Tell Me Why - Anthony Trujillo

8

Raegan

Three weeks later

I was still in Ohio. Things were still a little rough but we tried to go back to our usual routines.

David was out of the hospital but still unable to go to work. He was on his way to being healthy again though. Emotionally him and Gina were wrecks still. They tried being strong for Laurel but it wasn't easy for them. Laurel was doing okay. She didn't fully get what it meant that Olivia was gone and maybe that was better for her.

Currently I sat in my Mom's backyard watching Ky and Shep while I was on the phone with Tessa.

"I miss you." Tessa sighed. "I miss you too." I replied, a slight pout on my lips. I wish I could go and see her. "It's so weird without you. Most people kind of distanced themselves from me after Chance and I broke up. Like you, Tristan and maybe Nick are the only ones that are there for me. I don't know what I did. I just..I feel so alone." Tessa admitted. I furrowed my eyebrows. I didn't know that. "Since when?" I asked confused. "Kind of..after Erika and I did the song." She replied. "Sometimes I really questions how loyal Team 10 really is." I sighed. "Something like this isn't supposed to happen." I trailed off. "I love them all but even in a room filled with everyone I can feel lonely. It's like you have to do something funny or act a certain way to even get attention." She mentioned. "I have to talk to Jake about this. First me..now you." I said. "Yeah." T agreed.

"Do you know when you're coming back?" Tessa then asked. For a few seconds I didn't say anything because I knew what I was about to tell her would maybe break her heart. "I..I don't know if I want to come back." I admitted to her. She was silent after that. For a second I thought she'd just hang up on me. "Why?" She asked quietly. "I just.." I trailed off, fighting with my tears. "My family needs me and I'm not in a right state of my mind right now. I thought Anthony hurt me bad but after Landon..." I wasn't able to finish my sentence. Otherwise I would've started full on sobbing. I quickly wiped some stray tears from my cheeks. I didn't want to cry. "What did Landon do to you?" Tessa asked hesitantly. "I'm not ready." I told her. "Tell me and I'll go and fuck him up." She said in an angry tone, making me smile a little. "No. But thanks T." I replied.

"But please come back. Not right now..take your time. I just need you to promise me that you will come back. I don't care if it's tomorrow, in a few weeks or a few months. Just please come back." Tessa pleaded. I sighed. "I can't promise you that T. But I'll promise that if I decided to stay in Ohio I'll visit." I said. "I couldn't even tell you goodbye." Tessa said. "No need. We will for sure see each other again." I reassured. "I love you Tessa and I'm sorry." I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I love you too Rae. I gotta go now. Bye.." "Okay bye." I replied and then Tessa hung up.

I wish I could've just told her I would definitely come back but I didn't want to lie. I did feel bad but there were times in my life that I needed to put myself first. And that was a time in my life. Not only because of that but because of Gina too. She needed me more than anyone right now.

"Hey." I looked up from the patio steps I sat on to see Gina stand there. "Hi." I mumbled as I locked my phone and placed it next to me. "Were you crying?" Gina asked confused, sitting down next to me. "I was on the phone with Tessa.." I trailed off, fiddling with my hands. "Why did that make you cry?" My sister questioned. "I told her I might not come back to live in LA." I said. "What?! Are you stupid?" Gina exclaimed. My head snapped up to look at her. "Why?" I asked confused. "You belong there! You finally started your music career like professionally. You're literally famous now! You achieved so much and you wanna quit now?!" Gina listed off. "I belong here. With you guys. It feels wrong to leave now." I replied. "Raegan..you never really belonged to Ohio. You're in for so many bigger things in the future..in Los Angeles. Don't be stupid and quit now. You can leave. I'm fine..everyone is fine now. Sure it's a long fight until we can really cope but you don't have to be here to wait that out." She said. "I want to help you guys." I said with furrowed eyebrows. "You wanna help me? Then go back to LA. Change the world. Do a song for Olivia..but don't let old, boring Ohio hold you back." She told me, a small smile on her lips. I sighed. She was kind of right but how could I leave now? I couldn't let them hanging now. "Do me favor and go back to LA. I love you and appreciate that you stayed so long now but it's time to go back to LA. Make me proud. More proud than I already am." She told me, wrapping me into a tight hug. "I'll think about it." I mumbled into her hair. "Good." Gina said.

Maybe I should go back to LA..