Honesty. (Part 2.)
#3 of I gave you all.
"What do you mean?" Vic asked hesitently, his smile fading.
Jack frowned "Ollie knows." He stated.
Vics eyes widened. "About us?" He almost whispered.
"About YOU." Jack answered. "he doesn't know about me. All he knows ais that you've been cheating on him."
Vic took a moment to think about that before speaking: "Wha...what did he say?" He had tears in his eyes now. "Is he going to kick me out?"
Jack sighed and buried his face in his paws, it seemed that he was also upset. "That's just it. That's what we thou...that's what we knew would happen eventually. He'd find out and leave you. But..."
"But...?" Vic insisted.
Jack looked up now, his cheeks were wet and his eyes red. "But that's not what happened. He...he said that he still loves you." He reached out and stroked Vics paw with his own. " He said...'I just hope he cares enough about me to tell me the truth.'" he pulled his paw away and leaned back again.
Vic didn't know what to say. He struggled to voice his feelings. "I...I don't understand, he should hate me. Why doesn't he hate me?"
Jack echoed Ollies words: "Apparently he loves you more than you love him." He paused. "A lot more."
Vic looked affended at this. "I DO care about him. I do." he sounded like he was trying to reassure himself. "I love him, I love him in my own way. Just...just not in the same way he loves me." He looked at Jack now. "And so do you! You're his best friend!"
"I know. You used to love him...in the same way he loves you. Why did you stop?" He suddenly felt very guilty. "Was it all because of me?"
Vics frown deepened. "Mostly. But not entirely. I've never stopped loving him, my love for him has never lessened or weakened. Only Changed. I used to love him as a...well a lover. But now, I love him like a brother. If it were up to me I'd never had hurt him like this." He sighed deeply "But the heart wants what it wants."
Jack now had tears running down his face. "And how am I..." He paused to stifle a shallow sob "To know that you won't abandon me? That you won't scurry off to the next man in line when your love for me 'changes'?"
Vic lunged forward and hugged him "I won't. My love for you will never change. I know it, I promise I'll never do anything to hurt you."
Jack softly pushed him away. "Words." He whimpered. "Just words. If you want to prove your love for me then you have to...we have do something we should have done weeks ago." He stood up, pulling Vic up with him "We have to tell him the truth."
"Bu-" Vics protests were cut short by a paw over his muzzle.
"No buts." Jack said sternly. "We're going to tell him the truth." He removed his paw "We owe him that and so much more."
Vics ears and tail drooped, he knew Jack was right. He nodded meekly and said; "How are we going to tell him?"
Jack thought for a moment before answering swiftly. "Tonight. My place. Eight o' clock. Tell him I've invited you both for a drink." He started to walk away. "It's best if we're both with him."
Vic stood for a second. "Tonight." He whimpered.
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Ollie was sitting on the couch when he heard the door open. He smiled when Vic called out; "Ollie, I'm home."
"Hello Vic. I'm in the lounge." he called in answer.
Vic walked in and looked at Ollie, his ears drooped slightly when he saw his expression. A happy smile masking his true emotions. Sadness, betrayal and love. He broke his own thoughts by speaking almost automatically.
"Good news, Jack's invited us over. He said we should be there by eight, if we want to make it we'd better start getting ready now."
Ollie groaned in response. "You can go hun. I'm not really feeling up to it." Vic whined at this answer.
He walked over and lay down beside Ollie. Pulling him into a spooning position. He nuzzled the back of his neck pleadingly.
"Please come Ollie, I know you're tired but it'll be fun I promise." He took to stroking Ollies hair. "Besides, we never go anywhere anymore."
Ollie sighed and relented, wordlessly getting up and moving towards their room to change. "Thanks Ollie!" Vic called after him. He whimpered at being forced to lie to him again, especcially when he already knew most of the truth. But most all, he whimped in the knowlege of what was to come.
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An hour later they we walking up the final flight of stairs leading to Jacks flat. Vic was getting increasingly nervous, he tugged at his fur with each step. Ollie, though none the wiser of what was to come was tired from the days work and weary from the events of the past few weeks.
They reached Jacks door and knocked, a few seconds later the door swung open and Jack welcomed them in. Leading Ollie over to a chair and let him sit down. Vic who remained standing just watched with agitation.
"Would you like a drink Ollie?" Jack asked.
"No thanks Jack. So...why the sudden get-together?" Came the answer.
"Um...yeah." His ears drooped as Jack sat on the couch opposite him. Vic, taking his cue moved over and sat next to him. "I...we need to talk to you."
Ollie leaned forward. Piecing it together. "I take it this is about you Vic?"
Vic nodded and started to speak, ignoring a warning glance from Jack. "I...I've been cheating on you Ollie." He blurted out. He didn't expect to see a surprised expression from Ollie because he already knew. But he saw something flash through Ollies face. It wasn't shock or disbelief, it wasn't even anger or calm acceptance.It was just something dying.
Despite all the evidence, some part of Ollie still held on. Held on to the chance, no matter how small, that It wasn't true. That Vic still loved him...Ollie felt that part of himself die.
And Vic SAW it die, he saw the pain he caused and so felt himself die inside.
It took a while for Ollie to regain his voice, ters fell from his eyes "...wh...who is it?"
Vic said nothing, only hung his head in grief. But he didn't have to answer, Jack answered for him. Snaking a paw out from his side and grasping Vics paw. He looked directly into Ollies eyes, Ollie immediately averted them. Tears pooring from his eyes.
"...Well, I uh...I better go." He stood up, trying desperately to stop his tears, but they just kept coming.
Jack and Vic both leapt their feet, still holding paws. "Oliver-"
"No." Ollie stopped him. "Please don't."
Vic tried now. "Ollie please. We never meant to hurt you so much."
"...but You did." Ollie was now struggling to turn the door knob while wiping the tears from his face.
"Please Ollie don't go. I still love yo-" Vic was now sobbing as well. Jack faring no better.
"No you don't." Ollie stated as calmly as he could manage. This hurt Vic more than anything, he expected shouting, arguing, insults. But not this, not this...coldness. "You never did love me."
He shut the door behind him.
_(To be continued.) _