HOW IT BE, imagines

04. when he cheats (2)

Y/N's POV

School had been a nightmare lately-pressure piling up, deadlines stacking like walls, and me, trying to keep my head above water. Nate? He dropped out months ago. Now all he did was hang with his friends, smoke, drink, and disappear for hours on end. And I was left holding everything else together.

It was Friday night. Nate wasn't home. Again. Usually, when he went out with the guys, he was back by midnight. Now? It was almost 4 a.m. I'd called and texted him for hours, but nothing. No answer. My chest twisted tight with worry and something deeper I didn't want to admit yet.

I couldn't sit still anymore, so I got up and went downstairs to watch TV, hoping he'd walk through that door soon.

Around 5 a.m., the door finally creaked open. I looked up just in time to see Nate stumble inside, barely able to keep his balance. His scent hit me-cigarettes, booze, and something heavier. Great. He was high and wasted.

"Where have you been, Nathan?" I asked, trying to steady him as he leaned into me for support.

"With the guys, like usual," he shrugged, pushing me away and heading upstairs.

I started to let go, but then something caught my eye-a patch of skin on his neck was visible, and my heart stopped. There were hickeys. Lots of them.

"What the hell, Nate?!" I yelled, stepping closer and lifting his shirt to reveal more marks-dark bruises littering his neck and collarbone.

His eyes widened, darting nervously down to where I was looking. "Uhm, I-I don't know how they got there?" His voice cracked, like a question, like maybe even he didn't believe it.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, trying to steady my voice. "Who did you cheat on me with, Nate?"

"No one, baby," he said, taking a step toward me.

I raised my hands, stopping him before he could get close. "Don't lie to me. I'm not stupid. I can tell when you're lying. Tell me the truth-who?"

He sighed, rubbing his face with both hands like he was trying to erase what he just said. "Emily..."

The world around me blurred, but my mind screamed. Emily? My best friend. Nate's best friend's sister. The one who had been there for me when everything with Nate fell apart, the one who helped me pick up the pieces when I thought I'd lost everything.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" I spat, voice trembling with hurt and rage. "Out of all the girls, you had to sleep with her? You don't even care about how me or Sammy would feel? How she was there every time you messed up? She should've just let me leave you so she could have you all to herself."

Nate said nothing. Just stared at the floor, silent.

"Get out," I said firmly, every word slicing through the room.

"What?" he looked up, disbelief flickering in his eyes.

"I said get out. Pack your shit. Leave."

"No, baby, please. Tell me you're joking," he pleaded, dropping to his knees and wrapping his arms around my legs.

I looked down at him, heart breaking but voice steady. "I love you, Nate. But I can't do this. I won't let you hurt me like this-not again. You made your choice, and this time, I'm choosing me."

Tears spilled down my cheeks as I spoke, choking on the pain. "I can't risk being put through this again. Who knows who else you'd do this with."

He sniffled, tears spilling too, looking up at me with pleading eyes. "Baby, I'm sorry. It was a mistake. It won't happen again."

"No, Nathan. Cheating isn't a mistake-it's a choice. And you chose her." I wiped my tears and pulled my legs free from his grasp.

He got up, silent, and went upstairs to pack.

A few minutes later, he came down with his things. He dropped them near the door, then walked over to me.

He kissed my forehead, pulled me into one last hug, and whispered, "I'll always love you, Y/N. Forever and always. Take care, ma. I never wanted to hurt you like this. I hope you find someone who treats you better than I did."

My throat tightened as he turned to leave, but before he did, I called out, voice low but sharp.

"You better hope Emily doesn't tell Sammy before you do. There goes your brotherhood-for what? A piece of ass? You weren't thinking straight?"

He looked back with regret, then closed the door behind him.

I sank down, overwhelmed. My high school sweetheart, my first love, my everything... shattered my heart and broke my trust in one night.

I turned off the TV and lights, dragging myself upstairs. I curled into bed alone-no arms holding me, no warmth next to me.

I tried to choke back the tears, but they fell freely. My eyes felt cloudy, like the sky before a storm, and my tears were the rain.