Lost in Hollywood

The Saddest Part of Me

Earlier that same day:

"Has anyone heard from Sky?" Cody asked, slamming his tray on the table and taking a seat without asking if he could, making Hawk's glance snap up from his lunch. "Cause I've been trying to call her for days and she's not picking up."

Hawk glanced from Cody to his friends and back, as a weird feeling overcame his chest, destroying his appetite. If Sky hadn't taken Cody's calls, something bad might have happened to her, which made Hawk's stomach clench into a tight knot of anxiety. But then again - it could also mean that she just didn't want to talk to Cody.

A faint flicker of hope fluttered in Hawk's chest, but it was smothered by the worry for Sky's wellbeing.

"Wait, what?" he rasped. "When's the last time you saw her?"

Cody's glance that stopped in Hawk's face for a short moment was cold, like black ice.

"Sunday. After the funeral. You haven't seen her since, have you?"

Hawk shook his head, and looked down, suddenly feeling guilty even if there was no reason for it. He hadn't tried to call or text Sky again, not after the disaster it had caused at the party. If she wanted to be in touch with him, she would reach out, surely. But these past couple of days in the school had been pure agony - Sky's empty seat in the English class felt like a punch in the gut, her absence at the dojo was a raw, open wound.

He missed her more than ever. They had barely started getting close, talking, being friends again, and now—

She was slipping out of his life once again.

"She hasn't been in school or at the dojo, so no, I haven't seen her," Sam said in a tense voice, drawing Hawk's attention back into the moment. "After the party— Sky sent some text to me the next day but I— I didn't reply. I haven't heard from her since."

Sam's words made Hawk frown. "Why didn't you reply to her? What did she say?"

Sam sighed and shifted on her seat, a blush of embarrassment or annoyance creeping up her cheeks.

"The same as always. That she's sorry and all that. I just— I didn't know what to say to her." A short silence fell into their small group, making Sam look incredibly awkward. She brushed her hair behind her shoulder and kept her eyes down as she continued: "It's just— what happened at the party, sucked. It was awful. But it was awful for all of us, and it's just her who's skipping school and karate again. It's not the first time she's acting like this - like she's the only one who's affected."

"What are you saying?" asked Miguel with a frown. "That we shouldn't be worried?"

"No. I— I'm worried too, obviously. I'm just— tired of the drama. Bad things happen to everyone, but it's like Sky draws the drama to herself. Sometimes I feel like she wants to be the center of attention, like she wants us to rush to her house again to make sure she's alright."

"Right—" Hawk snapped, barely controlling the anger in his voice. "The center of attention? Like when Tory almost killed her when she was trying to save your ass. Twice."

Sam looked down at her food, her cheeks burning. "I'm— sorry. That came out all wrong. I didn't mean—"

"Yeah, well then stop talking shit about her," Hawk snapped. "She texted you and you didn't even bother to reply?"

"Enough," said Miguel, his sharp tone shutting Hawk up mid-sentence. "Sam's right. Luke's death was awful, for all of us. But it's not getting better if we keep pushing each other away and fighting. That's not how we get through this. Besides - Sky's the one who was actually friends with Luke, so of course it's hardest for her."