𝐏𝐑𝐅𝐂𝐓 | SABRINA CARPENTER [2] (ON HIATUS)

12 | ʳᵉᵃˡ ˡⁱᶠᵉ

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ᴛʜᴇɴ ᴡᴇ ᴡᴇɴᴛ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ᴏᴜʀ sᴇᴘᴀʀᴀᴛᴇ ᴡᴀʏs
ғᴇʟᴛ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ᴇᴍᴘᴛʏ ᴀɴᴅ
ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇᴅ
ᴡᴇ ʀᴇᴜɴɪᴛᴇᴅ, ɪᴛ ғᴇʟᴛ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ
ɴᴏᴡ ᴡᴇ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ɪɴ ᴀ ᴅɪғғᴇʀᴇɴᴛ ᴡᴀʏ

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[​sᴏ ᴍʏ ᴅᴀʀʟɪɴɢ]

1:48 ───|───── 4:29

|◁ ∞ II ↺ ▷|

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NEITHER OF THEM uttered a word while they were in the dressing room. Sabrina sat on a bench and watched River adjust herself as she finished dressing. Zendaya often influenced River's style throughout the years, especially when expressing herself through clothing. Algee did too. Growing up, River wasn't too keen on dressing feminine. Once she moved into their household permanently, she was often caught sporting something from Algee's wardrobe. Despite his relentless whines about his clothing going missing and never returning, River proceeded to raid his closet. Eventually, their parents grew tired of his complaints and took everyone shopping for a whole clothing makeover. That still didn't stop the girl from "borrowing" something out of his closet every once in a while.

As they grew older, River did begin to shift into wearing more feminine things. Primarily because of the rapid transition within the media as they took on more roles as their fame progressed. So, with that, the girl didn't necessarily have many choices but to accommodate to fit into what the people wanted from her. Unfortunately, the industry isn't as decent as many others outside of it think. They can be pretty strict and will often limit your ability to work how you'd see fit.

Stepping back from the mirror, River takes a moment to admire herself. She wore a charcoal gray Berluti suit. Much like her sister and Michael B. Jordan wore to one of their events. She felt a pair of eyes drilling a hole in her back but didn't care to meet them. Instead, she asks, "we gonna talk about this now, or you just gonna act like you're unbothered?"

"There's nothing for us to talk about," Sabrina replies in a brusque tone, one that was oddly out of character for her. She fought the urge to flinch back at the way the sentence came out.

It was a blatant lie - they both knew as such. Although River could be pretty oblivious at times, she wasn't a damn fool. River didn't bother to hide the growing irritation written on her face. She scoffs, "eso es una mierda, Sabrina." That's bullshit. She didn't have to translate the phrase for Sabrina to understand. River has said the expression on various occasions that Sabrina had eventually looked up the meaning.

"It's not. There's nothing for us to discuss because nothing's bothering me," she insisted. By this point, Sabrina had stood defensively with her arms crossed against her chest. River finally swiveled around and met her stare.

"Right, because looking like a kicked puppy after I turn down the babe the way I did is certainly how not to be bothered," she exclaims. No matter how angry she gets, River tries her best not to end up in a screaming match. Already knowing that this conversation wouldn't go anywhere until Sabrina was ready to open up, River huffs out in frustration. Glimpsing towards the clock, she found that there were still five more minutes left to spare.

She refocuses her eyes to a now fidgeting Sabrina Carpenter, standing with hunched shoulders as she suddenly found interest in a loose string on the hem of her shirt. River's eyes begin to soften at the scenery before her as she studies the blonde's body language. Disregarding her previous frustration and confusion, she takes a tentative step toward her with a gentle call of her name. Sabrina doesn't show any signs that she heard her.

River calls for her again. "Cariño, please look at me," she pleads. Now, they stood toe to toe, Sabrina's eyes now on her feet. River slowly lifts a hand to cradle Sabrina's cheek, caressing her skin with her thumb. "Eres mi para siempre," she whispered. Her tone was gentle, filled with devotion and solace.

"Tú me completas." River moves her hand from her cheek and brings it down to her chin. Gently, her fingers raise Sabrina's face to her own. Ever so stubborn, the blonde still refuses to meet River's brown eyes.

"Te adoro," she proceeded. Leaning down, River brings her lips to rest on the crown of her head, kissing it. Hearing the call of her name, River pulls away but doesn't make any notion of leaving. Sabrina's heart thumped rapidly in her chest.

"Always and forever, right?" The blonde mumbles as she meets her eyes again.

River smiles. "Always and forever," she assures. Hearing her name yelled again, she groans, complaints that Sabrina couldn't seem to make out leaving her mouth as she heads toward the door. The sound of Sabrina's laughter makes River's heart flutter.

River has her hand stretched out in the blonde's direction as she stops in the doorway. "Come on, sunshine! They're gonna take you to where Z and Algee are," she informs. Taking hold of River's hand, the two make their way through the establishment. Two figures take the shape of Aiden and someone neither of the pair, recognizes as they approach.

"Ms. Carpenter, this is my assistant, Parker Johnson. He's going to take you to the side of the stage, where your friends reside, while I lead Ms. Gomez onstage for a quick soundcheck," Aiden clarifies. Bidding their goodbyes and best wishes, the four of them go on their way. With a heavy sigh, River mentally prepares herself for whatever happens within the hour. Although nothing has been resolved, both of them did manage to find some form of reassurance to settle their nerves for the time being.

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"You're my favorite person in the world. I love you so much."

"Hey, um, I know I'm probably the last person you wanna talk to right now. But, I need you to know that you'll always be my best friend no matter what happens."

"You are literally, simply out of this world..."

"I miss you, goofball. When are we gonna hang out again?"

"Remember, I'll always love you."

The lighting dimmed enough only to show River's figure settled at the grand piano. The audio of voicemails and videotapes shared between River and Sabrina chimed through the space. Her fingers gracefully danced along with the piano, creating a wonderous melody playing on top of the mixed voices. The trio that was now watching on the left stage wing looked at each other with wide eyes.

"I hope that our memories stay. And just know that whatever you do... I hope you love me, too..." River sang the first verse into the microphone as she played. Her voice was delicate and smooth as honey. "And my heart beats, stuck in a daze of our thoughts. And watching me grow to be new. I hope you love me, too."

Singing this song sort of felt like a new form of relief for her. As she continued, River's mind began to drift back to the night that led her to this particular moment. She recalled the number of tears and aching she went through solely because of the feelings that both women struggled with. River felt the tears that begged to release but blinked them away. It's crazy how someone could make you feel so much.

As the words flowed from River's tongue, Sabrina and the others couldn't help but let their tears fall. They all could feel the waves of fondness and affection River held for the blonde standing beside them. And the same could be said about Sabrina. The blonde was falling for her more than she had already.

"So my darling, so my darling. My baby, my boo... You are my best friend; you are my best friend. Remember, I'll always love you."