𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒 ✰ jenzie

{six}

Hey, concrete and steel
Don't like the lonely way, the way I feel
And I'm trying to find something real
Dying to find a place where I, where I can heal

All those ties that bind me
The past that reminds me
Gonna leave it all behind me
Down the long road I travel
Watch me unravel

- Maisy Stella, "Unravel"

j o h n n y

Quiet afternoons in the studio are my favorites. I like to play around with some little songs that I've written, or mess around with special effects. Perks of having my own recording studio...

The doorbell buzzes, and I look up to see Hayden standing outside the door. I hold down the button to let him in.

Getting up, I come over to give him a man hug and a slap on the back. "Hey, what's up, man?"

"Not much." He takes a step back and rubs the back of his neck nervously.

"I thought our recording date was Sunday," I laugh. "I mean, I'm free now, if you wanted to do it now..."

Hayden shakes his head. "Oh, yeah...no, I know." He pauses, and I wait for him to go on. "Can I ask a favor?"

"Sure." I motion him to the couch and sit down on the chair opposite him. "What's up?"

"You know my friend Kenzie, right?"

I nod, trying to figure out what he means...

"Wait." My eyes widen. "Are you going to ask her out? Don't worry about it, man, you'll be totally fine."

He blushes. "O-h, no, I'm...not. That's not what I came to ask a favor for."

"Oh." I laugh. "Okay, go on."

"You know we had a pop up show today, right?" I nod.

Hayden starts slowly, as if unsure of himself. "So, recently, she's been having some sort of...panic attacks, and they've been getting more frequent. Well...she had one today...during the show."

I grimace. "Yikes. What happened?"

"Well, she sort of ran offstage and...curled into a ball and wouldn't stop crying. She won't let us help her, but Dad told her today that he's basically forcing her to go to a counselor. He called a couple other counselors and stuff, but I thought she'd be more okay with it if it was someone I knew, so I thought of you. Especially after what you did with Lauren and all..." he trails off.

"No, I understand." I nod firmly. "I'd love to help her."

k e n z i e

"Is that okay?"

I bite my lip, confused, angry, and upset. "I guess...I don't have a choice, do I?"

Hayden sighs. "No, I guess not. But seeing one of my good friends instead of some random person is preferable, right?"

"Yeah, I guess." I lapse into silence, and Hayden reaches over to pull me into a hug.

"Sorry." He whispers. I shrug, pulling away from him. Awkwardly, Hayden clears his throat. "I'll always be here for you, you know. I'll never let you down."

I shrug. "'K."

+++

"G'morning," Annie remarks to me cheerfully, handing me a cup of coffee as I sit down at the kitchen counter.