"You're an idiot, an absolute idiot." He stared at her. Why the hell was she yelling at him? What in the hell had he done now?

"What'd I do?" The redhead before him rolled her eyes. "I just walked into the room. How the hell did I do something wrong?"

"You're letting him go. I can't believe you. Honestly, Nick, I thought you were smarter than that. I mean, I know you have a large complex; you're like the group idiot and all, but God, I really thought you were smarter." He was confused, and she was frustrated with him. Her eyes always turned a slightly clouded shade of green when she was frustrated.

"I honestly don't know what you're getting at here, Sydney. I am not the group idiot. You just happen to be babbling about something that I clearly don't know about. So, why don't you stop calling me an idiot and tell me what the hell is going on." His temper was rising, and he wasn't sure why. Yes, he was confused, and yes, he didn't like the fact that she was repeatedly calling him an idiot. However, he should just be more confused than angry.

Although, he did just have a heart crushing talk with someone he loved more than anything. Yes, it's true, he was with Sydney. He cared about her, but he just...wasn't in love with her. He had fun spending time with her, but his nights were spent wishing he could spend it with someone else. Someone that just wasn't her, and frankly, after that talk, he really didn't need this confusion.

"Do you think I'm stupid? Did you think that I wouldn't notice?" She was raising her voice, but oddly, it didn't sound like she was angry with him now. It sounded more like she was hurt. Nick was feeling even more confused now. Why did she sound like he was causing her pain, especially when he hadn’t even done anything?

"I never said that! Why the hell are you mad at me?" Sydney shook her head and closed her eyes.

She was going to do this for him. She was going to do this even if it killed her. Sydney loved Nick more than she's ever loved anyone, but she knew that he just wasn't happy. He wanted her to be someone that she could never be. She was someone that he could never love the way she loved him because he loved someone else that way. Nick would never love her the way...the way he loved Brian. It hurt, but it was true. This was why she had to do this. She wanted Nick to be happy, and he'd never be that way if he stayed with her.

Nick just watched her silently as she stood there, not saying a word. He had no idea what she was thinking, and that fact kind of scared him. He could read her thoughts if her eyes were open, but unfortunately for him, they were closed. Her eyes were the one thing he loved about her. They held everything; they were her truth. Her silence also scared him. He wanted to know what she was thinking, but then again, he didn't.

Sydney sighed, looking down, before sitting down on the couch behind her. "I'm not clueless, you know. I can see things." Nick's eyebrows furrowed into confusion, again.

"Will you please just tell me what you're talking about?"

"I’m talking about you and Brian." Nick took a quick intake of air as Sydney looked up at him. He just stared at her, not knowing what to say.

"There's nothing going on between Brian and me." It was instinct to say that; he knew it was lost though since he had paused. Sydney rolled her eyes at him.

"Bullshit." Nick slightly flinched at her tone. It was like ice, but one that had been carved into a spear. "I've seen the looks and the smiles. I've seen the longing in your eyes and in his." Sydney stopped looking at him again. She didn't want him reading her emotions like he always did.

"Syd, there's..." she raised her eyes and glared at him. If she glared, then maybe there was hope in hiding her feelings, at least, most of them.

"Will you stop fucking lying to me? I've seen you two, Nick. I've seen you kiss on more than one occasion. I just...never said anything." She looked away again. Nick didn't know if he was angry with her for knowing, or surprised she hadn't said anything. He went with being angry.

"So, you've been spying on me?" Being angry with her was just a lot easier to handle than being surprised and guilty.

"No, of course, I wasn’t spying you, idiot." She rolled her eyes. "I walked outside to tell you something, and there you two were. Then, Kevin told me to get you, and there it was again." He just stared at her. Then, he made a face when she smiled a bit.

'What the hell?' He thought as he frowned because despite the smile, he knew she wasn't happy.

“Once, I even found his underwear; now that one really got me. Nothing got to me more though….than that one night.” Sydney stopped and took a shaky breath. “I wasn’t sleeping. I just…couldn’t fall asleep,” she started fidgeting with her hands. “You cuddled up to me, and I smiled. You’d been knocked out for about an hour or so, and then you kissed my neck and sighed happily.”

Nick just listened to her, and he felt like an ass for some reason. Alright, he knew the reason which is why when she looked at him with water in her eyes; he felt even worse.

“You cuddled up to me more, and I thought then, this is how I’d like to fall asleep. Just being held your arms where nothing could harm me. At least, nothing could hurt me, except for you.” Nick cringed at that statement. It was a direct hit. Set the coordinates, launch, and we have an explosion. “You called me ‘Brian’. You just said his name softly. I mean…I knew things were going on, and I tried to ignore it. It’s just…my heart shattered that night.”

Nick walked over to her, and went to pull her into a hug. Sydney moved away though, standing up. He knew that he had no right to pull her into any embrace, but he wanted to hold her. He wanted to apologize, but he couldn’t help how he felt. She sighed and pointed a finger at him.

“Don’t…just don’t.” She licked her dry lips and wiped at her wet eyes. “I don’t need you hugging me. You hug me, and I’ll break. I can’t do that now. I couldn’t handle it. I’m tired of crying, and that’s why I have to do this.”

He looked at her with, yet again, a confused expression. “Do what? What do you have to do?”

“I’m never going to be him, Nick. I will never be Brian, and we both know it. I can’t believe you let him walk away. When,” she took a breath. “When he’s the one you really want to be with. You’re not just making yourself miserable, you know. You’re making him miserable too. He gave Leigh up for you.”

“He gave up the family he could have had for you. You, Nick, at least, he did it mostly for you. He didn’t keep leading her on. He let her go, so that she could be with someone who’ll truly love her.”

“You knew about us, Sydney. You could have ended things…”

“I know that! I know, okay?! I was…I couldn’t let you go. I kept fooling myself. I kept telling myself, ‘maybe, maybe…maybe if I stay, he’ll love me the way I love him.’ It was stupid, and this hurts…”

Tears were coming out of her eyes now, her voice cracked, and she cursed herself for it. She didn’t want to cry in front of him. She didn’t want him to see her break. She knew he probably felt like shit, but she didn’t want him to feel guilty for loving someone. No one should ever feel guilty for loving someone. Yes, she hated how he kept leading her on, but she hated herself for staying. She hated herself for knowing the truth, but staying anyway.

“What are you trying to say, Syd?” She snorted and let out a frustrated, held back yell.

“Stop being so damn dense, Nick! For crying out loud…you love Brian, and he loves you. Go fucking be with him. Don’t let him go…only one of us has to let go here, Nick.” Nick opened his mouth to reply, but she spoke again. “You let go before you even held onto me, onto us.” She sighed, trying to gather herself together. “So, now I have to let you go. It’s the only way either of us will be happy.”

Sydney wiped at her eyes, trying to stop the tears. Nick stayed silent. He didn’t know what to say. He knew she was right though.

“I’m sorry.” Sydney looked up at him, and managed to force a weak smile upon her face.

“Don’t be…It’s…it’s for the best. Although, if you don’t go get your man, yes, I mean Brian, I will make you sorry.” She gave him a grin, though her heart wasn’t really in it. Nick looked at her and gave her a soft, grateful smile.

“Stop standing there and go already…” He walked up to her and hugged her. Sydney bit her lip and hugged him back.

“Thank you…” He pulled away and held her at arms length. Sydney did her best to smile, and half shrugged.

“You’re welcome…now go.” Nick looked at her one last time before letting her go, and then, he walked back out of the house.

He felt bad, but…there was someone he had to catch before he lost him.

Sydney stood there for a good minute before making her way out of the house and to her own car. It was officially over. That was their goodbye. Sydney opened her car door, and took one last look at the house she had shared with Nick. A sad, small smile formed on her lips as she looked up at the sky.

“You were right, Mom. Sometimes the best things to do are always the hardest…” Sydney blinked, pausing for a second. She sighed and got into her car, closing the door, and started the engine. She jumped as she heard thunder, and just like her tears, the rain came rolling down. Sydney pulled out of the driveway with her window wipers going, almost smiling to herself.

Usual weather in the sunny state of Florida; it was just funny how much the storm matched her aching heart.