Across The Stars

Chapter 18.

(Toby's POV)

I speed through the city, trying to get to Annie as soon as possible.

I knew that asshole was lying, but I couldn't help but worry that Annie was actually leaving.

Perhaps to get as far away from me as possible.

When I make it to The Music Inn, the shop lights are still on. The door however is locked, and I mentally curse.

Remembering that Astrid would unknowingly lock Annie out of the shop sometimes, I search for the spare that Annie hid for herself.

I fumble around for what seems like hours before I remove a chunk of the cracked sidewalk and pull out the small gold key.

The store is dead silent when I walk in, and I hope to god that Annie is here.

I make my way up the spiral staircase and make my way towards her door.

I cringe when I am able to open the unlocked door, hating how carefree she was when it came to something as simple as her safety.

The apartment was pitch black, and Annie was nowhere to be seen.

"Fuck!" I groan.

If she wasn't here, where would she be?

I decide to check Hero and Jo's, but I have no such luck either.

I find myself checking every place under the sun, from my own dorm room, to her record label's headquarters, and even back at that shitty venue.

But she's nowhere to be seen.

I'm just about to leave the venue once more, when I hear Hero calling to me.

"Where's Annie? Jo and I can't get ahold of her and it looks like it's about to storm pretty badly."

"I can't find her. I just went around the entire fucking city on a wild goose chase looking for her. Where else do you think she would go?"

Hero ponders this for a moment. "Erm, I don't know. Did you try the park?"

"What park?"

"The one with the yellow wildflowers that I used to bring Annie to when she was younger. Sometimes she'd go there when she was upset, although I don't remember the last time she's gone."

"It's worth a shot." I tell him before taking off once again, praying to whoever was listening that I'd find her this time.

***

(Annie's POV)

The wind was whipping through my hair, the clouds above closing in by the second. 

I needed to get out of there.

To think.

I could hardly breathe.

The overwhelming feeling Toby brought upon me still existed and I knew deep down that it would never go away.

I hated what I did to him.

Hell, I hated what I did to everyone.

I wish it never ended up this way.

That I had just continued working at The Music Inn and accepted Juilliard. But deep down, I always knew I wanted more.

But wanting more only gave me less.

The yellow of the flowers seemed so dull now in the night sky, the bright yellow that reflected hope now only reflecting disappointment.

Maybe I should just give up now.