Love Without Boundaries - Chapter 24: Chapter 24

Twenty-Four
Three months had passed since that night and Vera could see Robert was slipping into a deeper depression. Robert only left his apartment for work and class; he rarely ever talked to anyone but Vera. She was the only one who knew why he was depressed. Every time Vera looked at Robert she could see the light in his eyes grow dimmer and dimmer with each passing day. She wished she could help him, she even tried to talk to Preston, but Preston didn’t want anything to do with him. Thanksgiving was coming up, maybe going home and seeing his sister and mom would put him in a better mood, Vera thought. She was lucky to have her apartment in the same building as Robert, who knows what he would have done without a friend close by.  When she got to Robert's apartment, she found him in the spare bedroom throwing darts. She didn’t think it was healthy for him to be throwing darts at his ex-girlfriend’s picture. It was barely recognizable with all the holes from the darts.
“I think it’s time for a new picture, don’t you think?” Vera said as she removed the darts and handed them to Robert.
“This is the last one I had of her, but if you can get me one of Grant I would be so grateful to you.” Robert replied as he threw the dart.
“I’ll see what I can do for you, so I was wondering if you wanted to go back home together for Thanksgiving. Such a long drive to do alone.”
“I’m not going home; I called my mom and Nora. I told them I couldn’t get the time off from work, and that I will see them for Christmas.”
“Bullshit, why don’t you want to go home? You can’t stay in this apartment for Thanksgiving, I won’t allow it.”
“I can if I want, it’s my life and what is it to you?”
“I’m your friend and I worry about you. I blame myself for what you’re going through.” Robert laughed and shook his head.
“You’re not the idiot who took the shot when he should have just lied. If I just would have lied, I would still be with Ann Marie and he wouldn’t be pissed at me right now.” Vera noticed Robert hasn’t said Preston’s name aloud since that night. She had been careful not to say Preston’s name around him; she knew it would just cause him more pain then what he already felt.
“Yeah and you would have been miserable being with Ann Marie, while you watch the love of your life with someone else. So what’s the real reason you’re not going home?”
“He’ll be there, I can’t risk running into him and have him just walk by me like I don’t exist. It’s better that I know he hates me for hurting his cousin then having him think I’m nobody to him anymore.”
“Fort Lauderdale is a big place; I doubt you will run into him there.”
“I met him before I was suppose too, so I think my odds aren’t very good.”
“With that kind of thinking they are not going to be, come on just go home and see your mom and sister. I know for a fact that Nora really misses you and you miss her. Maybe seeing your sister will put you in a better mood.”
“Vera I just can’t, I do miss them but I don’t think I could pretend to be happy for a week. I just want to stay here alone and wallow in my own self-pity.”
“Ok if you’re going to do that, then I’m staying. I don’t want you to stay here alone.”
“What you think I’m going to do something stupid?”
“No, I just believe a friend should never be left alone when they are in need of a good friend.”
“I really don’t have a choice do I?”
“Nope you don’t.”
“I don’t tell you this enough Vera, I just want you to know that you’re a good friend and I appreciate everything you have done lately. Without you here I don’t know where I would be right now.” Robert gave her a big hug and a kiss on the cheek.
“So what are we doing for Thanksgiving then?”
“Um how about we rent a horror movie and order a pizza?”
“Sounds great, but what is your dad going to say when you tell him you’re not going home for Thanksgiving?”
“The truth, I have a friend who I didn’t want to leave alone over the holiday. Remember my dad is cool with everything I do.”
“That’s true; well do you want to grab something to eat?”
“Yeah sure come on.” Vera was glad the old Robert was coming back a little at a time, in no time he will be back to his old self. The last three months have been terrible, she worried he was never going to come out of that dark hole he had let himself sink into. Maybe with time he will be able to tell Preston how he feels and things will work out for those two.
Meanwhile on campus, Preston was just getting out of one of his late afternoon classes. He was supposed to spend time with Grant tonight, but had to cancel on him again. He had a big project due before the Thanksgiving break and needed all the time he could get to work on it. He was going to spend another Friday night in the library, but he had to stop at his dorm to pick up some books he needed. Preston’s mind went to Robert, he had been thinking about him lately. He felt like he might have been too harsh on him that night. He thought back to that night, how Robert had such pain and hurt in his eyes when he told him not to ever talk to him. Then Vera has been telling him, he should talk to Robert. But he can’t, not with the way things ended between him and Ann Marie. Sure she had moved on, but he felt like he might be betraying her if he hung out with Robert. Maybe he should talk to Ann Marie and see what she thinks and if she approves he will go talk to Robert.  He wasn’t going to lie he missed talking to Robert. When Preston got to his dorm, he noticed the sock on the doorknob. Noah has someone over and normally he would not go in and disturb them, but Preston didn’t have time to wait for them to finish. He opened the door and said “I’m sorry I know I’m not supposed to come in when the sock is on the doorknob, but I need some of my books.” Preston heard two male voices and one really sounded familiar when he turned on the light and faced Noah’s bed he saw Noah and Grant in it. He couldn’t believe his eyes, how could Grant do this to him with his own roommate.
“Preston it’s not what it looks like.” Grant said as he got out of the bed using a sheet to cover himself.
“Really you could have fooled me, because to me it looks like you were just having sex with my roommate!” Preston yelled.
“Come Preston let’s just talk about this ok, look I’m sorry it just happened and it was just this one time.”
“I’m not going to talk about this with you, you’re a jerk!”
“You only have yourself to blame, if you just spent more time with me then maybe I wouldn’t have to go somewhere else to get a little attention!” Grant yelled back.
“Screw you Grant, I hope you and Noah have a nice freaking life together!” Preston grabbed what he needed and left. When he stepped outside all the tears he was holding back came rushing out. Now he didn’t have a place to stay. He called Ann Marie first to see if she could take him in.
“Hey Preston what’s up?”
“Ann Marie I need a place to stay.” Preston said through his sobs.
“Preston what’s wrong?”
“Grant cheated on me, with my own roommate and I just walked in on them. Then Grant said if I hadn’t been too busy to spend time with him, he wouldn’t have had to go somewhere else.”
“Oh my God what a jerk, but Preston I can’t let you stay with me at the sorority. We are not allowed to have boys stay overnight, even if they are family.”
“Where am I supposed to stay then?”
“Well have you asked Xavier?”
“No and you know why I can’t stay there, that witch of Cynthia will be there and she doesn’t like me.”
“Well do you have a friend you can stay with, just until you can get another dorm or something?”
“No the only friends I had just screwed me over! Whatever I’ll find somewhere to stay until I can call mom.”
“Look I’m sorry Preston; if I could I would let you stay with me.”
Preston was upset and he was taking it out on her. He took a deep breath and swallowed the huge knot that had been building in his throat.  “Whatever I’ll figure something out.” Preston hung up on her without saying goodbye. The only person he could call was Vera, but he was worried she would just push him away too. He didn’t have any other choice, so he called her and waited for her to answer.
Robert and Vera had just gotten back from dinner; and they decided to watch a movie. Vera dumped her keys and phone on the coffee table. Robert put in the movie while Vera made the popcorn. Vera heard her phone ring and knew it was Preston from the ringtone; this was the perfect chance for Robert and Preston to talk.
“Hey Robert can you answer that for me?” She knew he wouldn’t pay attention to the caller id.
“Yeah sure” Robert said as he picked up the phone and answered it.
“Hello” as soon as Preston heard that familiar voice he broke into a string of sobs. Preston hadn’t realized how much he missed hearing Robert’s voice until now. As soon as Robert heard the familiar sobs, he was certain it was Preston calling. He checked the caller id to make sure, and sure enough, it was Preston. He had been waiting for so long to hear his voice, but he knew if he was crying because something bad had happen and for the first time in three months Robert said his name.
“Preston what’s wrong, talk to me?” Preston said nothing but cried some more. “Please Preston tell me what is wrong?” Robert pleaded one more time. Preston didn’t want to talk to Robert; he was worried what he would do. He took a deep breath and calmed himself down to speak.
“I want to speak to Vera.”
“Preston just tell me what is wrong, did Grant do something to you?” Vera could hear that Robert was worried for Preston and knew something bad happen.
“Put Vera on the phone.”
Robert knew Preston wasn’t going to talk to him, so he handed the phone to Vera.
“Hey Preston, its Vera what’s wrong?” Preston knew Robert was standing right next to Vera, to hear what was wrong.
“Vera can you get away from Robert, I don’t want him to hear.” Vera didn’t think she could get away from Robert he would just follow her.
“Ok I got away from him, but why don’t you want him to know what is wrong?”
“I know he will do something if he found out what Grant did.” When Robert heard Grant’s name his face changed from worried to angry. Vera gave him the look to be quite or Preston would know he was listening.
“What did Grant do?”
“He cheated on with my own roommate and I just walked in on them. Now I don’t have a place to stay.” Preston started to cry again, he felt like such a girl for crying. When Vera looked at Robert to see what he heard. The look on his face said he heard everything and he was ready to do something reckless.
“Where are you I’m going to pick you up?”
“I’m outside of the library and don’t bring Robert, I don’t want him to know about anything that is going on.”
“Preston he is going to find out and you can’t expect him to stand by and not do anything. You may not talk to him anymore, but he still cares for you.” Preston knew she was right, but right now, he didn’t want Robert to see him like this.
“Please Vera just come alone.”
“Ok, I will be there soon.” Vera hung up the phone and looked at Robert.
“You can’t come with me.”
“The hell I’m not coming, that asshole hurt him and he is not going to get away with it.”
“Robert please, he doesn’t want you there. If you care for him, then respect his wish and stay here. I’ll bring him back but you are not saying anything about what he just said to me. As far as he knows, you don’t know what is going on. Let him tell you himself, but you are not to do anything to Grant.”
“You’re asking a lot from me, but I won’t go with you. However, I can’t guarantee I won’t go after Grant.”
“Fine whatever do what you want with Grant; just stop and think about how it is going to affect Preston. Now I’m going and I will be back soon. If Preston wants to see you then I will come for you, but if he doesn’t then you must respect his wish. Are we clear?”
“Yes, go I’ll be here.” Robert watched her leave; he did like the idea of him staying here, but if it’s what Preston wants then he will stay.