She Is Left Stunned

Anna crossed her arms and glared hard at Nicole, "I don't want to hear what you have to say, so please move, I'm going back downstairs," The blonde hissed, yet, Nicole kept her feet planted in front of the door,

"Anna-" Nicole began to say only to be cut off,

"No, Nikki! I don't want to hear this, I don't need your shit fucking excuses again! What you're gonna tell me how sorry you are? Are you going to tell me, that it was all just a big mistake, you didn't mean to fuck Eric but as fucking always, it just happened?! Oh, wait, wait, no, let me guess, this was all just Eric's fault and you were "protecting" me from an asshole?! Which is it this time?! What excuse do you have for me?!" Anna venomously spat out,

Nicole's face remained calm and unaffected from her friends screaming, she didn't even flinch, "I have no excuse," She softly stated causing Anna to pause, a bit uncertain on how to react, "I made a decision to act out when I was hurt, I didn't care about who I would hurt in the long run. I sabotaged your relationship with Eric, and I know you probably hate me,"

"Well, I...could you hardly blame me?" Anna muttered back, feeling her anger subside and bit of guilt starting to form in the pit of her stomach,

"No, I can't," Nicole replied with a small shake of her head, "I've hurt the most important person in my life for nothing, and that's not something I think I can ever forgive myself for. So I can't even think about you doing it. I'm not saying all this to make myself feel better or to try and make things go back to the way things were. I wanted to say this..." Nicole explained, her voice cracking ever so slightly, making her calm herself for just a moment, "I wanted to say this because you deserve an apology, even if it's a shitty one,"

Anna lowered her head, pressing her lips together, searching her head for a response. In the many years, Anna had known Nicole this was one of the only times she'd truly hurt her but at the same time, this was one of the most genuine apologies she'd ever received. But was that enough? Could Anna forgive Nicole, let alone Eric, for everything she had done the other night? The sting was still there that was for sure, but taking the high road was who she was a person. She never liked hating someone, and to know her best friend was just about there sucked.

"Nikki...I appreciate that you at least had enough respect for me to apologize in person and without any excuses but-" Anna weakly began to mumble out,

"But you can't forgive me, I know, and that's alright. I didn't expect it," Nicole finished for her. The redhead finally turned around opening the door, "I'm so sorry I hurt you, Anna," Nicole began to leave the room but Anna called out,

"Nikki, wait," Anna said making her friend stop, though she didn't look back, "I can't do it now, but maybe...I don't know, maybe in time? I still am trying to process everything and I just need to...I need some space to think it all out," Nicole let out a simple nod before leaving Anna and heading back to her room.

Anna fell back onto the bed, sitting off on edge and wiping a tear from her cheek, a dozen different emotions running through her mind. Forgiving Nicole wasn't something she'd ever have considered an hour ago but now, she wasn't so sure. "She couldn't have just made it easy and stuck being an asshole, could she?" Anna whispered under his breath. A few minutes later, Anna stood up and headed back downstairs, returning to the living room, uncertainty racing through her mind.