I was never the type to let shit get to me, well, at least shit like this. Usually I'd lash out in anger, but I found myself hurt instead. This was exactly what I tried to protect myself from. How could I have let him get under my skin, into my heart? How the fuck did that mutt become something to me? Why did I lie to myself? I can't even bring any blame on the guy. I knew damn well how he felt about Chris, yet I let myself go. Who was I to think that I could ever fully win his heart? Such a fuckin' fool. I stare into the mirror, and sigh. I'd let my hair grow long, it was strange. Running my fingers through it, trying to figure out how the hell to style it.

Pushing it from one side to the other, I decide just to comb it back. I need to get this shit cut off, safety hazard. It should be fairly easy to avoid running into the damn dog. He would be following his captain as usual now. I throw on my jacket and slide into my boots. It was fairly nice out, so I decide to take my bike.

"Jake, this isn't really working out," Piers sighed, rubbing his hand over his face.

"What are you sayin'?"

I get in his face.

"All we do is fight."

"That's not true. C'mon, you know that's not true."

I grab him by the waist and pull him closer.

"Stop."

He knocks my hands away, and steps back. I look away.

"It's 'cause of Chris, ain't it? He comes back 'round, doin' his hero act and you're all for it, right?"

No answer. I nod my head.

"Just say that then. Don't try to lie! Talkin' 'bout some imaginary problem with what we have, when in all honesty you wanna go and be his again. Well, if that's what you really want, Piers go!"

"Jake…"

"Go," I yell, pointing to the door.

Tears well up in those hazel eyes, something I fought so hard against, now I was the reason. He walks out.

"and don't try to play victim, Honey. You wanted this," I scream at him, then slam the door.

I just can't keep my mouth shut.

The grocery store was busy around this time. I knew I shoulda gotten up earlier to do this shit. Well either way, it needed to be done. I was running low on provisions and I couldn't go starving myself. I hop off the bike and head inside. Grabbing a basket, I look around the isles a bit to pass time. Peanut butter, honey, apple jelly, all gets tossed into the basket, and move on to the next isle.

"Jake," I hear a cheerful voice call.

I turn around to look for the source.

"Oh my god, Jake your hair!"

The blond woman comes running up to me, her own basket swinging back and forth. It had been a while since I had seen Sherry Birkin. I smile.

"Super-girl, how've ya been?"

"Good. I can't believe you let it grow out."

Something about the look on her face made me question my decision to do so.

"Yeah , uh, Piers wanted to know how I'd look with it. Since I don't have pictures…"

I run my fingers through it.

"How is Piers? I heard he was back with the BSAA."

"Nah, you heard wrong. He's back with Chris, still not a soldier yet."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know you guys broke up."

Sherry wasn't too good at hiding things, I could see right through her fake sympathy. She was probably relishing in what she would call 'fate' or 'destiny'. This was more 'cliché' in my opinion.

"Yeah, well, I could never fill Chris' whatever…"

I just didn't feel like talking about it anymore, anger replacing the hurt feeling.

"If he loved you like he said he did, you wouldn't have to measure up to anyone."

I look at her. The agent's words stung, and made me question Piers' feelings for me. At first I believed I wasn't enough, but what she said made me feel like I never was anything at all. Was I just a stand-in? A convenient replacement?

"Yeah…"

"I can't believe he would do something like that to you. I mean he knows how hard it is for you to trust and let someone in."

She was only making me feel worse. I wanted to tell her to shut up, but my mother raised me to never disrespect a woman.

"Can we switch topics, I already feel like shit," I grumble.

"Oh, sorry," she peeps.

We spend the rest of our shopping trip together, catching up on the other's lives. After we check out, I walk her to her Jetta.

"Maybe we can hang out sometime."

Her smile was kind of contagious. I nod.

"Yeah, just give me a call."

Waving, I walk to my bike and drive home. Tossing my bag and keys on the kitchen table, I was distracted by the vibration of my phone. A text from Piers, it reads;

It's not fair.

What are you talkin' 'bout?

I respond.

Can you come over?

I read the message over and over. The fuck?

You want me to come over to Chris' place. . . I finally text back.

He isn't here. We got into a big argument. Please.

I sigh, and pace back and forth. Running my fingers through my hair, I read the message one more time.

I'm on my way.

Against my better judgment I snatch up my keys and hurry over to Chris' apartment. Parked in front of the building, I start to scold myself for being there. I almost start up the bike and go home, but Piers comes jogging over. My heart flutters. He hurries me inside. I feel like a kid sneaking into his girlfriend's house late at night. The door shuts and a sudden feeling of dread is born in the pit of my stomach. I shouldn't be here. Looking around, I have to keep from laughing, should have guess that Chris Redfield didn't have shit in his apartment. It was real simple, white walls, grey indoor/outdoor carpet, a grey couch, maple stained coffee table, matching TV stand, and TV. There was one lonely picture in a frame on the stand, I walk over and pick it up.

"That's Chris and his little sister, Claire. She is the one who saved Sherry from Raccoon City with Leon," he says over my shoulder.

I carefully put it down and sigh.

"Why the hell did you call me over here?"

He pulls my arm so I turn around. Leaning up on his toes, he plants a kiss on my lips sending a pain through my heart. He pulls away, but my eyes stay closed. He kisses me again, this time deeper, and nibbles on my bottom lip. I kiss back, taking him into my arms, laying him down on the couch, needy hands pulling off clothes. I shouldn't be doing this.

"It's in the bedroom," he pants.

Standing up, I make my way to the bedroom. I look around, the bed is unmade and a laundry basket over flowed in the corner. On the nightstand sat a bottle of lubricant. What the fuck am I doin'? Taking a deep breath I walk back out to the living room. I set the bottle on the coffee table as I sit back down, and he straddles my lap, pressing his lips against mine, arms draped over my shoulders. That doubtful feeling fades, replaced with old feelings and a need to feel him. I missed the fucker. He scoots back, tugging my boxer-briefs down to free my erection. Piers poured some of the lube into the palm of his hand and started to stroke my length. He then grabs my hand, and pours some into it. His lips meet mine again, as I finger his asshole. He moans and whimpers; his grip on my cock tighter now.

"I missed you so much, Jake," he whispers.

I move his hand away, and remove my fingers from his entrance. His breathing hitches as I ease him down on my cock. We fuck on Chris' couch until I cum inside of him, and he on my chest. I lie back as he retrieves a wet wash cloth to clean me off.

"Did you mean it," I finally speak up.

He stops what he is doing and puts the dirty rag on the table.

"I miss you every day. Things with Chris aren't the same and he absolutely hates that I was with you. While we were fighting he said he didn't even want to touch me anymore."

He couldn't even look at me, tears welling up in his hazel eyes.

"Then why are you still here?"

I grab his hands, trying to catch his gaze. He shakes his head.

"I shouldn't have asked you to come here. This was a mistake."

Piers pulls away from my grasps. I laugh, gathering my clothes.

"Right, we were just a mistake. Everythin'. All of it. Fuck you, Piers."

I throw the clothes on and storm out. He doesn't even come after me. I zoom home and jump in the shower. Wrapping a towel around my waist, I hear my phone ring.

"What," I answer.

"Oh, I'm sorry did I bother you," a small voice peeps over the line.

"No, I'm sorry, Super-Girl, I just got out the shower. What's up?"

"Well I wanted to know if you could come over to watch a movie or something."

"Sounds good, be there in twenty."

I knew where this was leading, but I needed to get my mind off of Piers. I hated being this weak. It was late and the temperature was cooler so I take my Challenger instead. The Weeknd's Same Old Song blaring through the sound system. Not really the best choice of song, I skip through songs on my iPod, everyone coming up reminding me of the guy. Fuckin' piece of shit, wasn't sure if I was directing that to the thing or myself for a minute. I keep skipping through, finally something comes on that I can just vibe to; The Longest Text Message by Childish Gambino.

A bitter and angry rap song about a shitty relationship, it matched my mood. Sherry lived in a nice high rise apartment further up north, and speeding down the expressway helped remedy some of my frustrations. I pulled into to her building's parking garage. I park in her guest spot. The doorman looked me over, the look on his face was asking for a beating, but I pushed the urge down.

"I'm here to see Sherry Birkin. She should be expectin' me," I say as nicely as I can, which isn't nice at all.

He scowls and picks up a phone receiver.

"Ms. Birkin, a gentleman is here for you. Shall I send him in?"

This snot nosed motherfucker was just askin' for it. He hangs up and glares at me again.

"You gonna buzz me in or what, Jingles?"

He does just that and I walk in. The place's lobby looked like what I imagined a high end hotel's would look like, and the elevator walls were covered with mirrors. I grin at the thought of what could be done in here. When I reach her floor, I make my way to her apartment. She answers the door in a low cut white top, no bra, and grey yoga pants. Sherry didn't have on make-up, her short blond hair still dripping wet from a shower. If I didn't know better I would accuse her of trying to seduce me. Hell, maybe she was. She smiles at me as I walk in.

Her apartment was big, with a nice view. A 42in TV sat in front of a white sectional sofa, a glass coffee table between them.

"Nice place ya got here," I say removing my shoes, before plopping down in the corner of the sectional.

"Thanks, Leon helped me get it."

Sherry disappears into the kitchen and returns with an ice cold beer. The woman knew what I liked.

"I have a pizza in the oven too."

She was trying hard, but she really didn't have to. I wrap my arm around her shoulder and pull her close as she put on a horror movie. It was twisted I thought, but she loved the damn things. We finish up the pizza and spent the evening joking around and watching more horror films. She turns to me and kisses me. I carry her to bed and we fuck. She claws at my back and screams my name, I feel numb. We come, and she cuddles onto me, I just lie there staring up at the ceiling fan as it spins.