𝐕𝐔𝐋𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄 ✰ v. hacker

FOURTY-FIVE | IRL

𝒌𝒊𝒐

"So, you guys can't talk anymore?" He sat on top of the kitchen counter, watching Vinnie to make sure he was eating something. Honestly, he was really proud that he'd gotten Vinnie out of bed and downstairs to the kitchen. Vinnie ate slowly, but at least he was eating something.

"Yeah."

"Why not?" He hoped he wasn't pushing him too hard. Kio could see the hurt in his every move and his eyes didn't seem to have the same light as before.

Vinnie shrugged, chewing slowly before answering. "The point of ending this was so that the fans would give us a break. If we're still hanging out, they're still gonna be angry."

"I thought you said you stopped living for the fans a while ago," Kio attempted cautiously. There was no answer from Vinnie, who swallowed the last of his sandwich and dumped his plate in the sink and started walking away.

"Are you gonna announce something about you guys? She's still gonna get hate if they don't know."

Pausing at the stairs, Vinnie nodded quietly. "I guess so."

"Hey," Kio attempted one last time. "I'm really sorry. I think you were perfect for each other."

"I know." was all Vinnie said, as his shoulders slumped and he disappeared back into the darkness his room.

𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒆

Everything ached inside of him. It was just like it always had been before he had met her: darkness, pain, and numbness.

His head hurt from thinking too much about her. He wondered how she was doing. He thought maybe she was hurting just like him. He thought maybe she was doing just fine, living without the burden of millions of fans hating on her.

It's your fault.

Vinnie's heart contracted within him at the familiar accusation. He thought he'd gotten rid of that one, but no, it was back and more persistent than ever.

It was his fault. Nothing in the love for her he held in his heart could ever make him think badly about Riley. She was an angel to him, just pushed too far over the edge, and now she was gone. But it could never be her fault. Maybe he could have said something earlier to make the fans kinder to her. Maybe he could have reasoned with her more and she might have stayed. Maybe he might have been such an amazing person that she wouldn't have even thought of leaving him.

Stop dwelling in the maybe's, Vinnie. You're where you are now, and that's what you should focus on.

He could almost hear her voice as he remembered what she had told him one night, as they were gazing at the stars. Riley was so forgiving, so sweet, and so caring...the only person he had ever known in his life that he had trusted so much. She had taught him to be happy.

The problem was, he didn't want to be happy without her.

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