Chapter 25: Breakdown

---

R A Y N A

Even though Caleb and I have been more tender with one another since the Recommence competition, his behaviour strikes me as nothing but strange when I arrive at his studio for our planned photoshoot.

When I first step through the front door, he takes my coat and hangs it on a hook before chattering aimlessly with me about my day and various other topics. He then insists on making me a mug of peppermint coffee whilst I look through some of his older work in a laminated photo album.

Anything besides doing the photoshoot, essentially.

One thing leads to another, and I soon find myself wedged between one of the derelict studio walls and Caleb's body—his lips peppering soft kisses up and down my neck whilst I clutch desperately at the shirt on his back.

"Caleb," I say his name through ragged breaths. "T-the photoshoot... shouldn't we get on with it already?"

He pulls away from my neck and shakes his head before returning his mouth to my kiss-bruised one. "Just a few more minutes," he says when he pulls away once more. "I've been dying to do this all day. We have all evening to take a picture or two."

Caleb tugs at the straps of my tank top, clearly wanting to rid me of it, but I stop him.

Something isn't right. This isn't like him.

I place my hands on his chest and shove him back, locking eyes with him. "What's wrong with you?" I ask accusingly. "This isn't you, Caleb—not wanting to get stuck in and put your all into a project. What gives?"

He inhales deeply and looks away once more, only further hinting to me he is hiding something. "The sky is up. Have you looked up there recently?" He tries to joke in his usual way, but I do not buy it for a second.

"Stop messing around and cut the bullshit," I snap, removing myself from between him and the wall behind me. "Why are you avoiding working with me on this?"

"I'm not avoiding anything—"

"You are!"

I watch as his resolve crumbles. He turns his back to me and tangles his hands into his dishevelled locks of hair, clutching onto each individual strand as if it is a lifeline. Regardless of what he wants, Caleb appears to drop his guard and submit to my demands.

"Tell me, Caleb," I command, my tone stern despite my apprehension. "Tell me what's going on."

He exhales shakily. "You won't like me for this, Rayna."

"Won't like you for what?" I press further. "Tell me! I won't ask again!"

Caleb's eyes flicker to mine only briefly before they fixate themselves on the same crumbling wall he had me pressed against a few minutes ago. He steadies himself, preparing to say God knows what, and then finally opens his mouth to speak.

"Rayna, I..." his words trail off, but he soon picks up where he left off. "I need to tell you something important."

"Then just say—"

Everything comes to a halt. The tension, the conversation, whatever important secret is about to spill out into the open. Everything. All because of the deafening sound of someone bashing on Caleb's front door.

Caleb is the one to answer it, his hasty steps as he heads toward the entrance telling me he is more than relieved by the temporary distraction.

I'll get it out of him, I assure myself as I follow him to the door, not wanting to drop the topic so easily.

Until I catch sight of who exactly at the door, that is.

Aurelia's wide, fear-filled baby blue eyes and blonde hair greet me when I arrive at the doorway and stand by Caleb's side. She stands hurled over in front of us as she massages her sides, panting frantically.

"Aur?" I ask, brows furrowing in concern. "What are you doing here? Are you alright?" I ask in quick succession.

She shakes her head and continues breathing heavily, unable to form words.

"Do you need some water? Or do you need to sit down for a bit?" Caleb intervenes but only gains another shake of the head from my usually bright and joyous friend.

"N-no time for that," she finally sputters out. "Rayna, we need to go... I got a taxi here. It's waiting outside... probably gonna drive off in a second if we don't hurry," Aurelia rambles, still breathless. "We need to go... she needs us... she really needs us—"

"Aur, please just relax," I try to soothe her by placing a hand on her back and rubbing gentle circles into it. "Who needs us? What's wrong?"

"It's Blaire. She's having a breakdown at the hospital." Aurelia finally stands up straight on her wobbly legs and I retract my hand live I've been burnt. "Her mum got rushed in, Rayna... they think she's going to die."

A switch flicks in me as soon as I process those words and, without a second thought, I scurry straight through Caleb's front door and bolt for the main exit.

Caleb says something, but I hear nothing besides a random flurry of mixed up words and sounds. I'm far too occupied with the task at hand, and that is getting to the hospital as fast as possible with Aurelia.

Everything and everyone else can wait.

Thanks for reading chapter 25!

What do you think is going to happen with Blaire and Blaire's mother?

Do you think Caleb and Rayna will continue their serious discussion?

Please share your thoughts and vote. <3

Amber