Runaways (A Jack Barakat Fanfic)

10 - Travesty

Rhianne

I couldn't speak.

Something was restricting my airway; stopping anything entering my lungs, I felt myself choking, spluttering, coughing... And then crying. The knocks at my door were insignificant, and I could barely hear them over the screams in my head. How could I have been so stupid to believe that I actually stood a chance. He had been leading me on all this time, even though I had tried my best to distance myself from them all for the last few days. Marty was shouting as he banged his fist against the door, and I felt my breathing begin to regulate slowly. I felt myself move towards the door and unlock it, although I hadn't thought about it, and he charged into the room and locked me in a tight embrace. 

"It's okay. You're okay, we can all get through this," He kept telling me as he rocked us back and forth while we sat on the floor. He had resolved to pull me into his arms and had actually began to cry with me. I felt betrayed. Of course, the others had no idea what had happened between us, but I was almost sure that they could tell that something was going on.

"I'm fine, Marty." I told him after calming down. "I'm overreacting again. Its not like I was anything special anyway, and besides, the other guys wouldn't have approved anyway." I began, but as I tried to continue, the door burst open behind us, stopping as it hit our backs, but was enough for the other guys to file into the room nonetheless. 

"What happened?"

"Where is that bastard, I'll kill him-"

"Guys I-"

"Rhianne, are you sure you're okay?"

"Yes but I-"

"Guys!" Marty shouted. There was silence for a moment. "No, you won't kill him, but you might have a good try when you hear what's happened." He explained, leaving no detail out and I watched as their faces turned red in anger. I might not have now these guys for too long, but we were close, and I could tell that they would be there for me no matter what.

"So you're telling me that he took her back after you made it clear that you had something going on?" Marty asked after I told them about the night after Vic's party. I stayed quiet for a moment.

"We had something... It was never official because I was confused about what was going on. I didn't want to rush into something serious when I knew that he wouldn't want it," I quickly explained, struggling to get my words out. Joey shuffled across the room and placed an arm around my shoulders. "Now I feel like a complete idiot because I let myself fall for someone who never cared about me!" Kicking the table just in front of me, I put my head in my hands once more and sighed.

"Don't feel like that; it could have been anybody." Charlie reassured me. "I promise you that she'll do the same to him as she did before.  She left because she got bored, and I can see her doing the exact same thing to him after she's had the baby. All the bitch wants is Jack's money." He snapped angrily. Knowing the band before they starting touring together, Charlie had strong feelings toward Jasey, none of them being positive. He briefly told us all what had happened between them, and I felt my heart wrenched from my chest once more, but this time for the sake of what happened to Jack. After drinking away my problems for an hour, we headed down to the lobby, where the others would be meeting for dinner.

Although I didn't want to go, the guys told me it would be for the best. I needed to look like all of this didn't actually bother me, and not turning up the celebration of Jack being reunited with the love of his life would just make me stand out like a sore thumb. I was already tipsy, but left the room with my hair and makeup done appropriately (black eyeliner and eyeshadow with deep red lipstick) and a bottle of Jack Daniels in my hand. I took a swig and felt the liquor burn as it ran down my throat. Nonetheless, it was soothing, and with my dress on properly and boots laced up, I stalked into the lobby behind the guys and slumped down into one of the chairs, trying not to show any emotion.