That night, Janelle laid on the couch in her friend's apartment, staring at the ceiling. Her face was tear stained, and her eyes were glossy, tears threatening to fall at the first thought of what had just happened only hours ago. Her phone, which was now on silent after blowing up with texts and calls from Joshua, she held loosely in her hand, trying to decide if she should call him back.

She didn't know what she wanted anymore. All she knew was that she wanted to feel loved. She wanted someone to hold her tightly as she cried for the man that she thought was the only person who loved her. She thought he had changed. She should've listened to everyone, she should've listened to Abby.

Yet, part of her still wanted to give him another chance. Who else on this earth could love her like he did? Sure, he wasn't perfect, but she believed that she didn't deserve anything better than that.

She shut her eyes, the sad truth coming coming back to her.

Joshua cheated on me again. He cheated.

A few tears streamed down her face, and she let out a gentle sob, hugging the blanket that she was using to her chest.

She felt so alone. Sure, she had Abby, but that was different. She needed someone, someone who would truly love her and be faithful to her. It seemed as if she was destined to be with someone like Joshua, someone who didn't care at all; and it broke her heart. She just wanted to be wanted. She wanted to be loved, for once in her life. Was that so much to ask?

Ryan woke up the very next afternoon at about three-thirty with a pounding headache, making him wish he hadn't had a few more drinks last night after what Abby had told him. As he laid in bed and stared at the ceiling, last nights events came back to him, causing him to remember how much he really, really hated Joshua.

Another thing he remembered was that he should be going over to Abby's to see Janelle. He quickly jumped out of bed, making his way over to his closet and opening it up, eventually deciding to wear black jeans and white T-shirt like usual.

He undressed as fast as he could, before slipping on the new, clean clothes. He went over to the mirror, brushing his hair and making sure it looked how he liked it, before leaving his bedroom, heading out into the kitchen.

Although he knew he desperately needed it, he'd skip coffee today. Maybe Abby would let him have some at her apartment.

He went over to the door and grabbed his leather jacket, which hung right beside it on a hook, and put it on before leaning down to slip on his favourite black boots. As he finished lacing them up, he heard his phone's notification ringtone in the other room.

Right, my phone, he thought to himself. He would've left it behind if not for hearing it.

He went back into the kitchen, picking up his phone from the counter and turning it on. Seeing that it was a text from Abby, he quickly read it.

Change of plans; Janelle went to work. I guess she decided to work the lunch shift.

He bit his lip, typing a response to her. He'd just have to go to the restaurant instead, no big deal.

I'll head to the restaurant, then. Thanks for the heads up.

He shut off his phone after sending the message, slipping it in the pocket of his leather jacket. He made his way over to the door, unlocking and opening it, before heading outside. He went over to his car, opening up the door and getting in.

Wincing a little as the bright sun made his head throb, he reached over to grab his sunglasses from the centre console, slipping them on his face. He ran his hand through his hair, starting up the vehicle and pulling away from his house.

As he drove to the restaurant, he began to wonder what exactly he'd say to Janelle. He wanted to be empathetic, of course, considering that the man she loved just did something unthinkable to her, yet, he still wanted to encourage her to leave him.

His main concern was how she was doing; he hated that she was going off to work after something like this. It was almost like it just helped her keep her mind off of it all, so she was overworking herself just to forget.

Ryan wished he could get her out of this life, and give her everything she wanted. She could leave her dead-end job and become a photographer. He could help her pay her rent, and most importantly, he'd love her, and be completely faithful to her. It was what she deserved, after all.

Ryan pulled himself out of his daydream as he pulled up to the restaurant, parking at the side of the road. He took a deep breath, opening up the door and getting out of the car. He took off his sunglasses, slipping them in his pocket as he approached the door.

When he opened it, he looked up, noticing that a dark-haired man was following Janelle, speaking to her in a pleading tone.

"Please, Janelle, talk to me.." he said. "It's a misunderstanding, I promise.."

"Joshua, please.." she looked over at him, running her hand through her hair, which today, she didn't have put up into a ponytail or bun. "I'm working."

She walked into the kitchen, and Joshua stuck his hands in his pockets, turning around. He happened to make eye contact with Ryan, who felt his blood begin to boil.

Every ounce of him was telling him to control himself. He needed to stay composed.

But when he saw Joshua smirk at him, it sent him over the edge.

He stepped over angrily, and Joshua stepped back, a surprised look on his face. Ryan lunged at him, taking him by the collar of his shirt.

"You stupid, cheating bastard!" He shouted through gritted teeth, pushing Joshua against the wall. "Who the hell do you think you are?!"

Joshua shoved Ryan off of him, before running his hand through his slicked back hair. "Funny, I was just about to ask you the same thing."

Ryan couldn't take it; this guy was an arrogant, cocky asshole, and only making him angrier than he already was.

He threw himself at him, taking fistfuls of his black T-shirt. The two men began to throw each other around, causing people in the restaurant to stand, watching them with horrified expressions on their faces.

Ryan was first to push Joshua to the ground, before pinning him down, beginning to throw punches at him.

"How could you?!" He Shouted at him, hitting him repeatedly, causing his face to become bloodier and bloodier with every punch.

Joshua suddenly gripped Ryan's wrists, flipping over so that Ryan was now on the bottom. He pulled his fist back, punching him straight in the jaw. Ryan gave him a sharp kick to the stomach, causing him to cry out in pain, gripping it. Ryan took this as a chance to get out from under him, bringing himself to his feet.

Joshua stood as well, before going at Ryan once again, grabbing a handful of his T-shirt. He threw another punch at him, and Ryan gripped onto his arm tightly, nails digging into his skin. Joshua threw him at the front desk, just before the manager, along with another male employee, ran into the dining room.

They both ran over, one man grabbing Ryan by the arms, and the other grabbing Joshua. They pulled them off of each other, although they both struggled to keep a grip on the angered men.

"What the hell is going on here?" The manager shouted, just as Janelle came into the room.

"Holy shit.." she gasped, looking at both Ryan and Joshua, her eyes widening when she saw how bloody the two were. "Ryan, What the hell?"

Ryan hung his aching head ashamedly. He had messed up, badly.

"You know these guys?" Janelle's boss asked her, causing her to nod. "What are they doing here?"

"I don't know.." she muttered.

"Do you see this mess they've made?" He motioned around the dining room, and Ryan looked up, seeing all of the people who were eating their food before, now staring straight at them. "If they're here because of you, that's a problem."

"Sir, I didn't know they were going to come.." Janelle swallowed, but the manager held up his hand.

"The three of you, get out of my restaurant."

Part of Ryan wanted to be a man and tell him that it was all his fault, but it was just as much Joshua's fault, if not completely. So he just stood there, silent.

"Sir, please.." Janelle pleaded.

"Get Out!" He shouted.

The three of them looked down, walking over to the door. When they stepped outside, Ryan looked up at Janelle to apologise, only to be slapped in the face by her.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" She Shouted at him.

He opened his mouth to speak, but she Interrupted.

"I never asked you to butt into my life like this!" She Said. "I don't know who told you about what happened.."

"So you're letting him get away with doing this to you?" Ryan snapped, looking at her with his green eyes intense.

Joshua reached out, taking her arm. "Jan, lets just go home.." he said. "We can talk, okay?"

Janelle glared at Ryan, before nodding at Joshua. "Yeah.." she muttered. "Let's go home."

She turned around with Joshua, beginning to head over to his Mustang. Ryan's blood was still boiling. How could she be going back home with him?

"Janelle, you deserve so much better than him!" He shouted to her as she walked away.

Joshua looked back at Ryan, the slightest hint of a smirk on his bloodied face.

Ryan clenched his fists, before turning around, angrily walking over to his car. He got in, slamming the door and pounding his fist on the steering wheel roughly. Fine. If she didn't want his help, he wasn't going to give it. She might've been amazing, but she was stubborn as hell, and clearly blind not to see that that idiot didn't give a shit about her.

Ryan swallowed, trying to compose himself. He didn't want to be upset with Janelle. She wasn't in the wrong, he was. It was stupid to walk in there and start a fight with Joshua. It only ruined all of the progress he had made in convincing her to leave him.

He sighed, laying his head back and shutting his eyes, trying to ignore the pain all over his body from the fight, not to mention the headache he already had before.

What now? He wondered to himself.

Even if Janelle was going to be stubborn about leaving Joshua, Ryan was still determined to get her away from him. He wanted her to know that she deserved better. But now? He had taken three steps forward and two steps back. He was stuck now, and if he hadn't been so foolish, he wouldn't be.

And now, what could he even do?