Before We Fall

Part 1, Chapter 8

a.n.- I'M BACK BITCHES-

Sky's POV

Ben, Demarius, Josh, and I were wandering around the rehearsal building, making small talk as we went. I heard music coming from inside a rehearsal room that I thought was empty, and Ben and I looked through the small window in the door to it.

Alivia was inside, her steps almost effortless. I heard Ben suck in a breath as we watched her dance, and I nearly did the same next to him. As the song ended, Alivia broke down against the floor, and I nearly yanked open the door without thinking. Josh grabbed my wrist and pulled me away with a shake of his head. 

"Come on," Josh said. "She probably wants to be left alone. We don't really know her, anyway."

"But she's clearly hurting-" I tried to protest.

"And we don't know her or what she's going through," Josh reiterated. "Let's just go." 

I cast a lingering gaze towards the door to the room Alivia was in and hoped I had looked away before anyone would notice. 

"Stop staring, it's creepy." I glanced over at Ben, a smirk playing on his lips. "Is there something you'd like to share with the class, Sky?"

I pushed him away. "Definitely not."

Alivia's POV

I'm not quite sure how long I was alone in the rehearsal room. I just know that Sky doesn't know how to mind his own business.

Eventually, I pulled myself together enough to walk out into the hallway and head back to my apartment. I started to turn a corner when I saw Ben, Sky, Josh, and Demarius walking my way. I backed up and started taking a longer way out, hoping none of them had seen me, but the universe hates me or something because of course Sky saw me and of course he caught up to me. I heard him start walking in my direction from behind me, and I started walking faster, hoping he would take the hint and leave me alone.

"Hey, are you okay?"

I honestly don't know what I expected.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I told him, refusing to meet his gaze.

"Are you sure?" He pestered.

"I told you, I'm fine."

"Alivia, come on-"

"Do you always do this?" I snapped, stopping in the middle of the hallway and turning to face him, not caring if he could tell I was crying anymore. "Pester and annoy people who clearly want to be left alone and not take no for an answer?"

I could tell he was taken aback by how snippy I was, and I felt a pang of guilt in the back of my mind.

"Okay, alright, sorry. See you tomorrow." He started walking back to Ben, Josh, and Demarius, and I rubbed at my cheeks to try and erase the tear stains left on them. 

I held it together on the subway, but as soon as I had set my bag down inside my apartment, I sank to the floor, barely holding together by threads. I needed Jacob, but that bridge had collapsed years ago.

Today marked three years since it all happened. Three years since I fell apart and was forced to pick up the pieces when I didn't even know who I was anymore.

My hands trembled as I dug my phone out of the abyss that was my dance bag and dialed Cassie's number, running my free hand through my hair as I tried in vain to steady my breathing. 

She picked up almost immediately. "Allie?"

"Cass-" I sobbed, pressing a hand to my mouth.

"Shit, it's three years today, isn't it?" I heard her mumble. "Allie, baby, I'm so sorry. I promise, I'm here for as long as you need me."

I leaned my head back against the drywall of my apartment, trying to grasp the feeling of having my best friend by my side. Part of my wishes I hadn't moved away, but I knew that this homesickness was the first step to achieving everything I've worked for my entire life. Guess I'd have to get used to it.

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y'all i have had such bad writer's block you don't even know-

but i'm finally back to writing this and hopefully can get better progress on it over the next few months

love you all lots!