“Listen Babe, I know you love me.” He breathed after a while of agonizing silence and Candie held her breath like she was bracing herself for a smack in the face because she could tell, just by the tone if his voice, what was coming next. “But, if it’s taken losing me to realize how much you need me, then maybe losing me is what you need.” His said as he grabbed her wrists and pulled her hands from his face. Her whole body felt weak and she wasn't sure what to do. She was torn between begging more and falling apart, not sure if she should pretend she couldn't believe what was happening or accept that this was real. They were over.
Before she'd made her choice, he kissed her. It was hard and set her body on fire, but it was also the most painful of her life because it was a goodbye. She might not ever feel that fire again and that alone was devastating. Still, she couldn't bring herself to break away. She wanted the moment to last as long as possible because, even though it was torturous, what came next would be worse then hell itself because she'd have to deal with the fact that he was gone. She'd pushed him too far, fucked up too bad, and he'd finally had enough.
“I love you too Candie, but I don’t think I can forgive you. I’ve given you a million chances babe.” He breathed against her lips and she wanted him to stop because every word he said was like a knife in the heart. “I’m exhausted.” He said before he let go of her and got in the car. Suddenly, without his body near hers, even though the night was warm, she felt like pure ice, frozen right down to her bones.
It was the kind of ice she knew only he could thaw because she'd felt it before she'd fallen in love with him and he'd managed to set her so completely on fire that it had all melted away, but now it was back, coating her heart in a layer of frost so thick, she became numb. It was how she got through painful shit, turning everything off and making herself numb to it, until she was just bitchy, cold, and manipulative.
She took a step back from the car, eyes on him, trying not to fall apart because Kaleb was still eavesdropping and she knew, if he saw how much pain she was in, he'd swoop in like a vulture and try to "make her feel better", pretending to care when all he really wanted was to get her out of her panties. In her head, she was screaming at herself to stop him, making him stay, but she couldn't. If she said another word, she'd crumble.
So instead, before she had to stand there and watch him drive away, she turned and left, walking back towards the party, pushing through people numbly, hoping she could find Donnie before Kaleb found her. She'd been pissed at Donnie, but now she just needed someone who understood her. She needed someone to take care of her for a little while, and Tansy would probably just be smug about the fact that it hadn't worked out between them so she was left with Donnie, but she needed to find him fast. First of all, so Kaleb couldn't corner her again, second of all, so he could take her home to wallow there before she really fell apart in front of everyone.
Donnie sat with them a while longer, drinking and shooting up a couple of times, trying to ignore what he could see of Tansy, grinding all over Collin on the dance floor. Both Nena and Lauren asked what was wrong about a thousand times, pretending to care when he knew they were just eager to hear that her finally broken it off with Tansy. He refused to tell them more than once, but eventually he did because he was too drunk to care.
Lauren fawned over him like he'd expected her to because she was the sweet on of the group who really cared about everyone, especially him, while Nena tried to "console" him. It was irritating as fuck to be honest. He tried not to be too pissed at Lauren. After all, he knew she really did like him and cared about his pain, but he knew she was secretly glad him and Tansy might not last. Then there was Nena who he was just fed up with because it was clear she didn't really give a shit. She only ever came to him when Kaleb ignored her or bored her so she just kept trying to seduce him and he'd had to push her off at least ten times.
Eventually though, Tansy came over and he was honestly glad, but before he could say anything, Lauren stood and he rolled his eyes and took a drink of the half empty beer in his hand, watching as her and Tansy argued and Lauren slapped Tansy, surprising pretty much everyone. Lauren was pretty much a pacifist, he wasn't sure he'd ever seen her really fight someone, and if she was going to pick someone, Tansy was not a good choice. Tansy was a fighter. She'd kick her ass in less then a second.
“Listen I’m sorry.” Tansy practically begged and Donnie's jaw literally dropped when Nena retaliated by telling her to kill herself. Lauren's face went white and Donnie rolled his eyes. Lauren had been in the hospital at one point for attempting suicide. Sometimes Nena was such an inconsiderate bitch, it was actually appalling, the cruel things that could come out of her mouth.
"Alright, put the fucking claws away ladies." Donnie rolled his eyes as he stood, pushing both Nena and Lauren out of his way so he could look at Tansy. "What's going on between me and Tans isn't your god damned business. Either of you." He spat, raising his eyebrows, glancing between the girls. "Lauren, I appreciate the help, but I don't need you to protect me or fight my battles for me. Nena, if I ever hear that shit come out of your mouth again, I'll slap it right off your fucking face alright?" He hissed, glaring at her. "I don't care if Tansy burned down a fucking orphanage, you never tell another person to kill themselves." He spat before grabbing Tansy's arm and pulling her away from them so they could be alone.
He crossed his arms on front of him, looking her over. "So you really sorry, or are you just bored with Colin now?" He asked, raising an eyebrow. "Because I'm not going to have only half of you Tansy. If you want me still, you're mine." He shrugged, holding her eyes. "I'm sick of wondering who you're fucking, and I'm definitely done competing with Colin. There shouldn't be a competition if you love me Tans. It's me or him." He shrugged.