Perfect Screw Ups | Quackbur

Chapter Seventeen

I awoke with groggy eyes and a stiff neck. I groaned and pushed myself upward and scanned the room.

I had concluded that it wasn't Sally's room.

The events from the night prior came flooding back like a hard slap across the face. Or maybe like a stab through my heart. Not quite sure how to describe the type of pain I felt for the loss of Sally.

It was for the best. She had lead me on and she had hurt me more times than I can count. I wish her the best in finding herself but I can never forgive her for how she's hurt me.

I got up and walked to the kitchen wearily, unsure if I should leave the room.

I heard sizzling and a spatula scraping softly against a pan followed by the smell of eggs and bacon.

Suddenly my stomach growled and I realized just how hungry I was. I didn't eat much yesterday and the hunger was catching up to me.

"Hungry?" Quackity asked, transferring the food to plates.

I nod shyly feeling kind of embarrassed that my stomach growl was that loud.

I always got embarrassed when my stomach growled, it was like an alarm that alerted people I haven't been eating.

Back at school I'd chug water and pinch the skin around my stomach to try to make it subside. No one noticed.

"Here, this one's for you."

He ushers a plate toward the seat across from him and I sit down.

It's a close immitation to what I usually get at the diner. I smile and eat it slowly.

"I have something I think you'll like," he says.

I raise an eyebrow and he tosses a few sugar packets to me.

I laugh. "Thanks."

He probably took some from the diner.

I stack them and then continue eating.

"So," he clicks his tongue and presses the glass of milk to his lips. I watch him, trying to guess his next words.

"How ya feelin'? You okay? I mean, I wouldn't expect you to be all that okay after everything that's happened."

I nod. "I have actually seen worse days. I'm surprisingly. . okay? Well, not okay but ya know."

He hums in agreement. "You got any idea what you'll do now?"

I take a bite out of my toast. "What I'll do next?"

"Well. .yeah. Don't you maybe want to work towards your career maybe? Any plans?"

A sigh escapes my lips and I begin to stack the sugar packets again and again. "I don't know. .I feel sort of lost at the moment."

"Why don't you try playing your guitar or sumthin'? Picking up an old hobby is always good. Gotta work on yourself first before you try out another relationship."

I consider it for a moment. "That. . couldn't hurt."

"You know where it's at?"

"Yeah it's at my parents house, I stashed it away in the attic. I didn't think I'd ever use it again."

"I can go with you to get it?"

"That'd actually be great. .thanks."

We finished the rest of our breakfast quickly.

__________

I unlocked the door to my parents house and pulled down the latter to my attic. My parents were out at this time so I decided not to even let them know I was here.

I switched on the attic light and looked around for labeled boxes.

Finally I found a box labeled: Old Stuff

I pointed to it and Quackity helped pull it towards us. Due to the guitar being in it I couldn't close the box. I pulled the guitar out and blew the dust off it. I felt a strange feeling drumming in my heart. The guitar brought back memories of better times.

I handed it to Quackity and decided to look through the rest of the containments.

I pulled out a stack of photos wrapped with a rubber band and some old merchandise from my band.

With that we were gone, as though we were never there.

Once I entered Quackity's house I realized I didn't have a tuner and groaned.

"Hm?"

"Don't got a tuner," I muttered.

"Ah."

Quackity walked out the room and later returned with a tuner. He flashed me a prideful grin and waved it.

I laughed and took it. "Much appreciated."

I tuned the guitar after hearing the atrocious sound that was made upon strumming the severely out of tune thing.

I looked up at him and he was staring straight back at me expectantly.

My cheeks flushed and I pressed my fingers against the strings and I remembered how much I've missed the slight sting of it. I plucked and played a quick tune just to test it.

Quackity smiled. "That was pretty good."

"Thanks," I replied, still more focused on the guitar.

I decided to try out a few things for a while before I put it down.

"Thanks for going with me to get it."

"Don't mention it," he replied.

We talked for a bit before he decided to walk away and give me some time to myself.

I exhaled slowly and pulled the guitar back into my lap. My chest hurt remembering the memories I had made with my old band.

We could've had something but I ruined it. I didn't want to take as many risks as they did and they ended up leaving me behind.

I felt the tears falling into my lap now. I wish I didn't ruin every chance at success that I had. I wish that I hadn't blindly followed Sally. I wish that someone would love me for me instead of as an experiment.

But no one will ever love me the same. I tried practicing some chords just to refresh my memory. My fingers still remembered the placement. I could've been something great.

Maybe I still can. .

A/N: sorry for the lame CHP tbh my motivation is low 🤤