Falling Between the Notes (Nicholas Galitzine Fanfic)

Chapter 26: Between What Was and What Could Be

Jade's POV

The moment Nick stepped into the backstage area, everything felt like it slowed down. My heart stuttered in my chest, not entirely from seeing him but from the storm of emotions that collided within me. I had just finished performing "You Broke Me First"—a song that had poured out of me in the aftermath of seeing Nick with Jenna in Paris. Every word was ripped straight from the pieces of my broken heart, and the crowd had felt it. But I never imagined Nick would be there, in the crowd, hearing those words meant for him.

And now, here he was, standing a few feet away, his eyes searching mine, his face a mix of longing and pain.

I felt Harry's presence beside me, his hand resting gently on my arm. His touch, while always grounding, suddenly felt like it was burning my skin, especially now, with Nick watching. I didn't pull away though. There was something in Harry's presence that had been my anchor these past few months, something steady amidst the chaos.

Nick's gaze flicked to Harry's hand on my arm, his jaw tightening. I could see the jealousy simmering beneath his calm exterior, and I could almost hear the questions forming in his mind. I wasn't prepared for this. I wasn't ready to face all of it at once—the song, the truth, Harry, and Nick, all in the same space.

"Jade, can we talk?" Nick's voice was softer than I expected, but there was a tension laced beneath it that made my heart race.

I glanced at Harry, his green eyes meeting mine with a quiet understanding. He nodded slightly, as if to give me permission to do what I needed to, but he didn't move away. His hand lingered on my arm, just for a moment too long, and I knew Nick noticed.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to nod. "Yeah... let's talk."

Nick's eyes darted back to Harry, his voice a little colder now. "Alone."

The word hung between us, sharp and cutting. Harry's grip on my arm loosened, and he stepped back, his gaze never leaving mine. "I'll be outside if you need me," he said quietly, his voice filled with both concern and something deeper—something protective.

As Harry walked away, Nick watched him go, his fists clenching at his sides. The jealousy was palpable now, thickening the air between us.

Nick's POV

The moment I saw Harry's hand on Jade, something inside me snapped. I had been sitting there, listening to her sing that song—our story laid bare in front of thousands of strangers—and the guilt had nearly suffocated me. Every word felt like a punch to the gut, a reminder of just how badly I had screwed up. But seeing him touch her like that? Seeing the way he looked at her, like she was his to protect?

It took everything in me not to lose it.

I didn't say anything at first. I couldn't. All I could focus on was the way his hand lingered on her, the way his eyes followed her even as he stepped away. Was I too late? Had he already taken my place? My mind raced with possibilities, each one worse than the last.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself, but my voice came out harsher than I intended. "Is there something going on between you two?"

Jade looked at me, her eyes wide with surprise. She opened her mouth to say something, but then closed it, as if she didn't know how to respond. That hesitation? That was all the confirmation I needed. My chest tightened with the weight of it, and I felt like I couldn't breathe.

"Nick, it's not like that," she finally said, her voice soft but shaky. "Harry's just... he's been there for me. When you weren't."

Her words cut deeper than I expected. I felt my pulse quicken, the jealousy now mixing with the guilt I had been carrying since Paris. I had been the one to break us, to destroy what we had, but I wasn't ready to watch someone else step in and take what was mine. Especially not him.

"I see the way he looks at you," I muttered, my fists clenching at my sides. "The way his hand lingers on you. It's not just friendship, Jade. Don't tell me I'm imagining it."

She hesitated again, and this time, I couldn't hold back.

"I know I messed up, alright?" I said, my voice rising with frustration. "I know I hurt you, and I'll regret that for the rest of my life. But seeing him—seeing you with him—" I stopped, my voice breaking. "It's killing me, Jade."

Jade's POV

Nick's words slammed into me, the rawness of his emotions taking me off guard. I had seen him angry before, seen him hurt, but this was different. This was desperation, jealousy, and regret all woven together, and it made my heart ache. But what was I supposed to say? That he was wrong? He wasn't. Harry wasn't just a friend anymore. That line had blurred months ago, and I wasn't even sure where it was anymore.

"I'm not trying to hurt you, Nick," I said, my voice trembling. "But what do you expect me to do? You left me broken, and Harry was there. He didn't push. He didn't ask for anything. He just was. And I needed that."

Nick stepped closer, his eyes boring into mine with a mixture of pain and anger. "I was there, Jade. I made one mistake—one—and I've been trying to make up for it every day since."

"One mistake?" I repeated, my voice growing sharper. "You didn't just break my heart, Nick. You shattered it. I trusted you more than anyone, and you threw that trust away like it didn't matter."

He winced, the weight of my words landing hard. "I know I did," he said, his voice low. "And I'm sorry. God, I'm so sorry, Jade. But I still love you. That hasn't changed."

The word love hung in the air between us, thick and heavy. I wanted to believe him, wanted to believe that love could fix the mess we had become. But how could I, when every time I looked at him, I saw her? When every time I thought about the future, I couldn't see a clear path without Harry blurring the edges?

"I don't know if love is enough this time," I whispered, my heart breaking as I said the words. "I don't know if I can forgive you."

Nick's eyes filled with hurt, but before he could respond, I did something I hadn't planned. Something that made my heart pound even harder in my chest. I reached for him, pulling him into a kiss—soft at first, tentative, as if testing the waters of what we once had. But then it deepened, months of love, pain, and unresolved emotions flooding to the surface all at once.

Nick's POV

Her lips on mine felt like coming home and being ripped apart at the same time. The kiss was filled with all the things we hadn't said, the apologies, the regrets, the anger. For a moment, I let myself get lost in it, in the memory of what we used to be. I could feel the desperation in the way she kissed me, and I kissed her back just as fiercely, as if trying to hold on to the last piece of us.

But then, just as quickly as it began, she pulled away, breathless, her eyes wide with confusion. My heart was racing, and I could see the same turmoil reflected in her face.

"I... I shouldn't have done that," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

The silence that followed was suffocating. I wanted to reach for her again, to pull her back into that moment, but I knew better. I could see it in her eyes—she was still torn, still caught between what we had and what she might have with Harry.

"Is this it then?" I asked, my voice hoarse with emotion. "Are we really over?"

Jade looked at me, her eyes filled with unshed tears. "I don't know," she whispered. "I just... I need time, Nick. I need to figure out what I want."

And with that, she turned away, leaving me standing there, my heart in pieces once again.