la vie en rose | blake richardson

twenty six

"Do you ever, maybe, think you could of rushed into this whole thing with Cassie?" Reece asked, guitar in his lap.

"What 'thing'?" Blake furrows his eyebrows.

"Your relationship," Reece mutters, George rolling his eyes.

"A relationship is not a 'thing', Reece," George scoffs, looking up from his phone and over at Blake with sympathetic eyes.

"I thought you liked Cassie and I together," Blake sits back in his chair, George sighing as he looks up at the ceiling.

"Opened a can of worms with that one, mate," George looks back to his phone.

"I always thought you two would be good together but now I don't know if I support it," Reece slightly shrugs, Blake furrowing his eyebrows.

"First of all, it doesn't matter whether or not you support us- and it's not my fault that our relationship isn't good enough for you," Blake states confidently, Reece offended.

"Relationship?" Joe walks in the dressing room, clipboard in his hand.

   "Yeah, Cassie and Blake's," Reece snitches, Georges eyes widening.

   "Really, man?" Blake stands, upset by Reece ratting him and Cassie out.

   "Blake, get back here!" Joe shouts, but Blake continues walking.

   Blake leaves the venue, until he finally gets to the tour bus. When he gets inside, he walks to the back of the bus where Cassie was editing some press pictures for social media.

   "Some friend," Blake barges open the door, slumping onto the couch next to Cassie.

   "Huh?" Cassie shakes her head, closing her laptop to look over at Blake, who's breathing shakily.

   "He told him. I trusted him with one little thing, and he broke it!" Blake huffs, brushing his hands up and down his thighs.

   "I'm going to need a bit more context, Blake," Cassie turns her body so she's facing Blake, placing a hand on top of his.

   "Reece doesn't like us together, so he told Joe," Blake softly blurts. His voice was soft but also filled with so much anger. But he was too upset and disappointed to be mad.

   "What?" Cassie sits back, confused.

   "Yeah, he said he didn't support it and then blurted it out as soon as Joe walked in the room," Blake huffs, pulling Cassie's hand to place on top of his shaking one.

   "What did Joe say?" Cassie asks, squeezing Blake's hand.

   "Nothing. Nothing that I could hear, anyway. I took off."

   "Hey, it'll be okay," Cassie places her hand on Blake's cheek.

   "I'm less concerned about Joe and more confused about what Reece said. What if he doesn't like us together?"

   "He probably just said it to wind you up. We wouldn't be together if it wasn't for Reece," Cassie reasons, "I'm sure there's some underlying issue going on that doesn't involve us."

"Yeah, maybe," Blake relaxes into the couch, "it just really hurt to hear him say that."

"Yeah, I get that," Cassie squeezes Blake's hand assuringly, "but we'll work it out- together."

   "What if we ran away," Blake sits forward from the couch. Cassie's eyes widen, as if she'd seen a ghost.

   "What?" Cassie scoffs, shocked are Blake's words.

   "We could run away. Be happy, just us," Blake speaks excitedly, "no judgment, only us."

   "With none of your friends and family? You'd be miserable," Cassie speaks seriously, "be realistic, Blake."

   "We'll just hide in here forever," Blake nods, "you know, until Joe finds where we are and fires you, then forces me to break up with you."

   "Okay, slow down," Cassie awkwardly chuckles, Blake's breathing picking up, "if I were to get fired, it wouldn't matter. You're allowed your significant other on tour with you. It'll be okay."

   "No, I don't think I can deal with this," Blake shakes his head quickly, his hands rubbing up and down his thighs.

   "Blake, breathe," Cassie tries to take Blake's hands, but he starts scratching at his arms, his skin turning red.

   "Blake, you need to listen to me," Cassie speaks softly, but sternly,  "I am here, okay? I am not going anywhere. We are okay," Cassie reaches for Blake's hands again, but he pulls away.

   "Please, don't touch me," Blake heaves, raising his hands to his chest, "I can't breathe."

   "Lay down," Cassie stands up, creating room for Blake to lay down on the couch.

   "I'm gonna be sick," Blake cries, bursting into tears. His leg shake, his hands covering his face.

   "Blake, you're having a panic attack," Cassie sits on the floor in front of Blake, "you have to breathe, okay?"

   "No, I'm dying!" Blake shouts, his chest heaving rapidly up and down.

   "You are not dying," Cassie shakes her head, getting into her knees and leaning closer to Blake, "look at me. What are five things you can see?"

   "You," Blake sighs out between breaths.

   "Mhm, what else?" Cassie hums.

   "Um," Blake raises his hands to his eyes, rubbing them roughly. Cassie gently pulls them away, Blake looking around the room.

   "You. I just need you to hold me," Blake cries out, sitting up.

   Cassie stands up, sitting next to Blake. She wraps her arms around him, holding him tight and rocking him back and forth, coaching him through his breathing.

   "Blake, I don't know if you can handle keeping us a secret right now," Cassie speaks softly, running her hand through Blake's hair.

   "Then we let them now," Blake croaks, "I can't hide you anymore."

   "We'll talk to Joe," Cassie agrees, kissing Blake on the head.