In the Band

Chapter 12

Chapter 12: Allison’s P.O.V.

The clouds made a field of never-ending puffs as I stared at them through the oval window. They met the sky at the horizon where the sun was setting, creating a pink line that contrasted with the flawlessly white clouds.

We were 30,000 feet in the air. 30,000 feet away from my problems that rested on Earth’s surface, in yet, they still wouldn’t stop haunting me.

I tried my hardest not to think about the last time I was in an airport before this morning, biting my lip when a tear threatened to form in my eye. Even with all my efforts, the picture of the tear-stained face of my little sister continued to flash through my thoughts.

Attempting to stop myself from crying, I blinked my eyes rapidly, trying to focus on the beautiful scene outside the airplane’s window beside me.

It didn’t work.

After filling my eyes, the tears spilled over and down my cheeks, starting with one and then quickly getting heavier as the sadness took over. I let out an uneven breath that was loud enough to catch the attention of Carson, who was sitting in the leather chair across the aisle from me. She gave me a worried look that I saw from the corner of my eye.

Another cry escaped my lips and I stood up to get to the bathroom before I started full-out sobbing.

I attempted wiping my face off with my sleeve, but I knew that it didn’t make me look any better.

Making my way to the back of the plane, I walked through Brendon and Ryan, who were leaning over the isle to talk with each other. When I came up close, they stopped their conversation and looked up at me. Once they saw my swollen, red eyes and tear-streaked face they both gave me sympathetic expressions. Ryan seemed like he didn’t know what to do, but Brendon looked right at me while I avoided both their eyes.

“Are you alright?” he asked me when I passed him.

“I’m fine,” I lied. My voice cracked and my heart thudded. I cursed myself for looking like such a child and rushed to the bathroom before I embarrassed myself even more.

Luckily, the plane was small and I didn’t have to go far, but I did pass Jon and Spencer, who also gave me looks of pity, making my eyes sting in overwhelming embarrassment.

After silencing the plane, I finally made it to the lavatory and quickly slid open the compartment’s door. I stepped inside and shut it with a thud.

I leaned on the wall and brought my head back to rest against it. Closing my eyes and breathing heavily as the salty tears ran down my face.

The memory that I had been trying so hard to fight against replayed in my mind for what felt like the millionth time.

“Why do I have to go?” Kelsey had asked me. I vividly remember looking down into her sad, blue eyes and at the single tear that ran down her cheek.

It was Saturday. I had picked her up from her friend’s house that she stayed at on Friday. I cringed when thinking of that night, but managed to not duel on the horrific memory….In the car, Kelsey talked to me about what she did at her friend’s house. She was so happy. I knew then that what I was about to do would break her heart. Kelsey was innocent. That’s why I didn’t turn around. She didn’t deserve to have that taken away from her.

When she noticed I had been driving for longer than what seemed right to get back to our house, she asked where we were going. I stared straight forward with my eyes locked on the road.

“The airport,” I told her. As I said it, I felt a little part of me die on the inside. It hurt. I didn’t want to let Kelsey go, but I knew I had to.