Ross Gets Dumped (An R5 Fanfiction)

Chapter 9

Apparently the universe has decided to put me through the absolute worst forms of torture it can think of. First, I have to deal with Hannah following me around like a puppy because she thinks it will make me fall in love with her again (if you can even call what we had love in the first place).

And second, Sophia and Rory are holding hands and laughing. Really laughing, like they’re the happiest couple on the face of the planet.

I can’t decide which one is worse.

Before yesterday, watching Line Driver perform was my favorite part of the show, and not just because of Sophia. They have such an amazing sound and great stage presence that I’m drawn to their performance. I listened to the first song today, but Sophia kept flirting with Rory while she sang. I can’t believe she’s the same girl who told me she was 100% uninterested in Rory just a few days ago. Did she lie to me? Is she lying to him? Could she have changed her mind?

It doesn’t matter. Nothing matters except for the fact that Sophia moved on. Our relationship didn’t exist, really, and now it never will. I think this hurts more than when Hannah broke up with me. That’s another sign that Hannah and I weren’t meant to be together.

I’m sitting alone in the green room waiting for Line Drive to finish so we can go on when Riker plops down on the couch next to me.

“Why so glum, chum?”

He smiles, but I ignore him.

“Hey, seriously, Ross, what’s going on?”

He nudges my arm. I hate to worry my family, but I also hate that I let myself feel so much. My life would be easier if I didn’t care about anyone or anything. “Nothing.”

“You’re lying, and you’re not even doing it well. Come on. Spill, we’ve only got twenty minutes before we go on.”

I turn and face my brother. Riker may be a jokester, but he’s also the most serious out of all of us. I guess that’s why I find it so easy to talk to him, confide in him. Cry in front of him.

“I did something stupid,” I admit. “I fell for someone.”

“Sophia,” he says. “We all know. You’re smitten. But why is that stupid?”

I think. “I guess it’s not stupid, really, but it hurts. Yesterday we spent the whole day together and it was amazing, but then we came back to the hotel and I realized she had my phone so I went to get it and she froze me out. Then this morning we talked and she told me she was going on a date with Rory.”

“The douchebag from her band? There’s no way she likes that guy.”

“That’s the thing, she told me she doesn’t like him. But for some reason she decided to go out with him anyway.”

Riker scratches his head. It probably has nothing to do with the fact that he’s thinking, and he really just has an itch, but it was well placed to seem like one of those old movies where people really do scratch their heads when they’re thinking. “Did anything else happen between you guys coming home and you going to get your phone?”

“Hannah showed up, but I told her that I don’t want to be around her.”

“Speaking of Hannah, where is she? She’s been all over you today.”

“Ugh, don’t remind me. I told her I had to take a very important phone call with some Disney executives so I needed privacy.”

Riker laughs. “Nice. So did Sophia see you talking to Hannah, or see her at your hotel room?”

“Not that I know of. Even if she did, she would have seen me telling Hannah to go back to Zimbabwe.”

“There has to be something, Ross. If you really like this girl, there’s always a way for you to try and work things out. Don’t just give up on her.”

I sigh. “Easier said than done, man.”

He laughs. “I know, trust me. But you have to try. That’s the first step. Actually, the first step is getting rid of Hannah. That girl annoys the crap out of me.”

“Did she always, even when we were dating?”

Riker scratches the back of his neck. “Yeah, but I didn’t want to tell you, because you seemed to really like her. Actually, none of us liked her much.”

Huh. My family acted like they liked Hannah, but they really didn’t. “What about Sophia? Do you guys like her?”

“Yes! She’s actually amazing. We love her.”

“You’re not just saying that because I like her?”

Riker crosses his fingers over his heart. “Hope to die.”

I smile. “Thanks for the pep talk, Riker. I won’t give up on Sophia. And I’ll get rid of Hannah. Not in that order.”

“Good. I’m proud of you, Ross. I heard you wrote a song with Sophia, a full song. I can’t wait to hear it.”

“Wait, how did you hear that?”

“Uh, well… Sophia told me.”

“What? When?”

“Earlier. We were talking. She was looking for you, found me instead. She was clearly disappointed, but you were doing vocal warm ups so she settled for talking to me.”

“Well, what did she say? Did she talk about me? Rory?”

“Ross, I can’t share that information, it’s classified.” I shoot him a look. “You need to talk to Sophia, Ross. She wants to talk to you.”

***

After our set, I find Hannah waiting backstage as usual. She didn’t watch our set. Honestly I don’t think she even likes our music, or watching me sing. How could I have ever liked someone who doesn’t like my music? That’s literally like saying she doesn’t like me. Ugh.

“Hannah, we need to talk.”

“Finally!” she grins. “You’re going to say you love me and you want me back, I already know it, so let’s just skip to the kissing part.”

She tries for my lips but I push her away before she has the chance to kiss me. “No, Hannah. You broke up with me by text. That’s such a bitch move. You need to go back to Zimbabwe or California or whatever, but you can’t come on tour with us. Got it?”

I turn and walk away before she has the chance to say anything else. With Hannah out of the way, I go to find Sophia, and when I do, she’s arguing with Rory.

“Please, Rory, just this once let me sing one of my songs.”

Rory laughs. “You write girly, juvenile songs, Sophia. Why would we let you sing any of them live? You would embarrass the band. We’re men, remember?”

“But I’m a girl!”

He laughs again. “Then be a good girl and do as you’re told. Once you and that Lynch kid finish the song you’ve been working on, maybe we’ll talk. But until then, forget it.”

Sophia watches him walk away. I want to go to her, to hold her and tell her that she can count on me. And ask her why she hasn’t told Rory that we finished the song. But for some reason I know she doesn’t want me to, doesn’t need me to.

But I know exactly what she does need, and I’m going to need to pull an all nighter in order to pull it off.