Falling For The Shoulder You Lean On, chapter 8

Seri's POV

I slammed the door and walked down the street. I could barely see I was so blinded by the tears that would not stop falling down my face. How could he after all these years? How long has he been cheating on me? I feel so lost. I walked to the only person in the world that I could think of who could cheer me up. Tre always makes me feel special. He said that I could stay with him if I ever needed to but I did not think I would ever have to take him up on the offer. I kept walking for almost an hour until I finally reached Tre's house. I checked my watch, nine o'clock. Right now I should be lying in my comfortable bed thinking about what I was going to wear to Mike's Christmas Eve party and fretting over little things. I should not be walking to Tre's house feeling like my heart has been ripped out and chopped up into tiny little pieces that can never be put back together. I still have not stopped crying. I cursed myself for being so pathetic. I took a deep breath and tried to compose my thoughts. I knocked on the door.


Tre's POV


I just finished tidying the last of Ramona's bedroom. Since she's flying over on Christmas Eve day I thought I should start preparing now. I have not seen her in so long, not since her birthday in January. I wonder how much she has grown. This house feels so empty now that Claudia has moved out. Frankito is staying with her this month and next. I see him on weekends though and any other time I want. I was walking downstairs to the living room to watch some TV when I heard a knock at the door. I checked the clock hanging in the hall, nine o'clock. Who would be knocking on my door right now? Mike is with Stella and Billie and Adie are off doing something else. I walked to the front door and opened it to find Seri in an awful state. Her face was stained with tears and it looked as if she had been crying for hours. I held her tightly in my arms.

"Shh. Calm down, Seri. Tell me what's wrong."

I already knew what was wrong. She must have found Liam cheating on her. Everyone has known about his infidelity for years except for Seri herself. Why did she have to find out now? It is three days before Christmas. She must feel so horrible. She looked up at me with this look in her eyes that she has given up on life.

"Liam, he....he cheated on me."

"Oh my God. Seri, babe, are you okay?"

"No, Tre. I feel like shit. I can't believe he did this to me and right before Christmas. I feel sick."

"Just calm down, take a deep breath. It'll be okay."

"No, it won't. I have spent fifteen years of my life with him. I just can't take that back. I feel so used. Why? Why would he do this?"

"Because he's a fucking moron. You're too good for him."

"I don't feel like it right now."

"You are, listen to me. You don't need anymore of his bullshit. He doesn't deserve you, he never did."

"I don't feel like I can go on living anymore, Tre."

"Don't say that, Seri. You're gonna make it through this."

"What am I going to do? I have no money, no car, no job, no house. I'm fucked."

"No you're not. You can stay here with me."

"I couldn't ask that of you. I wouldn't want to impose."

"You're not imposing on anything. I need to know that you're okay and I want you to live with me."

"Really, Tre?"

"Of course. I don't want anything to happen to you. You mean the world to me."

"Thanks, Tre. I think I'm feeling better."

"No problem. Now do you want me to get you some official heart fixer medicine?"

"And what is that?"

"A gigantic tub of ice-cream."

"Okay, Tre."

"And you are sharing, Missy."

I walked off into the kitchen and found a tub of cookie dough ice cream in my freezer. I cannot believe Seri is actually going to live with me. How could Liam cheat on her? She is so perfect. She is the nicest, sweetest, funniest, sexiest woman on the planet. Just being in the same room with her is enough to make me happy. I have to make her feel better. Seeing her so depressed scared me. I closed the freezer and grabbed two spoons and sat on the sofa beside Seri.

"Here you go."

"Thanks, Tre. Cookie Dough is my all time favorite."

"I know."

"Liam didn't even know what my favorite flavor was. He didn't know a lot of things about me. He even forgot what day my birthday is."

Seri started crying again and I pulled her into a hug. I petted her hair softly and tried to soothe her pain. She really gave her heart to him and he stomped on it like it was nothing.

"Seri, you don't have to cry anymore. He isn't worth it."

"Tre, why did I love him? Why?"

"I don't know. Everyone loves someone for a reason."

"I thought he was the one. I thought we'd be together forever."

"Maybe you got it wrong. The perfect guy is out there for you, you just haven't noticed it yet. Maybe he's right under your nose and you haven't bothered to check."

"You mean it?"

"Yeah. I thought that Lisea and Claudia were the ones but I was wrong twice."

"Yeah, but at least you got married. Liam said he was afraid of commitment. I can't believe I was stupid enough to believe him."

"You're not stupid, Seri."

"Yes I am, why else would I care for some selfish, two-timing, backstabbing loser? I hate him so much."

"I know you do."

"Oh fuck!"

"What? What's wrong?"

"I left everyone's presents at the house. I have to get them."

"Don't worry, we'll get them tomorrow."

"I don't think I'll be able to face him."

"I'll be there with you."

"Thanks for caring, Tre. I still don't know why you do."

"Because you're important to me, Seri. That guy should feel like shit right now. I don't understand why he would do that to you."

"I don't either. I was the perfect girlfriend, wasn't I? I didn't do anything to upset him. I never cheated on him. I always made sure supper was on the table. I cleaned the house. What did I do to deserve it?"

"Nothing, Seri. You did nothing. He is just a fucking asshole."

"He is. I know he is. I just can't believe I ever had feelings for him."


Seri's POV


Tre and I were up until late into the night talking. I cried a lot. I had lost all control over my emotions. I have never cried so much in my entire life. I felt empty inside. How could one breakup do this to me? Tre was holding me most of the time and letting me cry into his chest. He made me feel safe, like no on could ever hurt me. Him being here has made me feel a lot better. If I was by myself I probably would have committed suicide already. The hours flew by and I barely realized that it was nearing four in the morning. The tub of ice cream was already half way melted and I could feel my eyes growing heavy.

"Tre, I'm tired."

"Okay, you want to go to bed? You can have Claudia's old room. I turned it into a guest room. It's your now."

"Thanks, Tre."

I tried to get up but I felt to weak. Tre saw how weak I was and carried me to the bedroom. He laid me down on the bed and pulled the covers up to my neck. He tucked me in and kissed my forehead and headed towards the door.

"Night, Seri."

"Tre?"

"Yes."

"Can you sleep with me tonight? I don't want to be alone right now."

"Sure."

He closed the door and walked over to the bed and crawled in. He got comfortable and wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into him. I felt the warmth from his body being so close to mine and it was so comforting. His breathing steadied out and I could hear him lightly snoring. I slept so soundly that night. That was the best night's sleep I have ever gotten in my life.

The next morning.
Seri's POV


I awoke to find Tre's arms still wrapped around me tightly. I smiled and tried to move but it was pointless. He had me in a death grip. I finally gave up and tried to fall asleep. I had a déjà vu moment for a bit and realized this was not the first time I was in bed with Tre. I finally remembered what happened that last night in Tokyo.

FLASHBACK:
Final night in Tokyo
Seri's POV

Tre and I stumbled back into out hotel room after our wild night at the Geronimo Shot bar. I had never had so much in in my life. I felt like a school girl again. We just started busting out laughing at nothing and we found out way into my bedroom. I fell on top of my mattress and Tre fell on top of me. His head was rested beneath my chest and he looked up at me and smiled.

"I like the view from here."

"I bet you do."

"Their like two pillows."

"Oh, shut up, Tre."

"What? I love your pillows. They're so soft."

"Stop it Tre."

"What?"

"Stop talking about how much you love my pillows."

"I love your pillows, sure. But I really love you."

"Yeah, right."

Tre looked deeply into my eyes and he looked sober now.

"I love you, Seri."

"Sure you do, Tre."

"I'm not joking. I love you with all of my heart."

He got off of me and crawled towards my face and touched my cheek softly and gave me a tender kiss. I felt like a lightning bolt had gone through my lips. It felt so good. I felt like I could kiss him forever. I cannot do this. I have a boyfriend. I cannot cheat on him. I backed away and pushed Tre off of the bed and he fell on the floor.

"Tre, I can't. I'm with Liam. I just can't."

He looked at me sadly and walked out of my room and slammed the door. I laid back own and stared at the ceiling. I knew I felt something with that kiss. I have never felt anything like that. Even when Liam and I kiss it has never felt like that. Do I like Tre? I cannot. I closed my eyes and tried to fall asleep but that thought always came back. Do I like Tre? No. I think I am in love with him.


END OF FLASHBACK


I opened my eyes and I felt like I could not breathe. I think I am in love with Tre. Didn't Tre say that he loved me? That was so long ago. He probably does not feel the same way anymore. I had not realized that Tre had been up for sometime and he was staring at me intently wondering what I was doing.

"Seri. What are you thinking about?"

"I just remembered what happened that final night in Tokyo."

"Oh. Oh..."

I could not think of a way to ask him. I just have to know.

"Tre? Did you mean what you said? That you loved me."

"Every word."

I felt shivers go down my spine with him just saying that.

"Do you still feel that way?"

He looked at me and I could feel his light blue eyes piercing into me.

"I love you, Seri."

I felt like I just won the Publisher's Clearing House.

"I have been in love with you since the day we met at The Gilman."

I felt as if Cupid has just shot his arrow directly at my heart.

"And right now I want nothing more than to show you how much I love you."

I had lost all senses at this point. I turned around and faced Tre who was smiling at me furiously his eyes lit with passion.

"I....I just realized I love you too."

He grabbed me and pulled me closer to him and he gave me the most amazing kiss I have ever received in my life. This wave of emotion had washed over my entire body and I thought I had died or that I was dreaming this moment.