Goodbye Girl

Tyler knocked on the door. He rented a truck to come and get the rest of his belongings from Emily's. She opened the door, her eyes at his feet. She looked up and frowned when their eyes met.

She looked bad. Her eyes were red with dark bags. She had her hair in a mess on the top of her head. She had baggy clothing on, a shirt he recognized to be his own. He took a deep breath.

"Uh, hey." He scratched the back of his head.

"Hi, Tyler." She smiled a bit. "I packed some of your and Jamie's stuff for you to pick up. I hope that's alright."

"Yeah, thank you." He nodded, walking into the house.

He noticed more boxes in the living room, but thought nothing of it. He didn't say anything as he headed up to his room. He grabbed a few boxes she had packed and carried them down.

Emily recognized the bags under his eyes. He was as in just a good a state as she was, difference being, she brought this upon him, and herself. He had just come from working out, she could tell by what he was wearing and how the roots of his hair looked sweaty.

She watched him look at her packed boxes. She had no reason to stay in Dallas if she had no one. She lost Jamie and Tyler in the same day and she knew there was slim chance of then coming back to her.

Tyler walked down with two boxes in hand. He put them down in front of Emily. He glanced around the house again.

"What's with all the other boxes?" He asked, his voice monotone.

"I'm moving back to Michigan." She stated.

Tyler's eyes shot up to hers. "Em, don't leave because of this. You love Dallas, it's your home." He sighed.

"How is it a home when I have no family?" She whispered, her eyes watering. "I didn't only lose you, Tyler, I lost Jamie too. He's been my rock for the last three years. I see no reason to stay without him."

Tyler went silent. He looked at the ground. He hated how she was making him feel guilty. He licked his lips, picking up his boxes.

"Look, I don't understand Jamie being mad at you, it's not his problem, but don't try to make me feel like the bad guy." He growled. "I wasn't texting my ex about how I miss our relationship."

"It was one stupid mistake, Tyler!" She cried. "I wanted to be with you, I still do. I just miss him sometimes."

"There's somethings you need to keep inside." He said.

They stared at each other before Tyler walked out of the house. He put the boxes down in the bed of the truck. He rested his elbows on the side, head in his hands. She watched from the doorway.

He smacked the bed of the truck, walking around to the front of it. He climbed in. Emily ran over. He rolled down his passenger side window.

"What, Emily?" He hissed.

"You have a lot more than two boxes." She stated the obvious.

"I know, but I can't be alone and around you right now." He sighed, squeezing his eyes shut.

"What the fuck, Tyler?" She gasped. "Do you really hate me that much?"

"No! I don't hate you at all, that's the problem!" He shouted at her. "It's taking everything in me to not pull you into my arms and forgive you just because it pains me to see you so upset." He took a deep breath and looked at Emily who was in tears. "But you fucked up and you hurt me and you don't deserve me." He finished his speech and drove off.

Emily watched him go down the street before she took off inside. She slammed the door, following that with a kick to the table near it. She walked into the kitchen and wiped everything off the island, smashing glasses and plates.

She let out a scream before she dropped to the ground. She found her phone sitting near the broken glass. She looked over the screen and then the back. It wasn't damaged from the fall. She dialed the only number she could think of.

"Hello?" He answered.

"I'm sorry." She sobbed. "I'm sorry but I really need you."

"What's up, Em?" He sighed.

"Tyler came to get his stuff," She blubbered. "We got in an argument and I fucked up. I ruined my fucking life."

"Calm down, Emily." He attempted to relax her.

"I can't, James, I can't!" She screamed. "I fucked up with you, I fucked up with Tyler, I'm a fuck up!"

"Emily, shut up!" James yelled. "You didn't fuck up anything! Everything happens for a reason."

"Me losing everyone has a reason?" Emily spat

"You're being ridiculous. Talk to me when you're not having a fit." He hung up.

He shook his head, tossing his phone on his coffee table. He laid on his couch, just getting in from his flight home from Boston. He rolled over and dozed off.

He woke up to his phone ringing. His hand flew out, smacking around on the table. He eventually reached it, pushing the green button. He pressed it to his ear.

"Hello?" He grumbled.

"Ah, fuck. Were you sleeping?" He heard his favourite voice ask.

He smiled, rolling onto his back. "Yeah, but I'd rather talk to you."

"Three point game, nice." Amber cheered.

"Still a loss." He argued.

"James, shut up." She growled.

He laughed. "If I invited you over right now, what would you say?" He questioned.

"I'd say I'm working but I'm off in an hour and I could head over then with something to eat?" She offered.

"God, food sounds fantastic." He moaned.

"Tell me your favourite and I'll pick it up on my way over." She told him.

"I think I've fallen in love." He joked.

"Yeah, I have that affect." She teased. He rolled his eyes. "Text me what you want. Boss is coming."

He found himself frowning when the line cut out. Lately, all he wanted was her. He liked hearing her voice, seeing her, being around her. He was head over heels for her and they'd only known each other for a month.

James was awakened by his doorbell. He shot up, knowing just who it was. He walked to his door with a bounce in his step. He pulled it open and smiled at the girl in front of him. She held out the pizza box in her hand to him. He took it and guided her inside.

He set the pizza on the table. She walked in behind him, placing her purse on the island. He turned to face her. She cocked a brow. He stepped forward, embracing her.

He nuzzled his face into her hair. She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her cheek on his chest. She was happy he made the move because she was praying one of them would and odds were, it wouldn't have been her.

They broke apart. James had a goofy grin on his face. Amber rolled her eyes at him, turning to the pizza.

He watched her as she opened his cupboards and found plates. She reached and her shirt rose slightly. James swallowed hard. She smacked two slices onto each plate. He looked them over.

"Just pepperoni?" He gasped.

"Yeah. You shouldn't even be eating pizza and I don't like anything else." She explained as she walked to the living room.

"That doesn't mean I don't like other things!" He argued.

"Tough." She called.

James watched her hips rock as she made it to the couch. He followed like a lost puppy. She sat down on one side of the couch. He sat on the other. She looked at him.

"Do I have cooties or something?" She quizzed.

"What?"

"What's with the whole sitting a meter away thing?" She gestured to the distance between them.

"I like to sit against the arm of the couch." He shrugged.

She rolled her eyes. "I do too."

"Guess we're staying like this then." He smirked.

She shrugged, eating her pizza. "Fine by me."

Time passed and eventually, James cracked. He took both plates into the kitchen before he came back into the living room. He laid down, his head Amber's lap. She played with his hair as they watched TV. His phone began to rang. He let out a sigh as he sat up and grabbed it.

"Hello?" He answered.

He looked at Amber, who's eyes were still focused on the TV. She didn't look at him as he watched her.

"Hi, sorry about earlier." Emily broke her silence.

"It's okay. How ya feeling?" He asked, laying back down.

He had his head in Amber's lap, but was staring up at her. She continued to watch TV. He appreciated how she didn't worry about his phone call.

"I'm alright." Emily told him. "I'm going back to Michigan, like moving back."

"What? Why would you do that? You love Dallas, Em." He argued.

That sparked Amber's interest. She didn't take her eyes off the TV but began to listen to the conversation.

"Nothing about Dallas loves me. I need out of this place." She explained.

"What about work?" He questioned.

She was silent. "I didn't even th,"

"If you need to get away from Dallas for a bit until it all dies down, why don't you come stay here?" He offered.

"That would definitely get Tyler over me telling you I missed you." She said, sarcasm dripping.

"No one has to know. Just come spend some time away, get to know Amber, it'll be nice." James grinned up at Amber.

"Sounds nice." Emily replied.

"Yeah, you'll love her." He finished.

It took everything in Amber to not burst into laughter. Emily didn't want to meet her, they both knew it. Emily wanted James all to herself, even if she didn't want to be with him.

"I'll talk to you later. I'm with Amber right now." James told Emily.

"Yeah, okay." She hung up.

James thought nothing of it and tossed his phone back on the table. He kicked his feet up before standing up. He stood in front of Amber. She looked up at him. He picked her up, tossing her over his shoulder.

"James, please." She whined, grabbing onto his shirt material.

He tossed her onto the couch on her back before he laid on top of her. Their forehead's pressed together as well as their chests.

James eyes watched hers. She stated at him, and he could see the hunger in her eyes. His hand cupped her jaw. His thumb brushed over her cheek while his four fingers rested behind her ear.

He brought his lips to hers. She kissed back before more was added to it. She opened her mouth, granting his tongue access to play with hers.

As his other hand wandered her body, Amber remembered the conversation she had just heard. The guy she was seeing, just invited his ex to come stay with him, after she had confessed she missed being with him.

James's hand slid up her stomach, lifting her shirt. She grabbed his wrist, pushing his chest with her other hand. He stared down at her, both panting. She took a deep breath.

"We can't do this." She breathed out, pushing him up.

He sat up and Amber did as well. They were side by side. He watched her, waiting for her to speak. His hand rubbed her knee but she brushed him away.

"I'm not comfortable with Emily coming to stay with you if we're seeing each other." She explained, staring at the floor.

James laughed. "Really, Amber?"

"Yes, James!" She shouted, standing up. "It's obviously she still has feelings for you and for some bizzare reason, I don't want to have to fight for a guy with his ex girlfriend who he dated for seven years. I mean, that's like a heavy weight champion and a fifth grade boy fighting."

"There's no competition. I don't want to be with Emily anymore. I want you." He stood, grabbing her face. "She's a friend and she needs to get away."

"Why can't she go somewhere else?" She snapped and pulled out of his grasp. "I don't trust her."

"Or me, clearly." He hissed.

Amber rolled her eyes. "I obviously trust you. I wouldn't spend so much time with you if I didn't." She explained, sitting back on the couch.

James stood, watching her. She played with her hands. She was trying to find the words she needed. She found them and looked into his dark blue eyes.

"I know she still wants you, and I know you'll always have something for her. I just don't want to fall for you and then get left behind when you realize you're still in love with her." She sighed.

He sat beside her, wrapping an arm around her. "I'm not still in love with her, because I found someone else that makes me happier than she ever did." He kissed the side of Amber's head.

"So you're in love with me?" She teased.

He chuckled. "No, but I like you a lot, and more than I liked her."

"You liked her long enough to stay with her for seven years." She stated.

"Yeah, but it took me more than a month to want anything to do with her." He smiled.

Notes