SJ's body is warm with Tom's arms wrapped snugly around her body. The sound of him softly snoring fills her ears and she smiles to herself with contentment. She wiggles the grip of his arms loose enough so she can turn around and face him. Tom lets out a groan and his grip tightens.

"No, don't go." He mutters, face scrunching.

"I'm turning around." SJ chuckles, finishing facing him.

Tom peaks an eye open and a tired smile comes to his face. "Oh."

SJ shakes her head as she curls into his chest. Tom's arms pull her as close to him as possible before his fingers brush up and down her back. SJ lets out a satisfied sigh and she'd give anything to stay like this. It's like they're in their own little bubble. It's just the two of them in his living room, curled up under a thick blanket, and it feels like the safest place there ever could be. There's no Arthur, no fighting, it's just them being together, arms around each other and legs intertwined. What would it cost to just stay like that?

Tom's alarm starts going off and both him and SJ groan. Tom leans over her and to the floor, grabbing his phone and shutting the alarm off. He leans back and is met with her stare. She looks almost timid, kind of like she doesn't really know what to do or say and there's this small part of Tom that almost finds it a bit comical. SJ's quick-witted but right now, nothing. She's looking at him and waiting for him to say something more and Tom is in love with her.

"'Mornin', darlin." Tom smiles and brushes a few strands of hair away from her face.

"Morning." SJ blushes.

"You stayed." Tom whispers and his face softens.

"I told you I would."

Tom shakes his head and a smile splits his face before he leans in and kisses her. SJ kisses him back and Tom can feel her smile against him and it's like he's moved an entire mountain. He's been addicted to her since day one and she couldn't care less. It's taken a lot but she cares now and it's the best feeling.

"Hey," SJ pulls away and she dodges his stare. "Um, thanks...for not leaving." SJ bites her lip and it means the world because everyone always leaves.

"I'll never leave you." Tom says and there's not an ounce of hesitance in his voice because he means it.

SJ can pull anything at this point and Tom wouldn't turn his back on her. He's not everyone else. He cares about her and he'll be right there even if she doesn't want him to be because no one deserves to be alone. He's with her through the good, the bad, and the ugly.

SJ's cheeks a pretty shade of pink as she kisses him again and she likes kissing him like this, not heated or needy. Just kissing him to kiss him.

"I've to get ready for work." Tom mutters against her lips. "What time you've to go in?"

"Oh.." SJ pulls away. "I got laid off for the week."

Tom's heart sinks as SJ tells him. "What happened?"

"I look like I get my face busted in every week and it's bad for business." SJ rolls her eyes. "It's fine, I'll be looking for a new job that doesn't give a shit because they'll be firing me for it soon but I'll get ahead of it. Been fighting for jobs forever, I can do it."

Tom's brows furrow. There's something not comforting with the way SJ explains it. Maybe it's the way she just...explains it like it's really not a big deal. He knows it's bullshit. She needs that money any way she can get it and losing a job isn't going to help that. But, she brushes it off and it only makes him question what kinds of jobs SJ has managed to have and get on short notice, how she's managed to get them.

"It's fine, really." SJ reassures.

"If you need something-"

"I won't." SJ shakes her head.

"But if you do." Tom states. "Let me know, ya?"

"Okay." SJ agrees. "Uh, can you take me this mechanic shop on Halstead though? Mikey works today and it's been a minute since I've been to the shop and it's not really out of your way. It's fine if you don't want to. I ca-"

"I can take you." Tom chuckles as he cuts her off. "I gotta get ready now then." SJ nods and Tom pecks her lips before getting up from the couch.

While Tom gets ready for work, SJ finds herself looking around his apartment. She isn't snooping or going through anything, just looking around. If it's one thing she respects more than anything, it's innocent people's privacy. But, his apartment already shows plenty. When she was here the last time, it'd been a rough night and she didn't really pay attention to anything besides the windows so now, she's really getting to look.

A few pictures hang on the wall and it breaks SJ's heart a little. One of them is an old picture. Tom looks to be maybe fifteen and he's surrounded by people SJ assumes are his family. Three other boys and a man and a woman. They all look happy and SJ still can't process why Tom would just give that up. Sure, people fake their emotions all the time, especially in pictures, but either they're all good actors, or they really were a happy family. SJ never had that and Tom should. He should go back to having that.

There are more pictures hanging, some of Harrison's family she'd guess. She doesn't know what made Harrison move away from them but he doesn't seem to have any major issues so maybe he just followed Tom. That's what she hopes anyway. There a few more with scattered people, maybe friends and maybe some family and it all just looks so damn normal. This is what a house looks like. There are pictures of friends and family framed and they all seem happy. That's supposed to be a normal family and for the life of her, SJ wants to know why her.

Tom had this whole other life and he comes here, gets mixed up Arthur, and now he's mixed up with her. Why her? She's grateful as hell for him but she doesn't get it. He can do better and she knows that. It's nothing to with her own self-esteem but what Tom deserves. He doesn't deserve someone who's been to hell and back a few times in only two decades. Maybe there isn't really a reason and SJ knows that, sometimes there's just not a reason as to why people choose the people they do. It's all emotions and chemicals but it makes her wonder. He's kind of like the sun and she's like a blizzard. She's grateful, so grateful she's not going to dare to ask him, but she wonders.

After Tom finishes getting ready, the two of them head out for their day. There's some conversation between the two of them as Tom takes SJ to the mechanic's shop but it's mostly the two of them listening to the playlist Tom has playing. His hand is holding hers while his arm rests on the center console and it's still peaceful. SJ's actually dreading for the short drive to be over because she knows the second she steps out of that car, she'll be thrown back into reality and it's gonna suck. Tom, he's thinking the same thing. But, drives do come to and end and the two say their goodbyes and SJ heads into the shop.

"Hey!" Mikey calls out as he looks up from the car he was working on.

"Hey." SJ nods as she walks up to him. "Sup?"

"Working." Mikey chuckles. "So, what time did you go home last night?" Mikey ducks under the hood and continues what he was doing.

"Jump to the point, why don't ya, damn." SJ mutters with the role of her eyes. "I didn't." She says.

Mikey turns his head, brows raised. "You.....really stayed with him?"

"Uh-huh." SJ nods.

"Okay," Mikey stands up straight again, grabbing the rag to wipe his grease-covered hands. "How'd it go?"

"He had this whole other life, ya know? I've been dirt fuckin' poor pretty much my entire life and I steal shit or scam it. It's what I do, ya know? But you look at him and his apartment and you see that it's just....so fuckin' nice and there are pictures of happy families and fuck knows I've never had that. And it's just....it's so put together. I dunno." SJ shakes her head after she's done rambling.

"He's fighting with Arthur. I wouldn't call that put together, Rocket."

"I would." SJ defends. "Arthur still pays him. He has money. I get the fuck beat outa me and all I have to show for it are bruises from hell, broken bones, bloody knuckles, and a week off that'll turn permanent soon."

"Okay," Mikey sighs. "So, what? You wanna know why chooses you or some shit?" SJ nods sheepishly and Mikey shrugs. "I don't know." He scoffs and it's not a sarcastic scoff, he's serious. He really doens't know. "Dude, I love you and you know that but fuck, you make it hard to like you sometimes. You're bitchy half the time and you're impossible when it comes to getting information. You're shady as fuck."

"Gee, thanks." SJ sneers.

Mikey just laughs. "No, listen." Mikey gestures a hand out. "You put that shit out there. You all but advertise it and he chooses you anyway. I don't trust the fucker but I'm not gonna trust a damn person who works for Arthur until they're not working with him. I don't know why he's choosing you but he is. You're looking for a reason to leave." Mikey states and SJ opens her mouth to argue but Mikey doesn't give her the chance. "Don't. Don't argue with me either because I know you. You're looking for a good reason to leave him because he's not treating you like shit and it scares you. Stop fucking him over, Rocket."

"I haven't fucked him over." SJ mutters.

"You made out with his best friend and you were planning on letting Arthur do whatever he does to? Kill him? Whatever the hell that bastard does. You leave when you sleep with him which is rude. You judged him from the very first time you saw him. You still haven't told him about Arthur. That's all fucking him over."

"You're not nice to him either, what's your excuse?"

"Fuck's sake, Rocket. You be happy with him and I, as your best friend, look out for you. I'm making sure he's not just here to fuck with you. It's my job but you're fuckin' into him so let yourself be into him. Matty's nothing bad to say about him so, I'm gonna be a dick but you should not be."

Mikey's rant catches SJ off guard. Mikey doesn't even like Tom but he's out here defending him, kind of. He's right, of course he is because Mikey usually is. SJ looks for a good reason to leave even when she doesn't want to and that's what she did. She convinces herself that she's not good enough and it'd be easier to leave Tom now, it'd be better for him. She doesn't want to and Mikey can see that and he's right. Which just means she needs to stay and she will because if Tom doesn't deserve something, it's her up and leaving for her own selfish fear.

As the day goes on, SJ sits on the conversation with Mikey, she decides that instead of not just leaving, maybe she can embrace it. Tom's been the one trying for weeks now so it's SJ's turn to return that. So, she texts him and asks him if he wants lunch and offers to bring it to him. The offer catches Tom by surprise but he takes up the offer. SJ offers to get him and Harrison whatever they want and Tom offers to repay her. Of course, SJ declines but Tom knows he can figure out a way to pay her back for the food.

It's around one when SJ shows up to Tom's work, a bag from Portillo's in hand. It's a simple gesture really and SJ is only there to drop off the food and head out before she goes to the gym for her shift but it's still nice. Tom fills with excitement for the full five minutes of seeing her and Harrison can't wipe the grin from his face. Despite the shit they're surrounded by, it just doesn't seem so bad for that part of the day.

But, as life would have it, not all good days must stay good.

Arthur saw SJ stop by with the food. He saw SJ kiss Tom's cheek, beaming and looking at him with soft eyes. Tom looks at her the same way and Arthur isn't an idiot. They both seem insanely happy despite what Arthur did. Despite SJ being the one to help. Arthur wants Tom to use SJ, get inside her head and maybe this really is the perfect way. He just needs to make sure.

"So, I saw Witter bring you and Osterfield lunch." Arthur says as he closes the door to his office.

"I was hungry. She was going to work." Tom holds a straight face, already bored of the conversation.

"She's just bringing you lunch from the kindness of her heart?" Arthur crosses his arms over his chest, his annoyance starting to show through.

"Yeah." Tom mimics his movements.

"You're not seeing each other?" Arthur gets to the point.

"Isn't that what you wanted?" Tom challenges.

"So you are?" Arthur affirms.

"Yeah, thanks to the burns on my back and the fuckin' crest on her arm. So, thanks for bringing us together."

Maybe it's not smart for Tom blurt out about him knowing about the crest but Arthur gets under his skin. Arthur thinks he's ahead of everything but he's not. And Tom is fed up. He hurt SJ, he branded her, and Tom is gonna make sure Arthur knows and he's not just going to back off and do whatever he says anymore. He'll try his hardest in the ring because that's the contract, that's his literal life on the line and Harrison's, but that's it. He's not letting Arthur control anything else.  

Arthur's nostrils flare with the remark. SJ told. "Watch your mouth, Holland."

Tom scoffs, gesturing his arm out. "Or what? Gonna be burn me again? Fuckin' go for it."

Arthur was so sure SJ wouldn't let her guard down. It's not her to just tell people things and she told Tom. If she told him about the crest, who's to say she didn't tell him about everything else? The crest is just the beginning and it's only a matter of time before SJ starts really talking, the one thing Arthur was positive wouldn't happen. But, arrogant people aren't always the ones ahead of the game.

"Go." Arthur says and Tom doesn't waste anymore time before heading back to his desk.

The second the door shuts, Arthur goes to his desk with an idea.

-----

Luckily, the one encounter with Arthur was it for a week. An entire week of almost normal for everyone. Tom and Harrison went to work and SJ would bring them lunch, she continued to offer even after Tom had told her about Arthur. In fact, he didn't really cross her mind after the second day and it became easy. Tom brought her lunch one day when they happened to have their lunch at the same time. It was a nice change and it was all just so normal. It's something SJ's never had but quickly grew to love and appreciate.

The fight took place over the weekend as it normally does and both SJ and Tom had their best fights yet. Neither of them took hardly any hits. Tom got hit good once in the eye and SJ twice in the ribs but that's it. They might be seeing each other but it's only proven to keep their heads in the ring, not on each other. With them really seeing each other, they don't have to worry. It brings out another form of confidence and competitiveness. Who can do better in their fight and they want to impress the other. Arthur's entire plan backfired and it's only the first week. But, maybe come the next fight, something will change.

Now, it's Tuesday and Tom's just picked up SJ from the gym. It's chilly but not too bad so the two had agreed to walk. It's always nice with the two of them walking together. It can be silent or they can never stop talking until they reach their destination. Cars are great and everything, but SJ and Tom prefer walking with each other.

Tom's arm is wrapped around SJ's shoulders, keeping her close to him and keeping her warm against the wind. A shared pair of white earbuds hang between the two of them as their feet meet the pavement of the road. SJ's house is coming into view and nerves settle in.

Travis never meets anyone. He only really knows Matty and Mikey because SJ grew up with them and went to school with them. It's just hard with people meeting Travis. They either ask too many questions about him or ask too many questions to him, both of which make SJ wanna burst at the seams. It's none of anyone's business but she does try to understand the curiosity. But, then again, that's what Google is for.

But, more anxiety starts to cloud SJ's mind as she hopes Travis will like Tom. Tom's face isn't horribly bruised this time. There's still tinting of yellow and blue in places but he had a good fight over the weekend, leaving his face nearly unscathed. If Travis knew how SJ met Tom, he'd flip. She wouldn't listen to a word he had to say, but she also wouldn't want to listen to it and always having to be at Tom's, while nice, isn't always the best. SJ likes his home but it's not hers and she hates intruding on Mikey and Matty but it's always that or having to make sure Travis isn't home. It's just gotten tiring having to hide Tom from her brother. But, if Travis doens't like him, it won't matter because it'll just make being at the house hell. SJ likes Tom so hopefully, Travis will, too.

"Who's that?" Tom asks, jerking his head towards SJ's house as they start crossing the street, her walkway to her house being only a few yards away. 

He knows Mikey, Matty, and Harrison obviously, but there's a man in a wheelchair and a person in a thick winter coat making their way down a makeshift ramp from SJ's house. Tom can only guess the man in the wheelchair is her brother which just raises a few questions he knows better than to ask. So, he just sticks with asking who people are.  

Travis is coming out with Mikey, Matty, and Harrison, all three following someone SJ never thought she'd see again. Her feet slowly come to a halt and her heart starts thundering in her ears. SJ's mouth runs dry and she can't decide if she wants to cry or scream. Tom is looking down to her, brows pulled together in confusion but her stare is set on the person standing at the end of her walkway, their eyes on hers. SJ's fists ball at her sides as she shrugs Tom's arm off of her and her fingers dig into her palms, almost enough to start drawing blood.

Everyone is standing and watching, waiting to see what SJ is going to say or do but all she sees is red. Pure, vibrant red. And it's written across her entire expression. It's Mikey's voice that pulls SJ from her thoughts of everything she wants to say and do to the person with the audacity to stand there with a gleeful smile, as if happy to see her.

"Grab her!" Mikey yells as he moves to stand in front of SJ's target and as the words leave his mouth, SJ's lunging forward.

Tom's quick and his arms wrap around her torso, pulling her against him as she thrashes around, trying to get his grip to loosen and Mikey is standing in front of the only person SJ will be happy to punch.

"Aren't you happy to see me?" The person asks and their voice is desperate, laced in genuine hurt that SJ is fighting her way to them to cause damage.

SJ pulls harder against Tom, pulling him with her but he's stronger and he's able to yank her back, arms flexing around her. "Let me go!"

"Rocket, calm down." Mikey says, voice level as he stands in front of the person, arms out to block you. "You're not gonna fight in the middle of the street."

"Why is she so upset?" The person asks and SJ can't fight the tears because they really think they've done nothing wrong and it hurts and it's infuriating.

"Really?" Travis questions, his voice full of fury.

"Let go!" SJ screams back at Tom and her voice almost breaks.

"Nah," Tom says, his breath hot on her ear as she fights against him. "You're gonna calm down and tell me who that is before I let go."

SJ should tell him. She knows he'll let go the second she tells him and she can do what she wants. Mikey can try and stop her but she's quicker than him. One good swing, that's all SJ wants. It's everything she needs right now so, SJ takes her chance and she has to tell Tom. A single tear falls and her voice breaks as she tells Tom who it is.

"She's my mom." SJ croaks and Tom's arms loosen from around her in shock.

His eyes are wide as he stares at the woman in front of them. That's her mom. That's the woman who abandoned SJ and her brother. That's the woman that verbally abused SJ. The addict who couldn't be bothered to give a rat's ass about her own children. Tom's blood runs of nothing but fire with looking at her and he almost wants to yell in her face, too but SJ is breaking free of his grip and snapping him from his shocked state.

"Hey, hey, hey." Tom says, regaining his grip around SJ after struggling for a foot. "C'mon, let's go inside." Tom's voice is hushed in SJ's ear but she's not hearing it.

"Why are you here?" SJ screams, pulling against Tom's arms. "Go back to wherever the fuck you've been!"

"I love you!" Her mom says and it is really like she means it. But, parents that love their children don't abandon them. They don't choose their addictions over their damn children. That's not love. It's greed.

"Bullhit!" SJ manages to pull at Tom and take a step forward. "Bullshit! You don't love me!"

"I made a mistake leaving!" Her mom's voice cracks and a few tears fall onto her cheeks.

SJ stares at her in disbelief and fury. If it were a mistake, she would have come back years ago but she didn't. She stayed gone and she never even bothered to call or send a letter. It's not like SJ ever moved. That house has been their house since before SJ was even born. Travis has grown up in that house his entire life. Her mom didn't not the address. She simply couldn't be bothered. She doesn't care and she's only showing up because she's low on cash or she got mixed up with the wrong people. Something but it's definitely not because she thinks leaving was a mistake or because she loves her children.

"No fucking shit!" SJ's face turns red with her screaming. "But we don't need you anymore so go away!"

"Please, Sarah-"

"Ahhh!" SJ screams and for a second, Tom's heart shatters as SJ stops fighting him.

Her scream is in frustration but it is broken. It's as broken as his cry for help and everyone else can feel the shatter of SJ with that one scream. Travis looks away, Mikey closes his eyes, Matty's eyes start to water, and Harrison has to cover his face with one of his hands. That's the scream of someone who's been shattered and can't be glued back together.

"Don't fucking' call me that!"

"You're my daughter!" Her mom cries out.

"So?" SJ argues and she pulls against Tom's grip again. "If I'm your fucking daughter, where the fuck have you been?" SJ's voice comes down to a disgusted tone and everyone freezes. First comes the storm, then the calm, then the hurricane.

"I-I...you've always been my daughter.If...if you needed me, I would have come back. I would have but-"

"Fuck! You're kidding, right?" SJ lets out a dry laugh and her lip starts to quiver. And then the broken screams start. "Where the fuck were you when I needed you then? When we needed you! You knew about dad! You fuckin' knew and you never came home! Ever! You left us to be on our own! I was a fuckin' CHILD!" Tears stream down SJ's face as her throat is going raw. "I needed my mom! And you. Weren't. Here! You never even sent me a birthday card! A letter? A phone call? You don't give a shit about me because you don't have to! Why would you have to give a shit when Travis does your fucking job? When dad was around? And where the fuck were you when Travis got hurt?"

"Juliet." Travis calls out, his voice calm but broken. "Just...please stop."

"No, Travis! This is everything you wanna say, right? Remember all those nights I stayed up crying either because mom was too fuckin' high to even know my fuckin' name or because she called me a slut and a waste of space? Or how about when dad would kick her out and we had to listen her cry because she was high as fuck and couldn't remember shit she did? What about when I had to stay up crying because she fucking left and the last thing she said to me was that everything was my fault? And you, you were the one that said she wasn't a good mom. She was shit. You said it first."

"I wish I would have been there for all of that and I'm sorry I put you through it. I am but I'm here now-"

"I don't fuckin' need you now!" SJ snaps her eyes back her mom. "I help with Travis now. I take care of myself now. I dealt with dad's shit with Travis. I did it all no thanks to you because YOU. WEREN'T. HERE!" It's a wail that comes from SJ's lips.

Travis sighs and he knows he needs to do something because SJ is crying in the middle of the street and that's his sister. They've been through hell together and regardless of why their mother is back and how he feels about it, that doesn't excuse the fact that SJ is losing it. It's SJ over their mom, SJ's the family Travis has.

"C'mon, we'll leave SJ alone, okay, Mom?" Travis asks and he moves in front of her. "We can get some food."

"I just want to apologize, Travis."

"GO!" SJ screams. "Leave! I don't want you here! Travis, please get her away from me!" SJ shakes with her words as they slowly slur together.

Tom changes his grip from holding her back to more of a hug. He can feel her losing her footing as she continues to scream for Travis to take her mom away. Tom's the only person keeping her on her feet until Travis manages to convince their mom to leave. They turn their backs and SJ's legs give out with her chest heaving and tears streaming down her face.

Tom holds onto her as he sinks them back down the pavement, his arms tightening around SJ. She buries her head into his chest, sobbing and gripping his jacket. Tom can hardly breathe with the lump that's taken up his throat and the crushing weight weighing on his chest. He never thought he'd see anyone break like that but especially not SJ. Tears burn the back of his eyes and he just wants to take it all away from her. Take away her pain.

Tom clears his throat, blinking the tears away and sniffling softly. "Hey," He whispers and his voice is gentle. "Let's go inside, ya?" Tom rubs her back, eyes soft as he searches for hers. "C'mon, I'll help."

With tear stained cheeks, SJ nods and Tom takes her hands, helping the two of them to their feet. SJ dodges the eyes of the other boys who don't know what to say or do. The only thing they know how to do is stand and follow Tom and SJ inside. Mikey and Matty might know SJ but Matty wasn't around when SJ's mom dipped and Mikey, he knows this is a bad, bad subject. He was there was she left and he remembers how SJ took it. So, he just follows because SJ won't talk to him. If she'll talk to anyone, it's the person she's crying to and he's hoping that she will.

Tom and SJ reach her room and Tom closes the door. SJ paces around and one hand is wiping her eyes while the other is balled at her side. Her stare is set on the floor but she's completely silent. Tom can't imagine what could possibly be going through her head but he knows it can't be good. If it were him, he'd be lost. And confused. But, then, SJ stops and stares at Tom before she just starts yelling. Most of it isn't completely coherent because she's just rambling so fast Tom can't keep up. She's not crying anymore or even looking like she might cry, she is just fuming from every part of her body.

"SJ, please, just....breathe." Tom tries.

"Breathe?" SJ tries. "I can't! That bitch just shows up and what? Now she wants to be the fucking mom of the year? She acts she didn't do shit!"

"I know." Tom keeps his voice calm and level. "I heard but, maybe you should sit down and just talk to me about it, okay?"

SJ pauses. She was set to argue. She doesn't want to talk. Talking isn't her strong suit and right now, right fucking now, she can't handle sitting down and talking about her mother. She's talked about her already and that was enough for her. Her mother now shows up and that's not a reason for SJ to open up that can of worms again. She doens't want to and she shouldn't have to. So, she does what she does best. She avoids it.

SJ closes the few feet of distance between her and Tom and cups his face. She brings his lips to hers in a heated kiss. Tom's hands come up to her shoulders and he kisses her back but only for a few seconds before pulling her away, his hands still on her shoulders to keep her at arm's length.

"What are you doing?" Tom asks and he doens't want to be her distraction.

"I don't wanna talk." SJ mutters as she goes to cup his face again and kiss him but Tom keeps her away.

"No. I'm not a fuckin' distraction for you."

"I don't wanna talk about it!"

"Then don't!" Tom finally raises his voice, not wanting to be the one yelled at.

"Fine! I won't!" SJ screams. "Kiss me! Please!"

"No!" Tom yells and he takes a step back, SJ's face falls immediately. "I'm not someone you get to fuck because you don't wanna talk about what's bothering you!"

SJ's jaw drops in offense. "Is that what you think you are?"

"You tell me!" Tom argues. "First time, it was because you were choked. Then it was because you didn't wanna talk about the fight and Arthur and whatever. Now, it's because your shitty fuckin' mum shows up. What am I supposed to think?" He doesn't mean it but he wants to SJ to see it. He knows he's not just someone to have sex with but that's what it seems like in this moment. 

"You're not just someone to fuck!" SJ's heart pounds and her eyes start to burn with tears.

"Now, you're gonna lie?" Tom questions. "Right now, I am."

"You're not!"

"Then what the fuck am I right now?" Tom asks and SJ stares at him with a clenched jaw and eyes drenched in agony and fury. She doesn't have anything to say because he's not wrong. "Yeah, exactly. I fuckin' care about you! I'm not gonna let you use me to make yourself feel better!"

SJ lets out a scream as she looks to the ceiling. "I'm not using you!"

"Then what?"

"I-I-I...." SJ huffs and she can't bring herself to say the right words because she's so pissed off and she's hurt that Tom is yelling at her. It's what she deserves because he's not wrong. She's not using him in every aspect but she does use him to avoid things that are bothering her.

Tom's face falls and he just stares at her with his eyes glossing over. He nods and looks to the floor for a second before looking back to her. "Really?"

"It's not like that." SJ whines. "Not like that, I...."

"You what?" Tom's heart is breaking in his chest. "What?"

"Can't we just drop this and-"

Tom groans and he shakes his head before running a hand through his hair. "No, we can't. We're not fuckin' dropping this." Tom walks for the door and SJ feels like her world is imploding on her. "I know you're not using me all the time. I know this shit is hard for you, okay? But I'm done being someone you use to fuck to avoid your shit. You deserve better than that. So, call me when you're ready to talk. I'm leaving."

"You promised!" SJ cries out and a few tears slip down her cheeks. "You said you wouldn't leave."

Tom turns the knob of the door and opens the door. "I know." He says. "I know I did." Tom turns around and exits the room, shutting the door behind him.