Giving up (Skye, Open Tags)

[findingnemo]

The moment Nate opened his mouth telling him to shut up, Nero's eyes flared with anger. Was this wigger being serious?

"Excuse me but it has everything to do with me. Skye is someone I care about... you need to get straight and tell her how the fuck you feel about her before things get too out of hand." he told Nate angrily. "She likes you, asshole, can't you see that?" he asked running his hands through his colorful hair.

He then saw him walk up to Ana and lifted the other brow to match the other one. Concern on his face. Hello, jealousy. He wanted to go over and deck him right then and there but... he kept his cool.

When Skye started talking to Ana he lifted a brow. What was Skye doing? He was pretty much in the same boat as Ana in her thought of this complete 180 she did in her attitude toward Ana. What was she trying to do? Was she trying to be nice on purpose or was she being nice because she just didn't want to look like a bitch to his girlfriend. Which... seemed to fail miserably by the look on Ana's face.

He grabbed Ana's hand gently and pulled her slightly.

"Hey." he said finally.

He was in this position where he had no clue what he was doing at the moment, either. He was there to protect Skye no matter how much she'd put him through hell. The fact that she needed him would always remain and he would always be there for her. But when it came to feelings for her... they were gone. And the last kiss proved it all. He looked into Ana's eyes, apology written all over his face... sincerity in his eyes. He needed to let Ana know that he was only there to protect Skye... nothing more and nothing less.

"Don't leave." he whispered to Ana, her hand in his.

When Nate started in on Skye again he felt the need to jump in but wondered if he should just let him get his side of the story out. Maybe Skye was missing something after all? But he didn't know. All he got was Skye's side of the story and, to him, that was good enough.

"Whoa... chill out for a minute." Nero said to Nate. "Your tone needs to go." he told him as he looked from Nate to Skye. "And before you tell me to shut up again you might wanna think about that." he said. "Skye is someone I care about... she is my responsibility for God's sake... and I still feel the need to protect her from anything or anyone that might hurt her." he said. "More than I did." he said and looked at Skye. "She thought you were flirting with Ana... hell I thought you were flirting with Ana..." he said looking at Ana. "Who wouldn't? She's fucking gorgeous." he said and then looked back at Nate. "But you need to realize how the way you act looks to other people... give a shit about how other people think sometimes, would you?" he asked the guy. "If I didn't have a little self control the moment you started talking to Ana I might have beat the shit out of you..." he said.

He then looked at Ana and pulled her into a hug.

"I wasn't doing anything, babe... I swear." he whispered into her ear as he held her to him. "I was just trying to help... that's all." he finished as he then looked into her eyes.

He kissed her gently just to show his affection and then smiled crookedly.

"I'm yours, remember?" he asked her before turning his attention back to Nate and Skye. "Now... I don't really feel like being the mediator here but... if I need to, heads will roll... and I don't mean Skye's or Ana's." he warned Nate.

[anaromano]

Again Nero did and said the right things, but still. He talked about how much he cared for Skye and how he would always protect her. What if one day something happened and Ana and Skye needed Nero at the same time. Who would he choose? That was a question that would forever fester in her mind. Who would Nero choose if the time came for that? He could not be in two places at once. As much as Ana wanted to believe Nero, the fact he was defending Skye so passionately in her eyes said something. Ana kissed him back and hugged him, but she remained silent.

Ana did not know what the hell was going on, but what Nate said hit another jealousy chord. Would Nero protect her like that. Everything he said about defending Skye...Skye was his responsibility....it all just made her question all this even more. She believed that Nero was not doing anything, but Ana was still jealous over it all. And she still did not trust this new attitude Skye had taken. "Sometimes I wonder." She admitted to Nero when he said he was hers.

Nate just smirked, "Wait that's your girlfriend?" Nate said pointing to Ana, "Yet you are defending Skye. You might wanna rethink your boyfriend choice." Nate told Ana. "A guy who defends another chick this much has issues. Especially when he knows nothing about me. So you need to butt out. Take your girlfriend and go. Because this is between me and her." Nate told Nero. "By the way I was flirting with Ana." Nate said looking at Nero. Then Nate looked at Skye, "But just because I am flirting you act like I am going to sleep with her." Nate just laughed and shook his head. "But you are right your girlfriend is fucking gorgeous......but so is my best friend...doesn't mean a damn thing. Skye knows she is blowing this all out of proportion> She knows me...so i do not get why you are fucking upset." Nate said. "As for my feelings...if it were that simple then I would say it, but dude with the colorful hair....nothing is ever simple."

Nero knew nothing about Nate. Nate knew about Brian. Nate would give his life to save Skye from Brian. Nate's fucking best friends had been abused like Skye. So Nate knew all about it. So Nero better shut his fucking mouth, "I would love to roll your head.....if I have to be the bad guy here Skye then fine....its not like you trust me anyway..." Nate told her, "As for Ana there...I think her walking away was the best move she can make." Nate was pissed off because Skye had told him to get lost out of no where and here this stranger was getting on his case. He did not need this shit.

[skyeturner]

How Nero had managed to keep from knocking the hell out of Nate, Skye did not know. She was grateful when Nero crossed over to ana, trying to reassure her about what was going on. All of this was her fault. The boys looked like they wanted to rip the other part,, Ana was pissed at Nero, it was all her fault.

She looked at the boys. "You wanna know what I'm talking about?" She asked Nate. "I'm talking about the goddamn text message I sent you this morning..the one that said I could trust you and wanted to be with you..but you couldn't even give me 24 hours...hell not even 12 before you went hitting on anything in shoes." She told him.

Looking over at Ana, she gave it one last shot. "Ana, Nero has been so important to me for so long..my white night if you will. He was there for me when no one else was, and yes, I still love him..but I'm not IN love with him anymore...there's a huge difference. I have...issues...hell I have newsstands ok? And I was trying to get back what I had when I was happier..and i didn't respect wha nero felt for you at first...and I'm sorry."

The teary eyed blond looked at Nate. "No...things are simple..either you wat to be with me..or you don't...and by your actions..you don't...which makes me the ass for thinking you did...and no...Ana walking away from Nero would be one of the worst things she could do...he's a good guy and will treat her right." she wiped tears away.

"but you know what...walking away is the best thing i can do."

[findingnemo]

He lifted a brow at Nate's comments about him rethinking the girlfriend part.

"Skye and I have been involved before, Nate... you don't know the first thing about it to even tell Ana to be rethinking anything." he told him angrily. "So why don't you take a moment to shut the fuck up this time eh?" he asked.

Then he said he was flirting with Ana. He'd like to have punched him right then and there but he refrained.

Nero got in Nate's face the moment he opened his mouth saying he would roll his head. Yeah... go for it... Nero was non-confrontational but if it came to it, he would not back down.

"Make my day." he told him. "You're lucky I haven't beat the shit out of you yet... and it's all because Ana is here... and just how fucking immature would it be if I did? How would that look? But if you wanna go I'll fucking go." he told him.

He backed up just a little bit and looked at Skye.

"It seems issues doesn't cover it... not with this guy." he said. "Skye... I'd love to protect you forever but... this guy needs to fucking straighten up and be a man." he said shaking his head. "If he wants to protect you... let him... but the moment he fucks up... he's mine." he told her and looked to Ana.

He took her hands in his and looked into her eyes.

"Look... let's go... get Alek... and go somewhere... we'll go to the park or something." he told her. "Grab lunch."

[anaromano]

Ana just watched. For a moment she did think Nero was going to hit the guy. Now that was something she understood, but so far to be honest Ana felt this whole thing had nothing to do with her. Then Skye gave Ana some speech about wanting things back or something. Ana did not believe her. After everything she had done to Nero and the shit she put him through, Ana felt Skye was being fake right now. Ana had no reason to believe Skye. She had kissed Nero twice, and now all the sudden she has a change of heart. Ana did not believe her for now. SKye would ahve to prove she was no longer in love with Nero. Ana also was not going to say anything. Ana just smiled at Skye, "Thank you for that. I accept."

Ana looked at Nero and removed her hand from his, "I must go pick up Alek. We can grab lunch another time. I must go to work. Get rest of the kids before work too." Ana said. She just needed to think. All this drama was not her style. It use to be. There was a time she would be right in the middle of all the commotion, but now she was not all about this drama. Ana cared about NEro deeply, but she was also very jealous over his protectivness over SKye and she was afraid what would happen if SKye called him over one night. Would he give in? Ana was usually so confident in her relationship.

Her ex use to cheat all the time, but Ana knew he would enver want anyone as much as he wanted her. Yet she was also never in love with her ex. Ana for once was jealous over Nero and another girl. To Ana that meant she really liked him, but she was scared. She did not want Alek or the kids getting attached if she was just going to get hurt. Ana looked at Nero and gave him a sad look, but a soft smile, "I will see you...." She said to him. Although she also did not leave

[Nate Kane]

Nate looked at Nero, "Back the fuck off man. This is none of your concern." Nate told him. "I mean it. Be thankful I have not smacked you dowan a few inches. Do not mess with me." Nate told Nero. He had fought before so it was nothing new and Nate did not give up or stay down. He hated losing a fight. Pride and all. Nate looked abck at Skye, "Don't walk away." He said to her.

"I told you I never got a fucking text from you." Nate took his phone out of his pcoket and looked at it. "I ahve no missed calls and no fucking text messages, so I have no idea what the fuck you are talking about." Nate told her. What text. He never got a text. "Look you know me okay. I do like you, but you know me. I flirt and I won't change that. You act like just because I hit on some chick I am going to fuck her....thats not trust...if you are ready to trust me...then trust that me flirting with some one is just fun....nothing more.....You need to have more faith in me."

Nate just looked at her, "I mean damn it Skye. What the hell do you want from me? I am a flirt. I have always been a flirt. I even flirt with Trixie, but nothing happens. You know this....and what ever text you sent me...n ever got to my phone so you cannot not blame that on me...cell service blows."

[findingnemo]

Nero was too busy trying to care about whether or not Ana was going to be ok rather than listen to this guy try to act tough. Nero had been in fights before... many of them... and he's won all of them. So let the guy try to get into it with him... it would be an easy win for him... just because the guy was jacked meant nothing... because he wasn't a toy either... Nero was pretty jacked himself. So he just rolled his eyes at the guy ignoring him for a moment.

"Are you sure? Do you want help?" he asked her. He could pick up the kids if she needed him to it was no big deal.

He looked over at Nate and Skye having their little dispute but he was not going to step in.. even though Nate was being pretty vulgar to her he was only explaining his side. Maybe Skye needed to chill for a moment and try to see it from his point of view? Maybe this is where Nero would step in.

"Skye... are you sure the message even sent?" he asked. "I mean before we get into it for no absolute reason... you might wanna see if your phone maybe ate the text you sent him." he said and looked at Nate to sort of keep him at bay. "Maybe he's telling the truth..." he said.

In the same token, Nate could have deleted the text or call but he didn't think Nate would do that at this point... either he wouldn't have thought of that so quickly or he just wasn't that dishonest. It seemed he was being pretty truthful here and now. No matter how many curses he threw Skye's way it seemed he was being sincere.

The one thing that stuck out in his mind, though, was that he was flirting with Ana... HIS Ana... His girlfriend. That boiled his blood just a little... maybe a little too much to let him slide. But he did nothing stupid.

He looked back to Ana and threw her an apologetic smile. He took out his cell phone and pulled the sweet Nero out of his ass in this moment of hell going on.

**You look very beautiful** he sent her. **And I'm sorry for all of this** he sent in a second message. **I can make it up to you?** he sent in his final message.

Yeah so he was cheesy in sending a text to a girl that was standing right next to him but he found it sort of... amusing... maybe it would lighten the mood between the two of them no matter what was going on around them.

[anaromano]

To be honest this was the last thing Ana wanted to be caught up in. Her brother just died a week ago and Ana had things to deal with at home. It might have been a week, but Lena and Elena were still in denial back at home. Both almost did not make it to school. Plus Ana did have to work, just not until tomorrow and Ana had a gun pointed at her face a week ago and she still had nightmares that Nero did not make it in time to save her, so this whole lovers square they had going on we a distraction, but one that she did not need, yet Ana found herself as a corner on that square. All because she really liked Nero. As this all worth it? Should Ana have told Nero to take a hike after the first kiss? Perhaps.

But once he spoke and offered to pick up the other kids Ana knew why she was part of that square. Ana knew why it was worth it forgive Nero for kissing Skye twice. Ana also knew why she had been jealous. Ana liked Nero a lot. It was way too soon to call it love, but there was no denying the attraction between them. So Ana was now involved in this square. "You could come over tonight....for dinner. I know Lena and Elena actually come out of rooms when you are there." Ana offered with a small smile. Lena and Elena had taken to hiding since the news of Maxims death.

She did not say a word in reference to the supposed Text message. Skye had just been nice, last thing Ana wanted was to ruin it. Even if Ana thought Skye wad full of crap. Ana did not believe one word, but time would prove it....hopefully. one more move in terms of kissing Nero or trying to convince him to dump Ana and Ana would never forgive both of them, but Ana was learning to trust Nero. Even if she still felt like a fooled for forgiving a guy for kissing another woman....twice.

I must go. " Ana told Nero still with sadness in her eyes, "I need to think." Ana turned to take a step when she felt a buzzing noise."Hold on my butt is vibrating." She told Nero. A cell phone was still a foreign concept. Sure she knew them, but her parents had been old fashioned. Ana had gotten her first cell a few months ago from her Aunt. Ana removed her flip phone from her back pocket and pulled it out. She opened the phone and saw she had three texts. She opened them and saw they were from Nero. Ana read all three messages. They tugged at her heart strings. Even though she felt like a fool it was things like this that pulled her back. Ana smiled and quickly text back, "How?" She was referring to how he would make it up to her. Then Ana closed her phone and smiled at Nero. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him.

[skyeturner]

She tossed her bag into the passanger side of the front seat as the boys continued to face off. Her head was starting to throb something wicked, and the thought of just...running was so strong, she could barely ignore it. She was sick of the fighting, of the pain, the tears, she was sick of it all. "Stop it...just fucking stop it...I can't do this anymore." She said, leaning her head on the car door for a moment.

"Yeah I know you." She looked at Nate as she spoke. "I need to have more faith in you...really...cause I was ready tp put it all on the line for you..despite the fact that every single guy that has come into my life has let me down in some way...my father..you know that story, my brothers, Nero, not that it's his fault that he was seeing someone when I came back...you....I just.." She said softly, pulling her cell out of her pocket and throwing it at Nate. "I sent it, it wasn't eaten or unsent." She glanced at Nero. "I'm not stupid, I know how to send a text."

She opened the car door, wiping her eyes with a sleeve. "I have to go...Brian's due home early tonight, and I gotta clean."

[findingnemo]

Nero had said nothing about her being stupid. So he just shook his head.

"I'm going to go." he told her. "I'm gonna go..." he repeated himself. "Be careful and please don't drive until you stop crying... it'll be bad for driving." he told her truthfully. "Please just... be careful." he said as he went to walk Ana to her car.

He got the text back from Ana and smiled.

"Any way you want." he whispered to her as they walked off.

He wasn't so sure that Skye was going to listen to him or that Nate would even stick around after the ringer Skye was putting him through. He sort of was questioning himself as to why he was still around, himself. She had put him through so much shit ever since she found out he and Ana were dating. And for no damn reason. But he learned to forgive and forget sometimes... with Skye... he needed to be there for her -- he knew what was going on at home with her. It had been going on since they knew each other. It was no different now except for the fact that they were no longer dating.

"Are you sure you don't need me to get the kids? You get Alek? I get the others?" he asked her gently.

He loved all of those kids to death and he knew Ana knew that. What's even more odd was the fact that the moment she told him Alek was hers... he didn't run. And he wasn't here to break her heart. In fact, he wanted the kids to get attached to him. Because he wasn't going anywhere... and no one or nothing could make him change his mind.