A Broken Soul(77)

"She's been at it since we showed up around seven this morning," Kyle said, pulling me from the sight before me. "Same song over and over. Sam and I have come in here to try and get her to stop, but it's like she's a zombie. She won't even stop for water." I looked into his eyes and saw nothing but sadness. "We didn't know what else to do. She can't push herself like this. Physically, it's not good for her, but she won't listen to us. I actually tried to shut the music off and she nearly bit my head off. She's not our Lilly right now. It's like she's trapped in her own head and refuses to come out."

I turned back to the window just as she attempted to execute a leap. I'd seen her do the same jump before, only this time she barely caught any air. She looked like she was seconds away from collapsing.

I put my hand to the knob and gave it a twist, glancing at Kyle over my shoulder as I pushed the door open. "Thanks for calling me. Let me see what I can do." He nodded right before the door closed behind me.

Her eyes were closed as I moved a few feet into the room, rested my shoulders against the wall and just watched, trying to think of any way to get Lilly to stop. I hadn't noticed the dark circles under her eyes, or how sunken her cheeks looked from the window, but now that I was standing closer it was obvious that Lilly had lost weight …  weight that her already slight frame couldn't afford to lose.

I'd been right to worry. She wasn't taking care of herself. She wasn't okay. And just as I'd feared, it looked like she was in the middle of a breakdown. The only thing I could do to help was be there when it finally hit her full force.

I didn't have to wait long.

As soon as the man started singing to his father about trying to fight when he felt like flying she lifted up on the ball of one foot. Her body began to turn, and her leg extended out to her side. But before she could make the turn completely, her ankle gave and she fell to the floor in a crumpled heap. Rushing from my spot at the wall, I hit my knees only inches from her and lifted my hands to move the hair from her face.

"Baby," I whispered, running my hands down her limbs to make sure she wasn't hurt. "Are you okay?"

Her head came up and tears skirted down her cheeks in a quick rush. "Quinn." Her voice broke on that one word, and I knew she'd finally reached the tipping point. "I miss him so much." Then her body folded in on itself as deep, ravaged, gut-wrenching sobs tore from her. I sat on the floor and wrapped my arms around her, pulling her trembling frame into my lap and holding on tightly.

"It's okay," I breathed into her ear, as I rocked us back and forth. "Let it out, baby. I've got you. Just get it all out."

Her body shuddered and shook violently as each anguished cry broke free, shattering a piece of me with every one. I don't know how long we sat there on the cold, slick floor of the dance studio before the tremors started to lessen. The sobs had finally quieted, but in their place, silent tears continued to fall, soaking through the front of my shirt.

At one point Kyle had peeked through the door, finding us sitting on the floor in the middle of the room, and went over to stop the music before exiting once again. It felt like an eternity had passed before she finally cried herself to sleep in my arms in the silent room. When I felt it was safe to move, I stood from the ground with Lilly in my arms and carried her out of the studio. She didn't wake, too physically and emotionally exhausted. She simply burrowed into my neck and let out a stuttered sigh.



       
         
       
        

"Her apartment unlocked?" I asked Kyle and Sam. Kyle grabbed a set of keys off the front desk and led me through the back of the school to the interior stairs. He went up before me, unlocking the door and held it open so I could carry Lilly across the threshold undisturbed. He followed through the apartment and into her bedroom, his worried eyes resting on her as I lay her down in her bed.

"Thanks for coming. I can stay with her until she wakes up."

"I've got it," I rasped. There was no way in Hell I was leaving her. Not now, not after she'd just cried her sorrows out on my chest. I was staying, whether she wanted me to or not. I needed to be with her just as badly as she needed a shoulder to lean on. And now that I'd seen her, I couldn't walk away. I was determined to be that shoulder for her as long as she'd allow it.

Kyle gave me a hesitant look. "You sure?"

"Positive. I'm not leaving. You can either stay here with me, or you can go down and handle Lilly's classes for her."

He looked from me to her and back again. "I'll go down to help Sam. You know where to find us if you need anything."