Fix You ~Completed~

Act Fifteen

I woke up the next morning with a pounding headache and about fifty texts on my phone.

Everything okay? :(

Are you okay?

Is Kyla okay? I guess I have to ask that. My invite DID sort of rough him up, but he deserved it.

Gale told me to tell you your boyfriend is a prick. (He lost his phone. He said my car ate it.)

CCCCCCLLLLLEEEEEEMMMMMMMM

CLEM WHATEVER YOUR MIDDLE NAME IS TATE! TEXT ME BACK FOR GOD'S SAKE! I AM OUT OF MY MIND JESUS

Clemmy, please. I really am worried about you.

Clem, I'm outside of your apartment. In the parking lot. In the truck.

Wait, you know my car. Just come out and we can get breakfast or something.

I get it's weird I just sort of showed up, but I've been chilling here for about 30 minutes. PLLLLEEEAASSEE come out and see me??? :(

Kyla was nowhere to be seen when I checked around the apartment. His clothes were the only indication I could find; they were scattered all over the floor in our bedroom. On impulse, I started collecting them and shoved the old t-shirts and ripped jeans in the dirty clothes bin. I had to do laundry. Kyla and I usually made trips on Saturday afternoons to do it, but I had a feeling he wouldn't feel up to it today. Maybe I could con Eddie into giving me a ride to the laundry mat after breakfast.

Instead of texting him back, I simply tugged on my baggy jeans along with my favorite grey hoodie that's been worn to death and head out. I did text Kyla to let him know where I was going and to make sure he was okay. Knowing Kyla, he ran to pick up something to numb the pain Jesimae left behind. He was complaining last night about the pain of chewing during dinner. It probably hurt even worse after he slept on it.

Eddie's black truck was parked in the same spot he'd picked me up for lunch about a week ago in. I popped open the door and jumped in, smiling when I saw his sweet face. "Hi, Eddie," I said, my fingers curled at my sides to stop any urge to hug him from rising up inside me.

"Clemmy! I'm so glad to see you," he sighed, bringing me in to do exactly as I'd feared: hug me. I stiffened in his arms, praying he'd get the hint, but he kept holding onto me. "Are you alright? Was he pissed? God, he looked so pissed. I didn't mean to make it worse for you. I'm so sorry, Clem. I really am."

"It's fine. He was mad, but Kyla's always a little mad," I shrugged him off, giving him a reassuring smile. My friend pursed his lips and brought his index finger up to caress my cheek. "Eddie, what are y-you doing?" I shrieked, pulling back.

He frowned deeply. "You've got a little bruise on your cheek."

I clasped my hand over it, blushing at the thought of it. "It's not what you think," I promised sheepishly, staring down at my lap. "Kyla just... he sometimes gets rough... when we're..."

"When you're what?"

"Don't make me say it." I sucked in both of my cheeks, willing Eddie to drop the subject. He wouldn't wanna hear it anymore than I wanted to say it.

"Wait, do you mean when you're in bed?" he groaned, physically cringing. I stole a glance at him, hoping he wouldn't look as disturbed as he sounded. To my horror, he looked even more sickened than I'd feared. "Sorry, it's just... it's hard for me to imagine you wanting him... like that."

"I don't. I mean, I don't enjoy that. I'm not into that. I just like the proximity and Kyla likes the other stuff," I assured him, even more flustered than before. "God, can discuss about other topics? Like, um, Gale. Where's that nut at?"

"Him and Kam sort of hit it off. Not romantically, I think, but they're buddies now, so he went off with her too take a trip to this art exhibit one of the hotels are putting on today. They invited us, but I said meh. I'd rather just spend the day with you doing something awesome," he explained, reaching over to churn the key of the car. It started up with a pleasing hum, a harsh contrast to the reluctant groan of Kyla's old beater. I couldn't help but smile when I heard the music blaring from his stereo; Pink's "Raise Your Glass." When he noticed my dreamy look, he chuckled. "This is Gale's jam. He absolutely goes nuts whenever he hears it."

"How can he not? This is one of the greatest songs ever written!" I giggled, crossing my arms over my chest. "Did you make this CD?" I asked, noting that the screen on his car wasn't displaying a radio station.

"Yeah. Gale and I like to make little mix-tapes whenever we go on road trips or something. It's a huge deal," he informed me, gesturing to my lap. "Buckle up, please."

It was stupid, but I beamed when he said that. Kyla never told me to put on my seat belt. He said it was lame and made no sense because I held no value in my life anyways. Why did I need a seat belt, he reasoned, if I didn't want to live to begin with?

I quickly snapped my seat belt on. "That's sweet," I commented. "Do you go on road trips a lot?"

"We try to go somewhere once a summer. Hey, you can come with us this year! We usually go it alone, but I'd love for you to be there," Eddie said, beginning to back out of the parking space.

Holy hell. He was inviting me to come with them on a little trip, one that belonged to just them? They liked me enough to let me come with them? (Or Eddie did, at least.)

Kyla was wrong. I knew it right then; Eddie and Gale would never reject me. No matter what, they'd still want me in their lives. If they were willing to let me in on something that special, they could care for me despite all my messed up bull.

"I would... yes," I stammered, bringing my hands up to clasp the space above my heart. It was stupid, but I couldn't help but feel like it might actually eject itself from my chest and fall into my lap. I was so out of my bounds. "I'd be so happy to come with you guys! I've never done anything like that before. The closest thing I've ever gotten to a road trip was going with my parents to this casino outside my hometown. I never even got to leave the hotel rooms those times. Oh god, Eddie, it'd be so fun to go with you! Um, I mean..."

My excitement seemed like too much. I knew it the minute my mouth shut. Eddie would think it was weird and regret letting my little spaz self in on his and Gale's happy road trip.

But he just laughed and turned on his blinker. "I promise we'll make it a lot more fun than a hotel room vacation," he told me, bringing the car out of the parking lot and onto the main road. I stared at him, my chest hurting even more now. What did I had I done to deserve him and Gale as friends? "We talked about taking a trip to San Francisco. Gale is really into Alcatraz and it's been a dream of his to see those Japanese Tea Gardens. They also have some really cool off-Broadway plays, if you're into that. We kinda are."

"I love musicals," I whispered, melting into my seat. Those boys were so perfect. "Eddie, I love you guys."

Eddie let out a soft noise just as we came to a stop sign. While we waited, another car sliding past at a four way stop, he turned to me. "We love you too, Clem," he said back, his voice gentle and loving and everything I needed. As much as it confused me, he was everything I needed. Him and Gale. I needed them. I needed them desperately. "We both love you so much."

"Really?" I bit my bottom lip. "You know, K-Kyla has never actually said it. He's never told me he loved me. All he says is, Me too after I say it, if he says anything at all. I mean, not when he's sober. Sometimes, if he gets really wasted, he'll get all lovey dovey and..."

I stopped myself and turned away, embarrassed to admit that. It hadn't even really occurred to me until right then. The only time Kyla seemed comfortable loving me was when he was absolutely loaded. How depressing.

Eddie looked too upset to respond.

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ACTUAL CHARACTER ART BROUGHT TO YOU BY A.M. COMING SOON!!! :)