“What were you thinking Mal?” Liv confronted her friend as soon as she sat down at his place.
“I wasn’t… honestly, I didn’t know where she was going with it. I just told the bride she looked nice on her wedding day, surely everyone does that,” Malakai sighed. “I didn’t realise she meant anything more to it. Until it was too late.”
Liv nodded. “It was all her, I know,” she lightened her tone. “But you didn’t help. You’ve got to use that head of yours sometimes… and more importantly, you need to apologise to Newton.”
Malakai shook his head: “You think I haven’t tried? I’ve been to his house a dozen times, and he only opened the door once.”
“And?”
“What else can I possibly say? I am really sorry,” Malakai pleaded. “Come on Newton, we’ve known each other since we were kids. I would never try anything on your wife, you’ve got to believe me!”
“I was there, Malakai,” Newton replied coldly. “Don’t plumming lie to me! And you’re right, there is nothing else to say.”
“He just glared at me, Liv,” Malakai said sadly. “He refused to listen to anything I had to say.”
“He’s right,” he mused. “It’s probably me. I mess everything up.”
“Don’t say that, Mal,” Liv said softly. “I’ll talk to Newton.”
“You’re the best, Liv.”
***
Liv felt oddly nervous when she walked over to Newton’s house. The days when they used to live under the same roof and spend every hour of the day together were long gone. They both had so much on their plates these days…
She took a deep breath and rang the doorbell.
Newton’s figure appeared in the door: “What?”
Olivia could barely recognise the face. It seemed to have hardened immensely in the past few days alone. But that was understandable, of course.
She needed to comfort him, be encouraging: “How are you holding up, Newton?”
“Oh, everything is just swell,” he said sarcastically. “What do you want, Liv?”
“Can’t I just come to check how you’re doing?”
“You can,” he admitted. “But that’s not why you’re here.”
“It’s one of the reasons why I’m here,” Liv frowned. Newton raised an eyebrow. “I wanted to talk to you about Malakai,” she said reluctantly.
“Of course you did,” Newton smirked.
“Look, he didn’t mean any harm,” Liv continued. “And he is feeling awful. You know he wasn’t the one to blame. Just… talk to him. He’s our friend.”
Newton let out a coarse laugh: “Oh yeah. That makes me feel better. Speaking of our old mutual friends, I ran into Diane the other day.”
“Oh,” Liv’s throat felt tied up. It suddenly dawned on her this conversation wasn’t about Malakai at all.
“It was just the day after the wedding debacle. I didn’t know what to do with myself, so I just wandered around. I literally bumped into her because I wasn’t looking…”
“So we chatted for a bit – she’s doing great, I’m sure you’re dying to know – and turns out, she has a lot of interesting things to say about you…”
For the first time since her pregnancy, Liv felt nauseous: “Newton, whatever she said…”
“Oh, you mean you didn’t kiss the girl I was dating? You didn’t try to ask her out the moment her and I broke up?”
“It wasn’t like that, exactly.”
Newton just shook his head.
“Of course you defend Malakai, you two are two sides of the same coin. Except that while he at least had the decency of betraying me right in front of my eyes, you stabbed me in the back.” Newton was pale, his voice trembling. “And you would have never even told me…”
“Look Newton, neither me or Malakai ever meant to hurt you,” Liv tried to explain. “There’s more to the story… stories. Both of them.”
“Of course there is, there always is,” Newton yelled angrily. “You and Malakai did nothing, it was all Mara, all Diane; while you two were busy polishing your little halos. You’re both such hypocrites.
Well guess what, I don’t want anything to do with either of you! You can go back to your friend and pretend you’re perfect with your twisted little family!”
Liv’s eyes filled with tears: “Newton, you don’t mean it…”
“Just get the plum out of my house,” Newton whispered.
Don’t know that I will
But until I can find me
The girl who’ll stay
And won’t play games behind me
I’ll be what I am
A solitary man*
*Solitary Man by Neil Diamond
The Plumbob 
I’m finally caught up!! *pinches self*
I don’t have words to say how much I enjoy your story!
To my shock, Isaac turned out to be one of my favorite characters yet, even if I did want to strangle him more than once xD
His generation was my fav too (Cassiel was so fun to hate!) so I’m trying not to compare the new ones with its awesomeness
Yenn and Chell’s friendship is the most precious thing ever and needs to be protected at all costs!! The picture when they are sleeping together after their dad’s death, with the old photograph on the wall, just ruined my heart forever
And Ethan and Yenn?? How perfect are they??? *furiously doesn’t think about the day Liv will have to mourn their deaths*
Booker was easily the least likable heir to me but his horrible relationship with Keiko was super fun to read. But hey, he gave us Liv so I can’t dislike him too much
And Liv, omg she’s so great! Can’t believe her relationship with Newton is crumbling apart like this though!! DD:
What’s with Newton and his tendency to go for all the wrong girls, anyway?? Is it a rock star thing? xD
This is turning into a huge comment but since I couldn’t stop myself from reading everything, I figured, why not do it all at once, right? *hides*
Really, just wanted to say I love it and can’t wait to read more! 😀
LikeLike
Wow, you got through the generations fast!
I loved Isaac! He was so complex, and had such a wholesome personality. I miss his time. I think when he passed away, Cassiel replaced him as my favourite, and now my favourite is Yenn. I’m fickle like that lol!
Oddly, though Yenn is a non-committal loner, she seems to form really strong relationships, both with her family members and Ethan. I guess it’s the kind of deal where she doesn’t let people in easily, but once you’re “her people” she’d give the world for you.
I never particularly connected with Booker either. He’s ok, I guess. Just not really my cup of tea. To be perfectly honest I always even preferred Keiko to him, though I know it’s the other way around for most readers 😀
Liv’s friendship with Newton has kind of been dismantling for a while, even before the whole wedding drama they weren’t quite as close anymore. I didn’t even notice until someone pointed it out in the comments. But it makes a lot of sense though, their lives are really different at the moment. As for Newton’s women, I have no words lol! He sure knows how to pick them…
Thank you so much for taking the time catch up on it all! How amazing! ❤
LikeLike
Aww Newton! He needs a nice girlfriend… I hope he can forgive Liv and Malakai
LikeLike
Realistically there’s nothing to forgive in the first place, but I do hope Newton will find a way to get over it at some point. I don’t agree with him, but I don’t really blame him for being so angry though, he probably feels like the whole world is against him.
LikeLike
Newton needs to get over himself. First time you get ‘betrayed,’ sure, blame it on the other person. More times than that and it may have something to do with the ‘common denominator,’ feel me? Pick better girls or don’t whine when you get screwed over. Ugh. Musicians, I swear. At least he should be able to get a couple of good ‘hurt’ songs out of it. *eye roll*
LikeLike
Musicians and their drama, right? I didn’t excpect him to react so drastically, he basically yelled at Liv until they were no longer even friends. Then again, I guess having your new wife proposition someone at your wedding would sort of tip you over the edge 😀 You’re right, I bet he’ll do well on the music front, the broken-hearted thing sells!
LikeLike
Frowny face.
This was beautiful because you wrote it as something so real. I am constantly drawn in by your writing and the stories you put behind it all. I adore it and I’m so happy I read your work.
Great job even though it was so sad…
LikeLike
Aww thank you! Yeah I’m not happy about this development between Newton and Liv either, but I can see how it makes sense and how they got here. I hope their friendship isn’t fully beyond fixing; they used to be best friends, then became less close once Liv had Monty, because they didn’t spend as much time together, and during this particular visit newton yelled at Liv so much they’re nowhere near friends anymore (in fact I’m pretty sure their relationship is in the negative). It makes me sad… but Newton needs time, clearly.
LikeLike
😦 😦 😦
I hope Newton will realise one day that they really aren’t to blame for all of this. 😦
LikeLike
He breaks my heart! He’ll realize they were both right when he calms down. He just needs a minute, and they’re trying to rush it.
LikeLike
Yeah, I think he sees red at the moment, there’s no talking to him in his current state.
LikeLike