down in hollywood // braeden lemasters

ten : heartbreak

"Coming!" You shout at your apartment door after it knocked. It has been two weeks since the concert & you have been focusing on your work as well as having been on a dinner date with Jackson.

"Hi Y/N," You open the door to see Dylan, "can i come in?"

"Of course, Dyl." You get out of the way of the door & make your way over to the sofa.

"How have you been doing?" He asks sincerely.

You look down at your fiddling hands then back up at him. "I've been doing alright."

Dylan positions himself so he's facing you more. "Seriously, Y/N, we see you again after four years & then for the past couple weeks we don't hear from you-"

You open your mouth to object and he puts his hand up in agreement.

"Alright, i know you have been texting us but it's not the same & Cole & i know that Braeden cannot lose you again." You shut your eyes to push thoughts of Braeden hurting out of your head. "Please, Y/N, just tell me what's wrong. It'll help."

You mind trails back to the worst memory of your life as you start to explain the day that still haunts you. The day you left him behind.

——————————————————————

'Meet me at our spot in fifteen minutes. I have to tell you something before you go.'

You smile down at your phone as you read his text while you make your way to the bench in between the cinema & the music shop. Just one more corner & you'll see him.

You have been preparing yourself to say what has always been in your mind & heart. Maybe he was going to as well. There was some sort of connection between you both & there was no doubt in your mind that he noticed.

The way he looked down & chuckled at your jokes. The way he held you when you were down. The way he looked into your eyes & the world standing still around you in that moment. You can't help but hope that the text he sent would mean he felt the same way.

"Y/N!" You stop in your tracks & turn around to see your ex boyfriend catching up to you. "I'm so glad i found you."

"What do you want, Brody?" You glare at him with hatred & disgust.

"I know you're about to meet Braeden," This statement takes you aback, "& i know you're gonna tell him how you feel."

You raise your voice at him, "How did you-?"

"Because i know you, Y/N." He interrupts, "i also know you're gonna get hurt."

"What are you talking about?" You look up at him with intrigue & confusion.

He pulls you by your wrist to get out of the way of pedestrians. "Listen, i didn't break up with you because i wanted to take a college student to prom, well, that's part of the reason..."

You roll your eyes at him comment.

"...but i also did it because it was so obvious the way you feel about Braeden & the way i thought he felt towards you."

You shift uncomfortably, crossing your arms to your chest. "I'm sorry, i guess i didn't realise until this morning."

"It's okay," he flicks a piece of his auburn hair away from his eyes, "i just need to show you a video before you make a huge mistake."

He pulls out his phone & turns the screen around to face the two of you. He taps on a video & it loads, your heart rate increasing rapidly with every time the light roared in the circle.

"Stupid data." He mutters as the video starts to play, "Ah, there we go."

There in front of you is Braeden. His body leaning against the wall in your school corridor & a blonde in between them. His lips whispering into their ear & the both of them giggle in response. The blonde tugs on the collar of his suit, bringing him closer until the video cuts.

You feel your heart break into a million pieces & you grasp your mouth with your face to stop a painful wail exist your throat. Brody pulls you into his arms as the clip replays in your mind.

You push away & run back to your house, tears streaming down your face like a waterfall. After collecting your bags & saying your goodbyes to your family, you leave for the airport.

As you wait at the gate for your flight to New York, your phone rings & his name appears as the caller ID. You decline & shut your eyes tightly as you lean your head back towards the ceiling.

You feel broken & in pain. How could you let yourself fall for your best friend & how could you possibly of thought he reciprocated? Your head feels light & dizzy as your flight is called.

You look back to the entrance & imagine Braeden running in, explaining to you how it was all a misunderstanding & desperately asking for your forgiveness. But he doesn't.

When you sit down on your seat in the aeroplane, you check your phone one last time. Among texts of  'I'll miss you' & 'good luck', a notification jumps out at you; a voicemail from Braeden. Hesitantly, you decide to delete it & put your phone away.

"You're beginning a new life." You remind yourself.