[Calliope Gallo]

Friday came along and there wasn't an ounce of Callie that had forgotten the offer she put on the table between herself and an obvious former beloved. She honestly thought about it a lot, but it wasn't her place to put any pressure on the situation. At this point, Chandler was like a little bird easily crushed by her own hands. It was smarter to pretend that it wasn't as big a deal as it probably was.

But there she was alone on a Friday night, music forcing her to pace herself and honestly, it helped a lot to ease her anxiety over the whole thing. She never actually thought she'd spend the whole practice alone, because she always sought the best in people. But now that she was there, it was completely different. 

She didn't hear anyone come in. Instead, she was too engulfed in her own movements. That was until she slipped and fell against the hard wood of the auditorium stage. She hit the floor with a harsh sound, sitting up immediately and hanging her head to wait for whatever pain she felt to subside.

[Chandler Winslow]

Chandler had decided not to come. She'd made her mind up about it and made other plans. She'd promised herself not to go anywhere near the auditorium, and yet, she found herself hesitating by the door. She was supposed to pass it without a single thought. Without as much as questioning her decision.

A huff fell from her lips as her body moved of its own volition. Her fingers curled around the handle and she stepped inside the room. The parts furthest away from the stage was dark and she was tempted to hide in one of the corners and hope she wouldn't be seen.

But the sound of a body thumping against the stage made her mind up; Green eyes drew towards the familiar form and she moved without giving it another thought.

"You okay?"

[Calliope Gallo]

Settling after a fall was supposed to be grounding. Callie knew the importance of checking in on herself before dragging herself back up again. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath or two, but the motion was interrupted by a familiar voice that had her drawing her eyes back up immediately.

Callie had to be grateful for some kind of company, she supposed. She was even more grateful that her fall wasn't actually seen. She gave her the once over, immediately figuring out she wasn't dressed to practice.

But she was dressed to go somewhere.

"I'm fine, it's okay." She reassured her, trying a smile that just ended up looking hollow. She'd never been a good liar, and that lack of skill always filtered through her fake expressions.

[Chandler Winslow]

She'd always been like an open book. Trying so hard to hide what was beneath, yet failing so miserably at it. Chandler might have pitied it, if she hadn't come to adore the trait. "No, you're not." She smiled then, making her way up the stairs. "And no it's not."

She knew how much she loved dancing. She knew how much it meant to her. Though she doubted the fall had caused much damage, one could never be too careful. Especially if one didn't take proper precautions.

"Where does it hurt?" She stepped closer, sinking to her knees next to the blonde's form. She reached her hand out. A ting of guilt filled her then; what if she'd decided not to come? What if she'd come earlier? 

[Calliope Gallo]

Compared to their last meeting, it was almost odd how quickly her former friend made it to her side. Last time, Callie had felt like an invisible wall separated them, and it seemed impossible to break through.

"It's just my ankle. I don't think it's a super big deal." She was, after all, the queen of frequent dislocations. The pain of it all was like second nature.

A familiar hand reached out to her and it quickly dawned on Callie that this was the first contact she'd made since she got back. The idea terrified her in a way, physical as she was, for all she could take from such a simple gesture. She sucked in a breath, reaching for the offered hand and clasping her own around it instead. "Listen, you didn't have to stop." She offered, glancing from her own injury to this girl instead.

[Chandler Winslow]

"You are allowed to complain." She smiled at her; Despite the blonde's power, Chandler didn't think that meant she had to just roll over and take it all the time. Then again, that too, seemed to be as much part of her as her ability.

The moment their skin touched, Chandler felt the familiar surge of Callie's ability. It was likely the ability she'd accidentally mimicked the most times over the years. She knew it like the back of her hand at this point. The brunette pulled at the arm as she stood, making sure to plant her feet apart to gain the necessarily balance to keep both her, and Callie's weight. Just in case. "But I did." She straightened her back. "And now I have."

Though she didn't mean to, she could feel the ability entering her own body. She could feel it take hold and she was tempted to roll her shoulders and shrug it off. But she didn't. It felt too good. Too comfortable.

[Calliope Gallo]

Caught in a moment fuelled by pure contact, Callie was completely caught off guard when she was lifted.

"You don't have to-" She tried, but it was no use. She was up in a matter of seconds, body weight carried by the person who had been so determined to help her. She didn't try to fight her in the end. Why would she? She didn't want to be left alone, but she didn't want to be helped out of pure pity.

She barely let her other foot touch the ground. It hurt, but it always did when a limb gave out on her. "I put a lot of pressure on myself today. That's all it is." She explained, like that could make any sense to someone living outside her own head.

[Chandler Winslow]

Carrying the blonde against her weight would have been much harder, given their difference in height, had it not been for the fact that Chandler had spent most of her life working out, be it through dancing or other means. She'd built up a nice base of muscles and while it didn't make her strong, it made her strong enough.

"Stop with the excuses." Her voice was harsher than intended, but it needed to be said. Moving them towards the back parts of the stage, Chandler turned her head around to see if there was anywhere for the blonde to sit. "There." She nodded towards a chair with her head.

Moving swiftly over the familiar, yet unfamiliar floor, the brunette pressed her lips into a hard line.

[Calliope Gallo]

It was as if Chandler knew that Callie was already considering the next reason why she might have fallen. The harsh words forced her mouth to shut tightly before she dug herself in further. So silently, she followed along until she was sitting.

Immediately she drew her foot up, thumbs working their way against the skin as if she hoped to fix the joint so easily.

"Thanks." She said then, looking up and offering a weary smile. She really meant it, too. She didn't have to stop, but she chose to, and that was nice enough for Callie.

[Chandler Winslow]

When the blonde was sitting, Chandler drew back a step; Allowing them both some space.

She didn't like being strict with her, but sometimes, she really needed it. It was as if Callie took the weight of the world on her shoulders and seemingly wanting to carry the burden all by herself. While, yes, she was at fault for some of the things that had lead to the path she now found herself on, it didn't mean the power mimic would stand idly by and watch her self implode.

"How does it look?" She nodded towards the foot.

[Calliope Gallo]

It was hard not to feel a little sad in current company. Callie very easily harboured the weight of breaking the heart of the person who tried their best to help her. Her eyes felt safer on herself than on anyone else, but a vote of thanks deserved eye contact. She glanced back down again the second she was done with it, dropping her smile with the motion.

"It's okay." She said with the slightest wince. The drop of blonde locks at either side worked wonders to keep her expression hidden.

A second later and she was reaching back to hold the back of her chair as she eased herself back up again. Tentative toes touched the surface of the stage before she bothered to put any weight on it. She closed her eyes and forced an exhale, then a step. "I don't have time to stop." She offered honestly, rolling her shoulders back.

[Chandler Winslow]

A frustrated sigh fell from the brunette's lips: Chandler knew that she herself was stubborn, but when dealing with others that were equally so, she couldn't help but get a little annoyed. Though, she supposed it was more so because she wanted Callie to just say actually what she meant instead of hiding behind her excuses.

But then again, maybe that wouldn't have been wise. She'd tried before and Chandler had shut her out and locked the door.

She watched her then as she got out of the chair. The way her tall frame rose up in all its elegance and grace and for a moment, Chandler felt herself staring. Another sigh fell and Chandler turned. "Alright." She wasn't going to waste her time arguing. Callie was a big girl. She could handle herself. "Then I'll leave you to it. Since you don't have the time to stop, you know." But of course, she couldn't help but to make a comment.

[Calliope Gallo]

Shoulders rolled back as Callie briefly dropped her head. Tension rose so heavily in her neck that it felt overbearing to even glance in her direction. She was an overbearing person to be around.

And when she talked about leaving, it felt so typical. Her heartbeat raced like she'd been physically poisoned. She felt better for not looking then. Underneath those eyes, it was way too easy to crumble.

"You're not here to stop. I know that." Callie said, but she kept her tone light. It was safer that way. There couldn't be any hard feelings for the fact.

[Chandler Winslow]

Frustration hit her and she was tempted to just storm off. Even Chandler realized how childish she was being. That she read too much into the situation and that she was looking for something, anything to pick at. She was just looking for an excuse and it wasn't good for either of them.

Sighing, she looked away. Eyes pinched together. She had to get it together.

"Look, I'm sorry, okay?" Another sigh and she looked at the blonde once more. "I don't mean to be such a dick."

[Calliope Gallo]

Callie had always done her best to find peace in the worst situations. When it came to the animosity between them, she already knew she'd added to it only days ago. It took time and patience - the latter of which she'd clearly never been good at - but she did her best to find some kind of comfort in what definitely felt like the end of something that hadn't ever begun.

The last thing she expected was an apology. It forced her to look when she knew she shouldn't have.

"I know you don't." She replied almost immediately. "I'm sorry if I made it seem like I do." She was always so quick to apologise for her own part in the actions.

It was the closest that Chandler had come to actually referencing what had happened between them. Callie linked her hands together, drawing them up over her head. "I feel like I know you don't want anything to do with me at all. And I feel like I'm just waiting for you to say it." She explained, trying her absolute best to approach this situation with the delicacy she needed to use. Letting go of her intertwined hands, Callie very briefly pressed a palm to her shoulder before shifting away a fast step away from her. "So don't worry about like, hurting my feelings and stuff like that. Just say what you need to say. For you." Whatever it was, Callie was sure she could handle it.

But it was definitely a lot easier with her back to her instead.