Blood

For just over two hours, Kory had been lying in Melody's room, listening to the self-titled album on repeat. She could have never imagined that it would have turned out this breathtaking. She couldn't help but wish she had been there to see their faces once it was actually finished, but had to remind herself that she wasn't allowed to regret her decisions; they'd already been made and there was no changing that now.

Just then, as if it has been scripted, Melody walked in and plopped down on the bed next to Kory. She took the album casing from her older sister, and grinned. "Ya like it?"

Kory only nodded. "Unbound is my favorite track," she said, closing her eyes and getting lost somewhere inside the music.

Melody was quite for a second. She wasn't sure how to go about her question, so instead she just came out and said it. "Rissa said that Brian dropped you off last night. What happened?"

She sighed. What exactly had happened? She was so confused about it all. Brian hadn't said he'd forgiven her for what she'd done, with good reason. If she was in his place, Kory wouldn't have forgiven herself either. But he said that he had still wanted her. None of it seemed to make sense, even if she had thought about his words all night. Everything was tangled like vines, and she hated it. "He didn't make any sense," she muttered, throwing her arm over her eyes and groaning.

The younger girl giggled. "Love doesn't ever make sense, silly," she stated, poking her sister's side. "C'mon, I have to help dad at the studio for a second and then I'll take you out for a shopping spree," she said, pulling her sister from the bed and dragging her out into the hallway. "Get in the shower, I'll have clothes laid out for you and breakfast ready by the time you're finished."

"We don't have money to go shopping, Mel," she groaned, letting the much smaller girl drag her down the hall.

Melody shook her head. "No, I still get money from training. Dad wouldn't let me spend it on him, and I don't need anything so I need to put it to use before I go back," she answered, a grin plastered on her face. One way or another, she was adamant on making her older sister have good day.



The girls were in town a lot longer than they had anticipated. Melody had more bags than she could carry, and Kory only had a few that she still felt terrible about, even if Melody had reminded her several times throughout the day that this was her treat. The moon had risen and then temperature had dropped immensely by the time they had gotten home.

"What about that Alex boy yet met at training? Have you talked to him lately?" Kory asked, remembering what she had said about him the night Melody had gotten home.

Even though the porch light only just illuminated Melody's face, the blush was evident. She giggled softly as she unlocked the door. "Not a lot, but he's been messaging me when he has time. He's a doctor, did I tell y-?"

"Oh," Kory stood there, staring at Mason who had stood up abruptly, "My god."

Mason shoved his hand in his pockets, his face red. "Girls, I'd like you to meet Sam," he said, moving slightly to reveal the woman he had been cuddled up next to only moments before.

Kory's eyes scanned the both of them. Sam was a short, thin girl with prominent shoulder blades and bright blue eyes. Her hair was an auburn that fell in gentle waves around her shoulders elegantly. She looked younger than Mason by a few years, not many though. Kory had no clue how to react. Maybe they're just friends, she thought.

Sam gave both girls a small smile. "I know that this is probably a big change for you both, but I'm in love with your father, and would never hurt him. You're Kory, I assume? You look well, darling," she complimented, a sympathetic smile that rubbed Kory's nerves raw on her face. "You, as well, Melody. I love the flowers in your hair."

Melody grabbed Kory's hand, able to predict how she'd react. "Kor, don't," she warned, attempting to pull her up the stairs with no prevail.

After a moment, Kory cleared her throat. "Oh. Um, I have plans with, uhm, with Zack. I have to go. Can I use your car, Mel?"

Knowing better than to force her to do anything, Melody nodded quickly and handed Kory her keys. She set her bags on the ground, and took Kory's from her arms. "Be careful," she said, knowing more than anyone else in the room that she didn't have plans with anyone.

She only nodded in response, and forced a smile. "It was...nice to meet you, Sam," she said, before all but throwing herself out into the brisk air and running to the drivers side of Melody's car. Fumbling with the keys, she was more than relieved when the door finally unlocked and she was able to start the engine. At first, she had no idea where to go. She had already told Matt and Marrissa that she'd be staying another night with Melody, and she didn't want to disturb them. She couldn't go to the studio, seeing as she didn't have her keys and Melody had never asked for one. She just needed to be occupied for a moment, and what better way to do so than Brian? Kory was more than certain that this was the first time she had ever wanted him to scream at her since she had been home.

Arriving way before she had anticipated, Kory wondered whether this was a good idea or not. Probably not...but where else was she supposed to go? What if he had a girl with him? What if he didn't want to see her? What am I doing?

She groaned, and covered her face with her hands. She was so done with confusing herself, with questioning everything about Brian more than what was really necessary. It was ridiculous, and if she was honest she hated over thinking things. It was just a habit that she'd have to learn to break. With a sudden burst of confidence, she climbed out of the car and walked right up to his front door. But, the second her knuckles met the wood-like material, it was gone and she was back to thinking things through. Wrong choice, wrong choice, wrong choice!

But it was too late. Brian opened the door and, with a confused expression, asked, "Kory? What're you doing?"

Sighing, she ran her hands through her hair and crossed her arms over her chest. "I'm sorry, I just, I needed to get away from home for a second and didn't have anywhere else to go. I'll leave, I'm sorry," she rambled, placing one of her cold hands to her hot cheeks.

He shook his head. "No, it's alright. C'mon," he said, moving so she could walk inside.

Kory did as instructed, hesitantly. She took in the familiar house that she had almost completely forgotten. Everything was still in the exact same place it had been before, and within seconds Pinkly was at her feet. She couldn't help but giggle and drop to her knees to pet the small dog. After only a second, she was suddenly aware of the eyes on her. Both Zacky and Jimmy were sat on the sofa, just a few feet apart from her. "Oh, I'm sorry. I can lea-"

Zacky cut her off, standing up quickly. "Oh, no. Jimmy and I were just heading out," he said, grabbing his jacket and giving Brian a smirk.

Jimmy ruffled Kory's hair as he and Zacky both walked outside, laughing lightly at her flushed cheeks. "Have fun," he teased, closing the door behind him.

Brian only laughed as Kory sat herself on the sofa, where Zacky had been only moments ago, and covered her face. "It's alright," he said, "Why'd you need to get away from home?"

She sighed. "I know you're still angry with me, I can imagine you would be, but I just need to vent, okay? You don't even have to say anything, I'm just really upset."

He nodded for her to continue. In truth, he wasn't very angry with her anymore. Not like he had been, anyways. He understood now that she worked differently than anyone else he had ever known. She was afraid, so she left. It wasn't what he would've done, or what anyone else on the face of the planet would have done for that matter, but he was okay with that. She was an entirely different person and he understood, for the most part, why she had chosen to leave. He just wished that she wouldn't have done some things the way she did.

"Melody and I were out all day shopping and she even took me out to dinner. I didn't like that she was spending all of her money on me, but she wouldn't budge and I just kinda left it where it was. When we got home, Mason introduced us to this woman named Sam. At first, I was okay with whatever they were, it was just confusing because ya know, I've never grown up around something like that. It was just kinda...weird. And then, when she introduced herself, she acted as if she knew me as well as Melody or Marrissa or you do, and then she gave me this smile that made me want to shove her down a well. It was like she knew. She just said 'you look well, darling,' and then smiled like I was dying or something. She knew my name and she knew the difference from Mel and I and I swear to god that she knew that I was trying to stay sober. I swear she knew. That means that he told her! How do you even do that? That's personal fucking information and now some girl I've never met before knows more about me than I do? What the hell kind of business does she have in my life?" Kory scoffed, kicking her Vans off of her feet and crossing her legs under herself. She was completely outraged with Sam, and even upset with Mason, who she had never been terribly upset with before.

Brian thought his words over meticulously before speaking. He knew from many experiences that just the right word could set her off. He didn't ever want to do that again. "You're sure they're together?" He asked, watching every feature as she attempted to calm herself down. He had to remind himself not to smile at the way she wrinkled her nose. She always did when she was angry. He had missed that.

Kory nodded. "Yeah, I'm sure. She said something like 'I love your dad and wouldn't hurt him.' Ugh, that means she knows about Nicole as well. Just fantabulous!"

He chuckled lightly at her choice of words. He thought for a few more seconds, before speaking again. "Did he seem happy? I know that he wouldn't ever introduce her to you if he didn't genuinely feel for her. And, if you really think about it, he didn't have anyone to talk to about you coming back. Mel was so excited it was almost annoying, and outside of the studio he only has you two," he said, shrugging.

She sighed. "You're right. I'm overreacting, aren't I?"

Brian laughed. "You usually do," he teased, grinning. He immediately regretted it when he saw the look of insecurity flash on Kory's face. He felt that he had made her feel useless enough already, and felt guilty for it, if he was being honest. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that."

Shaking her head, Kory entwined her fingers and took a deep breath. "It's okay. I deserve it," she mumbled, biting at her lip.

"No, you don't," he said, moving to sit closer to her. He took her hands in his, and was a bit surprised by how cold they were. They had been before, but even more so now. "Your hands are cold," he stated, unsure of what else to say.

Kory swallowed hard, and nodded. "Yeah, as cold as my heart," she said, laughing softly.

Brian shook his head, but smiled anyways. "You're ridiculous," he commented, pulling his hands away from hers and pulling her into a tight embrace. It took her a second to accept it, but once she did, he could feel her wrap her arms tightly around his torso and lay her head on his chest.

It was quiet for a moment. She was amazed at how this felt, to be in his arms again. She had longed for it for what seemed like decades, though she insisted on constantly ignoring the craving, but she couldn't anymore. She just wanted to stay here forever. "I missed you," she muttered.

He didn't say anything in return. Even in the silence, those three words he knew meant more than he could decipher.

When she pulled away, she sighed and stood up. "I should probably go," she said, pulling the keys from her pocket. "I'll see you...whenever, I guess."

"Wait, Kory. I have to ask you something."

She didn't say anything, but instead just turned to look at him. It seemed like looking at someone had never been the same. She was certain that, even if she stared the most beautiful person in the universe flat in the face, it wouldn't have felt like this. Because he had flaws, and they were all what she loved the most. She hated that.

"Are we ever going to have a chance again?" He was genuinely curious. And he needed to know. But maybe it didn't even matter, because he didn't care if they did or not. He'd still love her enough for the both of them.

"I don't know. You're supposed to love yourself before anyone else, right? I don't know if that will happen," she confessed honestly. From where she was standing, it didn't look like she'd ever be able to love herself. All she could do was hope that maybe, just maybe, things would be eventually be different.