Lost in Hollywood

Fears, Doubt and Darkness

"Call me stupid—" Cody said, brushing a hand through his hair that was still wet after the shower. "-- but I really thought there was more to Karate than just trying to catch fish with your hands."

"Come on, had we been with Johnny, he would have made you jump from the roof. Would you have liked that better?"

The smile that briefly lit up Sky's face was the most beautiful thing Cody had ever seen. After this nightmare of a week, it squeezed his chest so that he could barely breathe.

They were in the kitchen, she was sitting across the table from him, wearing his clothes - a pair of gray sweats and a plain, white T-shirt, a towel in her hair, her fingers wrapped around a cup of coffee. The rich scent of the dark roast blend filled the room, and for a short moment Cody let himself fall into a dream, a fantasy, where this wasn't his parent's house, that was empty just because Mom and Dad had taken David and Leigh on a surprise weekend getaway, but instead this was his house, the house where he lived with Sky.

In that dream, nothing bad had ever happened between them. No one had died. No one had lied. No one's heart was being ripped to shreds by fears, doubts, and darkness. This was just another Saturday afternoon when they were having coffee in their kitchen, just another perfect day of his life, when his beautiful girlfriend was smiling at him over the table, happy and relaxed after an afternoon in the home spa, and she loved him, loved him, loved him, it wasn't just a lie.

He had to look down. The sudden emotion almost crushed his chest, but he hid it the best he could, taking a sip of his coffee before replying.

"Jumping from roof to roof? I fail to see what that has to do with karate either."

"That's Johnny Lawrence for you," Sky said and her nose scrunched up in the cutest way as she smiled. "He'll make you believe you can fly."

"Huh. And I thought catching the fish was weird enough."

"Come on," Sky giggled, bringing the cup closer to her lips. "You loved every second of it."

"I loved it because we were together," he told truthfully. "I didn't like getting wet, though."

Sky smirked. "Pussy. The water wasn't even that cold."

Her smile was contagious, it was radiant, it was a miracle. He felt a smile on his own lips too, a shadow of hers, but still genuine enough.

"Oh, it was pretty cold. I didn't see you complaining when I suggested the steam room and the jacuzzi after that dip."

"Oh my God, that was so nice," Sky stretched her arms over her head and let out a satisfied sigh. "I could fucking live in your home spa. You're so damn lucky to have one."

"I wouldn't complain if you lived there," Cody let out a small laugh. "Just a word and I'll kick my folks out and make this our place."

Sky laughed, and even if it was amazing to hear her laugh, to see her smile, there was still a tight band squeezing the air out of his lungs. Our place— if only. The chances that he could ever afford a house like this after Mom and Dad kicked him out, were slim to nothing. And even if he did—

Would she even want to live with me? She doesn't love me. It was just a lie. I'm a fucking idiot.

"I'm glad Miggy finally caught the fish, though," Sky went on, oblivious to the heavy weight on Cody's chest, the darkness that was dragging him down. "Now we don't have to continue that next week."

"Next week?" He cleared his throat to be able to speak. "You— you want me to continue going to the dojo with you?"

They hadn't talked about it. Hell, they hadn't really talked about anything. Ever since the damn birthday party last weekend, and everything that had happened—