ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ USED TO THE HURT, R.P 2

020

CHAPTER TWENTY
Can I play a song for you?

FOR THE PAST TWO days, Rudy and Madison had been sneaking kiss to each other in their trailers, even some between takes. And they couldn't be happier.

They were currently seated at Madison's hotel room, on the same balcony where she'd always find herself, they sat with their legs intertwined, holding a glass of wine.

"So, do you still write music?" Rudy asked, sipping the dark red wine.

Madison nodded with a hum, tucking her light hair behind her ear, "I do. It's what I love most."

"Wow." Rudy pressed his hand to his heart, playfully taking offense to her answer.

She chuckled, shoving her arm, "You're up on that list. Don't worry. I've actually been playing piano a lot. I'm glad I brought some of my stuff."

"Really? Why have I never heard you play before?" Rudy furrowed his brows, placing the empty glass on the concrete flooring.

Madison shrugged lightly, "You never asked."

"Well, I'm asking now. I know you're great at mostly everything you do. Let me hear something." Rudy sat up, taking the glass from her hand as she whined.

"I didn't finish it yet." She complained as he placed it down, he shook her finger as he helped her sit up.

Rudy gestured his head to the guitar sitting upright, placed against the balcony railing, "C'mon. You'll get it back once you let me hear something."

"Okay, fine." She rolled her eyes, moving up to reach for the guitar, slipping out one of the picks from a small bowl, she adjusted the capo, peering at him, "This song is, um, one of the first ones I wrote when we broke up. I just didn't release because it felt to personal."

Rudy nodded, seeming interested in what she was saying, bringing his hands to his lap as she sat in front of him on her knees with the light brown guitar in her lap.

She sighed, feeling her hands shake slightly. Was she really about to do this?

"Hey, don't be nervous." Rudy reached for her hand, kissing the top of her knuckle as she sent her a reassuring closed-lip smile.

She mirrored his smile, with a small shake of her head. She placed her fingers align with the cords, digging the tips into the strings on the top frets.

A soft melody began to play from the instrument, Rudy already falling in love with it before she'd even started singing.

Friends break up, friends get married
Strangers get born, strangers get buried
Trends change, rumors fly through new skies
But I'm right where you left me

Matches burn after the other
Pages turn and stick to each other
Wages earned and lessons learned
But I, I'm right where you left me

She closed her eyes, refusing to look at the boy's reaction the song.

Help, I'm still at the restaurant
Still sitting in a corner I haunt
Cross-legged in the dim light
They say, "What a sad sight"

I, I swear you could hear a hair pin drop
Right when I felt the moment stop
Glass shattered on the white cloth
Everybody moved on

Rudy had a small frown on his lips, feeling a wash of guilt come over him, he hadn't realize how shitty he truly was until this moment.

I, I stayed there
Dust collected on my pinned-up hair
They expected me to find somewhere
Some perspective, but I sat and stared

Right where you left me
You left me no, oh, you left me no
You left me no choice but to stay here forever
You left me, you left me no, oh, you left me no
You left me no choice but to stay here forever

She continued to move her fingers at a quick pace to play every note, keeping her head down.

Did you ever hear about the girl who got frozen?
Time went on for everybody else, she won't know it
She's still 23 inside her fantasy
How it was supposed to be

Did you hear about the girl who lives in delusion?
Break-ups happen every day, you don't have to lose it
She's still 23 inside her fantasy
And you're sitting in front of me

Rudy brought his pointer finger up to his lips, his brows pulled together.

At the restaurant, when I was still the one you want
Cross-legged in the dim light, everything was just right
I, I could feel the mascara run
You told me that you met someone

You told me that you met someone
Glass shattered on the white cloth
Everybody moved on

Madison replayed that night Rudy had left her for the first time, how she felt as if her world came to a crumbling end.

Help, I'm still at the restaurant
Still sitting in a corner I haunt
Cross-legged in the dim light
They say, "What a sad sight"

I, I stayed there
Dust collected on my pinned-up hair
I'm sure that you got a wife out there
Kids and Christmas, but I'm unaware

Rudy swallowed.

Cause I'm right where
I cause no harm, mind my business
If our love died young, I can't bear witness
And it's been so long
But if you ever think you got it wrong

I'm right where you left me
You left me no, oh, you left me no
You left me no choice but to stay here forever
You left me
You left me no, oh, you left me no
You left me no choice but to stay here forever

She finished playing the final cords, placing the guitar back to its resting spot as she dropped the pick back into the bowl, she gulped before looking at him.

He looked sad, guilty, and just horrified, her stomach instantly dropped.

"Oh, God, I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't have played you tha-"

"No, Madison." He quickly cut her off, "It was beautiful. I-I just didn't realize how shitty I was to you. I'm so sorry."

She tilted her head to the side, reaching for his cold hands, "Rudy. You've already apologized a million times. I know and I forgive you a million times."

He smiled up at her, grabbing her waist as he yanked her down to him, their laughter filling up the air.

ITS BEEN A MINUTE...SORRY LOVES