STAGE DOOR, j. bassett

.𝟐𝟗 - 𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧 & 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲

stage door

❝ austin & ally ❞

—

THE RIDE all the way up until they got to the apartment was silent. Not exactly silent, but quiet.

Riley was in the bathroom getting ready for bed as Joshua sat on the bed. His elbows on his knees like he's thinking. "Hey about the whole Olivia thing—" She walks out after washing her face.

"What about it?" Joshua interrupts standing up. "No seriously I want to know about it." He was serious, a slightly smile but he wanted to know. I didn't know if it was anger to hurt. He walks over to her until they're face to face, but a couple feet away from each other.

"Can we please just sit down." She doesn't wait. She starts to sit criss cross on top of the bed.

Joshua follows her mimicking her position. "We're sitting now." Joshua says. It was obvious in his tone he wanted to pull it out.

"Back when you were in Utah... Umm, I don't know. I might be jealousy, but you and Olivia seemsd super close—"

"That's because we're co-stars." He spits out rudely.

Bottling her want to spit something back, she learned not to. "Yeah, I-I know that now. But the comments. I hate them ever since I got on Broadway. I believe people that actually check their comments need reoccurrence to feel enough. I swear I'm not like that." She defends herself.

"I told you—"

"I know, and I trusted you. But something about all these people against ur word. I trust you with all my heart.—"

Joshua stand up from the bed. His eyes were fiery and his jaw was clenched. "You're one to talk about trust. I trusted you with every fucking bone is my body. I was jealous as fuck when you spent every day with Juillian, and I had to find out once I got here from Corey that you had a fucking crush on her!" His voice grew louder as it went on into a yell.

Guilt washes over her face. She got up and walked over to the boy. "Look, I'm so so—"

Josh steps back right before her hands got to his shoulders. "Just... don't right now." He walks out the door before she could say something.

Riley bites her lips together as tears slowly roll down her cheeks. More than before.

—

SHE wakes up. The sun is still down as her room is only lit by a small lamp. Turning around quickly in bed. But she was by herself. Her blue eyes stare at the empty space. She rewinds the scene again.

Sit. Calm. Trust. Fuck. Stop. Leave.

Slowly getting out of her comfortably triggering bed. Into her bathroom, she looks in the mirror. She eyes bags were apparent and puffy. Her cheeks were flushed with pink and wee burning. "Fuck you, Riley Shippman." She whispers to herself. She thought she deserved it.

Her analogue clock shows 4:58 am. She sighs walks out of her room.

The wooden door opens to reveal two people on the couch. Joshua is leaning on the arm of the couch. Olivia's head is leaning on his shoulders. The way Riley's was. A blanket is laying on top of them. The television in front of them shows a paused Star Struck.

Riley froze. She just looked at the two for a minute. Joshua shuffles in his sleep. His eyes open slowly making eye contact. His eyes were also puffy. The brown eyes were genuine looking at her hisitanr and caught off guard ones.

He wants to say sorry. To say this this wasn't anything. It was just a movie.

But he didn't. Because she was already on her way getting a glass of water than bringing bf the glass into her room. She quick, she walked fast avoiding looking at them. But his eyes follower her until she closes the door. The sound of a lock scramble.

—

RILEY didn't fall back asleep. Nor did she even leave her room. No knocks. No people even trying to ask if she's okay. No breakfast. No lunch. Watching her tenth episode of Austin and Ally as she's curled up in her room.

It was 8:47 pm. She didn't even make the effort to go to work. Just a small phone call to Alex to tell the production team.

A soft knock comes from the door. "Rils, you missed work." It was Corey's voice. He was tired because it's his first time back from work. "Unlock the fucking door please." His voice was tired and drained out. "If it helps, Josh and Olivia aren't here. Josh is in the city alone, Olivia's with some other friend tonight."

It takes her a while to give in. Walking over to the door and twisting the lock and the door knob. "What do you want."

Corey leaves his bag on the room floor. "You haven't eaten or even got out of your room for that matter." He sinks into the blankets laying down on her unmade bed.

"I just need space from everything." She sinks into the comfort with him.

"I feel ya. I mean not now, but I could relate. Plus, I know you know that I told Josh about Jill." Looks at her with sorrow.

His slightly smiles through her sad eyes. "It's fine, the truth was gonna come out somehow. And he was gonna leave eventually." She hugs a pillow.

"Look, I know what happened with your mom still freaks you out with people. But I know Josh, he's not going to leave."

—

AFTER another season of episodes, the sound of a knock at the door  echoed through the apartment. "I better get that." Corey says getting up and walking out of the room.

Slight murmurs reciprocates through the walls. "Hey, don't please not right now." Corey's muffled voice says.

"I have to please." A guys voice says. Opening the door, is Joshua. He stares at her like he's been crying and his breath was deep. "Hey." Sighing, he doesn't get a response. He walks over and sits on the edge of the queen sized bed. "I— umm... I got you this otter stuffed animal." He chuckles bringing up a small stuffed otter placing in the bed. "Then I realized, I fucked everything up." He scoffs with a slight smile.

She slightly laughs clenching onto her pillow looking at the boy. "You didn't fuck everything up."

"I freaked. And I know you were already sad to begin with. And this morning, she just listened to me talk her ears off about you. I'm really sorry."

"I'm sorry I let some random people that don't even know you determine what I thought." She says sitting up.

"Really?"He smirks moving closers.

"Really." She says with her hands cupping his face pulling him into a deep kiss.

Unlocking lips, the two smile. "Austin and Ally?" He laughs making fun.

"Shut up, Ross Lynch is hot."

"What about me!?!" He says offended.

"You come second best."