After Darkness

*18. The sorry*

Krist left for rehearsal feeling a little more relieved. New had come to see with him, after he called completly in tears, and found the boy devastated at the couch, still crying from the last fight he had had with his mother. This fight had been different, because he said some really mean things, and words can cut really deep.

He didn't wish his mother had died over his father. It was an impossible choice for him. If Krist had the choice, on the contrary, he would choose to have both parents together, his mother still complaining about her husband always prioritizing patients and work over family. But after that moment of argument, his parents would be back on good terms, maintaining their respect and, Krist believed, their love.

New knew there wasn't much to say in that situation, so he simply stroked Krist's hair while his friend rested his head in his lap and continued to cry. They stayed that way for some time, until Krist was able to talk again.

"I don't know how we got to this, Newwiee."

"You guys need to talk, get your relationship right, Kitty. You can't keep saying things that will hurt your mother, because someday she might not forgive you."

"But what about her? Is she going to apologize for the things she's been saying to me too?" Krist's pride didn't allow him to apologize on his own. Both were wrong. Both of them had said hurtful things.

"You can't control what your mother will do. That's beyond your ability. What you can do is apologize for your mistake but make it clear that you don't think you were the only person wrong in the situation. The rest is on your mother."

New's words were still echoing in Krist's head when the two sat down at the table to eat something before heading to rehearsal. He didn't know how he was going to face his mother when they saw each other again that night, if she was going to come home at all, but he needed to work up the courage for it. If she didn't want to forgive you, then that would be her problem.

It was in this refreshed mood that Krist left for rehearsal that Saturday. Things in the afternoon started to look up when Off drove up to pick them up. It had been a while since they'd gone out together, so that was reassuring to Krist.

"Me and Gun have talked, and I think now we're ready to not fight anymore." Off told, when New commented how unexpected that ride was.

"But you know you don't have to pull away, even if things with Gun aren't going well, right? Me and Newwiee aren't going to pick sides." Krist countered, thinking this was the best time to bring it up.

"Where has he been, anyway?" Off asked, trying to keep his tone neutral. "Mike and I have been together the whole time, since we also hang out with the team. I was always with someone, and never alone. But who is Gun hanging out with, if he wasn't with you? I thought he would be with y'all, but that's not the case."

New and Krist remained silent, faced with that question for which they had no answer. It was more of a mystery, which had clearly bothered Off. Krist had a feeling that, at some point, that mystery would come back to haunt their group.

If the lack of response from his friends bothered Off, the boy made a point of hiding how he felt. As they had promised, the former couple treated each other in a friendly way, with the rehearsal taking place in the best possible way.

Krist was more confident with his acting abilities, although he was still unsure about performing in front of an audience. That room, with those people he knew so well, was a safe place for him, but being on stage made him feel very vulnerable. Neo's next announcement didn't help to improve that feeling.

"Guys, I have great news. Starting next week, our rehearsals on Saturdays will take place in the theater. This way, we'll be able to better organize the spaces and do rehearsals thinking about where we're actually going to perform."