start over | dreamwastaken x reader (sequel to split)

Clay opens his mouth to speak but nothing escapes. His mouth is hung open as the words ravel in his mind. There's no way he doesn't know. I just think actually hearing it has stabbed a dragged into his soul.

"I have a job I need to get back to. I'm sorry but you should leave." I glance up and meet his eyes. The green is popping as the whites around his eyes turn a shade of red. He's holding back tears. His eyes have gone glossy. He's teetering on the edge about to slip.

"You're right." He chokes out as he pushes past me and out the door of my store. He's explosive in his actions. But he's not mad at me. He's mad at himself.

As I watch him depart I can feel every bit of my being snapping. The moment he steps out into the hot air his hands run roughly through his hair as he drops to a squat. I know for a fact that tears are streaming down his cheeks. He can only hold it together for so long.

I shift my eyes from Clay to George and Nick who are still stood next to me. "I love you both." I pull them both in for a hug. One arm wrapped around each of them. It feels good to be in their company but they have Clay to take care of.

"He never stopped loving you." George says as he pulls away from the hug. "Will never stop being in love with you." Without another word he walks away to comfort his best friend.

"Nick..." I look at the shortest of my friends. "What the fuck does George mean?" My hands are gripped tight at my sides.

"Clay pushed you away because you two were toxically in love. Too dependent on each other. He wanted the two of you to grow apart so that you could be your own people before you were one. You lost yourself in him years ago. And he followed shortly after losing himself in you." Nick let's out a heavy stress-filled sigh.

"He fucked up everything. And now you've found someone else. Now I know you'll stay away forever. Clay ruined my friendship with you. Ruined George's friendship with you. All because he's a fucking idiot. This is so stupid." Nick shakes his head.

"I didn't—" I feel tears stinging my eyes again. "Nick, I haven't gotten over him. He is home." A tear slides and before I can say anymore Nick pulls me into his chest. He hates tears. He will do anything he can to stop them, hide them.

"I know you haven't. I know you haven't babe." Nick rests one of his hands against the back of my head as he runs his fingers through my hair. He knows that none of this is fair... to any of us.

"Back up!" Gets called over the store speakers. And that's my cue to depart all of this. Nick wipes my face off and smiles at me.

"You'll be okay. You're strong. You've got this. Okay?" His voice is quiet and calm as he speaks. A complete opposite of his normal self.

"Fuck." My head shakes as I think of what I'm to do. I can't let them leave. I can't let Clay walk away. I can't fucking let him break. Even if he let me break I can't let him. There is no way I'll be able to live with that.

"Nick I'm going to text you my address just go there. Take him there and don't leave. I'll be home in like two hours." I run off as I pull out my phone and send him my address.

He follows me to the register. "You leave your apartment unlocked?" Shit. I begin scanning items as Nick questions me.

"Go into the office." I nod in the direction of the store office. "It's unlocked. My house keys are the ones hanging up on the shelf on the hook there. Take them and take him. People know I work here and no one should see him like that." Nick nods his head and takes off out of the store with my keys.

The rest of my shift my three counter parts haven't left my mind. It's all I can think about. I can't focus. I can't work. Honestly, I'm sat staring at my phone waiting for something to come through. Nick or George reaching out saying Clay's jumped off the deep end.