I'm Waiting | ✔

Chapter 7-

Beckett's POV

I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to block out the rumors going around.

Vanessa's heard them. I know it. She's smart, and it's not going to take long for her to figure it out. I just...I'm not sure how she's going to react.

I roll my shoulders, relaxing my tensed muscles before pushing the door open, my bad hanging loosely off of my shoulder.

Silence greets me. All of the whispers around the room come to a sudden stop, and my footsteps echo as I make my way to the bench to put my bag down.

As soon as I turn around, something collides with my torso, wrapping around me and holding me tight.

I glance down and do a double-take, tensing.

Vanessa's hugging me, her delicate hands relaxing me. She buries her face in my chest. "Glad that you're okay."

"I-Have you heard the rumors?" I ask tentatively. I don't hug her back. It'll only make things worse.

She releases me, her eyes clouding over. "Yeah, but you didn't actually slap Carly, did you?" Her hand rests on my arm, gripping me tightly.

I hesitate before answering. I can't...lie. But somehow, I can't tell her the truth either. I'm too scared of the outcome, which won't be good.

Vanessa's arm drops emotionlessly. "You did, didn't you." It's a statement, not a question. My hesitation is the only answer she needs.

I press my eyes closed, the sound of her footsteps receding, echoing around the studio. I didn't want it to be this way.

The door's pushed open, and I can tell it's Carly. She's practically tiptoeing, trying not to draw attention to herself at all, but it's to no avail.

Her best friend runs up to her, her face hardened as she searches Carly's face for any sign of the slap.

There shouldn't be. It's been about an hour and I didn't do it very hard.

Vanessa and Carly exchange a few hushed words before the brunette breaks from her other half, her eyes taking in the room again, lingering on me, biting her lip.

I feel her eyes on me, but I don't pause. Not when she glances away, and not when Carly sits down beside me, pulling on her ballet shoes beside me. I shake thoughts out of my head, focusing on lacing my own.

I can't get it out of my head. Vanessa's face; her betrayed look. It fills me to the top with guilt, and I resist the urge to apologize to her.

Done. I take a swig of water quickly, then go to stand by Jenna who's studying me intently.

Her brown curls swirl in front of her face, cinnamon-colored. Even as she frowns, a bit of happiness enters her eyes. Her face is more of the rounded type, whereas Vanessa's is straight and strict with soft edges, making her appear colder. Jenna's more like a heater; radiating warmth.

I peel my eyes from her, blinking when I realize two other people are watching me.

Sasha's face is staring at me and Jenna, confusion clear on his face. I wouldn't say it's jealousy, really. Just confusion. Like he doesn't understand what's going on. His jaw clenches, but I move on.

My gaze flits to Vanessa. No emotion resides; she's got an excellent poker face, that girl. The only thing that gives away any emotion are her cheeks. They're sucked in a bit, not enough to look as though she sucked on a lemon, just enough to give away a hint of frustration. I'd give anything to know what she's thinking right now, and as she focuses on Jenna, I notice her hands tighten on the bar like she's about to topple over.

But she won't. Vanessa doesn't fall over unless something's really hurting her, or something's bumped into her. I would know. I've taken her in way more times than I can count.

I raise my leg against the bar, feeling a bit of fresh pain sting against my leg at the stretch, but I don't relent. I deserve to feel this pain, I tell myself.

But then I stop, changing to something that doesn't hurt as much when I wince. Delayed reaction, I guess.

I eye Jenna in front of me, wondering if I can get a reaction from Vanessa. I watch her out of the corner of my eyes, hardly daring to blink as I await her verdict.

"Carly said that you apologized to her," Vanessa whispers to me. I can't tell if it's angry or not. "Is that true?"

Surprise is a bolt of lightning, electrocuting me.

Carly said that? Wow, she really does want us to get together.

I move so that she's in the center of my sightline. "I did," I confirm quietly, a light sheepish smile crossing my face for a moment.

She just nods beside me, her leg going up again.

I silently groan, my leg dropping. What is she thinking? I'd give anything to know her thoughts at times like this, but I smile to myself. She...did interrupt me during my staring-at-Jenna time, though.

-----------------

Author's Note-

Hey, guys! I'd just like to know if you enjoyed the story.

Also, if you have any other ships in Backstage, I can try to include them, if you comment them here. >

Thanks for all of the support and just reading this in general!

Owl XOXO