[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/JIxFGv7.jpg[/img] [sup]Winter Break Collab with [@ineffable][/sup][/center] Putting a little over four thousand miles between Sawyer’s asshole father and him for the holidays was probably the best thing he could have asked for. Of course there was the one night he had to pretend with everyone else that they were still one big happy family. Christmas Eve dinner. Nathan and Ashley drove down from New York the morning of, and Grandpa Zsazs had come down the night prior. Even Ronnie came down to spend Christmas dinner with them. It was like old times, the only person who had been missing was mom. Holidays were always Sawyer’s mom’s thing. His dad never really cared. Decorations never went up. Was the first year in nearly 18 years their house hadn’t been decked out with lights. And that was typically just the bare minimum. Getting through Christmas dinner was the easy part. Waiting out the next few days until he’d take a trip to the U.K. with his girlfriend, Georgie Fielders. What Georgie would never know was that the whole trip wasn’t even his idea, it was actually his twin brother Gavin’s. Sawyer’s usual plans for any kind of break during the school year was to escape home to his grandfather’s house. Sawyer was going to invite her along until Gavin suggested traveling abroad for Winter Break. Seemed as though it was probably the better choice in the end. The trip had been quite exciting and Sawyer, with a bit of nudging advice from his helpful brother, managed to keep them constantly on the move, seeing as much as they possibly could in the time they had to explore. Georgie turned to Sawyer, who was asleep next to her in the car and nudged him. They’d only just returned back to Palm Beach after their holiday and she’d managed to convince her absentee parents for her to stay with Sawyer for a bit before school actually started. In fact, her parents had already fallen head over tails for their budding puppy love and were entirely freaking out too much about having their daughter be with someone who loved her the most. In fact, she had the feeling that if something happened to the both of them of Georgie’s fault then her parents would stick with Sawyer on his side anyways. Sawyer woke suddenly with a sharp inhale, slowly sitting upright in his seat. He’d managed to slump over with his head on Georgie’s shoulder. The boy turned a slight red, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes as he took a look around before finally turning his gaze back to Georgie with a small smile. [color=#D9CE5B][b]“We’re almost home.”[/b][/color] He tilted his head a bit and asked, [color=#D9CE5B][b]“You alright, love?”[/b][/color] [color=slateblue][b]“Yeah, yeah, I’m all good. We almost there?”[/b][/color] She leaned forward to look at the road but couldn’t discern much. Sawyer nodded, reaching his hand over to slip it into hers, twining their fingers together. [color=#D9CE5B][b]“Mhm.”[/b][/color] From the front seat, Gavin smirked and looked into the rearview mirror. [color=#FA8258][b]“Boy, thought you’d never wake up. You were sawing logs back there! Is.. [i]is that drool on your cheek?[/i]”[/b][/color] Sawyer stiffened and turned bright red, glaring at his brother as he grumbled, [color=#D9CE5B][b]“Shut up.”[/b][/color] Gavin laughed as Sawyer quickly rubbed the side of his face against his shoulder, Sawyer ducking down to gently bury his face into Georgie’s neck with a heavy sigh. [color=#D9CE5B][b]“God I hate him,”[/b][/color] he chuckled softly into her ear. [color=slateblue][b]“Don’t we all?”[/b][/color] Georgie teased, reaching out a hand to ruffle Gavin’s head. Her phone beeped in her pocket and she wiggled it out to read the notification there. It was from Chrysler and the only thing it said was: [quote= From Chrysler]Kellie Anne, the dancing queen has officially shuffled her way off the school stage[/quote] Georgie moved slightly away from Sawyer to show him the message. [color=slateblue][b]“You heard about this?”[/b][/color] Sawyer pulled away just so to peak at her phone, his smile quickly fading as he sat up straighter for a better view. [color=#D9CE5B][b]“N-no.”[/b][/color] The boy leaned to the side to pull his own phone from his pocket, looking at his lack of notifications on it. The boy’s brow narrowed a bit, a puzzled look on his face as he unlocked his phone and began texting Kellie ‘Hey, so uh.. You’re leaving? Were you ever gonna say anything to me??’ Sawyer sat there and stared at the message a few moments before reluctantly hitting [b]send[/b]. He chewed on his inner cheek, looking up at Gavin. [color=#D9CE5B][b]“Hey, you hear about Kellie leaving Palms?”[/b][/color] Gavin eyeballed Georgie a moment, gave Sawyer a quick glance and put his eyes back on the road. [color=#FA8258][b]“Uhm, well… she’s… I mean, yeah. I thought you knew, bruv. Sorry..?”[/b][/color] Sawyer sat back against his seat, looking down at the floor of the truck. A clearly hurt tone clung to his voice as he mumbled, [color=#D9CE5B][b]“Nope. Didn’t know.”[/b][/color] Georgie watched the exchange go on, slightly confused as to what was happening. Of course, she knew that she barely knew Sawyer after their two years away from each other but she didn’t think that he was friends with Kellie. And to be so close that his hurt tone was evident? Georgie herself knew that she didn’t like the girl that much. She knew that Kellie had thought of her like an enemy to Max’s affections and had treated her as such. In fact, Georgie had no idea what warranted this much emotion for such a cold-faced character. She frowned slightly down at her phone before reaching out to touch a hand on Sawyer’s shoulder. They must be close to their destination now, wouldn’t they be? [color=slateblue][b]“You knew her?”[/b][/color] Georgie tried to act nonchalantly. Sawyer relaxed immediately with Georgie’s hand on his shoulder, sighing heavily as he shrugged and laid his head on her hand tenderly and closed his eyes. [color=#D9CE5B][b]“Yeah, I guess I [i]did[/i],”[/b][/color] he said, a bit of a cold tone to his words. Gavin cleared his throat and repositioned himself, feeling it get a bit awkward in the cab of his truck. [color=#FA8258][b]“Oooookay, well, here we are! Home sweet home!”[/b][/color] He pulled the truck up into their long driveway, clicking the garage open and pulling in slow before parking in his spot. “Come on you two.” Sawyer pulled away from Georgie to reach around her, opening up her door for her with one hand and unclipping her seatbelt with the other. The boy couldn’t help but look into Georgie’s eyes, giving her a jokingly playful grin. [color=#D9CE5B][b]“Lucky for us, [i]Richard[/i] won’t be home till the end of the week.”[/b][/color] [color=#FA8258][b]“Yes, [i][b]dad[/b][/i] is on a business trip. Got a call last minute, said it was an emergency.”[/b][/color] Gavin walked to the back, popping the camper shell to grab out their luggage. [color=#D9CE5B][b]“Still think he’s ban—er.. sleeping with that Rep. Probably trying to replace us.. or, [b]me[/b] at least. He’d never replace his prodigal son.”[/b][/color] Sawyer laughed, hopping out on his side before joining Gavin to grab the rest of their things. Georgie was still thinking about Sawyer’s non elaboration as to Kellie Anne but she brushed that thought away pretty quickly as she exited the car and went to help Gavin and Sawyer get all their luggage. She knew she was probably still exuding a bit of the judgy eyes aura but she smiled along with their jokes and resisted the urge to text Chrysler about literally everything. Georgie grabbed her trunk from the truck and carelessly plonked it down on the ground, narrowly missing Gavin’s foot. [color=slateblue][b]“Whoops, sorry babe.”[/b][/color] She laughed and patted his shoulder before hefting the bag up. Gavin nearly jumped out of his skin, laughing nervously. “Girl, it’s okay. Next time, though, aim for my head. Just take me out so I don’t have to deal with this guy anymore,” the twin laughed while Sawyer watched the two, rolling his eyes before wandering over to the door leading into the kitchen, pushing his way through with Gavin following close behind. Sawyer dropped his bags near the doorway and turned, backpedaling towards the fridge. [color=#D9CE5B][b]“Uhm, love, y-you hungry or thirsty? We’ve got sodas, water.. Uh, juice.. Milk?”[/b][/color] Gavin fake-gagged, commenting in a disgusted tone, [color=#FA8258][b]“Who drinks straight [i]milk[/i]?!”[/b][/color] Sawyer rolled his eyes, ignoring his brother as he smiled, patiently waiting for an answer from Georgie. [color=slateblue][b]“Fireball.”[/b][/color] Georgie winked before she laughed and pushed past Sawyer to reach for a can of Diet Coke herself, giving him a quick kiss on his cheek as she went. [color=slateblue][b]“So...Show me around?”[/b][/color] Sawyer smirked at her answer, biting his lower lip as he watched her grab the can, reaching in to grab a regular Coke, himself. The boy nodded, popping open his soda as he began to walk towards the staircase. Gavin chuckled, shaking his head. [color=#FA8258][b]“Yeah, ‘show me around Sawyer, in a house I’ve [i]never[/i] been to’,”[/b][/color] he teased, walking passed the two to run up the stairs. [color=#FA8258][b]“Don’t worry, I’ll try drowning you two lovebirds out with some Panic! At the Disco.”[/b][/color] Gavin gave Georgie a ‘look’, pointing his fingers from his eyes to his brother in an ‘I’ve got got my eyes on you’ gesture before disappearing into his room. Suddenly, a thunderous rumble came booming down the staircase as well as some very loud whining as Sawyer’s two dogs came bolting down the stairs, Rooster tripping down the last few and Dixie wandered directly over to Georgie. Rooster leapt and tackled Sawyer, the boy somehow managing to keep hold of his soda. [color=#D9CE5B][b]“Hey! Settle down, man. Haven’t been gone [i]that[/i] long,”[/b][/color] Rooster, hardly being able to contain himself, sat obediently on his haunches as his butt before it dawned on him that there was a new smell in the house. [i]A new person[/i], for that matter! Suddenly Rooster had forgotten all about Sawyer and surrounded Georgie’s feet, sniffing her from her feet up. [color=#D9CE5B][b]“Uh, well… you know Dixie, but you haven’t met my boy, yet. Name’s Rooster. My grandpa gave him to me to look after,”[/b][/color] Sawyer said to her. Georgie scrunched up her nose at Gavin before she started out after Sawyer, slowing down as she saw the dogs bounding down the stairs. Her face lit up and she quickly knelt down to give them all the chance to get a good sniff of her. [color=slateblue][b]“Hi Rooster! Have you been a good boy lately? I already love you!”[/b][/color] She tried to hug the wiggling dog close and succeeded in only getting licked more than she already was. [color=slateblue][b]“When did your grandpa give him to you?”[/b][/color] She looked up at Sawyer happily before she resumed her petting, reaching over with a hand on each dog to give Dixie equal pets. [color=#D9CE5B][b]“Little over a year ago. He was about three months old when he brought him down to me.”[/b][/color] Sawyer smiled, happy the dogs welcomed her so quickly and that Georgie loved them right out of the gate. Rooster sat on his haunches and was just soaking up all the love Georgie was giving him, Dixie however turned away to walk over to Sawyer. The boy smiled a little and whispered [color=#D9CE5B][b]‘Hey pretty girl,’[/b][/color] as he bent down to give the red dog pets. [color=#D9CE5B][b]“Was shortly after mom went into the hospital. Didn’t tell anyone.. Well, I had my brother Nate go with me, actually. He was the only one who really knew, except grandpa, of course. But I just brought him home one day and he’s just kind of been here ever since. He’s helped me through quite a bit, haven’t you, boy?”[/b][/color] Sawyer half-smiled and pet Rooster affectionately, sighing deeply before he looked up at Georgie. [color=#D9CE5B][b]“Can we just take them with us and go back to England?”[/b][/color] he chuckled softly. [color=#D9CE5B][i]’If only,’[/i][/color] he thought to himself. Georgie smiled at how happy Sawyer was and laughed [color=slateblue][b]“I think that’s a good plan.”[/b][/color] She wanted to tell him again about how sorry she was for not being there for him but she kept her mouth shut and simply just hugged Scooby closer. Speaking of Nate, well, she hadn’t seen him in quite a bit. [color=slateblue][b]“Where’s Nate gone?”[/b][/color] Sawyer smirked, giving Georgie a look. [color=#D9CE5B][b]“You just missed ‘em right before Christmas. He was here. Him and his [i]fiance[/i] are living up in New York, now. They’re expecting, too! Sometime in May. They’re gonna be having a girl, they think.”[/b][/color] Sawyer stood up, clicking his tongue twice at the dogs. [color=#D9CE5B][b]“Come on kids, let’s go.”[/b][/color] At the word ‘go’, the dogs began to run around in circles, jumping all around. [color=#D9CE5B][b]“No, no. Guys. Not [i]go[/i]. Just upstairs, you crackheads,”[/b][/color] he laughed, shaking his head as both the dogs took off up the stairs to the bedrooms. Sawyer started to walk towards the stairs before stopping, turning to hold out his free hand to offer it to Georgie with a soft smile. [color=#D9CE5B][b]“Wanna go upstairs, gorgeous?”[/b][/color] [color=slateblue][b]“Expecting? That’s crazy!”[/b][/color] Georgie followed Sawyer towards the stairs and nodded as she grabbed onto his hand. Sawyer nodded, leading her up the stairs to his bedroom where the dogs were wrastling at the edge of the bed. The boy rolled his eyes and let Georgie enter in, shutting the door behind them. [color=#D9CE5B][b]“God, I remember when mom insisted on having the door a hand’s length open at all times if we were up here on our own. Or at least insist Gav was in here with us.”[/b][/color] Sawyer chuckled, snapping with a point towards the dog beds for Dixie and Rooster to go lay in. Sawyer let go of Georgie’s hand as he plopped himself down on his bed, looking up at her. A memory came to him then, causing him to smirk but decided to keep it to himself for the time being. [color=slateblue][b]“Mm hmm.”[/b][/color] Georgie was quiet for a moment as she tried to get her thoughts together and placed her can down on his dresser. She sat down next to him on the bed before she spontaneously reached over to kiss him, her hands reaching slightly underneath his shirt. Sawyer’s heart began to beat just a little faster as he felt her lips on his and her hands beneath his shirt. Without hesitation, he reached to the side and set his can down and positioned himself better on his bed, pulling her closer into him as he returned the kiss. Sawyer’s hands traveled down to her hips, gripping onto her only just, holding her there with him in the moment. [color=slateblue][b]“Just like London huh?”[/b][/color] Georgie giggled and pushed him down. [color=slateblue][b]“God, you have no idea what you do to me,”[/b][/color] she whispered. [color=#D9CE5B][i]’No, you don’t know what you’re doing to me!’[/i][/color] he thought to himself, reaching up to cup his hand behind the back of her head, pulling her back down as he pressed his lips to hers again as he thought, [color=#D9CE5B][i]’Or maybe you do,’[/i] [b]“Tell me, babe.”[/b][/color] Georgie was just about reaching to toss off her jacket when she felt a buzz in the pocket. [color=slateblue][i]’Oh fuck it’[/i][/color] she thought to herself as she slowly shrugged it off and threw her phone to the foot of the bed. [color=slateblue][b]“Will do.”[/b][/color] She smiled against his lips. Her foot nudged her phone and she felt it buzz. Again. For god’s sake. Probably wasn’t important was it? As much as Sawyer really didn’t want to stop, the second vibration from her phone made it seem pretty important. Maybe it was her parents, or something? Sawyer forced himself to stop, giving her a couple of soft kisses before pulling away fully. [color=#D9CE5B][b]“Love, just check it. What if it’s important? I don’t mind waiting a minute or two. We’ve got the next couple days to ourselves. Go ahead.”[/b][/color] Georgie huffed as she went and picked up her phone, quickly scanning over the text before she stopped. [hider=Chrysler x Georgie text convo]Chrysler: Honestly Georgie, don’t worry about it...well maybe I would...but… Georgie frowned before she quickly texted back. Georgie: But what? Chrysler: well you do know that they were dancing together right? Georgie: Dancing what? Chrysler: I mean they like dance together, I’ve heard of it but I thought it was all a rumor. But if Sawyer’s acting weird, then that’s probably it.[/hider] Georgie put down her phone, and frowned. What the hell was Chrysler going on about? She took a deep breath before she asked him, albeit as calmly as she could’ve. [color=slateblue][b]“Were you and Kellie...were you guys friends?”[/b][/color] Sawyer’s expression stiffened when she frowned as she looked down on her phone, tilting his head slightly as he quietly watched her and waited for her to return to him. Once she set her phone down, it seemed her frown only deepened. Suddenly Sawyer’s chest tightened and it was as if he knew what she was about to say next. Which, he did, more or less. It was about Kellie. [i]Again.[/i] The boy felt backed into a corner. He wanted to be honest with her and explain things to her about that whole situation, but he was afraid she’d take it the wrong way and he’d lose her. [b]Again.[/b] Instead, Sawyer answered her question with a question, a slightly defensive tone about his voice, [color=#D9CE5B][b]“Am I not allowed to have friends who are girls, or somethin?”[/b][/color] [color=slateblue][b]“No no, I didn’t mean it like that. Of course you are. It’s just...I mean, I’ve missed so much of your life and I just...well...You’re dancing with her!”[/b][/color] Georgie burst out. Sawyer’s heart was pounding in his chest, this time for a completely different reason. He hated heated confrontations.. most especially with a girl. With [i]his[/i] girl. The boy sat up a little, propping himself up on his elbows. [color=#D9CE5B][b]“I [i]danced[/i] with her, Georgie. Past tense.”[/b][/color] Sawyer pushed himself up into a sitting position, reaching out to take her hands in his tenderly, looking at her. [color=#D9CE5B][b]“Why does this matter to you so much? It’s not like she and I ever.. Like, had a thing, or anything like that. We [i]just[/i] danced. She’s on the squad.. er, was. And,”[/b][/color] he thought about bringing up the fact that she’d left him some time before it all started and he didn’t exactly have someone to go to. [color=#D9CE5B][b]“Well, I knew Kellie through Max and she and I hung out once or twice. I mentioned I used to dance as a kid and she asked if I still knew how. It was.. It was innocent. Just two kids dancing together, trying to have a good time. You know? Just kind of became a thing for us when we hung out.”[/b][/color] the boy shrugged, looking up at Georgie. He remembered how Gavin had told him he should explain why he hadn’t told her yet to Georgie, trying to recite it as best he could. [color=#D9CE5B][b]“I hadn’t exactly gotten around to telling you about it all. Believe me, I was going to, but.. Like you’ve said before, we’re practically trying to relearn each other. You know? I just wasn't sure how you’d react to something like that.”[/b][/color] Georgie listened as he talked but couldn’t stop herself from fiddling. What got her was that he hadn’t told her this before and that it was Kellie Anne! The very same Kellie Anne who had treated her so badly over the Max incident. She just couldn’t understand how the two of them would have become friends. But she was happy for him, that he went back to dancing again. Just not...with her. [color=slateblue][b]“I’m sorry, you just know...well maybe you don’t. But I just don’t really like her and you’ve never told me about all of this before. You’ve had weeks to tell me about all of this. And you didn’t. I just…”[/b][/color] Georgie paused here before she took a deep breath. She was being unfair. Again. [color=slateblue][b]“Could I just see the videos, if you have any of you guys dancing?”[/b][/color] Sawyer sat there staring at Georgie. It didn’t seem like she heard anything he’d said. ..Videos? …….[i]Gavin.[/i] Gavin had to have said something to her. Well, there was no getting around this, was there? Sawyer slid himself off the end of the bed and walked over to his desk, picking up his laptop before returning to the bed. [color=#D9CE5B][b]“Why is this such a big deal to you? I mean, seriously?”[/b][/color] The questions he asked were more rhetorical than anything, but he half hoped she’d answer them. Nevertheless, the boy started up the computer and waited for it to load up. He already knew she wasn’t going to like how he danced in some of these. Georgie knew she was being a douche at this point, so there was no use in stopping the idiot train from leaving the station but she just had to know. It was all so new to her, this whole thing with Sawyer and she’d wanted it for so long. And now that it was in her hands, she needed it to be perfect. She didn’t want him to let her down, put on a facade one moment when he was with her and abandon it the next. She couldn't handle that. She never would be. [color=slateblue][b]“It’s just. I really like you. You know that. And you know how much I need things to be good for us. And, as much as I want to say that I just want to watch those videos so I can see how happy and great you are doing something you love...I just need to see them so I know that you guys weren’t...together. I’m just trying to make up for the time I’ve been away. And I know I’m being a total jealous idiot here but I need it. You understand, don’t you?”[/b][/color] As she spoke, his lips pressed firmly together into a fine line, reluctantly nodding his head in response to her question. Sawyer sat there staring at the computer screen as it loaded in, typing in his password before pulling up his files. For the time being, he remained silent as he pulled up the file titled ‘Sessions’, then a sub-file with the name ‘Me and Kellz’. He’d heard what she said, but didn’t know how to respond. Figured the best thing for him to do was just nod and stay quiet. There was no sense in skipping any videos, so he just clicked on the first one, which was a mashup of several sessions that he’d edited together. Sawyer slowly slid the laptop into Georgie’s lap, sighing heavily as he pushed himself up from the bed and walked away. The boy ran a hand through his hair as he wandered a few paces away before turning around to face Georgie, crossing his arms over his chest with a soft, patient expression painted across his face. If it was anyone else, he’d have caught an attitude real quick and become confrontational. It wasn’t just anyone, though. [i]It was Georgie.[/i] The boy really didn’t see any other way but to be honest and true, as much as the videos could potentially put him [i]in the doghouse[/i], he knew absolute honesty was key. His girlfriend always seemed to be so caught up on everything being ‘perfect’. He didn’t understand just why she wanted to be with him, considering. He was far from it. The boy could hear the music playing and could almost put himself back into the moment. He’d missed dancing. It’d feel awkward going back to hang with the dance kids without Kellie being there, though. He’d have to find something else to do.. Definitely wasn’t an option, now, considering how much Georgie seemed to dislike Kellie, for some reason. He made a mental note to ask about why she didn’t like her so much at a later time, if she didn’t elaborate on it herself. The boy peeked up at his girl, mumbling just loud enough for her to hear, [color=#D9CE5B][b]“Love, just don’t be upset at me. Please, babe. It was literally [i]just[/i] dancing. That’s it. Some dances are more.. [i]intimate[/i] than others, but there was never any contact other than hands in--”[/b][/color] he had to take a moment to think of a word, [color=#D9CE5B][b]“[i]respectable[/i] places.”[/b][/color] He had a feeling that no matter what he said, she was focused on it so much that she wouldn’t really hear what he said. Or at least that it wouldn’t matter. Girls were so damn complicated. Georgie watched the videos, half an eye out as she watched Sawyer pace back and forth in front of her. She was growing nervous by the second. Of course, he was able to have a life away from her (she had been such a bad friend to him before so it must warrant it at some point) but with anyone but freaking Kellie. She was gorgeous and talented and well...let’s face it she already had Max, Georgie’s only choice of getting away from everything those few months that she hadn’t been with Sawyer. She had everything. And even though Georgie acted like she herself did, she knew that she didn’t. The 18 minutes was pure torture to watch. Sure, the dances weren’t that provocative and she was pretty sure that she’d not been that choreographed when she herself went out to the clubs but honestly, it was her boyfriend and another girl and they had more chemistry between them than she’d ever be able to have. [color=slateblue][b]“Sawyer...”[/b][/color] She let her voice trail away as she put down the laptop on the side of the bed. [color=slateblue][b]“You liked her, didn’t you?”[/b][/color] Sawyer locked his eyes with hers when he heard her speak his name, his shoulders dropped, a slight frown setting in. [color=#D9CE5B][b]“Full honesty, yes.”[/b][/color] Sawyer stepped forward, tenderly taking her chin in his hand. [color=#D9CE5B][b]“But Georgie, if any of that mattered, neither of us would be here.”[/b][/color] The boy stroked his thumb over her cheek gently, continuing, [color=#D9CE5B][b]“Baby, you know how I feel about you. How I’ve [i]always[/i] felt about you. Can we stop living in the past and just focus on [i]us[/i]? In the [i]here and now[/i]?”[/b][/color] As soon as he said yes, Georgie felt a bit thrown. She was expecting it of course, I mean they [i]had[/i] lost contact for years but...she’d thought they’d be perfect and good to go when they were together again. She shied away slightly from his touch. [color=slateblue][b]“I’m not mad at you, I have no right to be...it’s just. I don’t know, I guess it hurts thinking that if we hadn’t talked that night you’d very well be with her right now. And by god, we all know that you’d probably want to be with her more than the mess I am...and with everything with Max, too...I know how focused you are on the present but, just for once, I think the past matters more than you think.”[/b][/color] She paused here to catch a breath and then abruptly stood up. She felt her chest constricting. [i]She wasn’t perfect enough. She wasn’t then and she wasn’t now. [b]That’s[/b] why Sawyer would’ve chosen Kellie and not her in the end.[/i] She took a step towards the door. Sawyer stepped forward and around her, stepping between her and the door. He’d have grabbed her but feared she’d pull away from him again. He looked at her, trying to search her eyes. [i]Where was all this coming from?[/i] [color=#D9CE5B][b]“Georgie, Georgie! Hey. No matter what I could have ever felt, I respect Max too much to go after his girl. Neither of us would have had a shot with either of them in the first place, because they were still head over heels for each other.”[/b][/color] Georgie whirled around, quite ready to fire back a response and found that even though it was an effort, she was [i]angry[/i]. [color=slateblue][b]“Right. But you would’ve still pined over her, Harvey, and in the end we all know that we wouldn’t have even talked about everything so yeah, you’d just end up with her or some other [i]perfect specimen[/i] because,”[/b][/color] She wasn’t even sure why she was bringing in their communication problems but she was already on a roll [color=slateblue][b]“-you’d never grow a pair and talk to me.”[/b][/color] She waited for this to settle in and almost wanted to kick herself for saying all these things. By god, was she really this bitchy? But his response just then hadn’t been exactly great either...he’d been talking about... [color=slateblue][b]“Wait. How did you know about Max?”[/b][/color] Sawyer was about to interrupt her and tell her that [i]she[/i] was the ‘perfect specimen’ in his eyes, until the next few words rolled out of her mouth. His heart quickly sank down into his stomach. All the fight in him that would’ve attempted to keep her there with him left. His eyes shifted to the ground a few moments before he began to move away to sit on the bed. What she’d said really stung. [i]Did she really think that of him? Who was he to know he ever had a shot at even being friends with her again after what he did, let alone actually [b]be[/b] with her..?[/i] Sawyer sat down on the bed and slouched forward with his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. He let her question hang unanswered in the air a few seconds before responding, [color=#D9CE5B][b]“People talk. Big school, lot of gossipers. You hear things.”[/b][/color] Of course, he’d actually heard the ‘gossip’ through his own twin. Albeit accidentally. Still, he wasn’t about to throw his brother under the bus. She knew that she’d hurt him when he backed away from her. Sawyer was the strongest person she knew so if her worthless words had landed, well. She walked closer to him. Maybe she didn’t mean it? But she did. She’d wanted him to talk to her but he’d never gotten around to it. She heaved a deep breath and reached out a hand before she withdrew it. She wanted to say sorry but...they were onto other things now. [color=slateblue][b]“I’ll be honest to you, too...I [i]did[/i] like him. He was a great distraction for a bit but it’s not like I had any chance with him as Georgie, the girl you’d look at for a second before passing your eye over to better things.”[/b][/color] She shuffled her feet, trying to decide what best to say next. [color=slateblue][b]“I...I didn’t mean what I said earlier about you not having enough courage to talk to me...I mean, maybe I did, but...it just came out wrong. I...”[/b][/color] she stuttered and stopped, not knowing how to go on. [color=#D9CE5B][b]“Yeah, well it was the same for me with Kellie. First it was drugs, then mom passed and Kellie kinda took me under her wing. She was helping me when no one else seemed to want to. She was the only one who cared. She helped me get my shit straight, helped me get back in with Max and The Team. So, yeah. I liked her, a little. But I’m supposed to be understanding about your little crush on Max while I get thrown to the wolves over something like that? Something that actually makes more sense than just [i]‘he’s hot’[/i]..?!”[/b][/color] It was then that Sawyer stood up and walked around Georgie, heading for the door. With his hand on the knob, Sawyer stopped and turned his head a little, not fully looking at her, [color=#D9CE5B][b]“It was never about having courage. It was about respecting you, and the fact that I fucked things up. I knew I didn’t deserve the chance.”[/b][/color] Sawyer snapped his fingers and led the overly-eager dogs down the hallway, not wanting to give Georgie the chance to snap at him again. He began heading towards the back door with the dogs. Shit. Georgie knew that she’d messed things up real bad this time. And she knew deep inside that Sawyer was right. She was a hypocrite for everything that she’d said. And she’d had such a deep seated dream for perfection that everything that had come in contact with her would inevitably be ruined in the end. [color=slateblue][b]“Wait,”[/b][/color] she took a few quick strides and was right behind Sawyer, reaching her arms to him to hug him from the back. [color=slateblue][b]“Please.”[/b][/color] She knew that her words definitely weren’t enough. She couldn’t say anything more than she had already and risk ruining it all again. Sawyer stopped dead in his tracks, a lump caught in his throat. He couldn’t manage to speak, so he just stood there a moment and let out a deep sigh before reaching a hand up to gently rub over hers.