Parallel Plays | P.B & C.C

10. red wine supernova. SAVANNAH

Riley shakes her head, letting out a humorless laugh. "And Paige? Since when are you two so close?"

There it is. The real question.

I swallow hard. "Since rehab, I guess."

"That's it?"

I don't answer.

Because it's not just that. It's not just recovery sessions and shared frustration.

It's something else.

Something I don't know how to explain.

Riley studies me, her jaw tightening before she exhales sharply. "You know what? Forget it."

"Riley—"

"No, really. It's fine. You don't have to explain anything to me."

But that's not true. She wants an explanation. She just doesn't want to ask for it.

And I don't know if I can give her one.

She moves toward the door, her posture stiff, and for the first time in a long time, I feel like I don't know how to reach her.

She pauses before opening it, her hand on the doorknob. "Just... be careful, okay?"

I frown. "Careful of what?"

But she doesn't answer.

She just opens the door and walks out, leaving me standing there, still trying to figure out why it suddenly feels like everything is shifting beneath my feet.

For a moment I feel like I'm gonna pass out. The room spins and my head throbs.

I'm gonna throw up.

The room is too quiet once she's gone.

I sit on the edge of my bed, staring at my phone, rereading my last messages with Paige.

I don't know what Riley's warning meant.

Or maybe I do.

Maybe she sees something I'm not ready to admit yet.

Maybe I already know.

I type out a message before I can stop myself.

Me: You up?

Paige's reply comes seconds later.

Paige: Always. What's up?

I hesitate, fingers hovering over the keyboard.

Then—

Me: I think I need to get out of here for a bit.

Paige: You want company?

I exhale slowly.

Me: Yeah.

_______________
Third person

Paige arrives quickly. Concerning they both lived in the sports hall

Savannah opens her door now in a white fox hood and some random UConn cheer shorts. She was still holding the ice pack to her head

"That bad?" Paige asked walking inside Savannahs dorm

Paige plops on the couch putting her feet on the coffee table

"Okay talk. Your sitting in bed with an ice pack—" Paige didn't finish her sentence before Savannah ran to the bathroom.

She heard the sounds of Savannah vomiting

She waited till Savannah came back. When she did she sat down next to Paige and laid on her chest

"It's okay.." Paige murmured she wasn't great at comforting but she wrapped her arms around Savannah and held her close "if you want. A few of the girls are going to Nika dorm. She's cooking and it always taste good"