I'm Not The Only One (Scomiche)

"I'm done with running."

Nirvana by Sam Smith

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"What should I do?"

Lia and Caty responded with an eye roll and an irritated groan. "Mitch, we've been through this."

I shifted in my seat and faced Lia who was currently driving. Seated at the back was Caty and she was surrounded by boxes of Chinese food, tupperwares of soup and tubs of ice cream. It was a Saturday morning, twelve days after my talk with Scott. We were all en route to Brookes' apartment since she's been on sick leave for the past two days.

"Do you believe what he said?" asked Caty.

I twisted my trunk to face her. "Yes?"

"Are you asking me or telling me?"

I sighed. "I don't know."

"Do you want to believe him?"

"Yes, I do."

"So why don't you just take what he said at face value and believe him?"

It was my turn to groan. "It's not that easy."

"Relationships are never easy," Lia mumbled.

"Complicated relationships involving cheaters are never easy," clarified Caty.

"Listen, Mitch. I've told you this every single day for the past week and I will tell you again. You've gotta make a choice and stick to it. The ball's in your court now. You either get back together with him and you work your shit out as a couple, or you leave him and move on. Obviously that's easier said than done but those are your only real options," explained Lia.

I slumped in my seat and stewed on her words, the same way I've been doing for the past days. In my heart I truly wanted to believe Scott but my mind was not making it easy for me. The Alex encounter, as I have been calling it, was more than just a reminder of my past. To me it was like a sneak peek of my future relationship with Scott. It was hard to admit to myself at first but after much discussion with the girls, I realized just how much of an insecure and jealous person I was. Considering Scott's history of cheating and the way our relationship evolved, a part of me knew that I would always doubt Scott. I may get over what happened with Alex but it will only be a matter of time before someone else drives a wedge between us or before I sabotage my relationship with him. It was depressing to think of my future with him that way but I felt that it was the most realistic scenario.

Lia's voice pulled me out of my thoughts. "We're here."

We filed out of the car one by one and each carried a food item. We reached Brookes and Chadd's apartment on the third floor and then rang the doorbell.

"Is she here?" I asked after the third bell was unanswered. "She knows we're coming, right?"

"She's supposed to be here. That's what she said when I texted her earlier," replied Caty.

"Let me call her."

"I'll ring the doorbell again."

After a minute, the door opened to a literal hot mess. Brookes was in an oversized black shirt which she matched with grey sweatpants and bunny slippers, her hair was in a messy bun with several brunette strands tucked behind her ears, her eyes were puffy, and her nose was red. She was carrying a cat stuff toy on one arm while in her other hand was a crumpled tissue.

"Wow. Are you dying? You look horrible."

"Have you been crying?"

"Hey, we bought you your favorites."