Elevator ➵ J.M.

9. Don't

n i n e

"HEY," I SAY SLOWLY, TURNING towards him. It seemed like he aged 50 years in 5 minutes. His eyes were sunken in, and his mouth was molded into a frown. A battle between light and darkness shone even through his eyes. "And it was okay. Certainly not the best date I've been on." Hurt flashes through his eyes for a moment.

"Hey," he responds. His eyes seem to clear up in a second. "Look, I really shouldn't have come up here. I'm sorry, I don't know what got into me." He looks at me apologetically and turns around, ready to walk away.

"Wait," I gasp, putting my hand on his shoulder. "Don't." Slowly, he turns around and looks at me questioningly. "I think we have some things to talk about."

Suddenly, his eyes turn icy. "No, we don't."

"Yes, we do," I reply firmly. "Look, I know it seems everything has changed, but it hasn't. Some things are the same. I know you know that."

"That's why I can't talk to you. Do you have an inkling of how hard it's been since you came here?" He asks, his voice getting louder. "Any idea how hard it's been to resist what I feel and felt? It's been so hard to not just leave my life and go to you. And Simon—that's harder than anything else," he says with a mournful sigh at the end. "It's been so damn hard."

"I know," I reply meekly. "Because quite frankly, it's been hard for me, too," I add, looking up into his eyes. Those eyes that have a weird green-blue-gray mix. I don't know what comes in my mind, but I start standing on my tip-toes. Just like I used to all those years ago, to kiss those familiar lips. It was... different than it used to be. But not a bad different. Just different. After all, everything else is different.

"I can't," he says, pulling away.

"I know," I reply, my voice choking up. "I don't think we should talk until tour."

"I agree," he says as he starts to tear up. This was hard. "We can't hurt everyone." He turns around and walks away. I know I should also turn around and go inside, but I can't. I can't keep myself from watching his retreating figure. I can't stop watching my mistakes. I can't stop watching my failures. I can't stop watching what I shouldn't have left behind.

He nods to me after he enters the elevator. Even from such a distance, I can see the sadness  flood his eyes.

[]

"WAKE UP!" Daniel shouts as a smaller person starts jumping on my bed.

"Who let you in?" I ask groggily, flipping over.

"Kara," Quinn says as she stops jumping on my bed. "Come on! Get up, we have a lot of things to do today!"

"Like sleep," I reply, not even bothered with the fact that these two adults are acting like five-year-olds.

I feel two strong arms lift me up out of the bed and drop me on the floor. Luckily, I pushed over a bunch of pillows in my sleep so I landed with a soft thud. Slowly, my brain starts working and I get up.

"Fine! Let me go change," I say grudgingly. "I'll be back in any time between now and the night."

"If you don't come out in 10 minutes, I'm sending Quinn in there," Daniel calls out. I simply roll my eyes, not remembering the events of last night.

Short chapter! Sorry, I just wanted to update soon. Hope you enjoyed! Vote and comment!!

Q. Do you want me to skip to the tour after the next chapter or should I just talk more about her rebuilding relationships with the boys and Christina? I'm leaning towards the first one, but you tell me.