just want to make sure you get home safe." He assured her.

"Okay."

She got in her car and started the engine.

"My jeep is just down that way" He pointed to the left. "I'll walk down and then follow you home."

She nodded and pulled out while he walked to his jeep and got in and started the engine. He motioned for her to go on ahead and he followed after her.

She felt her eyes filling with tears and wiped them away with her hand. My God, how did they get here? She knew Tony was right about one thing. It wouldn't be right to marry Andy and if she did would it be just to get back at Tony? And what about Kathleen? She was already going through her own crisis. Would it be fair for her to have more heartache?

'But, Angela if Tony breaks up with her. He'll be free.'

'Yeah, but I won't be.'

'Then end things with Andy!'

'I can't!'

'You can't? Or you won't?!"

"I DON'T KNOW!" She shouted. "OKAY?! I DON'T KNOW!"

Tony pounded his fist on the steering wheel.

"DAMN IT!" He screamed. What the hell was he going to do now? How was he going to win Angela back?

Okay the first thing you have to do is break up with Kathleen. Whatever happens between Angela and you it isn't fair to keep doing this to Kathleen. He knew of course he would have to wait until she came back. He would really be a jerk if he broke up with her over the phone. She deserved a face to face conversation.

After about twenty minutes they arrived back home. She went into the house and found her Mother and the kids waiting for them.

"Hello." She said and hung her purse on the coat rack.

"Don't you hello us! Where the hell have you been?!" Mona folded her arms.

"I went for a drive. I needed some time alone."

Mona rolled her eyes. "You had us worried sick."

Angela looked at them. They looked worried, scared, and angry all at the same time.

"Okay, I'm sorry I worried you."

"You better be." Mona said and went over and pulled her into a hug.

"Where's Dad?"

Tony came in then and closed the door.

"Hey guys."

"Hey Tony." Jonathan said.

"I'm uh. I'm going to go to bed."

'Wait a minute! What happened between you? Are you finally together?" Mona asked.

Angela looked at Tony and then at Mona.

"No, we're not. Good night everyone."

She ascended the stairs and a few moments later they heard her door slam.

Mona looked up the stairs and then at Tony.

'What the hell does that mean? Why aren't you together?"

Tony walked over and sat down in the chair by the front door.

"Because she hates me."

Sam sat down on the couch. "Dad, come on! Angela doesn't hate you! She could never…"

"She told me."

"What? She did?" Jonathan was flabbergasted.

Tony nodded. "Yeah. But I can't say that I blame her. After all the crap I put her through?"

"Well I guess I need to have a talk with my stubborn daughter!" Mona started up the stairs but Tony stopped her.

"Mona! Wait, Please just leave it alone."

"Tony,"

He got up.

'Mona, this is between Angela and me."

"So you want me to stay out of this?"

"Yes. Please!"

She shook her head. "Do you really think I'm just going to sit back and let the two of you mess this up more than you have?"

"Mona!" He growled.

She held her hand up. "Fine! I'll stay out of it for now."

"Thank you."

She walked back down and over to the kitchen. She turned back around.

"I swear the two of you are the most infuriating people in the world." She pushed the swinging door open and a few moments later they heard the back door slam.

"Well, I guess I'll go to bed." Jonathan said.

"Good night Jonathan." Sam said.

"Night Pal."

"Night guys."

He went upstairs and after a minute they heard his door closing.

"Dad, my God. I can't believe this! I'm so sorry."

Tony shook his head. "Don't be. I deserve it."

"Dad.."

"Please Sam. Not tonight. I know you want to help but I just can't right now."

Sam got up and walked over to him.

"Okay. I'll let it go for now."

He chuckled. "You must be taking lessons from Mona."

"Hey, I could do worse!"

He rolled his eyes and kissed her on the cheek.

"Good night Dad."

"Night Sam."

She started walking up but stopped.

"Oh by the way Kathleen called earlier."

"She did?"

Sam sighed. "Yeah. I told her you were at the Library."

"But the Library isn't…" He shrugged. It really didn't matter at this point.

"Okay. Thanks."

She nodded and went up to her room.

He sighed and double checked the doors to make sure they were locked and turned off all the lights. He went upstairs and into his room and shut the door.

It was a long sleepless night for all of them.

THE NEXT DAY

Everyone walked on eggshells the next morning. It was Sunday so Angela hid out in either her bedroom or office while Mona, Sam, and Jonathan spent the day at her apartment trying to figure out more ways to get Tony and Angela to end the stupidity and put them out of their misery.

"Okay kids! Let's hear some ideas!"

"Well, I'm out. I thought tricking them like I did when I was the kis would have done it." Jonathan sighed.

'It was a good idea." Sam said.

"She's right. It got them talking didn't it?" Mona said.

"Yeah, and Dad said he loved her."

"Yeah, that's true."

"So we just have to keep going."

"I don't know though. I mean Mom said that she hated him."

"She doesn't hate him. She loves him. Yes, she is angry and I'm sure she would love to strangle him but she doesn't hate him."

"Mona's right. So come on, let's think of something!"

Tony was in the kitchen cleaning up after lunch. It had been one of the most awkward and quietest meals they had ever shared. Angela barely looked at him. Mona kept looking like she wanted to say something to Angela but he kept shooting her a don't you dare look. Sam and Jonathan tried to keep the conversation going but weren't very successful. After lunch Angela went back up stairs while Mona and the kids went to her apartment. He didn't even want to think about what they were doing.

RING! RING!

He walked over and grabbed the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hello Tony."

It was Kathleen.

He sat down.

"Kathleen. Hi! Sam told me that you called."

"Yeah, I did. She told me that you were at the Library."

"Yeah. I know."

Kathleen was silent for a few moments.

"That was a lie though wasn't it? We both know the Library closes early on Saturday."

Tony rubbed his eyes.

"You're right."

"So where were you really Tony?"

"I was with Angela."

"You were?"

"Yes."

"Well at least you were honest about that!"

"Kathleen I.."

"I know the truth Tony."

"What truth?"

"Please Tony! Don't give me that shit! I talked to Linda and she told me everything!"

"She did? Kathleen, please I can explain!"

"YOU SON OF A BITCH!"

A FEW MINUTES BEFORE THE PHONE RANG

Up in her room Angela paced around wondering what she should do. Should she just forgive Tony and tell him that she loved him? Should she break up with Andy first and then tell Tony? Should she accept Andy's proposal? She had to get some advice. She grabbed her phone to call Isabelle but before she could it rang. She knew Tony would get it so she decided to wait a few minutes. She picked up the phone and heard Tony and Kathleen talking. She knew she should hang up but something told her not to.

"Kathleen, please I can explain!" Tony pleaded.

"YOU SON OF A BITCH!" Kathleen screamed.

Angela held the phone away from her ear but kept on listening.

"Kathleen, look I know you're mad."

"Mad? You better believe I am! I'm here visiting my Aunt who is sick and you're what? Oh that's right. You're running around behind my back! With Angela!"

Tony closed his eyes and opened them.

"I am not. I was not sneaking around behind your back with Angela."

"But, you love her don't you?"

"Kathleen I.."

"Please Tony. At least be honest with me."

"Okay. It's true. I love Angela."

"If you did then why did you get involved with me?"

"Because I was attracted to you and I do like you and I thought that you were someone I was supposed to be with."

Angela cringed.

"But, now I know I was wrong. And I am sorry about all this. I really am."

"Yeah, so am I. I thought we were building towards something. I guess I was wrong."

"Kathleen…"

"Goodbye Tony! We're through!"

She slammed the phone down.

Tony grimaced and got up and hung up the phone.

Angela hung up her receiver.

Tony and Kathleen were over.

Angela and Andy were still together.

The question was for how long?