Damaged

Startled wasn’t the right word, but perhaps surprised would fit as he jerked his head toward the voice. Blinking, he took in the smiling face, letting silence linger longer than he meant to. 

The silence hung uncomfortably over the brunette before she felt the overwhelming relief at his words. The Black Sheep had never seemed so silent but she was sure that she could have heard a pin drop.

Sabine kept quiet for a moment.

In that moment Sadie felt every bit as cold as her aunt had shown herself to be when dealing with the girls. 

“You are not the first person to tell me that.”

“You should take it to heart then.”

Annabelle wasn’t sure what had drawn her near the Grotto. She’d just been taking a walk and wound up passing it right as she saw a girl freeze before going inside. Something about her seemed off. For a moment she silently watched the girl before speaking up in a level tone, “Hey are you okay?”

Sadie startled at the question, shaking herself out of the hesitation as she forced her lips to turn upwards as if the motion was still natural to her anymore. “Fine just… not sure if I’m welcome at the moment.”

Thea peered over her shoulder at the young apprentice, bringing her on board had easily been one of her and Derek’s best ideas. First because she was eager, and second because she was actually really good company. “Actually can you help me with something?” She asked opening the drawer beside her. 

“How is life with Thea and Derek treating you?”

“It’s… fine.” Sadie didn’t linger too long on the differences between where she was now and where she had been- she considered it too unfair to her aunt’s memory to think badly at all on the time she had been with her. “How are things here?”

❝ I think, ❞

“I don’t understand, you said that like the competition was happening at the Lagoon. Who’s competing?”

“Don’t touch that.” She warns though her back is turned to the door. She may not have been a mother, but she definitely had eyes in the back of her head. Or so she liked people to think nowadays, in reality it was the sound of her  stethoscope being moved that alerted her to the visitor. She had been organizing and taking stock of all the supplies all morning, lost in an activity that kept her hands busy and didn't’ let her mind wander. But with each label she stared at only one thought haunted her mind. It wasn’t enough to save him was it?

“Sorry, sorry.” Stupid, Sadie frowned as she took a step back. 

He swirled the last bit of alcohol in his glass for a few moments, resting his head against his free hand as he did so. He had finished early for the night, but while a celebratory drink seemed like a splendid idea earlier —– there was little joy to be had.

With each familiar face, the new sensation of being punched in the gut reminded Sadie that things had clearly changed. Powering through was what others expected of her- what she expected of herself, and so she did. 

“I apologize… I worry.”

“You don’t have to.”

“That’s because you look like one without me to help you do your make-up. Honestly, Sadie. You’re supposed to be nursing people back to health, not scaring them half to death.” She teased in her usual tone, hoping it would trick Sadie into believing that she didn’t make the hole in Everly’s heart grow bigger every time she saw her.

“They have more important things to worry about than my appearance. Trust me, they can’t judge.”

❝ I see. Keep up the good work, ❞

“Competitive?”

Everly stepped outside of the Grotto, eyes widening and a yelp catching in her throat when she almost walked into the one person she had been actively avoiding since Monique had died. Working at the Lagoon was hard but being around Monique’s niece was even harder.

Sadie’s eyes widened momentarily as she spotted the person who had previously been more sister to her than co-worker. Monique’s death had changed things for everyone, and Sadie could see in most of the girls’ eyes that she was a pesky reminder, not a long overdue visitor. “You look like you’ve just seen a ghost.”

“Why? Why would you say such a thing?” JJ was glad that she was smiling, even through the bags under her eyes. “Surely they have a place that you can rest that big head of yours.”

“You deserved the truth even if you can’t handle it.” Crinkling her nose, Sadie shook her head. “They do but it’s fine. I like being busy.”