60. "I Love You" (In Pink)

Sky.

✙ ☠ ✙

"Get out." Anthony says weakly.

"Not a chance."

"This is illegal." He says listlessly as he leans against the wall. He eats a spoonful of his ice cream.

"You need to stop feeling sorry for yourself. Chase is seriously hurt because you won't forgive him for something so stupid. He lied to you and it wasn't right, but come on! Anyone can see that you both miss each other and want nothing more than to make up so grow some balls and talk to him!"

"Why are you saying all this? You wanted him all for yourself, right? Now you have him."

"Are you that dense? Chase and I aren't like that! He's been trying to tell you that for weeks but you won't pick up your fucking phone to hear him out! He's a great guy and he deserves to be happy."

"And I refuse to be someone's second choice. I have self respect!"

I hold up Anthony's ice cream. "You call this self respect?"

"Give that back." He mutters.

"You're not his second choice." I put the ice cream on a table in the hallway.

"Chase used to have feelings for me but that's over now. And I've never seen him so in love as he is with you. So cut the bullshit. You're scared he's going to hurt you but.." I think of what my mom said.

"There's no avoiding that."

He looks at me angrily.

"There's no way to not get hurt in a relationship. You just have to believe you're strong enough to make it out."

Anthony looks away, his arms crossed.

"Or do you want to spend your whole life alone because you're scared to put your heart on the line?"

He doesn't say anything. He has nothing to say cause he knows I'm right.

"Yes, I care about Chase. But the way you guys are together.." Anthony shakes his head. "It makes me sick." He looks into my eyes.

"What you did to him is wrong on so many levels. Why anyone allows you to be around him is beyond me." There's judgement in his eyes.

"Fine. I'll take that. Say what you have to say. Just don't take your anger at me out on Chase because he doesn't deserve any of this."

Anthony and I share a long glance. He looks like he's changed his mind.

"Get dressed. We're going to a wedding." I head for the door.

Anthony sighs. "I don't have anything to wear." He says listlessly.

"Yeah, I don't believe that. I'll wait in the car." I walk out the door.

× × ×

15 Minutes later and Anthony comes out of the house wearing a light blue tux. His hair is perfect and his face looks less dead. It's like magic. I shiver and start the car.

He sits in the passenger seat and closes the door. I kick the pedal and drive as fast as I can.

"I don't like you." He says bluntly.

"Well, that's harsh."

"I'm not kidding. Maybe everyone else is cool with what you did, but I'm not. And just the fact that you gave me a little pep talk and seem to have even a tiny heart isn't going to change that. Nothing's going to change what you did to him."

I'm weirdly relieved hearing him say this. If this is how he's going to be with everyone in Chase's life then that means that Chase will always be safe. Because he'll always have someone looking out for him.

"Okay." I say way too cheerfully.

"What, you're not gonna try to change my mind?"

"Nope."

Anthony crosses his arms.

"You know Chase and I will always be close, right? Nothing's gonna change that." I say after a while.

"I know." Anthony sighs as he stares out the window.

It seems we have an agreement. He can hate me all he wants so long as he doesn't become between me an Chase. Works for me.

We finally pull up to the church only five minutes late.

We get out of the car and go inside the building.

I check my dressing room but Chase isn't there anymore. Guess he went back to Aron.

"He's in there." I point to Aron's dressing room.

Anthony heads in the direction of the door.

"Oh, Anthony." I grab his arm and pull him aside.

His eyebrow twitches as we make contact.

"What?" He says annoyed.

I know this might be unnecessary since my instincts tell me Anthony is okay, but still. Better safe than sorry.

"Look, I get that you're young and you might be new to this whole relationship thing," I lean against the wall behind Anthony.

"And I'm not saying Chase is a saint but if you ever pull this shit again.." I make sure he looks at me as I say this.

"You're dead."

Anthony is too stunned to speak.

I pat his shoulder and go into my dressing room.

Chase.

✙ ☠ ✙

After trying to calm bridezilla for all of fifteen minutes I go into the hallway to apologize to Sky. I really didn't want him to see me like that. Especially not today.

As I look into the hallway my heart skips a beat because leaning against the wall next to Sky's dressing room is Anthony.

I blink a few times to make sure he's really here.

He seems to be talking to himself. He's fumbling with his fingers and he looks really nervous.

"Ant?" I say.

His head shoots up and his eyes lock with mine.

"Hey." He says quietly.

I walk over to him. "What are you doing here?" Maybe he's here for Aron. They really hit it off when they met.

"Sky brought me."

I'm confused and surprised as he says this. Why would he?

"As it turns out, he's not as selfish and asshole-ish as I thought he was. He practically begged me to come here. For you."

He seems so unsure. He's not confident and fierce like he normally is.

"Ant, I'm so sorry about everything—"

"I know you are. I read all your texts. And your emails. And your letters. And I listened to all fifty three voicemails." Anthony frowns as he says this.

Then he smiles. "I guess I was wrong about you and Sky. Sometimes it's just hard to believe you actually like me."

"Are you joking? You're the one dating down!"

"You have no idea how amazing you are. You've been through so much and you're still here, effortlessly putting your heart on the line. You teach me to be open. To be vulnerable."

"I'm the lucky one." Anthony adds.

I'm overcome with joy and relief. I fly into Anthony's arms and I feel so happy to finally hold him again.

I can't believe he's back. I really thought we were through forever. Even when we were together I wondered how long it would last because it just seemed like a dream to me. Too good to be true and now he's back.

"Don't ever leave again." I say as I squeeze him to bits.

"Ow! Ow, Chase!"

I chuckle and let him go.

"I came in blue. Thought you might like it better than my pink suit." Anthony smirks.

"No! I love you in pink! All that stuff I said last time was so stupid! I just want you to be who you are. I was an idiot for trying to change you."

Anthony smiles brightly and my heart skips a beat. His smile washes away any sadness in just an instant.

I press my lips to his and he wraps his arms around me. I feel like I'm floating. And the joy that has been gone for weeks re-enters my body more suddenly than any drug or drink.

Sky.

✙ ☠ ✙

I feel calmer than ever. I was nervous before but now I just feel calm. It seems like everything's falling into place at last.

Chase bursts into the dressing room so suddenly it startles me.

"You scared the shit out of me!"

"You! You.." Chase looks so happy, it makes my whole day. All I ever want is to see him smile. And now he's grinning from ear to ear.

Chase flies into my arms.

I laugh and embrace him. He doesn't even say anything. His gratitude radiates off of him.

"So,"

I pull away. "I guess this means everyone's ready, right?" I smile.

"Absolutely." Chase smiles.

Harry burst through the door with twice as much energy as Chase.

"Can you guys stop doing that?!" I exclaim.

"Sky!" He pants.

"What? Just breathe, Harry."

"I can't!"

"What is it now?" I say annoyed.

Harry takes another few deep breaths.

"Aron wants to cancel the wedding."