The Normal Heart

Chapter Four

Karsen's POV
I pull into the driveway and sigh. Now I have to go face him. My loving, sweet, kind, special boyfriend. The nicest guy you will ever meet. The man your father approves of. The boy your mom loves. The boy your siblings find hilarious. The guy you dream of marrying and being your Prince Charming.
He's the best thing that has ever happened to me. And then I go out today and practically cheat on him. I don't deserve someone like Ryan.
"Eh babe," he smiles as I walk through the door.
Guilt fills me up and I turn my back to him, hoping that he doesn't read my expression. "Hi."
"How was your day?"
"Good," I say and jerk when he kisses me on the cheek.
"What's wrong?" He asks and wraps his arms around me.
"Nothing. You just scared me," I lie.
"Oh okay. Hey I have a question for you."
"Fire away," I sneak out of his grasp and walk to the fridge. I open the door and hide my face, not actually searching for anything to eat.
"What if we have my parents over for dinner sometime? Maybe Sunday or so?"
My face drops. Now not only do I have to keep lying to Ryan's face, I now have to lie to his parents' too.
"Yea sure!" I add some excitement into my voice.
"We don't have to. I just haven't seen them in a while."
"No it's fine, invite them," I say.
"So Sunday?"
"Yea that'll work." I have three days to get Bruno out of my head and make my lies fool proof.
"I'm gonna go to bed now," I say and kiss him on the cheek.
"It's only 8:45?"
"I know I'm just tired. Long day," I see the confusion clearly written on his face but walk up the stairs anyway.
"Love you," I hear him say but pretend like I didn't.
I close the door behind me and change into my pajamas. I look at the photo on my nightstand and frown. Ryan and I on our two year anniversary of dating. I was smiling so big in his arms and he looked at me like I was the only thing that mattered. Now he can't even glance in my direction without guilt filling me up.
I hadn't noticed the tears that slipped down my face until I was bawling. I slid onto the bed and pushed my face into my pillow. Tears soaked my pillow and before I knew it, I was in full blown sobs.

Bruno's POV
"Thank you Florida!"
My band and I walk back to our dressing rooms. I close the door behind me and lock it. My phone has two notifications, both from my mom. I smile thinking how funny it is that I'm a celebrity and my mom is still the only one that texts me.
Hello sweetie. Just wanted to see how the tours going. I miss you😘
Good luck tonight! Love you!❤️
I smile at the messages and text back that it went great and I love her.
Glad to hear hunny. Goodnight love you❤️
I toss my phone on the couch and go to the bathroom to shower. Two minutes into my shower and she's already on my mind. I don't know why she's constantly popping in because I only hung out with her for like 2 hours. But the way she laughed rings through my ears. And her smile is imprinted in my head. The memory of how we connected so quickly is always on my mind.
I wrap a towel around my waist and climb out of the shower. Cold air hits my wet body and I shiver.
My clothes consist of sweatpants, hoodies and some fancier clothes. I decide on grey track pants and a black hoodie. As I finish pulling my hoodie over my curls, I think about the concert. The way my band and I laughed at each other. How the crowd cheered crazily. And when I sang Just The Way You Are, I was only thinking about one girl. And that one girl is the one I'll never see again.
I pack my bag, grab my phone and plug in my headphones.
Hey Bruno
My music lowers then turns up again, showing I have a notification. Expecting it to be my mom, I smile when I see the name. Karsen.
Hey, shouldn't you be asleep?
Tried, couldn't
Wishin I was there to keep ya warm eh
I place my phone back into my pocket and get onto the tour bus.
My phone goes off again, whatever helps u sleep at night :)
I slightly laugh at the text and tell her everyone wishes I was there to cuddle with.
Sure they do
I tell her that I'm toast and gotta go to bed. We say our good nights and I put my phone on the counter.
BZZZ BZZZ
Grumbling, I grab my phone off the table and check to see who's texting me at 12:30am.
Hey sorry. Knew you wanted to sleep but wanted to ask you when you'd be back in town?
It's aight, wasn't asleep yet. Um I should be back in town in about 3 days
I put my phone back on the counter and when it rings again, I don't check it.
My next stop, Europe.