SHATTERED

forty

alex

the next morning, i woke up before saylor. she was still sleeping peacefully, with her ankle propped up.

i rubbed at my face as i sat up. i sat there for a moment and just stared blankly at the wall in front of me as i tried to wake myself up more. eventually, i got out of the bed, and i walked to the bathroom. once in there, i did my morning routine.

after i was done, i walked out of the bathroom and towards my suitcase. as i was getting some clothes out of it, i heard saylor shuffling around. i glanced over my shoulder to see her slowly waking up.

i paid her no mind as i pulled out a pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt. i slipped them on, then turned around. saylor was slowly bringing her ankle off of the bed and towards the side. i glanced towards the foot of her bed, where her walking boot was sitting.

laura took saylor to get her ankle checked out, last night. she has a grade two sprain, and she has to wear the boot for two to six weeks.

i pursed my lips as i stared at the boot. i let out a deep sigh as i walked over towards it. i grabbed it, then walked around the bed. i sat crisscrossed on the floor in front of saylor, and i gestured for her to give me her foot. the straps and everything were already undone from when she took it off last night.

her eyes widened as she looked down at me. "you're gonna help me put on my boot?" she asked in shock.

"tell anybody about this, and you'll wish you hadn't," i threatened. "come on, i don't have all day."

she continued to stare at me in disbelief for a few seconds. she then slowly put her foot in the boot. once her foot was in it, and her heel was to the back, i closed the liner. i tightened the straps, then moved back some.

"is it good? do you need it tighter or anything?" i asked as i gestured for her to stand up.

she stood up, and she moved around for a moment. "no, it's fine," she told me. she glanced down at me and gave a small smile. "thank you."

"yeah, yeah," i muttered as i pushed myself off of the ground.

saylor walked, or more so, hobbled, to the bathroom. as she did, i grabbed my new, mini travel acoustic guitar. it's matte black, but i'm getting jessie to draw some design on it in white, while we're on the tour bus tomorrow. she's a really good artist; they said they'd be happy to do it.

i brought the guitar over with me to the bed. i sat back against the headboard, and i held the guitar. i played broken, the song being complete muscle memory by now. not long after i started playing, i could hear saylor softly humming along to it while she was still in the bathroom doing her morning routine.

roughly an hour later, it's time for us to head to the venue for soundcheck. as me and saylor are walking out of our room, jessie and miguel are walking out of their's.

"woah, pookie, what the hell happened?!" jessie asked as they looked down at saylor's boot with wide eyes. miguel's eyes widened too.

i brought a lit cigarette up to my lips, and i slowly inhaled as i watched saylor narrow her eyes at the two of them. she hobbled over to them and pointed an accusing finger at them.

"because you two wanted to try and play cupid, i sprained my ankle!" she huffed. i watched with an amused smile as she poked her finger into jessie's chest, who looked completely puzzled.

"woah, how is it our fault?!" they asked incredulously.

"because if you didn't send us to that diner, i wouldn't have been on that stupid, busted sidewalk!" saylor explained as she jabbed her finger into miggy's chest as well. "so, i think it's only fair that you two carry me around."

they both gave awkward, sheepish smiles. jessie glanced at me, and she gave a hopeful grin. "i'm sure alex would love to carry you."

"i carried her for three blocks last night; it's your turn," i gave a fake smile and flipped them off as i walked to the elevator.

miguel sighed before he picked saylor up bridal style. "this wasn't our intention, you know?" he mumbled.

saylor patted his cheek a few times as he brought her over to the elevator, with jessie following behind them. "maybe you'll mind your business next time."

•

the next morning, after the night of our ninth show, we're all in the tour bus to head to the next city. jessie and miguel are both dead asleep in their bunks. me and saylor are on the first level, and we're both sitting on the couch.

i'm softly playing my guitar as i sat in the corner of the couch, with my back against the cushions. my legs are laid out in front of me, on the couch. saylor was sitting on the end of the couch, just a bit away from where my feet were. she was slouched over the table that was in front of the couch as she scrolled through her phone.

i absentmindedly played the chords of your power, but i made no attempt to sing the lyrics. i didn't even realize that i was playing it, until i stopped and looked down at the fretboard with pursed lips. i let out a deep sigh, and i set the guitar away for now.

i glanced over at saylor. my brows furrowed together briefly as i looked at her. she was clearly fighting to stay awake. her head was now laying in her crossed arms. her eyes kept slowly closing, only to shoot open a second later. it was nearing six in the morning, so i could see how she was falling asleep like that.

after putting my guitar away, i stared at her for a few moments as i debated with myself. i pinched the bridge of my nose as i let out a long exhale. i walked over to the couch, and i sat less than a foot away from her.

"you're gonna regret falling asleep like that; hunched over the table," i spoke softly.

"that's a problem that future me can deal with," she mumbled groggily.

i rolled my eyes. i reached out, and i gently grabbed her shoulder to pull her away from the table. she whined lowly as i did, and a small pout formed on her lips. i was going to just leave her sitting up, but my eyes widened as she laid down and put her head in my lap. she curled up on the couch and got comfortable. finally, she let herself fall asleep.

i stared down at her with wide eyes. my hands were raised above her; i wasn't sure what to do with them now. i wasn't sure about this.

she's pretty damn bold when she's high and when she's sleepy, that's for sure.

i looked down at her. her hand was placed under her cheek to support her head, which was facing away from me. her chest slowly rose and fell with each breath she took. she seemed so peaceful and calm as she slept.

i'm stuck here now. great.

my hands were still in the air. i was still unsure of where to place them. i swallowed nervously before i slowly lowered them. i kept my left hand on the couch, beside my leg, while i hesitantly placed my right hand on her arm. her brows twitched as did, which made my eyes go wide. she soon relaxed though, so i slowly did too.

after a few minutes had passed, i slouched a bit to get more comfortable. my phone is up in my bunk, so i was stuck with nothing to do. i could either stare blankly at the walls, watch saylor sleep, or go to sleep myself.

i'll take the latter.

i tilted my head back, and i let it fall against the back of the couch. i closed my eyes, and i tried to completely relax. not long had passed before i drifted off to sleep as well.

•

a/n ayooo

thoughts?

predictions?

words:
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