Lost in Hollywood

More Than Just Cake

The floor crumbled under Sky's feet when Cody walked out. For a short moment, she just stood there, in the middle of the room, confetti in her hair, an arrow in her heart, fighting the sickening feeling that was crushing her chest so that she could barely breathe.

The confused silence that fell into the room lasted for a couple of heartbeats before Tom broke it.

"That— went even worse than I imagined. What now?"

Sky didn't reply, she didn't even turn to look at Tom, or anyone else, as she went after Cody. The realization of how massively she had fucked up, was turning her stomach, and there was only one thing in her mind, obliterating everything else.

I have to fix this!

She was running - as fast as she could in her stupid, stupid heels, shoving the back door open with force—

Cody was standing on the porch, his back turned to the door, the wind in his hair, his shoulders trembling as he cried.

Without a moment's hesitation, Sky threw her arms around his waist and pulled him near. Even in her heels, she was shorter than him and her face pressed against the soft fabric of his sweater, between his shoulder blades. Feeling her arms around his body, Cody gasped or sobbed, but didn't try to push her away.

"I'm sorry—" Sky breathed, squeezing him hard. "I'm so, so sorry. My sweet, dear Cody, my love, I'm so sorry—"

He began to cry even harder, his whole body tense and trembling as he tried to fight the violent sobs that broke through.

"I fucked up. I'm sorry. I— I didn't realize— I'll just tell everyone to leave," The words didn't come easily, but Sky forced them out, each and every one, swallowing her tears that burned like acid at the back of her throat. She couldn't start crying now, She couldn't. This wasn't about her, or her stupid feelings.

"I'll tell them you've got a headache, that I have the stomach flu, I don't care, I'll make up something. I'll make them go home, and let's be just the two of us, okay? Just the two of us. Pizza and a movie, okay? Just like you wanted to— I'll tell them all to go home—"

Cody didn't reply, but his hands found hers as he wrapped his arms around his body. His fingers gripped hard on her hands and Sky had to swallow to keep her tears down. The sobs that tore through Cody's chest were painful, deep, raw, his tears splashed on Sky's bare forearms. She felt his hurt in her gut, turning everything inside of her upside down.

"Just don't go," She pressed her cheek against his shoulder blade, hugging him harder. "Don't leave. Please don't leave me— I'm so sorry. I messed up, but I didn't mean to. I'll— I'll just ask everyone to go. And I'll take down the decorations, the balloons, whatever you want. I'll throw away the cake—"

"N– no," that was barely a word, more like a whimper.

"No? What do you want, sweetie?"

"Cake—" he was shaking his head. His breathing came in sharp sobs, almost like hiccups, his voice was strangled. "The— cake."

"You want cake?"

Sky kept hugging him tight, tight, her cheek pressed against his back. His body was lean and thin, his hard muscles tense and trembling in her arms. His shoulders rose and fell with sharp, painful gasps as he tried to get his emotions under control.

"Yeah—" the word was wet with tears. "I— I really wa— want cake."

Sky felt her heart breaking. She couldn't stop the tears that fell from her eyes and soaked the back of Cody's shirt. Please, no gifts, no cakes, no parties. He had said to her last weekend. I have never had a birthday party and it doesn't seem like a good idea to start now.