apologies // hemmings

sixteen

It took fifteen minutes for Alexis to work up the courage to get out of her car. It took another three minutes for her to ring the doorbell.

When Candace pulled open the door, her expression was anything but inviting.

"Don't think I'm doing this for you or I've suddenly had a change of heart or something," She sneered, turning her head quickly to glance back into the house. Candace turned back around and lowered her voice, "I'm really fucking worried about him and it's all your fault. I'm giving you ten minutes to fix him and then get out of his life because he doesn't need you."

Alexis was quiet for a moment. "Can I come in now?" She mumbled and Candace opened the door further for Alexis to enter.

"Ten minutes," She growled before swiftly turning away and slamming the door to her bedroom. Alexis used three of her ten minutes rehearsing what she was going to say. She would have taken longer if she hadn't heard footsteps coming from the hallway. Her head instantly shot up to see Casey stopped dead in his tracks, with his mouth hanging open.

Alexis opened her mouth to speak but Casey had already turned around and before Alexis had even processed what had happened she heard a door slam. She composed herself quickly and ran down the hall to Casey's bedroom, pounding on the door.

"Please, Casey, I need to talk to you," She begged, earning an eery silence as her answer. Her hand reached for the door knob. She took a deep breath and prayed for it to be unlocked, sending a silent praise when the door gave in. When Alexis entered the room, Casey was sitting on the edge of his bed, facing away from the door. Alexis could see his back muscles tense, his breathing was heavy and overpowering. She took in the appearance of his room, and noticed all of his posters had been ripped from the walls. Clothes had been thrown everywhere and the legs of the desk chair had been dismembered. Alexis glanced to the corner and gasped when she saw the guitar she had bought him for Christmas the year before had been broken, lying dead next to his others on display; the neck was no longer attached to the body and the strings were astray.

"You've got some balls coming here," Casey finally spoke up. His voice was scratchy, as if he had been crying.

"Please, Casey. I just want to talk." Casey turned his head slightly, nodding for her to sit. She shuffled over, choosing to stand in front of him rather than sit. He raised his head and Alexis bit her lip, for the first time noticing the shape that Casey was in.

His eyes were swollen, with patches of dry skin covering his cheek bones. His lips were dry and cracked and his nose was red. His hair was a mess and he looked like he hadn't showered in days. Alexis noticed a few fresh tears escape his eyes, and she tried to ignore them knowing that she was the cause of the tears.

"Casey, I never meant to shut you out. I didn't realize I was hurting you and I wish you would've told me or I would've noticed sooner. Maybe then we could've worked it out, we could've saved this. I'm not asking you to come back because I know that you're so much better off without me and I know that I was a horrible friend and I could never ask you to go through everything that I've put you through these past years again. I want you to move on and be happy and find someone else that will treat you better than I ever did. All I'm asking is for you to forgive me. I wish I could've been a better friend. I wish I could've been there for you and helped you when you were hurting. I know I can't do that and you deserve so much more than me, but I could never go on knowing that you didn't forgive me. I can't do it, Casey. Please just forgive me." Alexis now had tears pouring out of her eyes. Her voice was shaky and cracking.

Casey looked at the ground, not saying a word. A pounding on the door caused Alexis to jump, but Casey didn't even flinch.

"You're ten minutes is up, get the hell out!" Candace yelled from the other side of the door.

Alexis glanced at her friend one last time, deciding that he wasn't going to move before nodding and walking towards the door.

"I loved you, y'know," Casey mumbled as Alexis was opening the door. She sniffed once before opening the door and walking out.

~~

"Ash, please, I really need you right now," Alexis cried into the phone after calling her boyfriend for the fourth time. She was still in the Banks' driveway, and with no response from Ashton, she decided to make her way to his house. The entire way she listened to the radio, not even bothering to plug in her phone and listen to music that didn't make her ears bleed.

When Alexis made it to Ashton's house, she parked in the street next to an unfamiliar blue car. She took a few deep breaths before getting out and approaching her boyfriend's house. Alexis knocked on the door a few times, and waited without any response.

She double checked to make sure Ashton's car was in the driveway before twisting the doorknob and walking in.

Alexis heard a few giggles, followed by Ashton's voice, "Damn. You look amazing."

Alexis' heart sped up and she swallowed once, "Ashton?" She called out, recieving a few crashes and curses before watching her boyfriend stumble out of his bedroom. He was wearing only his jeans, which had yet to be rebuttoned. His hair was a mess and there were three red blotches on his neck and chest.

"Babe, what are you doing her?" He asked, out of breath.

Alexis laughed ironically, shaking her head once. "It's funny, really. You did so well. You played the nice, loyal boyfriend so well. And I fell for it," She laughed again, watching Ashton's eyes grow wider with each word. "I blame myself. I'm usually a much better judge of character."

A small, blonde girl shuffled out of the bedroom. Ashton's shirt flowed down to her knees and Alexis could see her nipples peaking through the fabric of the shirt.

"Alexis?" The girl squeaked, fear and shock laced in her voice.

"Hi, Bryanna," Alexis smiled, "Have a nice life, Irwin," She called, turning around and walking out the front door. She ignored Ashton's protests and didn't turn around until she was safe inside the confines of her car.

She took three deep breaths, counted to ten, and then turned on the car. Just before she put the car in drive, her phone buzzed. When she glanced down at her phone, a miniscule smile adorned her face for the first time that day.

I forgive you

~~

i rewrote this chapter seven times

im almost done probs like 4 more chapters hell ya