Take Two

Forgive & Forget?

Riele woke up to her blaring alarm clock beside her bed with a groan. Rubbing her eyes, she got up from her bed and padded to the bathroom.

The dark-haired girl took a look at herself in the mirror. Her eyes were still a bit puffy from all her crying the previous night. She took a deep breath, pulling her hair back into a high ponytail.

After brushing her teeth and washing her face, Riele walked back into her room and to her closet, deciding on what to wear. She pulled out a pair of black jeans, then stood contemplating on a shirt. After a while, she plopped onto her bed and sighed.

"I have literally nothing to wear," she mumbled to herself. The petite girl looked around her room in thought, before her eyes landed on a green flannel that was hung on the back of a chair by her desk. She instantly felt her heart drop.

It was Jace's flannel.

She couldn't help but remember that day; waking up in his arms, going on their "date", the sparks she felt go up her arm every time the blond held her hand. Riele furiously shook her head, then stood up to toss the shirt into her bag, deciding she'd give it back to him when she saw him later (more like throw it in his face.)

The dark-haired girl finally decided on a purple button-down shirt with lace cutouts around her shoulders, then pulled her curly hair back into a half-up half-down style. Slipping on a pair of black combat boots and throwing her bag around her shoulder, she flew down the stairs.

"Morning, mom," she greeted her mother who was making pancakes in the kitchen.

"Morning, sweetie," Elle replied back. "When's Jace coming to pick you up?" The sound of his name stung, causing Riele to cringe.

"Jace isn't coming," Riele answered sternly.

"But I made pancakes for the both-"

"He's not coming, Mom." Elle looked surprised.

"Did something happen?" her mother asked. Riele sighed before explaining the events of the previous night.

"Now that doesn't sound like Jace," Elle spoke after hearing the story. Riele shrugged.

"It's what happened."
"Did you talk to him after?"
"Well, no, but-"
"Listen to what he has to say, sweetie," Elle offered sincerely, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I know from how it happened to you, it seems really bad. But I know Jace. That boy wouldn't just do something like that and not feel some type of way." Riele looked down to her plate, fiddling with her fork.

"Do you need a ride to the studio, then?" Elle asked.

"That's okay, I can walk," Riele replied.

"Nonsense," Elle said. "Finish eating and I'll drive you." Riele thanked her. She scarfed down the rest of her pancakes before meeting her mother outside.

The ride to the studio was pretty quiet, besides the slight hum of the car itself. Riele looked out the window in thought. Maybe she's right, the dark haired girl thought.

"Alright," her mother spoke as she pulled into the parking lot. "Have a good day, sweetie."

"Thanks, mom," Riele replied, leaning over to kiss her cheek before stepping out of the car. "Love you!"

"Love you too!" With that, Elle pulled away.

Riele swung her bag over shoulder, walking to the door of the studio. She stopped herself in front of the door and sighed, not yet ready to face her costar.