Disclaimer: I don't own anything. It's probably more accurate to say this fandom owns me.
A/N: Before I formatted this, I had "I wrote this while heavily medicated" as the author's note and, yes, this is true. I just think that if the show didn't plan on bring Max back for season 3 (though, in their defense, they didn't even know if they were getting a season 3 at that point) then they should have just killed him off and showed the impact his death undoubtedly has on the other characters. Then I ended up with what I've been calling my #EmoBunny. I've come pretty attached to this Emo 'Verse so I hope y'all like it!
Warning: Dark; Vulgar language; Goes from Canon to AU pretty fast
-BB-
"All these people I sort of knew and sort of didn't, and all of them disintegrating..." – John Green [Looking for Alaska]
-BB-
Stages of Disintegration
Ch. 1 Prince Charming is Dead
It was a pity party that ended in tragedy. She cried and bitched and moaned and he stuttered and slurred and the other car came out of nowhere. Then it was just blinding light and nothingness. What a pretty picture they must have made in the stillness post-crash. Her in her silk dress and him in his satin suit, blood mixed with blonde, crimson against platinum, glittering shards of glass scattered everywhere as if Cinderella and Prince Charming never made it to the reception.
Of course, Cinderella was pure and sweet and fictitious. Lauren Tanner is not. She's more an evil stepsister, at one point almost Emily Kmetko's evil sister. Lauren is rotten and sour and real enough to bleed and bruise.
The moment she wakes up in the hospital nothing hurts, but everything is foggy, halfway between Colorado and some far away fairytale world. The pain doesn't hit until she starts asking for him. Her voice is more hoarse than usual. Her dry throat burns when she tries to force the words out, but she has to. She has to know.
"Wh—where...where's M—Max?"
It takes so much out of her to ask and the nurse barely even hears. The woman in scrubs ignores the question, goes on checking her vitals or whatever it is they routinely do. She feels the anger hit her next. Lauren Tanner isn't someone to be ignored. She practically screams her question, this time grabbing the attention she so often demands, but in response the nurse just tells her to settle down. The woman states the obvious and never gives Lauren what she really wants, which makes her even angrier.
When she starts thrashing in her bed, the pain becomes more apparent. In every one of her joints, all down the left side of her body and her neck and back. Some others in identical scrubs flood into the room to restrain her as the tears pool in her eyes and blur her vision. Lauren doesn't even see the needle as it slides beneath her skin and the sedative mixes in with the blood she's yet to bleed. Slowly, the world goes out of focus until she embraces the nothingness yet again.
Lauren slips back into the nothingness as easy as Cinderella fit those glass slippers.
…
Shocking is a pretty fucking big understatement. It's up there at the top with Austin discovering the depth of his baby sister's disease. This new one though, Max kissing him with scotch-laced lips that burned, Austin still doesn't know what to make of it. He can't even begin to process his last conversation with Max. Honestly, a strong part of Austin doesn't want to think about it ever.
All he wants is a beer when he gets back to the lake house. Austin didn't have a drop at the sendoff party, being among NGO suits and arguably, most importantly, Kaylie's parents. He only had enough time to kick off his shoes before the call came in. Austin had already been annoyed (and a little worried) when Max went to grab his jacket and never came back, but figured he went off with someone else—Lauren Tanner maybe. Turns out, Austin's theory was correct, but it involved a car wreck instead of a condom.
How could Max have been so stupid? To be drinking and then get into a car? That isn't even just making bad decisions. That's plain and simple stupidity. Boy is that little bitch going to hear it when Austin sees him.
But the stupid hospital won't let him.
So. Stupid.
"You don't understand. I don't understand!" Austin shouts, slamming a fist down again the counter at the reception desk. "You call me down here, but now you won't tell me anything because I'm not family? He doesn't have any immediate family! He isn't from here! He's only been living here a couple months now. I'm his roommate. I'm the closest thing to family! That's bullshit!"
"Sir, you need to calm down."
Before he can go off on a rampage, Austin feels Kaylie's little hands on his arm, pulling him away from the stressed young woman, possibly a clueless intern. Kaylie guides him to some empty seats in the designated waiting area.
Be cool, Tucker. Be cool, he tells himself. Anger, that sneaky son of a bitch, it sits on his chest and wraps it's slimy hands around his neck, making it harder and harder to breathe. Austin reminds himself over and over again, concentrate on Kaylie and the feel of her touch and the soft brown of her eyes. She has this calming affect on him and it's nice. The only other person who can talk him down like this is his sister.
"I'm sorry I lost my cool a little there," he says, loudly exhaling. "You shouldn't have had to see me act like that." Austin looks from side to side with a particular blonde in mind. "I'm glad Payson wasn't around to see that. Where'd she go anyways?"
"It's fine. You have a right to be upset. Your best friend was just in a car crash," Kaylie says, taking his hand and lacing their fingers. She's so focused on him and he wants to focus on her, but keeps his head lowered, thinking about Max instead. "I'm sure everything's fine. I'm sure they're both fine."
He wants to believe her, but he doesn't.
"Thank you, Kaylie," he says anyways. Austin tries to give her something that resembles a smile because it's what she deserves, but by her reaction, the saddest smile in the world, he fails. "For being here. I know you came down here for Lauren, but…"
"For you? Anytime," she tells him, squeezes his hand.
Kaylie leans in to kiss him and Austin moves to make sure she only catches his cheek. Austin is the type of guy who doesn't mind a little lip locking, usually kisses two or three of his arm candy girls for the cameras and all within a twenty-four hour time period. However, even Austin knows there's something deeply disturbing about the very idea of kissing Kaylie with the taste of Max still on his lips.
…
Nicky Russo isn't the same gymnast he used to be. He used to be silent and fade into the background all too easily. Now he's better, faster and stronger. Getting out of Colorado seems to have been the best move for him. Now there's only one week till Worlds. One week until he gets to prove his worth to all the people who never noticed him and those who rejected him, but mostly for himself. One week till redemption in Rio and Nicky's confident it's finally his turn to shine.
He does realize how isolated he is, living alone in a one-bedroom apartment in Dallas, far from his family, without friends, going back and forth between his apartment and the gym day after day, but he never lets it get to him. Nicky's convinced having detailed, carefully planned goals, short-term ones that lead to long-term ones, keeps him busy. When you're busy there's no time for socialization. Aiming to be a Olympic gold medalist, Nicky doesn't have time to feel lonely or have feelings in general, really.
When his phone rings, Nicky thinks it's his manager or maybe his coach or (God forbid) his father. Those are the only people who ever really call him. That's why it's such a shock when the name that flashes across the screen is Kelly Parker.
Nicky reaches for it, but then retracts. Reaches out again, reconsiders again. He just can't wrap his mind around it. What could she possibly want from him?
From when he trained in Denver, Nicky remembers a handful of encounters with Kelly Parker. She wasn't as bad as the stories, but only because she didn't see him as a threat. If Nicky were a girl, it'd be a different story entirely. Kelly Parker is just a puppet with a pretty face. Ellen Beals has a few strings wrapped around her fingers, but the true puppet master is her manager and mother who happen to be the same monster. Marty made a valiant effort to cut those strings. Knowing good ol' Marty, he probably still is trying to free her, but seldom does a creature turn against its maker.
When his curiosity gets the better of him, Nicky presses a button and answers the call with a cold, "I think you have the wrong number."
Sniffle. Scowl. Sniffle. "Do you always answer the phone like that or is it a customized greeting just for me?" Kelly snaps. "Russo, don't even pretend you don't know who I am."
Nicky's shoulders drop before he even realizes he'd been squaring them. She sounds upset, like she's been crying. He may not exactly trust her or like her, but Nicky isn't completely heartless.
"It's late." His voice softens and he doesn't know why, but he really does hope she can tell. "What's this about?"
Pause. Deep breath. She replies, "Call it me not being a horrible person for once."
Still confused, Nicky asks, "What are you talking about?"
"It's about your cousin, Max," Kelly says. "There was a car accident. He…he didn't make it."
A/N: What'd you think? Whose reaction/journey are you most excited to see? I know my stories tend to get messy, but this is going to be dark and hopefully in some way beautiful. Stick with me. I'm about to take these characters to places ABC Family wouldn't even dream of. Not even in their nightmares.
ALSO: I made a formspring because I know y'all want to ask me random stuff and hear my even more random answers. Get your anonymous ask on. Link on my profile.
Xoxo