Cherry Bomb [H.S.]

CHAPTER SEVEN

Laying in Rylan's bed with her asleep right against my side, I blink at the ceiling above me. I couldn't sleep any longer this morning, despite how fucked up we both got last night, but she was always somehow able to sleep until the early afternoon. If her parents weren't home right now, I'd be downstairs and fixing myself something to eat, but I try not to see them as much as possible. I don't want them thinking I have any type of future intentions with Rylan because I don't. Sure, I have care for her, but we're not a forever thing. A forever thing isn't even something that I want.

It's been almost a month since I spent the night at Marlowe's house, and I haven't spoken to her anymore after the phone call I made to her when she texted me. The last thing I fucking expected was for her to ask me about that song. I didn't think that program would've had a trash bin where it would be stored after I deleted it. I was honestly such a dick to her for two reasons. The first one being I had been drinking heavily already at the party that Rylan and I were at. The second was because I was embarrassed that she had heard it.

I hadn't actually played an instrument since that day in the garage where I forced myself away from Marlowe. Yeah, I still write sometimes, and I work on melodies, but not a single touch to a guitar or a drum set until I was at her house. I don't know if I could ever touch a drum set again.

Although I had told Marlowe that I wanted her to leave me the fuck alone, I'm still very surprised that she hasn't tried to reach out to me at all. Maybe I finally pissed her off enough to where she'll take the hint and realize that I don't want things to be the same as they were.

And that's ultimately because they can't be.

With Rylan limiting use of my one arm due to her own being wrapped around it, hugging it to her torso, I run my other hand down my face before I reach over to grab my phone. I sigh as I pull up Instagram and I type in Marlowe's name.

Her handle pops up, and I pull in a deep breath through my nose as I click on it.

I had looked at her Instagram a few times here and there over the years we've been apart, but it's definitely been a while since I've been on it. My eyes wander over the screen and I can see that she's uploaded pictures that her photographer took from her show when I first saw her again.

Nibbling on the inside of my cheek, I click on the post, and I begin to scroll through the photos. Surprisingly enough, that was the first night I hadn't drank in a while. I went on my own, and the venue was packed. It was a pain in the ass to get to the bar, so I just didn't even bother. I just pressed myself against the back wall as far as possible so I knew Marlowe couldn't see me.

"Why are you looking at her Instagram?"

I jump as I hear Rylan's groggy voice next to me, and I clear my throat before clicking my phone to sleep. "No reason."

Tossing it to the side, I roll over onto my side and I see her eyes wandering over my face for a moment before she presses her face into my chest. I close my eyes while running my hand over her back. We stay that way for a while until she speaks again.