can you hear me now?

look into my eyes and tell me we're okay (and we both can be forgiven)

"What?" Hope felt confused and worried. "What do you mean?"

With fear filled eyes, Josie turned to face Hope. "What happened earlier," Her voice cracked, so vulnerably. "It brought back feelings I wish it didn't."

"A-and I don't," She takes a shuddered breath. "I don't want you to deal with me because I'll just hurt you."

The brunette had turned away. Overwhelmed to handle the look on Hope's face. "More than I already have." She finishes, her voice croaking, it sounded so broken.

The older girl opened her mouth to speak but clamped it shut as she attempted to process what Josie was telling her.

"Josie," Hope started. The latter clenched her eyes shut, scared of the older girl's response.

"Is this what you really want?" Her voice was gentle but shaky, afraid of what Josie could say.

"I don't know." The brunette managed to mumble out. "I'm sorry."

It all happened so quickly, neither of them spoke for a few minutes. The silent tears drying up on both of the girls faces, leaving dry uncomfortable marks. 

Hope's feelings for this girl were strong. And not just any kind of strong. The type of feeling that feels as if you're hypnotized by this one person. You feel like home around them, and your mood instantly lifts the second you land your eyes on them.

And for Hope, she'd do anything for Josie. And if that meant taking a break, she'll wait a thousand years just to get her back.

"I'll be waiting for you, no matter how long it takes Josie." As much as she wanted to break down into tears there and then, it was true. She pushed herself to steady her voice as much as she could and reassured  the brunette that everything will be okay. "I'll always be here for you."

"Promise?" Josie's voice quivered and she worried her bottom lip.

"For you, always."

//////

By the time Hope makes it home, her face is covered with the tears that she had shed during the car ride there. Thankfully after the performance, she had taken off all of her makeup, so her face wasn't stained with streaks of mascara, but the clear marks left from tears were still extremely noticeable.

She tries to shut the door as quietly as possible, not wanting to disturb her aunts and attract their attention. Once she does, she allows herself to lean against the door, her back slowly sliding down as more tears threaten to come out.

Her breath quickens, and suddenly the oxygen around her seems to have trouble entering her lungs.

She takes a deep breath, steadily breathing in and out for a couple of minutes.