The Break-Up
Xane:After punching the tile a few more times and cracking it, I'll have to fix that later. I decided to go and get the rest of that bottle of tequila. It was time for things to change. I love Avery...she's gone now. I loved her. I love Faith...she's going to get hurt and die because of me or something. I can't live with that. I don't know what to do. I just want to stop thinking and feeling. I walk downstairs and grab the bottle of tequila and chug the rest of the bottle, cringing at the taste as I throw it away. I walk back upstairs and finish getting dressed. Packing my bags...but this time. I leave for good. I can't believe she's really gone, my little sister.
Faith: I walk back in and see you packing everything. "Baby, we're only gonna be gone for a couple of days tops," I say as I walk forward and kiss you.
Xane:I pull away from the kiss. "Faith...I don't know what to do...or where we go from here. I'm just going to move back to New York."
Faith: I frown hard, my eyebrows crinkling together. "What are you talking about?"
Xane:"You don't have to go. I'll just ride my bike back." I say as I pull the zipper hard on the bag; I didn't get all my clothes, but I could live without them.
Faith: "Why are you doing this?" I ask, walking to the bedroom door and closing it. I'm letting you leave with out some kind of explaination.
Xane:"I don't know what to do Faith...my little sister is dead. The same little girl who used to flirt with boys just to make me mad so I'd beat them up for her." I say
softly.
Faith: I smile slightly at that thought. "And you did, didn't you? You love her with your whole heart. You don't have to do anything, please, just let me be there for you."
Xane:I pull you to me and kiss you deeply. I love you so much it hurts.
Faith: I wrap my arms tightly around you, melting into the kiss. "I love you, please don't leave me."
Xane:I pull back and smile, "So let's go get on this plane...and get this over with." It's time for me to deal and move on.
Faith: I nod and smile. "Let me grab a change of clothes, okay?"
Xane:"Yeah, sure." I say as I take the stuff out of the bag and just throw in a couple of clothes.
Faith: I pick out a couple of changes of clothes including a simple, but nice, black dress. I shove everything into a bag and heft it over my shoulder. "I'm ready whenever you are."
Xane:"Let's go." I say as I take your hand and walk out with you.
Faith: The plane ride was pretty uneventful, the private jet extremely comfortable. The closer we get, the more nervous I get. We finally land and I take your hand as we head to the door.
Xane:I grab the bag and follow you out as we walk down the stairs, I was pretty quiet; probably because I spent half of it in a daze and the other half asleep. I look at the address to the hospital. "Let's just grab a cab."
Faith: "Okay, Edward gave me his credit card, though, so we can rent a car and get a place to stay if we want," I say softly.
Xane:I don't need to be taking hand-outs from him. "I live here Faith...I never stopped living here. The landlord probably just thinks I was on vacation. We don'e need to find a place to stay...we can stay at my apartment; and we can take a cab. It's faster."
Faith: "Oh, I'm stupid," I say softly. I lace my fingers with yours as we walk out to the line of taxi's at the front of the airport.
Xane:"No...you didn't know." I said as I put the bag into the back of a cab and then got into the cab after you. "Jackson Hospital." I say as I put my arm around you taking a deep breathe. We're almost done.
Faith: I lean against you in the cab, my hand on your thigh. "I love you, baby," I say softly.
Xane:"I love you too." I say as the cab driver quickly drives us to the hospital. "Thanks" I say paying and tipping him before getting out and extending my hand to you to help you out. I then grab the bag and take your hand, walking towards the hospital. "here goes nothing." I mutter softly.
Faith: I squeeze your hand supportively and force myself to breathe slowly. "We can do this together."
Xane:I look at the directions and head towards the elevator. Of course the morgue is downstairs. As the doors open I take a moment before finally stepping onto the sterile tile. Now I remember why I hate hospitals so much..it's flooded with lights and
cold steel.
Faith: "It's always downstairs," I mumble. Sometimes I think I've been in more morgues than most doctors.
Xane:I knock on the office door. "Hi...I'm looking to uhh...claim a body?" I say awkwardly. "Yeah...woman in her early twenties, Avery Browning." I say as I follow the man in the labcoat towards where they keep the bodies.
Faith: I keep my hand laced in yours. This is different, the man I love is here to claim his sister. This is so different than fighting vampires.
Xane:I suck in as the man pulls out a slab and then looks up at me. I nod my head and he pulls back the cover. I instantly look away. "Fuck..." I say letting go of Faith's hand and walking towards the door.
Faith: I look down at the body of the girl for just a second before chasing after you. "Baby, it's okay."
Xane:I look at you and then back to the man. "That's not her..." I say shakily. I should be relieved...but I'm not.
Faith: My jaw drops. "It's not? Well, um... What the fuck is going on here?" I ask the man.
Xane:The man looks at the tag..."Browning, killed in a car accident. Unable to resuscitate her." He reads. "Time of Death 4:37." He says. I look at him. "Look...I told you it's not her." I say angrily.
Faith: "Did you even try to ID her or just go off her license or something?" I ask, my anger rising in my chest. How could someone do this to you?
Xane:"I'm not sure...I'm sorry about this." He says flustered. I give him a look, it's not his fault. But it means I have to find her...make sure she's ok. I walk out the door and wait for you in the hall.
Faith: "Okay, thanks," I say softly, following you out. "It's not her, baby. That's a good thing, right?"
Xane:"Yeah...I guess, let's just go back to my apartment and we'll go from there." I say as I take your hand as we leave the hospital, hailing down a cab. What the hell is going? Why didn't she at least call me and tell me what was going on?
Faith: "Okay, sounds like a good plan," I say softly, climbing into the cab with you.
Xane:I give the cab driver directions to the apartment and let out a sigh as I grab my phone and dial Avery's number. "Hey...it's me, just calling to see how you were; give ma call back when you get this."
Faith: I place my hand on your thigh, my thumb stroking your leg softly. I kiss you softly once you hang up the phone. "We'll find her."
Xane:I kiss you back and hop out of the taxi. It's time for me to track the little sister down. I hold your hand as we walk through the lobby and towards the apartment. I reach and grab my keys out of my pocket before finally unlocking the door and pushing it open. Luckily it doesn't smell like rotten food or anything else; I knew I'd be gone for a couple of days on a job, didn't plan on falling in love.
Faith: I look around the apartment, "Nice place. No wonder you didn't wanna give it up," I say softly.
Xane:I put the bag on the floor and lead you towards the bedroom. "Bathroom's in there if you wanna shower, I don't have any food, but there's take-out menu's on the fridge, phone is by the fridge." I say before walking towards the phone and playing my voicemails. Skipping 5, until I hear Avery's voice. "Hey...we need to talk Brandon. You know where to find me." I looked up at Faith. "Make yourself at home...I'll be back."
Faith: "Where are you going?" I ask. I don't want to leave you to do this alone.
Xane:"Running to an old friend's house, not really someone I want you meeting, more of a shady character." I say as I walk to my closet and push the clothes aside to open the safe and pull my Sig out. I put the holster on and then slide my gun into it.
Faith: "You do remember who you're talking to, right? Faith Lehane, escaped con, multiple murderer?"
Xane:I turn to look at you as I pull a coat from teh hanger and slide it on, covering my piece. "Faith...this is something I have to do on my own. When I find her...I'll bring her back and you two can meet."
Faith: "Promise me you're not going to get yourself hurt?" I ask. "I can't lose you baby."
Xane:"I'm not going to get hurt." I say kissing you softly.
Faith: "Okay. I love you baby," I say, reluctantly letting your hand go.
Xane:I close the door behind me and lock it. Grabbing a cab and going to Avery's boyfriend's house. I told the bastard that if I ever found out they were together I'd kill him. I planned on finishing it. I got out of the cab and walked towards the house, Monroe got up to stop me, but I pulled my gun out and shot him before he even had a chance to pull his gun out. I kicked the door open and then scanned the house for her. I walked upstairs and found her laying on the couch with him. I fired a shot right next to his head as he jumped up. "I told you to stay away from her!" I shouted as I walked towards them. "Avery what the hell are you doing here?" I asked. "I was worried sick....I thought you died."
Xane:Avery looked at me her eyes wide. "Brandon! I wanted to let you know that we're getting married and we're moving to Iowa. I thought about you and how all you did was ruin my life, boy after boy, you scared off. I hate you...I wanted to tell you to your face. I figured if you heard I was dead...you'd come back." She said angrily. I looked at her, my hand wavering as I lowered my gun. Was she serious? "Avery...you're fucking sick." I say grabbing her hand and pulling her up, she slaps me hard across the face. I reel back and almost strike her with my fist, but stop inches from her face, I've never hit a girl, but that hurt. "You can't be serious." Avery looks at me. "Look at what you did...you killed Monroe...you scared off every man I've ever loved...I hate you."
Xane:I look at her and feel my heart shattering. There's nothing I can do...she know's that the one thing I hate is getting slapped in the face. This was both emotionally and physically. I turned around and left, walking back towards the apartment, but finally stopping at a bus stop and sitting down, fighting back the tears.
Xane:After pulling myself together I finally walked back to the apartment, looking in the mirror as I walked through the lobby, at the blood on my clothes and the red mark on my face. I unlocked the door and closed it behind me.
Faith: I look up from the trail I'm pacing in your carpet. My eyes widen as I see the blood on you. "Oh my god, are you okay?"
Xane:"It's not mine." I say as I slide my jacket off and toss it in the trash. I put my gun away and then take the rest of my outer clothes off and throw them in the trash.
Faith: "Good. Did you find her?" I ask, trying to hug you.
Xane:I pull away from you. Sitting on the bench gave me time to think about life. "Something like that." I say as I walk towards the shower.
Faith: I feel my face fall as you walk away from me. I decide you need some time alone and curl up on the couch so I can see your bedroom door and the front door, hugging my knees to my chest.
Xane:I take a shower still thinking about what to say and how to do it. I get out and grab a pair of boxers and shorts before walking back out. "Want to shower?" I ask.
Faith: "I'm good," I say from the couch. "Thanks though."
Xane:"Did you eat?" I ask
Faith: I shake my head. "I was concerned about you," I say with a small smile. "You hungry?"
Xane:"Not really." I say as I sit down at the table.
Faith: I sigh and look over at you. "So, you wanna tell me what happened?"
Xane:"She's ok...that's all that matters." I say coldly. "Faith...we should talk."
Faith: I feel ice run through my veins at that. "Okay. Let's talk," I say softly.
Xane:"Where do you see this going? Honestly? My life is here in New York. I have a job here...a damn good paying job."
Faith: I sit up and look at you, frowning. "This, as in us?" I ask. I'm pretty damn sure that's what you mean but I'm trying not to flip out.
Xane:"Yeah...us. Me and you."
Faith: "Where do you see this going?" I counter. You fucking gave me a ring and said you want to have kids with me.
Xane:"Honestly?" I ask. "No where..."
Faith: I feel like someone just kicked me in the gut with steel toed boots. "No where, huh? So, what, this is just a 'let's see if I can get this stupid chick to fall in love
with me' thing?"
Xane:"You're not stupid." I say leaning back and rubbing my neck.
Faith: I stand up and start pacing again. "Then what, Xane? You're telling me you don't see us going anywhere after you give me this ring and spend the last month with me? I don't understand what the fuck you're saying."
Xane:I hang my head, I don't even know what I'm saying. "We're finished Faith. What do you want me to tell you? There's someone else? It was a game?" I ask. It was a lie...a horrible lie, but I had to push her away, she couldn't hurt me or hurt because of me this way. It's for the best...even if it's killing me.
Faith: I walk over to you and grab your face, making you look at me. "I want you to tell me the fucking truth," I say loudly.
Xane:"I don't love you."
Faith: I let go of your face and stagger back a couple of steps. "What?" I ask, almost a whisper.
Xane:I can't move, I know I won't be able to stand. It hurts...so bad. The way you're looking at me now. "I never did." I say finally, fighting my hardest not to let the tears show.
Faith: I shake my head as I feel tears streaming down my cheeks. "You're lying," I say. "You're fucking LYING!" I shout.
Xane:I look around the room, time to sell it. "Actually...I'm not. Three words that make a girl melt...I'm not an idiot. Besides...fucking you...something I'll never forget. But you see...my girl..she wants to make things right."
Faith: "Your what?" I ask, feeling nauseated again.
Xane:"It was a game Faith. You didn't really think I loved you? Did you? Think about it...a month...we've known each other maybe a month. The sex...fuck...it's good."
Faith: "You have another girlfriend?" I say vehemently. "Yeah, I know I'm a good fuck, I've been doing it long enough," I say, pulling the ring off my hand and throwing it hard in your face.
Xane:"Oh yeah...this...I found it. Was going to pawn it...but then I found out about you and the blonde...I don't like to share." I say shrugging my shoulders, "I had to do something to keep you from her." I say forcing a cold smile. "Yeah...my girlfriend. Man...she's gorgeous...blonde hair short, like you. Not quite as good in bed...her name's Buffy."
Faith: I run my hands through my hair and shake my head, looking at you with all the hatred I can muster. "You're a fucking bastard," I say. I stand there and then feel my mouth start to water. "Goddammit!" I shout, grabbing your trashcan and throwing up into it.
Xane:I take a step towards you to reach and pull your hair back and rub your back, it's natural. And then force myself to stop.
Faith: I finish throwing up in your trashcan and then rinse my mouth in your sink. I walk over to you and spit in your face. "Have a good fucking life," I say, walking out, not even caring about my clothes.
Xane:I wait till the door closes before falling to the floor, the tears flowing freely now. But I was man enough to admit it...the one person who made me feel good I just pushed to the point of breaking, I just had to remember it was better this way.