If You're Hurt They Bleed

Gene Kelly

"Oh, my god. I really, really don't want to deal with this right now." I sigh, avoiding eye contact.

"Look, I get it, but-"

"What's taking so long? It's just pizza!" Molly interrupts our unwelcome guest.

"I'm sorry, but I just really need to talk to someone. To talk to you." Grayson reached for my hand.

"Well, there's nothing to talk about. You have a girlfriend. Your soulmate, remember?" I say, pulling away from his gaze. "I'm just... what, a toy?"

"No, I swear-" He's cut off once again, this time by the pizza guy.

"Hey, um... I could come back, or?" He looks around awkwardly.

"No, it's fine. He was just leaving." I gesture towards Grayson and hand the pizza guy a twenty. "That enough?"

"Yup."

"Thank you!" Without a second glance at Grayson, I slam the door shut.

"You good?" Molly touches my shoulder.

"Fine, Moll." I brush her hand off and open the pizza, grabbing a couple of plates. We head into the living room once more, and press play.

Singing in the Rain starts to play, and I let all my memories from the past couple of days slip away. Grayson doesn't have a girlfriend. I didn't lose my dream role to the one person I can't be upset about. Grayson didn't kiss me. All that's here is Gene Kelly and my pizza and my best friend. Dad isn't hospitalized. I'll go home and he'll be there to give me a hug and say goodnight.

Molly and I wake up on her couch the next morning, tangled in blankets and covered in fake cheese. I borrow some of her clothes and we hop in the car, hoping we won't be late for school.

"What time did we fall asleep?" Molly asks me, still half asleep.

"Dunno. 11:00, maybe?" I shrugged.

We pulled into the parking lot as the first bell was ringing, and slid into our seats right as the second bell rang.

"Close one." Molly whispered. I nodded and turned my focus to the board. Today was gonna be a long day.

A/N: Hey, I know this chapter is crazy short but after the last one I just felt like some explaining needed to happen. More on Maya's dad and the Grayson Problem are coming up soon! See ya, lovelies💜