I walked out of the room after they let me go and wiped my eyes again, trying to gain my composure before I made it all the way out of the building.
I clutched my stomach and my mouth while I leaned against the wall beside the door. My heart pounded hard in my chest, and I was shaking with the grief and sadness that I still felt, even though I knew that I was safe and fine.
"Cass?" I heard someone say from near me, and I could tell that it was Bryson. Worry and fear filled his voice while he walked over to me.
He hesitated before he placed his hand on my back. "Are you ok?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper, while he moved his hand to my shoulder and squeezed it, reassuringly.
I slowly nodded and pushed my hand against my mouth tighter. I didn't say a word while I struggled to breathe and to compose myself before I made my way home.
"Are you sure?" Bryson asked while he furrowed his brows in concern, and he cocked his head and studied me. "You don't look like you are fine."
I didn't respond and closed my eyes while I took a deep breath and released it with a small whoosh, trying but failing to gain my composure fast.
Bryson hesitated before he pulled me into a hug, and I hugged him back tight but not tight enough to hurt him. He continued to rub my back, his breathing and his heart steady and something that I could focus my attention on.
I'm sorry, Brybry, I thought while I squeezed him tighter. I'm sorry for all the pain that I have caused you and your father. I didn't mean it to go this far.
Bryson didn't say another word while he hugged me tighter. He rubbed my back and gently started to rock me back and forth while I slowly started to calm down.
I took a deep, shuddering breath when I was finally able to calm down, and I released it with a small whoosh. "Ummmm... sorry, sorry," I said and tried to take a step back, but Bryson didn't release me just yet. "I didn't mean to cry like that."
"Don't," Bryson said and shook his head while he clutched me tighter. "Don't be sorry, Cass. Now, can you go ahead and hug me back, please, just for a bit longer?"
I held back an eye roll but did what I was told to do and hugged him back. I closed my eyes and buried my head into the crook between his shoulder and his neck while I waited for him to calm down or do something else.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of just standing there in each other's arms, but was only a few minutes, Bryson hesitated before he let me go until he was able to see me.
He kept his arms on my arms as if he was afraid that I would go and disappear into thin air like his mother had done before me. "Are you sure that you are ok?" he asked, concerned while he studied me, his voice barely above a whisper.
I hesitated before I slowly nodded and rubbed my eyes before I started to blink back the rest of the tears that wanted to fall. "Umm... yes," I said while I shook my head and cleared my throat, blinking back some more tears. "I am ok, Bryson. That song had just gotten to me for some reason."
I wrinkled my nose and pursed my lips in annoyance while I slowly dipped my head closer to my chest. "A little more than it should and had been in the past..."
More so now that I have found you all again...
Bryson frowned and slowly blinked. He didn't say another word, and I could tell that he wanted me to elaborate, even though I didn't know how and couldn't get my thoughts or feelings into words.
I offered him a tight smile before I shook my head, backing out of his grasp, and a look of pain flashed through his eyes while he stared at me. I didn't say a word and tucked my arms around my chest while I stared at him, slowly blinking.
Bryson cleared his throat and placed his arms behind his back. He stayed silent while he stared at me, and I had a feeling that he was wondering what I was going to do now.
I bit back a small sigh and shook my head before I moved a hand across my face and made sure that there were no more tears. "I think it might be time for me to go," I said, my voice barely above a whisper before I cleared my throat and shifted on my feet.
I offered him a tight smile and dipped my head closer to my chest while I stared at him with tearful eyes. "Thank you for staying with me, Bryson," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I do appreciate it."
Bryson bit back a small smile while he slowly nodded. "Of course," he said before he cleared his throat and grew serious. "Now, are you able to go home by yourself?" he asked while he raised an eyebrow in question.
I bit back a small smirk, and I slowly nodded in confirmation. "Yes," I said, biting back a small chuckle. "I will be able to get home by myself."
I cleared my throat while I looked at the drama room before I looked at him. "Do you think that we will know who got the roles soon?" I asked, and I raised an eyebrow in question, changing the subject. "Or do you think that it will take a while?"
Bryson scowled and narrowed his eyes, and I had a feeling that he didn't like me changing the subject. He set his jaw and slowly blinked while he looked at me. "She should be done with figuring it out by Monday afternoon," he said and shrugged. "Why? Are you nervous that you won't get the leading role?"
He winked teasingly, and I rolled my eyes and scowled.
"I don't even want the leading role, Bryce," I said, and he bit back a small snort. "So, why would I be nervous if I get that part?"
He shrugged and grimaced. "Bryce?" he asked and raised an eyebrow in question, and I nodded in confirmation. "Why Bryce?"
"Why not?" I asked, and I raised an eyebrow in question as well. "What else would you want me to call you instead of Bryson?"
Bryson gave me a sad smile and shook his head. "I'll see you later, Cass," he said softly, and I pressed my lips into a thin line. "Try to get some sleep tonight, ok?"
I bit back a small sigh and slowly nodded, knowing full well that he wanted me to call him "BryBry," even though that was the name I saved for him when he was in his wolf form. "Ok," I said and nodded. "I'll try to, and I'll see you tomorrow bright and early for competition."
I paused and cocked my head before I narrowed my eyes and scowled. "I'll still be able to compete, even though I didn't go to practice today, right?" I asked, and Bryson bit back a small laugh while he slowly nodded in confirmation.
"I will send you the information tonight," he promised. "They were a little annoyed that you didn't go to practice today, but I think they understood and are actually worried about you."
I bit back a small sigh and slowly nodded, relieved. "Ok, good," I said before I cleared my throat and grew serious. "Well, I'll see you tomorrow. Sleep well tonight, ok?"
Bryson nodded in confirmation. "I will," he promised. "I'll see you tomorrow. Good night."
And with that, he slightly bowed his head and left, and I watched him leave before I shook my head and left, leaving the other way, silently praying that I would be able to get some sleep and then get back to my normal self again.
Oh, Goddess, please let my friends message me soon again, I silently prayed while I bowed my head, my heart breaking more with no communication from them.
Please...