Fragile // Sequel to Torn

76. |

Chris' point of view:

The fans don't know yet and I don't know how we're going to tell them. This has been the biggest decision of my life and I'm so, so scared. I told my parents last night and there were a lot of tears, but eventually they understood. Of course they're not happy with it, much like Ethan and Jake, but they all know how much Melika and Tyler mean to me. My plane leaves tomorrow night and I know we need to tell the fans, but none of us want to talk about how we're going to do that. When we eat, we do it in silence. It's like if we speak about it, it will become true. But it is true and it is happening; we need to tell the fans this band is over. I just hope it all goes okay.

"Fuck this, I'm done ignoring it," Jakob suddenly announces, turning off the TV. "Tonight we're going out for dinner, then we're going to come back here and livestream everything we need to say."

"That sounds like a plan." Ethan agrees, nodding. I quietly agree then walk out of the room.

Once I'm locked in my room I pull out my phone, dialling Melika's number with shaky hands. It rings and rings but eventually goes to voicemail. Normally I'd hang up but today I get carried away finding comfort in her voice.

"This is Melika! Sorry I can't get to the phone right now, leave a message and I'll get back to you. Have a good day!"

The tone beeps and I realise it's recording. Words start falling out of my mouth uncontrollably.

"Hey, Mel... I hope you're okay because I'm really not. Um, I don't know what the point of this message is but I just want to speak to you. I'll see you tomorrow night, baby. I love you."

I hang up and fall to my knees, resting my head against my bed as I cry. What's even going to happen to this room? Are Jakob and Ethan even going to stay here anymore? Now we're not making music we won't get anywhere near as much money so there's no way they'll be able to pay the rent on this place on their own. This hurts so much.

•••

Jakob's point of view:

Completely ignoring the thought of Chris leaving worked for a while, but now it's completely impossible to ignore I don't know how to deal with it. It's like he's leaving with pieces of me: one, my best friend, and two, my career. I stay locked in my room as I stand in front of the mirror, buttoning up my shirt. I'm fully aware Chris and Ethan are standing outside my door because of their hushed whispering. They're both worried about me but I can't say I'm not worried about myself either; I don't want to fall into the holes I only just pulled myself out of. Every time my mind goes to bad places I try to think of the positives for myself, but I just can't think of any. It's almost impossible for me to think about how Chris feels; I've learnt that sometimes it's okay to just be selfish. Eventually one of them knocks on the door and I walk over, unlocking it.

"Hey, are y-... You're not ready." Chris turns his question into an observation.

"Uh, I am?" I reply, confused.

"Jake... Are you okay?" Ethan asks.

"Of course I am," I lie, "What's wrong?"

"You haven't done your hair at all and look, your buttons are uneven." Ethan steps forward, starting to undo and fix my shirt buttons. Chris walks off, leaving us in privacy. I finally feel safe enough to let out a shaky breath, which Ethan notices.

"Baby, come in here and sit down." he lets go of my shirt and takes my hand, pulling me lightly towards the bathroom.

Silently he gestures for me to sit on the counter and I do so, staring at the closed door behind him as he finishes fixing my buttons. After resting his hands on my thighs for a second and staring at me with a gaze I can't meet, he sighs and picks my container of hair wax off the counter. Neither of us talk as Ethan styles my hair the way he knows I like it, grabbing my hand and helping me onto my feet again.

"Hey," he says soothingly, using a finger under my chin to force me into looking at him. "It's going to be okay."

I don't believe him.

---

Chris' point of view:

Ethan and I talk about the location of Melika's apartment while I drive to the restaurant. Jakob sits in the back with his headphones in and I don't try to talk to him. In fact, we really haven't talked much in the past week. It really saddens me that tomorrow I'm leaving, and my best friend isn't wanting to speak to me. I know he's hurting and so am I, but it's going to hurt more when I'm gone. I swallow the lump in my throat and pull into the restaurant carpark.

Once we're seated at the booth and our orders have been taken, Jakob finally speaks.

"This is a really pretty view."

Ethan and I agree quietly, all of us now looking out the glass wall we're seated by. The sun is setting, the ocean shimmering orange and pink. I'm leaving this ocean, these people; I'm leaving my home.

---

Ethan's point of view:

When we get home I know it's time for the hardest part of this entire thing: telling the fans. Without really saying anything, we set up the laptop in front of the couch and start the livestream. Usually we'd play a bit of a game and make the fans wait until we have more viewers, but today the tone is dull and sad and the fans are picking up on it. I start to read the comments.

Why do I think this news is bad?

Oh no

Wow this isn't a good sign

I hope this mood is a joke

I swallow the lump in my throat and take a deep breath.

"Hey, guys," I decide to start, knowing the others weren't going to. I wait a few moments before continuing. "We're not going to delay this announcement any further or mess around like we usually do. I'd just like to start off by saying that we all love you to pieces and we're so thankful for everything you've given us. Now I'm going to hand it over to Chris to do the talking."

I stop and take a deep breath, having to close my eyes and look at the floor to stop myself from crying. I feel Jakob's hand find mine and I take it gratefully, looking over at him. His eyes are focused on the laptop, the comments rolling in quickly. I'm too scared to look, knowing the fans are probably as worried and nervous as I am. Then Chris starts to talk.

"Like Ethan said, I'm not going to mess around and delay this announcement any further... I just want you guys to know that this is one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make, and um... As of tomorrow evening, I'm moving interstate, and I'm leaving In Stereo. Now I'll leave it up to Ethan and Jake to explain the rest."

I hear a sniffle and I look over at Jakob to see him already crying, looking at me with watery eyes. As much as I'm breaking down inside myself, there's no way I can make him talk about this on camera. I take a deep breath and start to speak slowly.

"I think it's probably obvious what comes next," I have to stop, swallowing a lump in my throat. "Jake and I have done a lot of thinking and the conclusion we're come to is that we have always done this together, as a group of best friends, and that it could never be the same without Chris. In Stereo was so named because all three of us were in sync, and that can't be so without the heart of this band that is Chris. So, yeah... it hurts me so much to say this, but tonight is the last night of In Stereo."

"Thank you for saving my life, guys." Jakob suddenly says through his tears.

"Yeah, that pretty much sums it up."

---

Chris' point of view:

"Chris, I can't find him," I'm woken up by Ethan running into my room. "He was next to me when we went to bed and now he's gone."

"Wait, Jakob's gone? Where?" I ask sleepily, only realising how stupid my question is after I've said it.

"I don't know!" he stresses, running a hand through his hair as he starts to tear up. "I let him go to bed upset and now he's gone. He's not in the house anywhere."

A/N: it's been a while hello