LUNA'S POV
Closing the bathroom door with a heavy thud, my heart sinks as I watch the scene play out before me. Mazzy stands in the center of the empty bathroom, holding Alex protectively. Her friend weeps openly in her embrace.
Sam is the fastest. She pulls the two into a group hug, which Sully and I join moments later. We spend a long time in that embrace, the only sound being Alex's sobs, which reverberate against the bathroom's hollow interior. These sobs die down after a short period, and the five of us disconnect, however, we maintain a comforting circle around Alex. The heavy silence persists until Sam pipes up feebly.
"Are you alright, Alex?" Sam asks, her voice sounding unnaturally loud in the once quiet room. Though the question seems rather simplistic, and the answer is in every way obvious, there's something different about the way Sam poses the question. It's unlike that of the "are you alright" asked when someone is zoning off or nervous about a test. This question contains an evident fear that is trying to be suppressed by the question's owner.
Alex shakes their head, sniffling. Sam glances in my direction, pleading for my assistance. Biting my lip nervously, I gently place a hand on Alex's shoulder. They look up to meet my gaze, their face flushed from crying.
"Aw, hey dude." I murmur reassuringly. "Don't let them break your stride. You've got to keep on moving. I think your song is really rad."
Alex, much to my distress, doesn't smile at my weak reassurance. "T-thanks, Luna, but that's not what's bothering me so much." Alex states, trying in vain to wipe at their eyes. However, more appear and fall freely.
"I miss m-my mom!" The poor thing sobs, grabbing me and hugging me fiercely. Internally, my heart shatters. I mentally slap myself for having said something so foolish.
As I hold onto Alex, I consider what they said. It's natural for a young child to say such things regarding their mother, but hearing it come from a friend with a broken heart hits rather differently.
Upon disconnecting from the hug, Sully approaches Alex, enfolding them in a hug. Sully, however quietly, is seen to be openly crying as well. He cups the back of Alex's head, gently stroking their green hair.
"I know, I know…" Sully murmurs soothingly, his voice choked with sobs. "I miss her too." Alex releases a couple more sobs before easing up once again. The two siblings remain in the embrace, Alex evidently comforted by their brother's company.
There's a silence within the bathroom as the atmosphere changes. Now that Alex has calmed down considerably, an obvious negativity towards Michelle and Doug fills the room.
Shaking with pure rage, Mazzy bunches her hands into fists. She makes a move to punch the wall, thinks better of it, and resorts to punching the air instead.
"Who the hell do they think they are, talking to someone like that?" Mazzy releases a couple other choice words, kicking the wall gently, yet in an aggressive manner.
"H-hey, Mazzy, let's not get too aggressive alright?" Sam pipes up, placing a hand on the girl's shoulder. "I don't think Michelle intended to hurt Alex so much."
Flabbergasted, Mazzy turns her body to face Sam, seething. "Oh, so you're backing her up now, huh?"
Taken aback, Sam puts her hands up, as if to surrender to Mazzy's rage. "What? No, of course not!" Sam interjects.
Disbelieving, Mazzy raises an eyebrow at Sam, and Sam releases an exasperated sigh. "It's not what you think, Mazzy." She states. "What I'm trying to say is: how could Michelle have known about the death of Sully and Alex's mom?"
My bandmates ponder Sam's question for a few moments, only to be interrupted by Sam as she finishes her train of thought.
"Exactly. She probably didn't intend to get such a reaction out of Alex." Sam murmurs, her features portraying guilt at the very idea of backing Michelle up.
Mazzy sighs, resting her head against the wall and rubbing at her temples. "Yeah, but that doesn't change the fact that those judges are a bunch of a-holes." She groans.
The rest of the band, including Sam, is quick to agree with this statement. A short silence follows, and the three of us surround Alex and Sully again, engulfing the two siblings in a hug.
"I'm so sorry, you guys." Sam murmurs. "We'll always be here for you." The two siblings murmur gratefully in response.
"I won't deny," Sully begins, meeting his sibling's eyes. "Mom's death has been very hard for me to manage, but… I'm really glad that you're back in my life, Alex. It helps a ton."
Releasing a sob, Alex hugs their brother tightly. "Thank you so much." They whimper within the embrace before wiping at their eyes. "And you came into the girl's bathroom just for me? That's dedication." They chuckle amid their tears, and the remaining four of us laugh.
"Hey…" Alex continues in a more serious tone, causing us to perk up attentively. "Do you want to come over later tonight? I feel like I should properly explain myself."
We all nod, incredibly relieved at the prospect of understanding Alex better. Their distress has been nagging at us profusely.
"Just as long as your dad is alright with it, I'm down." Mazzy says, her expression glazing over with curiosity upon seeing Alex and Sully's contemplative features.
"Honestly," Sully finally pipes up. "My dad is fine with anything right now."
Alex nods as a way of seconding Sully's response. "Yeah, he doesn't really care." They add.
It's rather strange and altogether unsettling to hear that about somebody's father, and I'm not the only one concerned. Mazzy and Sam share a questioning glance.
"So… you'll text us when you're ready?" I question with the hope of changing the subject, seeing how the energy has grown rather dreary within the bathroom.
Alex and Sully confirm, and the five of us exchange a few farewells and hugs before exiting the bathroom. We all despise the idea of returning to the Royal Rumble today, so we call it a night and return home.
"Hey, Lunes?" Sam says as she approaches me twenty minutes later. We're the only two students remaining in the hallway, our bandmates having been picked up moments prior.
"My mom is here." Sam states before taking my hand gently. "Would you still be, you know, interested in helping me with my song? You know, when rehearsals start next week?"
I smile warmly in my girlfriend's direction, taking both of her hands in mine. "Of course I'm still interested, my little ray of sunshine." I state, and Sam blushes visibly before kissing my cheek affectionately. She runs from the school to catch her ride, leaving me standing, alone, in the school hallway.
The fluorescent lights flicker dimly, and I slide against the wall to sit on the cold hallway floor. My phone vibrates, containing a new message.
Lori: Hey, I'm gonna be late. Traffic is literally terrible.
It's only as I click the button on the side of my phone, bringing the screen to black, that I see her. Mrs. V. She's approaching from down the hall.
I rise as the band teacher gets closer, and I detect an obvious concern emanating off of her.
"Hello, Luna, honey." Mrs. V greets, looking rather sad. "I suspect that you're the only one here?" She says, and I nod. A brief pause steals over us, the ticking of the hallway clock sounding ominous and intimidating within the dark and quiet space.
"I'm very sorry about today." Mrs. V murmurs sadly. Seeing the distress within Mrs. V pains me beyond belief, seeing how there's no reason why she should be apologizing.
"No, Mrs. V, you've done nothing wrong." I state, undoubtedly taken aback my Mrs. V's somber attitude. Mrs. V seems evidently relieved to hear such things, for she provides me with a weak smile.
"I'm that that you think so, dear." Mrs. V says. "How is Alex?" She asks after a brief pause, and I shrug my shoulders meekly.
"They've been… better." I say awkwardly as I gaze down at my boots. Mrs. V murmurs in understanding, allowing another long pause to follow in her wake.
"Mrs. V?" I question, raising my head. My teacher raises an eyebrow curiously. A part of me tells myself that I shouldn't ask the question nagging at my mind. However, I allow the words to issue forth of their own accord.
"Is something going on?" I question. Seemingly unbothered by my question, Mrs. V only smiles fondly.
"You're very sweet, dear. However, I'm afraid that there's not much you can be told." Mrs. V says, leaving the conversation at that. My teacher begins making her way back towards the band room, but she turns around to smile in my direction.
"I hope to see you and your friends next week." Mrs. V states. "I hope recent events haven't changed your mind; you're a very talented student, Luna. Have a good evening, dear."
I don't voice a response, just watch as Mrs. V turns the corner, leaving me alone within the hallway.
