redamancy // l.h au

fifteen

I hadn't taken the elevator; I couldn't be alone with my thoughts for more time than I needed to. Instead, I raced down the stairs, focusing on my feet as I went.

I heard Sam calling me when I ran out of the apartment, and no doubt he'd beaten me to the ground floor by taking the elevator. I didn't stop at the sound of his voice; I was too afraid that if I had halted and turned towards him, tears would spill down my cheeks.

It wasn't much different now.

I don't know why it hurt so much—Luke and I weren't even together. We were friends. 

He'd said Lindy had hurt him before, what makes him think she won't do it again?

He was drunk—I know that, but what he did was his choice. She was his choice.

I pushed open the doors to the front entrance to see Sam looking frantically around for me in the middle of people walking in and out. His name barely came out as a whimper, but he still turned to me, "Rhea!"

Without skipping a beat, my best friend pulled me into his arms. I buried my head in his shoulder, "I'm so stupid, Sammy."

"Shh, it's okay," Sam whispered. He pulled away from me for a moment, "Why are you barefoot?"

I looked down at my feet and laughed, weakly, "I guess I left my shoes up there,"

"Wait here, I'll grab them." He says, making his way to the elevator. When I move to stop him, he shakes his head, "I won't let any of them come down here, promise."

I nod and let him leave, wiping the dried up salt tears down my cheek and chin.

_________________

The elevator door opens a little while later while I'm sitting on the lounge chairs not too far away, but instead of the one voice I was expecting, I hear two.

The first voice, who's obviously Sam's, speaks, "It's not a good idea,"

"I'll calm her down," The other voice says, which I immediately recognize as Ashton's.

"She's fucking calm," Sam hisses, immerging from the elevator, "See what she says, then."

I look up to see Ashton following Sam as they walk towards me. I give them both a sad smile, but they obviously didn't buy it. "Come on, Rhea. We're leaving." He'd then handed me my shoes, which I had quickly pulled on without another word.

His voice was cold and stern, so I had assumed that Ashton told him what had happened earlier. I nod once, but before we could start towards the door, Ashton stops me, "Rhea—please, wait."

I slowly turn towards him, and raise an eyebrow, "I'm listening."

"Luke's a fucking idiot," Ashton explains. "I-I'm sorry,"

"It isn't your fault," I sigh, hoping he didn't catch sight of my exhausted, red rimmed eyes. "It's not like Luke and I were dating, Ashton. Whatever he has with Lindy is not my problem."

"I can't explain to you why he did what he did, alright? I don't know why myself. The only thing I do know is that he. . .he—"

"He what?" I was growing impatient. I needed a bucket of ice cream more than I needed to stand here and hear what he had to say.

Ashton gulped, "He likes you," Sam let out a little squeal as Ash continues on, "Hell, he's likes alot. Everyone fucking knows it."

I look up at the boy, shaking my head, "No, he doesn't, Ashton."