Love Without Boundaries - Chapter 25: Chapter 25

Twenty-Five
When Vera got to the library, she wasn't sure where Preston was. She called his phone to see where he was.
"Hey Vera, I'm heading your way." Preston said as he came out of the shadowy corner by library.
"Why didn't you wait for me outside of the library?"
"I wanted to make sure you came alone, I just don't want to see Robert right now."
"Ok I understand, come on I'll take you back to my place. The only thing is I don't have a spare bedroom. You're going to have to sleep on the pull out couch."
"That's fine, anything is better than going back to my dorm right now."
"So do you know why he did it?"
"He made it sound like it was my fault. He said I wasn't spending enough time with him. How is it my fault, this is my first year of college. Grant can't expect me to keep up with all my class work and be with him all the time."
"He is just being a jerk, screw him, you don't need him. There is a guy out there for you that will treat you right."
"I know and your right, I just haven't met him yet."
It took every ounce of control Vera had from telling Preston that Robert was in love with him. As much as she wanted them to be together, she had to wait and just let things run their course.
When Vera and Preston return to the apartment building, Vera knew that Robert was waiting in his apartment for their return. Vera led Preston to her apartment and let him get settled in, as soon as Preston's head hit the pillow, he fell asleep. This was Vera's chance to talk to Robert. When Vera got to Robert's apartment, he opened the door before she had the chance to knock.
"Where is he?" Robert asked.
"He is at my place and he is sleeping right now. He doesn't want to see you just yet; maybe tomorrow he will see you."
"Is he alright at least?"
"He will be, he just needs time to heal and some space."
"Ok I get the hint, leave him alone and let him come to me. Well then I'll just let you go and I'll see you tomorrow."
"Ok goodnight Robert."
"Night, Vera." Robert shut the door behind Vera and went to his room. He laid on his bed for what seem like hours before he finally went to sleep.
The next morning Robert woke up to the sound of someone knocking at his door. He rolled out of his bed and made his way to the door. When he opened the door, he was surprised to see Preston.
"Preston, come on in." Robert moved aside to let him in.
"Hey Robert, first of all I just want to apologize for the way I acted that night. I had no right to hit you or yell at you. I'm sorry I should have heard your side first and be the friend I should have been that night."
"Hey don't worry about it, Ann Marie is your cousin and it's just natural that you would side with her."
"Anyone ever tell you that you are too forgiving sometimes?"
"No, I only forgive those who deserve it. So to what do I own this pleasure of your presence at my door?"
"I needed a friend to talk to and you have always been good at listening."
"Yeah of course, do you want some breakfast? I can make us pancakes and bacon or unless you want something else?"
"No that would be great, can I help you?"
"Nope you're my guest, just sit down and tell me what you need to talk about."
Preston watched as Robert moved around the kitchen with fluid motion. He could tell Robert was no stranger to being in the kitchen.
"How have you been doing since that night?" When Preston asked Robert that question, he stopped dead in his tracks. He had tried so hard to forget that night, but when he said that his mind replayed the completely ugly scene. The look and the words Preston said still sat at the back of him mind. He didn't want Preston to know how depressed he had gotten after that night, so he lied to him.
"Um I have been ok, how about you?" Preston could see right through the lie, but he didn't want to pressure him into talking about something he didn't want to. He could only imagine it wasn't a good time for him.
"Um I have been ok, like I said I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it, it's in the past now. We are talking again that's all that matters, besides you don't slap very hard any way." Preston laughed and shook his head.
"I have never been able to hit hard, or at least that's what my cousins have always told me." Robert could see he wasn't ready to tell him about Grant yet.
"So tell me how has school been for you?"
"Um it's going great I love all my classes, especially my creative writing class. How are you getting along in your classes?"
"Great just a lot more work this semester. Well I wasn't going to ask this, but I might as well. How is Ann Marie?"
Preston thought he was going to ask him about Grant, he wasn't ready to tell him yet. "She's fine; she is actually seeing someone now. She looks like she is happy."
"That's good to hear, how many pancakes do you want?"
"I'll take three, thanks." Robert placed a plate in front of Preston and stacked the pancakes on it with bacon.
"You want something to drink, I have orange juice, milk or I can make coffee?"
"Orange juice please." Preston heard the door open and Vera walked into the kitchen.
"Morning guys, how did everyone sleep?" She looked at Robert while she said that. From the looks of the bags under his eyes, she could tell he didn't sleep well.
"Slept like a baby like always." Robert said. "Do you want breakfast?"
"Yeah sure, do you have chocolate milk?" Vera said.
"Yeah you know where it is, how many pancakes?"
"Three" Vera sat down next to Preston and whispered, "Did you tell him?"
"No, I'll tell him when I'm ready." Preston whispered back. Robert joined them at the table with just a glass of orange juice, Preston was wondering why Robert wasn't eating.
"You're not going to eat?" Preston asked him.
"I'm not hungry."
Vera gave him a look and said, "He only eats when he has too."
"Why?" Preston asked.
"Because ever since that night," Robert stopped Vera before she could say anything.
"Vera stop it, you're not my mom. So stop worrying about me." Preston still wanted to know why, "since what night?" Robert looked at Vera as if he was shooting draggers at her and turned to face Preston.
"I didn't want you to know, but that night I had everyone over and everything just went to hell. I had sunk into a deep depression and I haven't been eating or sleeping well." Preston looked at Robert, he hadn't noticed that he was thinner and he had bags under his eyes. His once bight hazel eyes were now dull and lifeless.
"Robert I didn't know I'm sorry, I should have been here for you."
"How could you have known that was going to happen, but don't worry I'm getting better."
"Then eat something and I won't worry about you."
"Fine I'll eat something." Robert got up and severed himself a plate. Robert took a big bite of the pancake and said "you happy now?"
"Yes", Vera and Preston said. Robert laughed, it had been a long time since Robert laughed and he felt happy too.
"Ok the real reason I'm here, I'm going to tell you something and I don't want you to flip out ok." Preston told Robert.
"Ok what is it", Preston was finally going to tell him.
"Last night I walked in on Grant and my roommate Noah having sex. He blamed me for him cheating on me and I broke up with him. Now I don't have a place to stay, hell will freeze over before I go back there." Preston took a deep breath, but he didn't cry no more. Grant wasn't worth crying over anymore. Preston looked at Robert; he had stopped eating and was about ready to break the glass in his hand. He had the look of a man who was beyond pissed and was ready to crack someone's head open.
"Robert, are you alright?" Vera asked.
"Yes I'm fine" Robert release the death grip on the glass and took a deep breath. Even though he knew everything; it just made it real coming from Preston.
"Where are you staying?"
"Vera is letting me sleep on her couch, just until I can figure something out."
"You should stay with me; I have an extra bedroom that never gets used."
"Oh I couldn't impose on you like that."
"Nonsense, I know for a fact that Vera's couch is not comfortable to sleep on."
"Are you sure I don't want to feel like a freeloader?"
"Don't worry you're not, when do you want to pick up your stuff?" Preston knew he didn't really have a choice, but to agree to stay with Robert.
"It will have to be when Noah isn't there. I really don't want to see him or hear whatever lame excuse he has for sleeping with my ex-boyfriend."
"Ok how about I go get your stuff?"
"I don't know, you're not going to do anything to Noah are you?" Robert had no problem with Noah his beef was with Grant.
"You have my promise I will not do anything to Noah, but if Grant is there I can't promise that."
"Ok I doubt Grant would even be there."
"Ok let me get ready and I'll go."
"Ok, but you're taking Vera with you to help."
"Alright" Robert said as he headed to his room.
When Robert and Vera got to Preston's dorm, they knocked to see if Noah was there. When no one answered, Vera used the key to unlock the door. They quickly got to work gathering and packing up all of Preston's things. About an hour had passed when they were done and Noah finally came back to the dorm. Noah stopped in his tracks when he saw Robert.
"Look I'm sorry I didn't mean for it to happen it just did, but it was just the one time." Noah said. Robert could hear the fear in his voice.
"I don't care nor do I want to hear it, we are just here to get Preston's things." Noah watched Robert hand Vera boxes to take to the car.
"You care a lot about Preston don't you?"
"Yes I do" Robert grabbed the last box and headed to the door but stopped when Noah spoke again.
"He's the one who you have feelings for but shouldn't?" Robert was tired of hiding his feelings for Preston.
"Yes he is and if I ever see Grant he is going to pay for hurting him."
"I had a feeling it was Preston, I could see it the night you had us all over. You know he feels the same way about you too."
"How do you know that?"
"Ever since that night he has slowly been putting distance between himself and Grant. I know he didn't see what he was doing to Grant but I could see it. Therefore, he came over here to talk and one thing led to another thing. That's when Preston walked in on us." Robert couldn't believe it; Preston was in love with him.
"Preston was walking around the apartment that was going to become his new home. He still was not sure about staying with Robert. What was Ann Marie going to say about him staying with Robert? Preston's phone rang when he saw the number he thought speaking of the devil.
"Hey Ann Marie what's up?"
"Preston why hadn't you called me, where are you?"
"I'm at a friend's place; they are letting me stay here until I can find a place."
"I thought you said you didn't have any friends but the ones that screwed you over?"
"Well it turns out I have two who were there when I needed them."
"Who are they?"
"Robert and Vera" Preston knew she was going to be furious.
"You still talk to them, how could you after what they did to me?"
"They didn't do anything to you, you just assume they we seeing each other but they are not. I was friends with Robert before I even knew he was your ex-boyfriend, so therefore I'm still going to be his friend whether you like it or not."
"Fine whatever, do what you want, I don't care anyway!" Ann Marie yelled and hung up on Preston. He didn't care for her attitude right now; the world didn't always revolve around her.