Ozone // CLINTON AND CHRISTIAN

24: Still Believe

Your POV

Back at your apartment, you shake some medicine into your hand hoping to get rid of your headache. You don't know if it's from the cold, or if it's nerves from what you just saw. Meghan walks over and shakes your thoughts.

"You've been acting weird. Are you ok, (Y/N)?" she asks.

You nod your head, even though you know you're not. You've tried to forget about the boys – no, that's not true. You've tried to forget about what happened while you were with the boys.

You kept in touch with Christian, as you both promised. At first, he desperately tried to make a relationship work, but it became too difficult with the distance. Although it still hurts both of you, you're still close and talk whenever you can.

Other than Christian, you don't really talk to any of the other boys anymore. You don't know why, it just happened that way. Mitchel, Jesse, and Pat would like your pictures on Instagram, and occasionally Pat would reply to your story. But other than that, nothing.

But now – after what you saw outside of the café, all the memories flooded back. Who knows... maybe it wasn't even them...

You walk into your room and bounce onto your bed. You let out a long sigh. You wish you could talk to Meghan about it. Or Christian. He always made things better. You feel a single tear run down your cheek.

Why...?

Why did I have to meet them? Why did I have to leave? Why did I have to see Mitchel and Jesse and now my brain is fucked up? Why?

By now your face is flooded with tears, mind a mess. Your shaky hand grabs your phone and opens Instagram. You slowly type "@thechristiananthony" in the search bar and click on his most recent picture. All 5 of the boys in Times Square, NYC.

You can't take it anymore. Immediately you open Snapchat and click on Kras's name.

You: Hey, what's up?

Kras: Oh hey! Just chilling with the bitches eating a bomb burrito.

Kras: Hbu love? U done with school?

You: Finally, omg.

Kras: That's good 😊

Shit, this is awkward. Fuck it. I have nothing to lose.

You: Hey, I know this is a weird question, but are u guys in New York? 😂

Kras: Uh, yeah. Why?

It's gonna sound weird if I say I think I saw the boys walking outside...

You: I saw ur post on Instagram. Why didn't u tell me?

Kras: Honestly idk. I guess I didn't wanna bother u if u were still in school.

You: Gotcha.

Kras: Well... ur done now, right? How about we all meet up? Its been so long all the boys miss u.

You: Yeah 😊 tomorrow?

Kras: For sure.

Meghan knocks on your door. "Can I come in?"

"Yeah!" you shout and sit up.

She comes over and sits on your bed. "Well I was gonna ask if you were feeling any better but you're smiling so I guess you are."

She laughs. "Someone on your mind?"

Even though you know she was joking, you immediately blurt out the first thing that comes to your head.

"Yeah, just a guy I met." Shit.

"Oooh tell me!" she says.

You run your hands through your hair nervously as you realize you have to make up a story. You hate lying to your best friend, but part of you doesn't want her to meet the boys just yet.

"Chris. His name's Chris. We're hanging out tomorrow night." Hey, at least it wasn't a full lie.

"Do I know him?" she asks. "Or do I get to meet him?"

You laugh. "Hey, slow down! I love you but we're just hanging out for right now."

"Well stay safe!" Meghan says as she hugs you. "And if he hurts you, I'll kill him!"

-------

Snapchat – 7:38 New message from Kras

Kras: Hey, here's the address to our place! See u soon 😉

You sigh as you throw on a leather jacket over a plain white tee and blue jeans and grab your keys. You get butterflies in your stomach, but you can't figure out if it's from excitement or nerves. Maybe a bit of both.

Traffic in NYC is awful. As you drive to the boys' place, a song comes on the radio. You've heard it before, but you've never really paid much attention to it – you're just not really a fan of rap music. But, this time, it was something about the lyrics that got to you.

I met that girl right up at my show

Out of town never saw her before

Told her, "Baby, we don't got that long"

You want to go home. You want to turn the car around and fall asleep and forget the boys ever existed. But you don't. You keep driving. Straight towards what could either be the best or worst night of your life.

What do you think will happen when you see the boys again? How will everybody react? Will Meghan ever find out? 

~A💕