Losing Love

41

Elisa and I both shiver and fake gag, before laughing at each other's reaction. The rest of the lunch goes smoothly, we decide to go run errands together after lunch, and I head back to my house at around 4pm.

I plop onto the couch and decide to take a nap for around an hour.

I'm woken up to my phone's alarm beeping. I check my lock screen once I turn it off and as expected, not a single text or call from Dominic. He hasn't shown up here either. This is how it's been for the past two weeks, but I understand. He just needs space.

I change into black skinny jeans and a cropped long sleeved black shirt, with white air forces. I have another cup of coffee as I wait for Kyle.

Finally, I hear knocking on my door and I open it wide. I'm shocked to notice that instead of Kyle, Dominic stands in front of me. He has dark bags under his eyes and messy hair, yet he still attempts to look fine. "Kyle asked me to pick you up" he informs me. I nod my head in response as I grab my phone and place it in my back pocket before shutting the door and locking it.

We sit in Dominic's car in silence for a while before he begins to speak, "so Carter told me what you did last night", I look up at him, uncertain of what to say. He notices my uncertainty as he continues, "why did you do it?" He asks. My expression changes, now I'm staring at him as if he just asked the dumbest question ever. Because he did.

"You're my boyfriend" I answer with a shrug, "so? I didn't ask you to do it" he adds harshly. I roll my eyes at him, this guy. "That's not how it works, besides it's nothing new. It's been like this for the past two weeks" I comment. I notice him grip the steering wheel harder from the corner of my eye, "yeah, and for the past two weeks I've been telling you to just leave me alone".

"OH MY GOD. What is your fucking problem Dominic? I already told you that isn't how it works and telling me to just leave you alone isn't going to make it stop" I begin to show my frustration towards him, for the past two weeks he's been acting like a child and I haven't complained once. Yet he's getting pissed at me for doing something that any regular human would do.

"My fucking problem is that I don't need you around so just fuck off" he adds. I feel my heart ache at his words but I keep a straight face. "Whatever" I whisper as I see that we are stopped outside the warehouse. I get out and head towards Kyle instantly, not waiting for Dominic. "You're dropping me home" I glare at Kyle as he responds with a confused expression. His expression fades as if his answers have all been magically answered once he notices a pissed off looking Dominic storming his way up to us.

"Let's just get this over with" he mutters as he walks through the door.

We walk into a dark room with only one lightbulb that hangs from the ceiling. Underneath the lightbulb is a man tied to a steel chair. "What do you want?" He blurts at Dominic as he approaches the man. Everyone else, including me, stands away from the direct light. Dominic begins questioning the man, yet the man stays silent the whole time. Even after Dominic threw a few punches at him, he still refused to answer.

I can tell Dominic is getting really agitated as he leans down to the man, "where is Matteo Santiago?" He questions the man in a low voice. The man doesn't respond with words, but instead spits in Dominic's face.

Dominic loses his temper as he punches the man across the face continuously, the chair falls to the ground and Dominic begins kicking the man on the ground, bending down and punching him more. I can hear the guys screaming at Dominic to stop, telling him that he's going to kill him but Dominic seems stuck in a daze. Blood splatters everywhere as I'm lost in the scene, this is a completely new side of Dominic. I have never seen him like this.

I'm brought out of my daze by Kyle's panicked arm, "DO SOMETHING" he yells wide eyed. I run up closer to Dominic, "DOMINIC STOP" I yell, he doesn't stop. "DOMINIC YOU'RE GOING TO KILL HIM" I warn him, again he doesn't stop. "FUCKSAKE DOMINIC JUST STOP" I scream as I subconsciously place my hand on his shoulder. I'm taken by surprise when Dominic turns around and pushes me hard. I fall down to the ground and watch as Dominic's eyes widen in fear as he realises what he has just done.

"Hope I'm so sorry" I rushes up next to me and pulls me up to my feet. I stand up and shrug his arm off me before not saying anything and stomping out the room. I walk out the warehouse, ignoring Dominic's protests for me to come back. He follows me out.

I can hear him calling my name but I choose to ignore them and just keep walking straight. I'll take a taxi home or something. "HOPE PLEASE STOP" he places a hand on my shoulder and it's enough to make me turn around and push his arm off. "Don't touch me" I warn him. I see his eyes glisten in the moonlight. "Hope I'm sorry, I don't know what happened I ju-"

"Really? You don't know what happened? Well I do, Dominic. You're so filled with hatred and vengeance that it's transforming you into a completely different person, and you might not see it but everyone else does. I see it, Kyle sees it, Carter sees it, Elisa sees it, even Cole has fucking seen it. Just look at yourself" I cut him off while staring him up at down. I notice his white shirt is now stained with blood, he knuckles covered in blood and a bit of the man's blood splattered across his face. He opens his mouth to speak but I'm not finished yet so I continue "You're so caught up in the idea of revenge that you are ruining everything else around you. All you do is work and drink. Do you even sleep anymore? Because you certainly look like you haven't been. And for the last two weeks I have been picking up your slack, I have been dealing with everything. Guess what Dominic, you're not the only one hurting right now. And as much as I hate to do this, it's clear that your heart is so filled with love for the idea of revenge against Matteo, and your hatred against literally the whole world that there is no space for the love you have or had for me." I hesitate before saying this next part, "I know you're not just going to let go of the revenge so that's why I'm letting go of you." I take a deep breath in as I feel my heart shatter. I hate this and I don't want to do this but he is dragging me down and I can't deal with his coldness anymore. Hopefully it's just temporary.

I look up at him as his glistening eyes are now crowded with tears. He opens his mouth to say something, but then closes it, deciding it's best not to. I see Kyle approaching us and I realise I need to wrap this up quickly, "I feel in love with Dominico Moretti, I don't even know you anymore" I add quietly and sadly.

I can't bear the look on his face, I feel my own tears filling my eyes but I can't cry in front of everyone again so I turn my back and walk away.

I hear Kyle's heavy footsteps run up behind me. "Hope wait", he pulls me around by my arm but stops once he notices my eyes heavy with tears. Without saying anything, he grabs my head and pulls me into his chest. Wrapping me a warm, tight, embrace. I can't hold back anymore so I begin sobbing hysterically into his chest. He holds me even tighter, not saying a word.

Eventually, I run out of salty tears. Kyle pulls away from me, "come on, I'll drop you back" he whispers to me. I simply nod.

The whole car ride back is silent. My face shows no emotion whatsoever as I lean my head against the cold car window and close my eyes.