rosalie & eddie
Her hand starts like it wants to find the surface of his chest, to reassure her of the heart beating underneath, but moments like those arenât hers to seek anymore, so she smoothes the surface of her dress nervously, having never felt so fucking stupid in it until this very moment. How easy it was to lie nowadays, by way of dress, by the dolly gloss of her lips, and the pretty purple of her eyeshadow; how easy it was to lie to someone whoâd once known every corner and surface of her soul.
She gives a fluttering laugh, it shudders through the air as violently as its torn from her throat at the sight of that sad smile.
âYou look good, Eddie,â she reaffirms, biting down on the inside of her lower lip. âYou look like hell chewed you up and spit you back out, but itâs charming on you,â she amends lowly, almost hoping her voice is quiet enough that even he cannot hear this unbidden piece of truth. âLess so on myself, or so I hear,â she tacks on.
She canât do this.
Itâs too raw, like an exposed nerve between the two of them, and sheâs much too afraid to address it, scared that prodding will only net a deluge of pain sheâs refused to let herself feel. Itâs already in his eyes, already dripping off the tone of his voice, so palpable she could reach out and it would well in her hands and seep out the seams of her fingers. âYeah,â she says thickly. âUh, busy. Touring and sh- things like that.â She wants to say more, but thereâs nothing she can say, really, so she closes her mouth abruptly, and her teeth click together.
She tries again.
âIâm sorry,â she says, like it can even begin to cover the soft murder she wrought upon them both. Thereâs so much he doesnât know, piles and piles of price tags that Fusetoneâs placed on fame and music, all things sheâs been willing to part with â even him. How does she even start explaining it? âI should- I should let you go,â she says, and winces. âLet you go get your drink, I mean. Thatâs what you were going to do, I think?â She taps her fingers nervously on her thigh â one, two, three, one, two three â gesturing vaguely at his empty glass.
Tired eyes watch as she smoothes her dress out, a dress they would have mercilessly laughed about ( and the women who wore them, sometimes ) back when their days were spent in a flurry of tequila flavored kisses and whispered promises.
The woman he once knew in contrast to this new, updated version was shocking, so much more so in person. It was so easy to write off the whole Gemstones thing, keeping a shred of hope that she was the same girl heâs always known, but her actions speak far louder than words. Heâs the same heâs ever been, except some days heâs clad in leather, others in fur, or sequins, or velvet, or whatever other outrageous material thatâll keep people from getting bored and wanting to know the real Eddie Nyx.Â
He looks away at the compliment, a small chuckle of disbelief escaping his parted lips. âCharming on me. Yâknow, a fan said the same thing when she caught me passed out on a bar stool two Sunday mornings ago. Thanks for being polite, I guess.â Another laugh, though itâs far from sincere ---- since when is Rosalie Kang polite? Since whenever she decided he wasnât good enough, his brain is quick to remind him. âYou rocked a hangover better than anyone Iâve ever met.â He adds, quieter this time as his fingers fidget with the rings resting on them.
Her short answer makes Eddie sigh. Itâs like pulling teeth to get even a semblance of a genuine conversation with her. What the fuck did he do to deserve this? Her distance makes the wound heâs so carefully tended to all this time flare up, red and angry and raw.Â
The nostalgia he feels turns sour, his face hardening at her words. âThis is the first time I see you ---- since how long, Rose? And all I get are a few diplomatic words, and weâre on our way?â Heâs incredulous, and his voice trembles, heâs fighting with all the self-control he has not to raise his voice. For her sake. âThatâs fucking cold.â











