"Yes. We should talk," she said back to me, shuffling into a seated position. "Can I start?"

Her eyes were puffy, the whites tinged with red as she stared at me, solemnly. "Go ahead," I whispered, turning my gaze away from her. I had my speech prepared, but I could push it back. Especially if she had been thinking about it.

"I'm sorry," she started, taking me by surprise, causing me to look back at her. "My reaction was uncalled for and I really should be more supportive if this is what you want to do. But I also think you're making a mistake to just quit on something because it is hard."

I went to speak, but she held a hand up.

"But I'm happy to let you do that if it's what you want. What does upset me more though and that I'm not ready to forgive you on is that you said you've been feeling like this for a while. You never speak to me about how you feel about studies. I hate that you shut me out." She finally went quiet, giving me my turn to process her words before I spoke.

"I don't want to upset you which is why I don't say anything."

"Things are bound to upset me at some point. Look at us right now. Would the pain you caused me back then when these feelings first started really hurt me more than this big fight we've just had?"

"I guess not," I mumbled. "I'll try better."

She sighed, wrapping her arms around her knees. "What did you want to talk about?"

"I wanted to tell you that firstly I am sorry for not telling you sooner. If I had opened a conversation earlier, then yes we wouldn't be in this mess. But the reason I don't talk to you is because... well... Lily, you're not the easiest person to talk to."

She looked at me, eyes pained, brows furrowed. "What does that mean?"

"You have always had this idea of life you wanted. A clear pathway and goal. And that got messed up by the first pregnancy but then that ended. And then I came into your life. And a part of me thinks that you're still trying to live that perfect plan and accommodate where need be... but you never accommodate that role of the man you want. I will never be the perfect, academic, educated guy."

"I don't--"

"Let me finish. Please."

She nodded, jaw setting slightly as I watched the anger begin to grow on her face.

"I know you know that I am not that person. You know me better than anyone. But I think a small part of you is still upset your life didn't go how you wanted it to and you take that anger out on me by telling me what I can and can't do and it's unfair."

Her breathing was loud and obvious for some moments as she took some steady breaths, but she managed to calm herself. "Are you trying to make me sound like I'm a jerk?"

"No. I'm just saying... whether you plan to do this or not, the fact you don't let me do what I want to do to be happy makes me feel like I don't belong in your life. And I want to belong in your life. But not at the cost of my happiness."

Her eyes softened as she stared at me, not saying anything for a long time. Nonetheless, I could see her brain turning as she mulled over my words. Eventually she gave a small nod. "I suppose you can always go back to uni one day if it is what you want."

"Exactly. And it's not like I'm dropping out to go start a band or my own business with no promise of success. It's actually a well-paid job. It gives me a chance to consider what I want to do with my life while I make money for our family. Is it the path that I would have wanted for myself? Maybe not. But I do think I'll enjoy it and I do like that it will provide stability."

"It just seems like hard work."

"Study is harder for me. And less fun."

"And what about the long hours?"

"I guess I will be the one taking the morning shifts with the babies while you catch up on some sleep."

She let out a deep sigh then rested her head on my shoulder. "Why do we fight all the time?"

"Because our relationship is worth fighting for."

"You think that's it? It's not that maybe we don't match?"

"I refuse to ever think that."

"Why?"

"Because I'm so madly, and desperately in love with you, Lily."

She pulled back and gave me a small sad smile.

Then a thought came to me. The best way to lighten her eyes and move on from this situation. "Do you want your birthday present early?"

Just as expected, her eyes went wide and she grinned. "You got me a birthday present? What?"

"Of course I did."

"Why do you want to give it to me early?"

"Because I think you need something nice to lift your spirits these days."

Doing her best to not smile any harder, she pressed her lips together and tried to remain serious as she said, "Then please give it to me now, Mr Peterson."

I gave her a quick peck and got out of bed, opening the wardrobe and reaching up for a small box tucked up there.

"Now I get to see your secret hiding spot. I didn't see any purchase from the bank account," she said.

"You've been checking my bank movements?"

"I check the accounts to pay bills."

I shook my head and took out the smaller box inside that box, doing my best to conceal it as I came over to the bed. "I saved my cash over the past six months from every time I took money out."

"You didn't."

"I did."

"Where did you hide it?"

"In the same box."

"Cory Peterson... you're keeping secrets from me?"

"It's a good one." Sitting down on the bed next to her, I brought the little box around in front of me, handing it over to her.

She accepted it gently in her hands, brushing over the velvety exterior. "Jewellery?" she asked, meeting my eyes.

"Open it."

Biting her lip, she slowly pried the small box open, eyes melting as she looked at the contents inside. "Oh Cory, you shouldn't have."

"Yes I should."

She looked up at me, eyes swimming with tears. "Will you help me put it on?"

I nodded, grabbing the box from her and pulling out the delicate chain. Gently brushing her hair to the side, I wrapped the chain around her neck and fastened the clasps together, not moving away until I grazed my lips over the hollow beneath her jaw before pulling back to look at her.

"Do you like it?" I asked, feeling slightly nervous.

"I love it." She looked up from the pendant which she had been admiring up into my eyes. "The gem is the same shade as your eyes."

"That is why I picked it," I mumbled, averting my gaze as I ran a hand through my hair.

"I hope our babies get your eyes."

I looked back to her instantly. "No. They need to get yours."

She shook her head. "Nope. I want two blue-eyed babies."

Reaching across the bed, I grabbed her, pulling her on top of me as I fell onto the bed. "Well how about for now you just have me."

Pretending to think about it for a moment, she finally giggled, "Okay. I'll settle for you and your eyes for now." Then she leaned down, her brown locks forming a curtain around us, breath warm against my skin until she pressed her soft, sweet lips against mine.

So I accepted the job and in the following week withdrew my university application, just before census date, which meant I didn't have to pay this semester thankfully. Nonetheless, I did have a year of studies I would now have to pay with my income going over the repayment threshold. Yet the amount each week was marginal. And it was at times like these that I was glad I lived in Australia where we have HECS debts.

After signing all the paperwork the following Friday and clocking out for the day, I decided to drop by the school to pick up Jojo and see if she was feeling better. I sent her a quick text before I took off in my car in the hopes she'd see it in time before getting on the bus.

When I pulled up, she was sitting on the garden bed wall at the front of the school, head turned down, makeup laid on thick, blonde hair vibrant. Looking over her shoulder, I saw Mikey and his friends laughing and jeering. And I couldn't help but also notice Mikey had his arm around another girl.

That jerk.

I parked my car and got out, heading over to my sister, eyes glued on the prick.

"Hi Cory," she mumbled as I got in hearing distance.

My eyes turned back to her. "Hey sis." I wrapped my arm around her as she got to her feet.

But as we turned to head to my car, Mikey called out, "Is the only person who will love you these days your brother, Jojo?"

Oh he did not.

I dropped my arm from my sister and her eyes went wide. As I spun around, eyes zeroing in on the blonde-haired buffoon, Jojo grasped my arm, trying to hold me back. But it was to no avail.

Taking long strides, I grabbed Mikey by the scruff of his shirt, pulling him close to me until his face was inches from mine. "What did you say to her?" I spat.

"N-n-n-nothing, Cory," he stammered, eyes wide in fear.

I lowered him down, hand still on his shirt. "You leave my sister alone, do you understand? It's already bad enough that you broke her heart. You don't need to be a dick about it. Just because she's better than you."

He nodded and so I let him go, walking away a smug smirk on my face as I felt satisfied. That is, until he felt the need to comment again. "Seems the bogan trait runs in the family," he muttered in a quiet voice, but not quiet enough.

And that did it.

"Are you fucking serious, Cory?" Lily shouted at me as I sat on the couch, staring at my knees like a little boy in trouble. "You can't punch children. You are so lucky that his parents didn't take this further. You are an adult so act like one. Is this what you are going to be like when we have kids?" She continued to ask questions that I was not to answer, and I continued to take the jabs and insults while she got it out of her system.

Finally, with a deep sigh, she sat down next to me. "Wish I got to do it though."

And that was all it took for a grin to break out on my face. "You wish you punched Mikey?"

"Oh how I'd like to teach him a lesson..."

Laughing I snaked an arm around her waist. "I love you, Lily."

She smiled and looked into my eyes, brows raised slightly to challenge me. "I know."

"You know?"

"Mhmm."

"Not going to say it back?"

"Nope. Not until you earn it."

"And how might I do that?"

She shook her head and shuffled out from my hold. "How is Jojo though?"

"Not good... She seems so lost and I don't like the new look... It feels like a desperate call for attention. His friends and her friends were the same and they've all taken Mikey's side in the breakup so now she's alone."

"She needs to make other friends. Is there some club we can take her to on weekends?"

"Maybe... I'll talk to her again and see if we can figure something out." I grabbed Lily's hand in mine, and sat in silence with her for a while, rubbing circles into her palm. "Big test next week. How are you feeling?"

She shrugged and pulled her hand from mine. "It is what it is. I'll worry when there's something to worry about." With that, she got off the couch and began to assemble dinner, yet as I studied her, I noticed the little crease between her brows remained. She was bottling up her fears again. And I so desperately wished I could take them all from her.