This was not our plan.

ch 24: the best scenario

"What the fuck happened? Where is she?" My voice shook as I quickly got into my car. Cursing myself as my unsteady hands missed the keyhole to the ignition.

I couldn't even be mad at Fallon for how she acted before leaving the house, but I could be mad at her for every single thing she did afterwards. My feet couldn't move fast enough when Stefani had sent me a message that she'd found Fallon.

"Calm down, Clee. She's safe, with me. We're outside The Lynx. What, are you guys fighting or something? She seems like the type with an academic stick up her ass — not a party girl." Stefani continued to blabber as I quickly began my journey to the nightclub I consistently pass on my way home from work.

Always, I wondered what it was like in there but never did I think I'd find out in this way.

I was hardly in a mood to speak as I sped down the road, my brain continuously posing questions I clearly had no answers to. Faintly I could hear Fallons voice from the other line as Stefani had gone quiet.

"No, don't let her come." Fallon sounded nearly unrecognizable and if it wasn't for Stefanis incessant repetition of her name I wouldn't have believed it was her.

"Listen, you'll see us as soon as you pull up." Stefani said before hanging up.

Soon enough I arrived and didn't even bother to lock my car, I simply put it into park and jumped straight out racing to the entrance where Stefani stood and Fallon sat sprawled onto the concrete.

"I told you not to call her." Fallon muttered, as she hugged her arms. Stefani glanced at her and then to me with an unfamiliar expression.

"What happened? I thought you were just going on a walk?" The furious nature of my voice failed to be hidden, as even Stefani winced at my tone.

No response from Fallon and Stefanis curious gaze caused me to sigh. I didn't even know where to go from here, or what to do. But what I did know is that Fallon being outside a club, clearly drunk wouldn't be a good look.

Especially if seen by anybody who we happen to work with.

"Get in the car Fallon, you need to go home." I reached out to help her up. She avoided my eyes like the plague and instead helped herself up, the gravity of just how impaired she was showing itself as she nearly tumbled back to the ground she'd risen from.

Barely catching her, she stumbled into my chest as her hand wiped her nose and face. I carefully turned her around and we began the journey to my car in silence.

"What, that's it?" I heard Stefani speak from behind us, causing my steps to come to a halt as Fallon stumbled beside me.

"No explanation as to why you haven't responded to my texts, no acknowledgment of my presence at all — hell not even a thank you for saving your mess of a girlfriend who can't even walk straight? What did I do Cleo?" Stefani's voice was riddled with pent up frustration.

A frown overtook my face as I sighed, guilt filling my senses like a bad stench.

I glanced over to Fallon who shivered slightly in my arms as she quietly kept her gaze averted to the floor. She didn't even seem aware of anything happening.

Turning my head so that I could see Stefani out of the corner of my eyes, I realized the few tears that had fallen onto her face causing an oh so familar ache in my gut.

"I just miss my best friend. I know things have been hard since Maddie died, but you can't keep shutting people out Cleo." Stefani's words drove daggers into my eyes as I felt them well with painful tears.

My mouth parted with intention to speak but no words found their ways onto my lips.

I felt a shift next to me as I turned and saw Fallon looking up at me. Her face was tear stained, striking me with the realization that so much pain was being emulated off of me, and onto the people I love.