Actions Speak Louder Than Fortune Cookies

33 - Home

For it being two in the morning, the dimly lit streets were still abuzz with people. They only had to walk a block or so, but Sebastian had noticed people looking their direction as they made their way to his car. Most days, he wasn't opposed to stopping to say hi to fans, but he had hoped and prayed no one would try and interrupt them in their short distance to the car. He didn't have any way to try and disguise himself, as he had ran out the door so quickly, not thinking of grabbing a hat during his flustered exit from his house earlier.

He sighed in relief as they reached his car, unlocking it as he grabbed the door handle.
He helped Rylee climb into the passenger seat carefully as Alexa got into the backseat. He could have swore he saw a camera flash or two, but he ignored it.
He jogged around the front of the car and hopped into the driver seat, pulling carefully into the still surprising traffic of Brighton Beach Avenue.

As they began driving he reached over to find Rylee's hand, immediately lacing his fingers with hers when they touched, rubbing his thumb on the side of her hand. The beginning of their ride was almost silent, the only sound in the car being the distant sounds of the quiet radio. After a few short minutes, Sebastian snuck a quick glance over at Rylee and noticed she was fast asleep, head lulled to the side in peaceful slumber. He was always impressed by her ability to fall asleep wherever, whenever.

Sebastian then looked in the rear view mirror towards Alexa. He became concerned when he saw her facial expression as she stared out the window. She looked like she was on the verge of tears in the lights reflected from the streets.

"Hey Lex..." Sebastian said gently, glancing between the road and her in the rear view mirror, "you alright?"

She looked up to the rear view mirror and threw on what was obviously a fake smile, "yeah, yeah. I'm fine."

Sebastian didn't buy it for a second. He gave her a stern look through the mirror, but looked back toward the red light they had just stopped at. "What is it Lex? Come on..."

She sighed, running her hand through her auburn hair. "I dunno Seb. I just feel...worthless.." she admitted, staring out the window. There was still a glisten of tears in her eyes from the streetlights shining in.

Sebastian did a double take into the rear view mirror. Did he really hear her say that? How could she feel that way when she had just kept the person nearest and dearest to his heart from having a complete mental break down, spiraling with no return.

"W-what? Alexa, why would you say that?" Sebastian stuttered out in shock, hating that he had to focus on the traffic in front of him as the light turned green.

"Because I couldn't help. And it came out of nowhere. I'm still not sure what happened." She wiped away a stray tear as she continued, "We were at work, laughing, having an enjoyable time, and then she said she had to head to the back for something. A few minutes went by and then I saw her rushing out the side door, past the front window with her purse, heading toward the subway."

She took a heaving breath as she continued, staring out the window as she spoke.
"Luckily I happened to see her in that split second. I told Johnny I'd be back and that I was going to check on her, and by the time I caught up to her, she was already down here, sitting on a bench on the platform with her head in her hands." She paused momentarily, "She's had panic attacks before...but hasn't for a good while. This was more than that though. Way more."

Sebastian nodded, stopping at another red light. He turned to face her, taking his hand from Rylee's sleeping grip and placing it on Alexa's knee. He held her eye contact genuinely and said, "You did everything right. Honestly, Lex. Knowing what happened at the moment wouldn't have helped anyway. You kept her safe. That is what matters."