simplicity ✩ pm

fourteen

grace's pov
when i opened my eyes, we were finally at the hotel. we walked in, looking around and seeing the scenery all around. chandeliers, marble floors, i smiled at the thought of all the new memories to come. i carried my backpack with one hand, the other hand interlocked with zion's.

"this place is dope." he said, admiring the lobby. i agreed as we checked in and got to our rooms. it was edwin, cynthia, nick, noah, brandon, and elle in one triple room while zion and i got our own room connected with austin and dahlia. this was gonna be so fun.
dahlia's pov
god, that car ride couldn't have ended any slower. i hopped out of the car rEal fucking quick.

"finally, right?" brandon said, laughing. i laughed weakly and walked away. i was at war with myself. so i finally decided, for the better, i'd let it go. i was just friends with him and i decided i was going to tell austin. i needed to come clean. when we all got to our rooms, i walked to the bathroom and took my phone out.
-
                            iMessage
                                         me: we need to talk,
                                         can we please meet
                                         up?

brandon: sure,
everything ok?
Read at 2:17 a.m.
-
dahlia's pov
"hey aust, i'll be right back k?"

"k" he replied, not even looking up. i walked outside to the elevator. i clicked the button to go down to the lobby. the doors were about to shut when someone's hand stopped them. my breath hitched.

"brandon, hi." i said. he stepped in and stood awkwardly next to me. there was no eye contact, yet the tension was thick.

"hi, dahlia. where to?" he asked. my eyes shifted to the glowing 'casino' button on the elevator door.

"hm, i was gonna go to the lobby to meet you but i kind of wanna see what the roof is about. there's a garden." i said, trying to unclick the button. suddenly, the elevator lights shut off and the confined room began to shake. i started breathing heavily.

"shit, what did i do?" i said, immediately backing into a corner and freaking out.

"hey it's okay, i don't think it was you. it's okay, i'm here." he said, his arms wrapping around me in the dark elevator. i hugged him back with all my heart for a good 5 minutes. silence fell upon the room before i realized what was happening. i pushed him away.

"i cant do this anymore, brandon. i fucking like you, but it's not gonna get any easier to get over if you keep holding me like that." i said, breathless.

"like what?"

"like you want me. like we're suddenly more than friends," i said angrily.
"you've been playing dumb ever since the night you kissed me. YOU kissed ME. and you won't even let me talk about it, ion know what to do with myself br-"

and, of course, his lips met mine again. i kissed him back, running my hands through his hair for a good while, seeing as it would hopefully be my last time. what good would it do if i kept making this mistake? i pushed him away again.

"the fuck's wrong with you?" i said.
"you don't just get to fuck up and then kiss me like it's all gonna go away. man up and face your shit. what do you want this to be, a friendship or more? you don't fucking get both." i said in one breath, quickly backed away from him.

"i don't know dahlia. i love elle, i know you love austin, but i just can't help myself. i don't know what it is, i just love being there for you. and i love being the one who protects you. i don't know. i'm so sorry." he said, literally on the verge of tears.

"it's okay. b, you can be there for me as a friend. you have to stop kissing me though. i'm gonna try to forget, so you have to promise me you will too. this is for the best." i said, cupping one cheek.

"you're truly the best. i love you, dahlia." brandon said.

"i love you too, b." i said, engulfing him in a huge hug. the lights flickered back on and the lights in the elevator began to power on again. the door opened on the lobby floor and we never really found out why the elevator was stuck. but shit, it saved our friendship. so it didn't matter to me. brandon and i looked at each other, laughed, and walked away. we took the stairs up to our room since the elevator was fucking terrifying to us now lol. we talked the whole way there as he walked me to my door and he gave me a friendly goodbye hug before i walked into my room. i saw austin sitting on the bed, lazily texting away on his phone. i sat at the edge of the bed, searching for the words to say.

"can we talk for a second?" i asked, not looking up yet. i could feel the tears in my eyes already. he sat up and looked at me.

"of course, talk to me baby." he said, grabbing my hand and holding it. i took in a deep breath.

"there's something that i-"

"wait, dahlia, before you say anything, i need to say something first. i don't know what you're gonna say, but i need to say this while i have the chance. i-i cheated on you." he interrupted. my eyes drifted up to his, dumbfounded.

"really? i cheated on y-you too." i said, choking up with tears.

"who was it?" he asked.

"it was uh brandon." i said, stuttering to get his name out. austin immediately let go of my hand.

"are you serious?" he said angrily. i was so shocked.

"what the fuck? you cheated on me too, you have no right to be mad austin." i spat.

"yeah well not with your best friend. and elle, does elle even know?" he yelled. i shook my head no as the tears began falling rapidly. i felt my breathing become unusual and the room started spinning.

"i'm-i'm sorry austin." i muttered under his yelling before i blacked out, falling off the bed and straight onto the floor. when i regained my consciousness, grace was screaming at austin on the other end of the room.

"guys?" i said weakly, trying to get their attention over the yelling. no response.

"GUYS?" i practically yelled with a raspy voice. they both looked over suddenly and walked towards me quickly.

"lia, are you okay? god i was so worried." grace said, hugging me tightly.

"yes i'm okay. what happened?" i asked, releasing her from the hug. grace turned to austin, rolling her eyes.

"i got mad at you for a stupid reason and you started having a panic attack so i called grace. i'm sorry, i shouldn't have yelled at you. i love you, im so glad you're okay." he said, bowing his head in shame.

"hey, we made the same mistake. it's okay, we're gonna get past it. i love you, porter, way too much to let this get in the way of us." i said, opening my arms as he hugged me tightly as well. grace smiled and walked back to her room. by now, it was 3:49 a.m. and everyone was still trying to fall asleep. austin and i put on a movie before quickly falling asleep, tightly snuggling.
-
-
-