Falling Between the Notes (Nicholas Galitzine Fanfic)

Chapter 28: Crossroads of the Heart

Jade's POV

The soft buzz of voices backstage filled the air as I sat, my hands nervously fidgeting with the mic in my lap. The show had gone well—better than I expected—but the satisfaction of a great performance couldn't quiet the storm in my mind. The emotional weight of Nick's betrayal and the complex feelings I had for Harry made it impossible to find peace.

Harry stood beside me, as he always did, offering his quiet support. We hadn't spoken much since the show ended, both of us wrapped in our own thoughts. He glanced at me, his eyes soft and reassuring. That was Harry—always there, steady and unwavering.

I offered him a small smile in return, and in response, Harry reached out, taking my hand in his. His touch was warm, and I found myself leaning into it, craving the comfort he always seemed to provide. But even as I felt the warmth spread through me, a knot of guilt twisted in my stomach.

That's when I heard the door open behind me.

At first, I didn't turn around. My mind was too clouded, too tangled in thoughts to process what was happening. But then I felt Harry's hand stiffen in mine, and I followed his gaze to the figure now standing in the doorway.

Nick.

He stood there, his eyes scanning the room, lingering on me for only a second before they landed on Harry's hand clasped around mine. The air in the room thickened instantly, the tension crackling like static electricity. My heart sank, and the breath I was holding escaped in a slow, shaky exhale.

"Nick?" I whispered, my voice barely audible, heavy with surprise and dread.

He didn't answer right away. Instead, his eyes narrowed on Harry, the intensity in his gaze sending a chill down my spine. I could see the hurt, the anger simmering just beneath the surface.

"I can accept that you'd be with anyone," he said quietly, his voice trembling with restrained fury. "But not with him."

His words cut through the room like a knife, and I felt Harry's hand slip from mine as the tension between them built. Harry didn't move, but I could feel the shift in his posture—he was on edge, his body coiled like a spring, ready to snap.

"Nick, it's not—" I started, but my words faltered. I didn't even know what to say. Was it not like that? Or was it? The lines between Harry and me had blurred so much that even I wasn't sure where we stood anymore.

Nick's gaze snapped back to me, and the pain in his eyes was undeniable. "Jade, how could you? After everything, how could you let him be the one?" His voice cracked, and I could see him fighting to keep his emotions in check.

I swallowed hard, guilt washing over me. "It's not that simple," I whispered, my voice shaking.

But Nick wasn't listening anymore. His focus had shifted entirely to Harry now, the room vibrating with the palpable tension between them.

"You," Nick said, his voice low and dangerous. "You've been waiting for this, haven't you? For me to screw up so you could swoop in."

Harry didn't flinch. He stood his ground, his expression calm, but his eyes—his eyes were like fire. "This isn't about you, Nick. You lost her because of what you did."

Nick's face hardened, his jaw clenching. "Did you sleep with her?" His voice was sharp, filled with accusation.

For a moment, the world seemed to stop. Harry's eyes flicked to mine, and I could see the conflict there, the hesitation. But then, he squared his shoulders and faced Nick, his voice steady but cold.

"You guys aren't together anymore, so I don't owe you an answer," Harry replied, his tone measured. He paused, his gaze holding Nick's. "But what if we did?"

The words hung in the air like a bomb waiting to explode, and in the blink of an eye, Nick snapped.

Before I could react, Nick lunged forward, shoving Harry hard enough to send him stumbling backward. "You son of a—" Nick growled, his fists already clenched.

Harry barely had time to regain his balance before Nick swung at him, his fist connecting with Harry's jaw. The sound of the punch echoed through the small room, and everything seemed to spiral out of control.

"Nick, stop!" I screamed, rushing forward, trying to push between them, but it was like trying to stop a hurricane.

Harry fought back, landing a blow to Nick's ribs before they were both locked in a vicious struggle, their fists flying as they crashed into walls and chairs, knocking over everything in their path.

"Stop it! Both of you!" I cried, my voice breaking, but they were both too far gone to listen. Crew members rushed in, trying to pull them apart, but the anger, the betrayal, it had all built up too much to be contained.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they were separated, both men breathing heavily, bruised and bleeding from the fight. Harry's lip was split, and Nick's eye was already swelling shut. But the fire in their eyes hadn't dimmed, and the tension in the room was still thick, suffocating.

I stood there, shaking, tears streaming down my face as I looked at the two men who had come to mean so much to me, both broken in different ways because of me.

"How could you?" I whispered, my voice trembling with hurt as I looked at Harry. "How could you throw it in his face like that?"

Harry's eyes softened, guilt flickering in his expression. "Jade, I didn't mean—"

"I trusted you," I said, my voice cracking. "I trusted you to be different, to not make this worse. But you—" I couldn't finish. The pain was too much.

Nick's gaze shifted from Harry to me, his voice raw with emotion. "I came here because I wanted to make things right, Jade. I came here because I love you, and I can't lose you. But if you want him—if you want this—then maybe I already have."

His words struck me like a blow to the chest, and I felt my heart shatter all over again. I didn't know what to say, how to make sense of the chaos swirling around me. All I knew was that I was standing at a crossroads, and no matter which path I chose, someone was going to get hurt.

"I need time," I said, my voice barely a whisper, the weight of my own indecision pressing down on me. "I can't do this right now. I need time to think."

Nick stared at me for a long moment, his shoulders sagging as the fight drained out of him. Without another word, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving me standing there, torn between the two men I cared about, unsure of where my heart would lead me next.