𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗟𝗘𝗥 𝗚𝗜𝗥𝗟𝗦: 𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗪𝗔𝗩𝗘𝗦

chapter ten

"Hey, Andy?" Alyssa questioned, suddenly noticing that Justin hadn't clocked in for his shift either, which was partially why only she and Riely were working, due to Sawyer and Nick's date. 

"Yeah, what's up?" He raised his eyebrows, looking up from his iPad. 

"Where's Justin?" She tilted her head. 

"Oh, that's right," he nodded, waving Riely to come over as well. "He got fired. Turns out, he was the one stealing money from us."

"What?" Alyssa exclaimed, although Riely couldn't hide his smile, secretly despising Justin as the majority of Light Waves did. "Why?"

"Couldn't afford medication or something like that," Andy shrugged. "It was a shame, if he'd asked for a raise, I would've given him one."

"Are you hiring a new manager then?" Riely asked. 

"Well, actually, since you're here right now," Andy looked over to Alyssa, "I'm gonna make you our fourth store manager, as long as you want me to, of course."

"Wha-- are you serious?" Alyssa's mouth widened. "Yes, yes! That's amazing!"

"I figured you'd say yes," Andy laughed. "We'll talk details tomorrow."

"Can I go call Sawyer and tell her?" Andy nodded his head, Alyssa walking quickly into the back and pulling out her phone. 

She attempted calling Sawyer twice, but neither time did she pick up her phone, letting it ring until it reached voicemail. Alyssa shrugged it off, deciding to wait until tomorrow when Sawyer came in for work to tell her about everything going on. 

Meanwhile, Sawyer had quickly pulled away from Nick the second she heard her doorbell ring. She didn't say anything before running down the stairs, leaving her phone and Nick in her room as she quickly whipped open the front door, thankful for whoever her savior was. 

"Sawyer," Brooke said breathlessly as the door opened. 

"Brooke?" Sawyer felt her heart shatter. 

Brooke had been crying, it was obvious. Her face was red and stained with runny mascara, and it looked like her eyes were still watering. What she was crying about, Sawyer had no idea, but she didn't have time to ask before Brooke began to speak again. 

"I love you," she stated. "I love you as more than a friend. Ever since we kissed on the ferris wheel, actually, no even before that, ever since I met you, I've loved you as more. I'm in love with you, and I know you like Nick, and you probably don't love me back, but... I've lost... so much recently and I can't lose you to."

"Brooke..."

"Say something," Brooke begged. "Just say something, anything, please. Don't let me just stand here like a fool confessing my undying love for you while I'm sobbing."

"I love you too, Brooke, are you kidding me?" Sawyer couldn't help but scoff. "Why do you think I was able to stunt so well with you and so poorly with everyone else? I love you so much, I trust you with my life. You're the only person I feel comfortable letting drive me around. I felt on top of the world when we kissed on that ferris wheel."

"Then why didn't you do anything?" Brooke let another tear roll down her cheek. "Why didn't you make a move or--or something?"

"I was scared," Sawyer whispered. "Never have I met anyone I've loved as much as you and--and I don't have good luck with romance. I was scared I was going to ruin all the good we already had."

"I'd never let that happen," Brooke shook her head. "I want you, no matter what."

"Brooke--"

"Why do you keep saying my name?" Brooke let out a shout. 

"Nick is inside," Sawyer finally blurted, and she could've sworn she heard Brooke's heart shatter. "He's upstairs. In my room. On my bed."

"You didn't," Brooke shook her head profusely. 

"I didn't," Sawyer shook her head along. "I didn't because you rang my doorbell. All we did was make out."

"Why--"

"I couldn't stop thinking about you," Sawyer interjected. "We--we were bowling, and you were the only person I could think of. In my room, he was holding that squid you gave me and I imagined I was kissing you. I thought it would make it more bearable."

"And did it?"

"No," Sawyer shrugged. "Because it wasn't you."

"Sawyer?" Nick questioned, making the girl turn around. "Why are you crying, what happened?"

"Nothing," Sawyer quickly turned back around to face Brooke, Nick joining her side at the door. 

"Oh, you're uh... Brooke, right?" Nick tilted his head with a smile. "I'm--"

"Nick, I know," Brooke brushed him off. "Sawyer."

"Brooke," Sawyer looked into her eyes for the first time during their conversation. And then she turned around to face Nick. 

"What... what happened?" Nick asked, still confused about the situation. 

Sawyer didn't know what to do. She couldn't just kick Nick out and tell him to go home, not just after their date... could she? And she couldn't turn Brooke away, not when she was in such a state. She couldn't bring Brooke inside with her and Nick, that'd be too awkward and painful for Sawyer to endure. 

She looked at Nick, his slightly wrinkled shirt, messy hair, and goofy smile. She wanted to smile back, but she couldn't. She wanted to hug him, but she couldn't. She wanted to want him... but she didn't.

And then she looked at Brooke, her straight hair, her messy makeup, and puffy eyes. She wanted to hold her, but she couldn't. She wanted to kiss her, but she couldn't. She wanted to be with her... but it was hard.

Sawyer's eyes wandered to the ground, looking down at her feet, only wearing socks at the moment. She wanted to cry when she saw the socks she was wearing; Christmas rubber duck socks, ones that Brooke had bought her when they were hanging out one day. 

Sawyer looked back over to Nick and smiled. 

And then she looked back at Brooke.

Sawyer looked in her eyes. 

And she knew exactly what to do.