be alright

“isn’t it though?” brittany finally looked up to lock eyes with alejandro. “i mean, i know i didn’t do anything to make him hit me. i’m not...yeah, i know that.” brittany knew there were some women who never made it out of abusive relationships and she should be grateful that she had the strength to walk away. but it was difficult not to blame herself. “i just...don’t understand how i let myself be put in that situation. why was i with him? all of my friends said he was bad news. i should have listened to you ale, to everyone.” brittany let herself fall back to the bed, throwing an arm over her eyes to block out the bright ceiling light. “i just need a distraction. i’m supposed to have breakfast with my brother tomorrow and it’s gonna be so much drama.” she lifted her arm to peek back at ale. “can we just have fun tonight?”

“the fuck? call the fucking cops then!” jake punctuated the statement with the side of his fist to the door. “the only way i’m leaving this goddamn hallway is in a body bag if you don’t let me the fuck in.” he’d had every intention of coming over to make peace, but it was hard not to be frustrated knowing that zion was willing to end their relationship and keep him from his unborn child. “baby, you’ve got at least eighteen more years of me in your life. is this really how you wanna do it? talking to each other through closed doors? open up!”  

vijay smiled amicably at peyton’s suggestion and slid his bag from his shoulder. his ulterior motives were obvious and his ex was obviously trying to play it safe. but time must have allowed peyton to forget that vijay had very little shame, an audience would never keep him from getting what he wanted...if he wanted peyton. vijay was still trying to figure it out, unsure if he genuinely missed the man or if he just didn’t want anyone else to have what was once his. he’d always been awful at sharing. he made a show of placing his bag on peyton’s shoulder, allowing his hands to drag over his shoulder and down to his bicep. “i couldn’t even tell you’d bulked up. you’ve always been...nicely shaped? you look great, babe, always have.” he let his hands fall from peyton down to his bag and adopted a more serious tone. “i actually just left work, so i have case files in here. just... make sure you don’t lose track of it while we’re out, okay? life and death stuff.” it was actually one of the many things they argued about when they were together. vijay always took his work home, working day and night at a job he hated. since their breakup, he’d found a better job, but old habits die hard and he still enjoyed putting in long hours. “c’mon, lead the way.”

vijay tilted his head and smiled, completely unsure of how to answer peyton. the competitive, possessive part of him absolutely wanted to hear about his ex’s new partner. he couldn’t ensure he was better was better than the man if he didn’t know anything about him after all. the more mature part of jay knew he should leave it alone though. peyton was obviously happy. jay should just be happy for him. hell, he only had himself to blame for their relationship falling apart so many years ago. vijay stepped forward, closing some of the distance between them. “i totally meant what i said. i want to hear all about him.” he gave peyton’s tie a playful tug. “i gotta make sure he’s treating my guy right, don’t i?” he stepped back, cooling his flirtatious expression into something more innocent and friendly, and patted his heavy messenger bag. “i hate carrying this thing around when i go out, you mind if we grab that drink at my place?”

ricky: but since then, you've been all over my gram, hearting it up. miss me?

“look, i don’t need you to do the whole macho ‘i’m gonna kick his ass’ bullshit, okay? i have a big brother for that. and he’s already gonna lose his shit when he sees this black eye. my boy-- ex, my ex is gonna be dead by sundown tomorrow. i just need...i need a friend.” brittany hated that she was getting emotional. she thought she was stronger than this. resting her head in her hands for a moment, she tried to calm down. “god, you were so right about him. why didn’t i listen?” 

“you know...my mom always tells me i was an idiot to let you go.” vijay didn’t agree with his mother on most things, but the ball of jealousy rolling in his gut at the sight of his ex with a ring on his finger made him think she might have been right about this one thing. “would you maybe wanna stick around and grab a drink? we could catch me up and fill me in on your new love.”