Let's set each other's lonely nights
Be each other's paradise
Need a picture for my frame
Someone to share my ring
Tell me what you wanna drink
- Justin Bieber

TYLER

"Ty?" called Faith once we finally caught up with what happened in our life.

I lowered my mug and licked my top lip. "Yeah?"

Her expression turned a little sad. "I'm sorry for what I did to you before." She shook her head as if she was in disbelief. "I was heartless. I left without a word."

My neck felt a little tense. I was completely speechless, I had no idea what to say. It has happened roughly three years ago and I thought I'd be over it yet it still stung.

When we first met yesterday, I thought we would get a new start but now she was asking for my forgiveness. It got me speechless. When I finally recovered, there was only one question I had to ask. "What happened?"

Faith suppressed her lips tightly as she stared at the light latte-colored paint on the wall behind me. She slid her gaze back to my face and I could see tears in her eyes. "I thought I was going to die."

I stared at her. Wide-eyed and surprised. "What?"

She let out a deep sigh and when she finally spoke, she took me by surprise one more time. "I had colon cancer, Ty."

"When I first found out, I was scared. The doctor said it was stage III colorectal cancer and I had to have it surgically removed." Faith wiped away a tear slipping out of the corner of her eye. I was too shocked that I didn't do anything but sat there with my eyes fixated on her while listening to each word she was saying. "My parents were there, for the first time they actually were in the same room without fighting." She laughed humorlessly.

She used to tell me that her parents always fought and one day they were fighting on the way home. Her parents started calling each other's names and she broke down in tears in the backseat of the car. After that day, her parents agreed that it was best for Faith to live with her grandmother in Vancouver rather than stayed in Toronto and lived in an unhealthy environment at home.

I shook my head and stared at her in disbelief. "Why didn't you tell me any of this?" I knew I wasn't a doctor or anyone who could help her with her condition, but it sucked when someone you thought was your everything hid things, especially this important, from you.

She merely shrugged. "I don't know." Faith bit her lower lips as she dropped her gaze and stared at her cup. "I thought I was going to die and I didn't want you to go through all the pain of losing someone. I thought it was best to hurt you and made you forget about me altogether, I guess."

"Still," I argued. "After the surgery, you could've told me. I'd be there for you."

She looked up and smiled. "You don't know how hideous I looked." She took a sip of her coffee and put the cup back on the table. "I had to go through chemotherapy for a year. I lost all of my hairs, my skin was rough, all of my nails were black. I looked hideous, Ty."

"And do you think I care?" I frowned. "You were my girlfriend at that time, I didn't date you because of how you looked. I dated you because I had this happy feeling whenever I was around you. Most importantly, I loved you." I swallowed hard before continuing, "so why on earth didn't you tell me?"

She couldn't answer that. "I'm sorry."

* * *

AUTUMN POV

I had spent hours crying in the bedroom like I just lost my soulmate. It was true, Jess was more than my best friend, she was someone I had considered a sister. The fight broke something inside me.

I wiped my tears with the back of my hand as I walked to the kitchen. "I hope I have some ice cream." I opened the fridge and found none. "What a bummer." I kicked the fridge and regretted it immediately.

I was in no mood for going out. I didn't need to see a mirror to know that I looked horrible. My eyes were swollen and my hair was a mess. "Maybe I should just call a delivery." I was about to walk to my bedroom and grab my phone when I heard a knock on the door. "Who is it?" I shouted but no one replied. I tightened my ponytail and walked to the door. I hoped it wasn't the weird guy from across the hallway.

I swung the door open and was enveloped in a hug. "I'm so sorry. I swear I won't touch any drink ever again." It was Jess.

I thought I'd had no more tears left yet tears were rolling down my cheeks like a stream of the river. "Why are you doing here?" I asked her, still sobbing, once we pulled away.

"I want to apologize. I'm so sorry I was such a bïtch. I shouldn't have told them about you and Joe. It was stupid." I saw tears stained in her eyes and I knew she was feeling as bad as I was.

I gave her another hug. "I love you."

"I love you too!" She leaned down and picked up the plastic bag from the floor. "And I bought a peace offering." She pulled out a huge tube of Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough.

I literally jumped on the floor. "That's my favorite!!"

Jess smiled. "I know. Let's get some spoon and dig in."

I locked the door behind her and followed her to the kitchen. Jess has been here before, she helped me unpack my things on the first day, so she knew her way around. She picked up two spoons from the drawer and put the Ben & Jerry's tube on the counter. I joined her and sat on the stool.

"God, you're like my guardian angel. I was so pissed I couldn't find any ice cream in the fridge." I dug into the ice cream and ate a spoonful of Chocolate Chip Dough Cookie. It tasted like heaven. I moaned. "It's so good!"

"I still love the Chocolate Fudge Brownie," countered Jess. She put the spoon down. "Autumn?"

"Hmm?" I looked up and saw her looking at me with a serious look on her face.

"Why didn't you tell me about your breakup?" asked her truthfully.

I frowned. "What?" I had no idea what she was on about. "What breakup?"

"You and Tyler." One brow raised on her forehead. "Why didn't you tell me that you guys broke up?"

Now I was surprised. "We didn't break up. I mean, we had a fight last night but we didn't break up." I replayed what happened last night in my head and I didn't recall us saying anything about breaking up.

"Oh." Jess sat back and looked confused. I knew her for years, I knew what the look she was giving me for.

I put the spoon down and leaned forward on the table. "Jess, what is it?"

"I just—" She paused and bit her lips as if she really didn't want to say it but in the end, she was my best friend and she would say it even if it hurt. "I saw him with someone after you left."

I swallowed. "Who?"

Jess shrugged. "I don't know. She's blonde and quite tall." She flipped her hair on one shoulder. "But Colton knows her. I forgot to ask him." She fished out her cell phone. "I'm gonna text him now."

I didn't need to get the name from Colton, I could guess that it was probably his ex. I thought I was prepared but when the reply came in, it still hurt. I couldn't believe he went to see his ex after what happened last night and this morning.

"So what are you gonna do?" asked Jess once she saw tears in my eyes. Her hand went to hold mine and I was glad I wasn't alone.

"Okay," said Jess as she stood and grabbed her phone from the counter. "I have to go home now before Colton starts banging on your door. I promised him that I'll be on my way two hours ago."

I stood and followed her to the living room where she placed her purse on the table. "Yeah. You should. I'm not sure my door could hold someone like him."

Jess turned and narrowed her eyes, pretending to be mad although her lips struggled not to smile. "Are you saying my boyfriend is fat?"

"I'm saying your boyfriend is huge and he's a football player, god knows how strong he is. The lock on my door wouldn't last in ten minutes."

Jess answered with a giggle. "Do you want to crash at my place?" Jess looked at me with worries in her eyes. "I could kick Colton out of the bedroom and maybe we can have a sleepover like we used to have."

I laughed. "I can't let you kick Colton out!" Although the image of big and bulky Colton getting kicked out by a cute and tiny Jess flashed in my mind. "I'm gonna be okay. Don't worry. I'll find a way somehow."

"Are you sure?" Jess picked up her purse and walked towards the door. "I don't like the thought of you sleeping in a hotel somewhere alone."

I pulled her into a hug. "I'm going to be fine, Jess. Don't worry, okay?"

She pulled away and gave me a nod. "Call me?"

"I will." I gave her a reassuring smile and locked the door behind her. I leaned against the door and closed my eyes. "What am I gonna do now?"

I moved to the living room and grabbed my phone off the couch. I sent a quick text to Tyler, telling him to get home early so we could have a talk. I waited for five minutes but his reply never came.

♥

What do you think will happen, my angel? Do you think she will get drunk? Where do you think Tyler is? Any idea why he hasn't come back? Let me know in the comments!

♥
Thank you for your continuous support.
When TBNB ended, I thought I wouldn't write a second book, but some of you really love the characters and that inspired me to write this story. I published the first book for myself, to see how far it can go but this second book is truly for my angels. Those who love TBNB as much as I do.

Stay blessed!

Loads of Pizza,
Agatha
♥