Star: Take 3

Tangled Emotions

SIMONE POV

I groggily sat at the kitchen table eating a stack of pancakes when my phone buzzed. I had been tagged in a video on Instagram. There was Roland Crane, Alex's estranged father, giving an exclusive interview to Gayle King on CBS News. The subject? The day of her wedding. The question that hung in the air? How did you feel when you got the news that there had been a shooting at your daughter's wedding?

The screen captured Roland's teary-eyed reaction, his anguish noticeable even through the screen. "Devastated," he choked out, his voice thick with emotion. "Losing a child is a parent's worst nightmare. I don't know what I would've done if I had lost Alex." I stared at the screen in shock.

"Hey Ms. Carlotta, did you see this?" I managed to choke out, my voice laced with disbelief. She took the phone from my hand, her expression a perfect blend of sympathy and annoyance.

"Roland," she muttered, her tone heavy with scorn. "The man can't help himself, he has to make everything about him, profiting off his own daughter's grief."

"Alex," I called as she walked into the kitchen, "you need to see this." Tears streamed down her face as she watched the video, the pain etched in her features. "Now he wants to be father of the year." Alex said, shaking her head. I rushed over to hug her.

"I'm sorry, Alex," I murmured, my words barely audible over the sobs that wracked her body. Ms. Carlotta joined us, her arms wrapping around my sister in a comforting embrace. "It's okay, baby, you got us." Ms. Carlotta said. "I appreciate you both," she said, her voice raw and real.

"Do you know where Derek went?" Alex asked, her eyes hopeful. Ms. Carlotta and I exchanged glances. "He went to Ms. Ruby's to finish packing," I said, my voice steady. A smile played on Alex's lips. "I'm going to go help him," she declared. Ms. Carlotta and I nodded in agreement.

It was Ms. Carlotta who broke the silence. "Do you wanna come with me to pick up Cassie?" she asked, her tone light but with an undercurrent of meaning. The question caught me off guard, but a surge of excitement bubbled within me. "Sure," I said, my voice reflecting the sudden change in plans. Ms. Carlotta's smile widened. "We're leaving in 15 minutes," she said, her words carrying a hint of anticipation.

When we arrived at the hospital, Ms. Carlotta and I got out of the car and made our way inside. Cassie had been shot in the chest three months ago at Alex's wedding, and had only recently awakened from a coma. She had been undergoing physical therapy at the hospital, and the doctors had finally deemed her well enough to go home.

"Hey, Ms. C I'm gonna go visit Angel before we leave", I said. She gave me a nod. He was still in a coma. The nurse had just finished cleaning him as I walked in, and she greeted me with a warm smile. "How are you doing?" she asked, her voice gentle. I smiled back at her. "I'm hanging in there," I said, my voice cracking slightly.

As I kneeled by Angel's bed, I took his hand in mine. "Come on, Angel," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. "If Cassie can make it through this, so can you. Wake up, Angel. I need you."

I squeezed his hand, but there was no response. A lump formed in my throat, and tears welled up in my eyes. But I refused to let them fall. Angel deserved my strength, not my weakness.

The nurse watched me, her expression sympathetic. "He's fighting it, honey," she said softly. "Just be here for him. Your love will help him find the strength to come back to you." I nodded, my gaze fixed on Angel's still face.

STAR POV

The car pulled up to the curb, and I took a deep breath. This was it. The moment I'd been both dreading and longing for, all at once. My heart pounded in my chest, as I prepared to go into Noah's apartment.

I turned to check on Davis in the backseat. My son slept peacefully in his car seat. I pulled into a space and turned off the engine. I took a moment to steady myself, my hands gripping the steering wheel so tight my knuckles turned white. As I carried Davis to the door, my mind raced with a million thoughts.

The door to the apartment opened, and Noah stood in the doorway. He was tall and lean, his features sharp and angular. But where I once saw coldness in his eyes, I now saw only warmth and a hint of vulnerability.

"Davis," Noah said, his voice gentle. He knelt down to meet Davis's eyes. "I'm glad you're here, buddy. I've missed you." Davis looked up at Noah, his eyes wide. He reached out a tiny hand, his small fingers curling around Noah's.

A lump formed in my throat. This was it. The moment I'd been working towards, and yet, it was so much harder than I'd imagined. I turned to leave, my steps unsteady.

"Star," Noah called after me. "Thanks for bringing him." I stopped in my tracks, my heart pounding. "It was the right thing to do, Noah," I said, my voice hoarse. "For both of you." With that, I turned and walked away, my heart heavy but hopeful.

Suddenly, the world seemed to spin. My heart pounded against my ribs, each beat a deafening boom in my ears. Sweat trickled down my forehead, and my hands gripped the wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white. The car in front of me slowed down, and I swerved to avoid a collision.

My mind was still reeling, and I barely noticed the traffic light change. The honk of a horn snapped me out of my trance, and back to reality. I rolled down my window and flipped off the driver behind me. "Fuck you, asshole," I shouted, my voice raw with emotion.

The car behind me sped off, and I let out a shuddering breath. I was shaking, my hands trembling on the steering wheel. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I pulled into Ms. Carlotta's driveway. I stumbled out of the car, my legs feeling like jelly. I rang the doorbell, my mind numb. Ms. Carlotta opened the door. "Star!" she exclaimed. "What a surprise!"

"I know," I said, my voice shaking. "I... I need to talk to you." Ms. Carlotta ushered me into the living room, her brow furrowed with concern. "What's wrong, honey?" she asked. "You look like you've seen a ghost." I collapsed onto the couch, my body writhing with sobs. "I don't know," I said, my voice choked with emotion. "I just... I can't do this anymore."

Ms. Carlotta sat beside me, her arms around me. "Baby, you're having a panic attack," she said, her voice gentle. "It's okay. You're okay." The tears flowed freely. Ms. Carlotta just held me, her presence a comforting weight. I let the tears flow, the pain finally given an outlet. I cried until I had no more tears left, until my body felt drained.

Finally, I sat up, my body shaking. "I just... I need to get my shit together," I said, my voice hoarse. "I can't keep doing this to myself."

Ms. Carlotta nodded, her eyes understanding. "You're strong, Star," she said. "You're so much stronger than you give yourself credit for. You'll get through this." I managed a weak smile. "I hope so," I said. "I really hope so."

ALEX POV

I walked over to Ms. Ruby's to see the door half way cracked. I slowly stepped in and called out to Derek. My heart pounded as I scanned the room, looking for him. I found Derek in the kitchen, his finger tracing the bullet hole in the cabinet. Derek, I said, he turned around to face me, tears streaming down his face. "This is where they killed her", he said angrily. I knelt down to him, wrapping my arms around him and kissing his forehead. "I'm sorry, Derek", I whispered, my voice choked with emotion. "It's not good for you to see this."

I got up and grabbed his hand, helping him to his feet. His eyes were red and swollen, but he met my gaze, his expression raw and vulnerable. In that moment, I saw the pain etched deep into his soul, a pain I knew all too well. As we walked out of the house, I felt a surge of protectiveness wash over me. Derek was my husband, the love of my life, and seeing him hurt was like a dagger through my heart.

Hey, thanks for reading! I hope that everyone likes this chapter. Let me know your opinions on this chapter! ❤