beautiful mess

“I would ask you, what if you didn’t have… the best brother, if you say so yourself, on speed-dial?” Bailey asked his little sister, not that she ever wouldn’t. “What would you do then?” He sighed as he shrugged his shoulders. “They’re always annoyed at me, Chloe. I don’t think me speaking on your behalf would change anything.” He listened to her as she listed everything that look up her time. “And what exactly do you consider semi-normal when it comes to your social life? I wouldn’t know what’s even fully normal, considering the fact that I  have an non-existant social life.” Grandfather did sound about right now that he heard himself say that. “Yeah, I think I get it now..”

“Call Mads?” She joked, before shrugging. “I’ve been skating since I was three, and that means I’m a lot stronger than I look. It’s the only way to land jumps without shattering every bone in your legs. I got that whole, look like a flower, sting like a bee thing down.” Not that she’d ever minded when people underestimated her, that was their problem, not her’s. “Why would they be annoyed at you? Shouldn’t you be the golden child? The responsible one with the super bright future in their field?” Though, she would forever be confused about her parent’s thought processes on most things, so what did she know? “Actually getting to talk with my friends? Go to parties like every other high schooler? I might need to skip most football games and I couldn’t join cheer like I wanted. I can’t always do things like go to the mall or watch a movie with people, but as long as I get a few hours of social interaction, I’m golden. I’d cry if I didn’t.” 

❝     i kid you not, i’ve just stared death straight in the face, and i have prevailed. let’s all take a moment to reflect about how truly miserable your life would be without me.     ❞

“And... What exactly happened that lead to you staring death straight in the face?” 

“That’s not going to stop me from worrying, little one.” He told her with a shrug. “Falling asleep in class? Now that sounds like a problem. Do you want me to put a word in with the ‘rents? Maybe… just maybe, they’d let you home school. Because it sounds like you need it.” Bailey admitted. He’s always wanted the best for Chloe and if it meant having to argue with his parents to convince them to let her home school, then that was exactly what he was going to do. “I feel like I’m not used to them because I don’t pay attention to them, to be honest.” He admitted, laughing softly. “Oh come on, Chlo… I have no problem having no social life. I have Kiara… Ben and Jez. I don’t need anymore people to hang out with. And parties are just not my cup of tea and you know that.” He told her. “And for the record, I’m not acting like a grandfather. I just like to be the responsible one in the family.”

“What if I point out that I have the best brother on speed-dial who can come help if I need it?” Which he always had when she needed someone, even if all she needed was someone to let her hide from their parents until she was sober enough to go home. Shaking her head at the next words, a grateful smile appeared on her face. “No, I don’t wanna be the reason they get annoyed at you. They’re not always the best at not blaming the messenger. It’s not all the time, but balancing rink time, off-ice training, gym time, dance practice, school and homework can get a little... problematic at times. Especially when you throw in wanting to have a semi-normal social life.” Which admittedly she could drop, but she never claimed to have the best priorities. “Have I ever mentioned that we are very different people? I’d argue but... You do edge everyone else out in the responsible department.” 

Amber could definitely tell she was a doctor’s kid. She was cautious and smart and knew some of the ins and outs about the hospital. With a shake of her head, Amber spoke again. “Any vending machines on the way? I’m not awfully picky.”

“There is.” She confirmed, starting to walk towards the vending machine with the best selection in her mind. “So... Are you visiting Seattle or moving here?” It was a simple enough question, at least to her - and she’d never been one to be comfortable with silence.

“Maybe give me like ten minutes to get there and hit record on my phone, but hey if I win big I’ll make sure to spilt it with you. To be fair it would be you doing all the work. All I’m doing is hitting record.” Willa smiled back at the girl. “You know you and I are going to get along great if you like Phoebe’s pick up and watch friends.”

“Maybe, but I’d be the one who gets all the fun of getting a tiny bit of revenge on a creep. Can’t put a monetary value on that.” She chuckled, knowing the whole thing was ridiculous - so why not joke? “Well I mean... If someone doesn’t like Phoebe’s pick-up lines, would you really want that person in your life? They’d be far too dull.” 

Willa listened to the girl as she ranted on about pickup lines, and to be honest, Willa couldn’t really blame her, she wasn’t really a fan herself. “If you do boil that water and pour it on yourself or someone else can I watch?” She joked, giving the girl a little smile. “But you should probably get a metal now just for putting up with these losers. I mean pick up lines hardly ever work. Unless your Phoebe Buffay. You like her name, you should see her phone number.” Willa laughed lightly. “I watch too much friends I know, but that pick up like I like. It’s so cheesy that I love it.” 

Giggling at the other’s words, she gave a nod in response. “Sure, I’ll text you the location right before I do it. You could even film it and send it off to those home movie shows, make some money off it.” Which was a ridiculous scenario, but at least it put a smile on her face. “Phoebe is... Phoebe. She was so amazing she could pull off cheesy pick-up lines. I don’t trust people who don’t love Phoebe. I... For sure have a Friends problem, so I can’t judge you for watching it too much.” 

“You know, the kind of people you meet at parties… it does worry me sometimes.” He admitted. Despite the fact that Bailey had always been the one who had got Chloe out of trouble with their parents when it came to her partying, he couldn’t help but worry. He was extremely protective of her. “Yeah, I don’t think homeschooling would be the best option for you… when it comes to dealing with mom and dad that is.” He agreed. “No because I’ve never put myself in a situation where someone would use a creepy pick-up line on me. We all know that my social life is pretty non-existent.”

“But I get good stories out of meeting them, totally no need to worry.” It wasn’t likely to stop him from worrying, but it never hurt to reiterate that he didn’t need to worry about her. He already had too much on plate to add worrying onto it. “They’re the worst sometimes. Do you think pointing out I keep falling asleep in class would make things better or worse. Cause 5am practices are just... not great when you have class.” It wasn’t that she didn’t try in school, it was just hard to balance sometimes - and she’d pick skating over school, even if it wasn’t the popular choice. “People can use creepy pick-up lines anywhere. Classes, the store, when you’re out on a run... But you really should do something about that non-existent social life. You’re nowhere near old enough to act like a grandfather yet.” 

“First of all, who has been saying those to you? Second of all, why…. just why?” He asked his sister as he shook his head. “So, are you any step closer to making it to the Olympics or do we still have a long way to go?” Bailey liked to keep himself updated with his sisters’ careers. “I mean, I wouldn’t pour a bottle of water on someone for that reason… but that’s just me.”

“This time some random at my friend’s party, I think he was one of her brother’s friends. Or... I hope he was anyway. As for the why... No clue, and those aren’t the worst ones I’ve ever heard. Unless you meant why did I tell you, in which case... I just wanted to complain to someone.” She finished with a shrug. Though she pepped right up at the next question. “I did just perfect my new jump combination, and I finally talked coach into letting me put my backflip into my exhibition piece. I’d have a shorter road to go if I could convince our parents to let me home school, but I doubt they’d go for that.” If only because she knew full well she’d pay even less attention than she would in a physical school. “Haven’t you ever heard a line so creepy you wanted to do something in return?” 

Willa looked at the girl and gave her a smile “Will I really do like being everyone's favourite person.” She joked. “Yeah go for it, the empty chair is all yours.” 

“You are a lifesaver.” Which might have been a little dramatic, but it had certainly saved her day at least. “I’d say I’d buy you a coffee to say thank you, but considering you already have one... How about an iou?” 

“To be completely honest with you Chloe, all men are idiots when it comes to pick up lines,” Bennett grinned a little bit looking at his girlfriends cousin. He had tried so many different ones on so many different girls. “You should get a medal for that, because those pick up lines are terrible and kind of rude.”

“Thank you!” She exclaimed, glad that it wasn’t just her that was partially creeped out by the lines. “I’ve heard some bad ones before but those ones... It’s like they won some weird bad line contest. But hey, at least I got a story out of it. You need to find the silver linings, right? But now I kinda want to hear the cheesiest line you’ve ever tried to use.” 

Amber smiled and nodded, taking her license back and tucking it back into her wallet where it belonged. She understood the need for information and actually applauded the girl for trying to keep her brother secure. “Thanks. Do you know where the attending’s lounge is? Figured I could wait for him in there.”

“Yeah, it’s just...” She stood up deciding that showing the other would work better than telling her how to get there. It also gave her a reason to do something other than sit and wait. “Wait - do you have something to drink with you? Because I’ll be honest, I don’t think there’s anything close to decent in the attending’s lounge. That, or they’re really great at hiding it.” 

if the was any place to nurse a black eye, a hospital was it. max sat with crossed legs on a stretcher in the most abandoned hall of the hospital that she could find, which was not easy as it’s typically crowded. she held an ice-pack over her left eye, given to her by one of the nice nurses that had known her and her siblings since they were little. 

there was a noticeable split across the right side of her lip, and her face was a little bruised, but nothing life-threatening: just the remnants of a dumb high school fight, though she was still left angry from what had set her off in the first place. at least she had avoided suspension.

that was about where her list of positives ended, though, because she could hear footsteps echoing down the hallway, headed her direction.

She’d gone to the hospital for her cardiologist check-up, or... That’s what her story was. In all honesty, she’d never planned on actually seeing her doctor, but she had wanted her parents to see her at the hospital so she could claim she did - momentarily forgetting patient confidentiality didn’t kick in until she hit eighteen. Walking through the corridors, she paused when she noticed a familiar face - and then the injuries on said face. “What happened to you?” She asked incredulously, after all it was definitely something more than simply falling. 

“i’m SO tired. like my eyeballs are going  to fall out of the sockets tired, but is it possible that i could SLEEP on my day off? no, because kathy down the street never lets her damn dog in and he barks all night and all day. you’d think SOMEONE would call animal control on her or something.” a groan as she settled back, a clammy hand reaching for her water. “maybe, i’ll just KILL kathy and norman can come live here.” someone was obviously in a great mood, and clearly coming down with something.

“Suddenly I remember why I like staying on your good side.” She quipped, if only to try and hide the worry in her voice. Her own sleeping pattern was incredibly messed up, but that didn’t stop her from worrying about others having messed up sleeping schedules. “Couldn’t you just ask to borrow someone else’s room for a nap? Someone who doesn’t live near a barking dog?” 

Willa was finally leaving school, for a girl who didn’t really enjoy school she was their kind of a lot. She played volleyball and that was really why she went to school these days. As she grabbed her stuff from her locked she jumped on her skateboard and headed to the local coffee shop.

As she walked in she ordered her usual green tea and a muffin before making her way to a table. 

Going to the coffee shop was meant to be a quick stop then back on her merry way, until she spotted someone she’d been avoiding outside. Noticing a familiar face, she almost sighed in relief walking over to the other’s table. “Hey, mind some company? You’d be my all-time favourite person if you let me sit.” 

“Chloe…” Bailey frowned. “Don’t sell yourself short like that…” He told his youngest sister as he pulled her into a hug. “You also fall into the category of amazing athletes and you know that…” He pointed out. “One day, baby girl, one day you’re going to qualify for the Olympics and you’re going to get on the ice and kick ass and I’m going to be sitting in front of my TV, rooting for you the whole time just like I would do for Ellis.” There was no denying that out of all of his sisters, Chloe was his favourite. Bailey liked to think it was because she was the youngest, which was true. But what made him be so protective towards her was the fact that he knew how fragile her heart was and he tried so hard not to break it. “… I just turned into a complete sap, haven’t I?” He asked her, chuckling softly as he pulled back from the hug. “I’m not even sorry…” He shook his head. “I’m sure Kiara’s had hers planned for years so it’s her wedding. She gets all the freedom to do it however the hell she wants. And if you disagree with that, I would tell you to take it up with her. But no promises about whether or not she’d revoke your bridesmaid privileges though. I don’t have the power to get involved in that either…”

Her family were pretty supportive in general, but Bailey had always seemed to specialise in being her cheerleader. She was certain without that, she would have given up. There were days where the work she had to put in didn’t seem worth it. Or weeks where she’d been injured and it was difficult not to want to give in and find a more ‘normal’ dream, but she’d always had someone who believed in her when she didn’t. Tears glistening in her eyes, this time she made no complaint about the hug. “You’re the best brother ever, have I ever told you that?” Every time she wanted something, but there were a few genuine times scattered throughout the years. “It’s okay, I won’t tell anyone how much of a sap you are. I can keep a secret.” Mocking zipping her lips shut and throwing away the key, a small laugh escaped her at his next words. “I don’t disagree that Kiara should have her dream wedding I just... Find it hard to picture someone who didn’t have anything in mind. But maybe i just watched too many romcoms as a kid and got carried away with the wedding idea. Honestly? I sorta want one of them more than a marriage.” 

“Dude, look at it this way, I eat? I stay alive. That’s healthy enough to me”

“Do you think that logic would work with my parents if I just gave up eating well?”