AN: Sorry for the long wait! I had some severe writer's block with this chapter, but I like how it ended up. It's progressing a little faster in some places than I had thought, but I'm taking my time on the romance. Just wait. It'll happen.
But for now, enjoy some cold hash browns as you read this chapter!
This chapter's like half the words of the others forgive me D:
I'm frozen.
Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum.
I can't breathe.
Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum.
Those eyes.
Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum.
I would know them anywhere.
Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum.
I really shouldn't be surprised.
Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum.
The mind is a tricky thing.
Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum.
But when I see those multicolored eyes, I don't know what to think.
Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum.
Well, I guess I am now.
Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum.
I can't focus these days.
Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum.
Not even now, when I feel like my life's in danger.
Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum.
A flash of light from a passing car jolts me from the trance.
Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum.
That's who I thought it was.
Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum.
But I never thought I'd be afraid for my life around my best friend.
Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum.
Well, that time I danced on the airplane was pretty similar.
Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum.
But this time, I'm scared of her.
Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum.
I push through it.
Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum.
To her.
Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum.
I suck in a breath and take a step closer.
Ba-dum, ba-dum.
She stays there, and I can see how scared she is.
Ba-dum, ba-dum.
"Cece," I whisper. I want to hug her, but I won't risk what happened last time.
Ba-dum, ba-dum.
My imagination really hates me, doesn't it?
Ba-dum, ba-dum.
I don't want her to leave.
Ba-dum, ba-dum.
She's already gone.
Ba-dum, ba-dum.
And it's all my fault.
Ba-dum, ba-dum.
Focus, Rocky!
Ba-dum, ba-dum.
I barely notice her head nod.
Ba-dum, ba-dum.
I watch her eyes.
Ba-dum, ba-dum.
She looks scared.
Ba-dum, ba-dum.
Really scared.
Ba-dum, ba-dum.
Her eyes are wet, too.
Ba-dum, ba-dum.
And suddenly, my fear is overridden by my concern.
Ba-dum, ba-dum.
"Come here," I say, opening my arms. It's an open invitation, take it or leave it.
Ba-dum.
And I have to admit, I'm glad when she takes it.
As soon as she's in my arms, my heartbeat fades away. All I'm focused on is the hallucination clinging to me like her life depended on it.
Her arms wind tightly around my waist and she buries her head in my chest. So I stroke her hair and whisper sweet nothings to her as she cries. I don't know why she's afraid, but as her best friend, I will find out. Even if she's not real. If I am going crazy, what can I do about it?
Besides, I miss Cece. This is the best I've got.
I tune back in to imaginary Cece. Her sobs have turned to little hiccups, and I press a kiss to the top of her head before loosening my grip. She already has, and she looks up at me with those almost-brown eyes. "I'm sorry, Rocky," she whispers. "For what?" I ask, taking her hands. She didn't do anything bad before she died. All of it was my fault.
"For leaving you," is her answer. I blink in shock. "Fo-for leaving me?" I squeak, jabbing my chest. "What? You didn't do anything wrong. It's my fault you're dead! I'm the one who didn't go with you! It's just-" I pause for a breath, thinking of how to continue, but Cece cuts me off. "Rocky, it's not your fault." I open my mouth to protest. Of course it was my fault, how did she not see it? Her hand covers my mouth before I can say anything, and she sighs before continuing. "Rocky, I'm the one who got distracted and stopped at the store with the cute clerk. If I hadn't, I'd be the same Cece." Her hand falls off my face and curls into a ball on my chest. She sighs, pressing something into my hand. I can't see it in the dark, but it feels like a box. "W-what is this this?" I ask, looking at her uneasily. "Happy birthday, Rocky," she says softly. "But it's not my birthday," I tell her. Or is it. "Right?" I ask, just to be sure. "No, it's in a couple days. Come on, I'm supposed to be the dumb one, and you can't remember your own birthday?" Her teasing's halfhearted, and her hand moves to brush hair out of her face before falling to her side. She sucks in a breath. "It's on Friday. I don't know if I'll see you before then, and I just want you to have this. I got it for your birthday anyways so...it's the polite thing to do." The look on her face tells me she's about to cry again, so I smile. "Thanks, Cece. It means a lot," I say, putting a hand on her arm. This redhead is so much more fragile than my fiery redhead. I sigh. It's gonna be really hard to leave her.
I know she's gone, but it always seems so real.
I run my thumb over the corner of the box. That feels real, too. I look down. When will it end?
A thought crosses my mind, but it's too late.
"Hey, Cec-"
"I'm sorry, I have to go," she interrupts me, pushing past me into the darkness. She pauses, just close enough that I can still make her out.
"Bye," she mumbles painfully.
"Bye," I reply wistfully, and she disappears into the darkness.
I'm left with more questions than I came here with.
As soon as I push into the apartment, Georgia's all over me. The first thing she notices is the wet spot on my shirt, which shocks me. It's right where Cece cried. But she isn't real, so it couldn't have happened. Right?
But I explain to her that I decided to have a cup of water at Crusty's and spilled it, which seems to put her mind at ease. At least momentarily, because now she realizes that I've gone to Crusty's. Alone. At night. Even though it's right below our apartment building, she still fusses until I agree not to go without someone.
And now she realizes that I'm talking. She gives me a big hug, congratulates me, and makes me promise not to let her out of my life. I hadn't planned on it, so that promise is easy.
Finally, she notices the box. She goes quiet for a second before asking me about it. I answer honestly, that its a birthday gift from Cece. She doesn't push it any farther, just kisses my cheek and sends me to bed.
I place the box on my dresser as I crawl, freshly showered, into bed. I don't exactly understand what's going on, but I'm not sure I'm hallucinating anymore.
It's only now that I notice what's been missing since I saw the redhead. My heartbeat. It seems to have quieted down, probably from the shock of having Cece so near it again. Or maybe I'm getting over losing her. The thought alone makes me snort. As if.
I have so many questions, so few answers. I just wish I knew where to start.
AN: Yep, little bit of Rece! Just in the friendly way, though. They're super close, so it's instinct, I guess. Reaching for them when you have nobody else to reach for.
Heh. Well, did you like it? I hope you did! Sorry for the long wait, and please review! Also, check out my new story, Crayons!
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