So Much Stardust ❘ Rocket Raccoon

[25]

Chapter Twenty-Five

You change your mind more
than the moon changes tides
And I need you here in my hemisphere
To make my season's right
You're the rain in my drought
You're the ray through my cloud
But the forecast here is too severe
So I won't go out
Felicity; The Weather

"Short In-between Stories"

Beth Carpenter lay face down in her bed.

The badger looked disheveled. Her coat, normally well-kept and shiny appeared dull. The sparkle that usually showed in her eyes was all but gone.

She rolled over onto her back.

Curst had formed in the corners of her eyes from all the tears.

Her head pounded and her body ached.

None of It compared to the empty feeling she felt inside her chest. The emptiness he had left there when he walked away from her in the galley.

To her left lay a half-eaten jar of peanut butter.

She wasn't sure how long she had been held up in her room.

Hours?

A Day?

A week?

Before she could lose herself in the misery of heartbreak once more a knock came at her door.

"-Beth?" Called the familiar voice of Gamora.

Mantis added from outside, "We have more peanut butter."

The badger groaned.

"The door's not locked," Beth called back.

Gamora entered the room followed by Mantis.

Her friend with antenna did in fact clutch a jar of peanut butter.

The two women eyed their fuzzy friend.

"-I don't wanna talk about it," Beth placed her hands over her eyes.

Gamora took a seat on the edge of the bed and nodded silently.

"I could touch you," Mantis offered, "With my powers, make it stop hurting even if it's just for a little bit."

Beth shook her head, "I appreciate that Mantis, but the thing about pain is, it demands to be felt."

Mantis blinked, "That's very wise."

"Yea, that was John Green, not me," the badger choked back a sob.

Beth sniffled and wiped her nose on her sleeve.

"I'm sorry, I just-" Beth felt her voice trail off.

She sat up looking between her two friends.

"-I feel so freakin' stupid," the badger confessed another round of tears began to fall.

Gamora reached down and softly stroked Beth's head.

More sobs came from the badger.

The green woman pulled Beth into a hug. Mantis laid a comforting hand on Beth's shoulder.

That was one of her favorite things about her friends. They knew sometimes you didn't have to say anything.

~*~

Shailene Woodley portraying Hazel Grace Lancaster standing in "the literal heart of Jesus" projected onto the far wall of Beth's room as The Fault in Our Stars played.