It's Nice To Have A Friend

21) Odette

"Poppy?" FP stood there, wide eyed, not believing that she was standing in front of him. He thought his eyes were misleading him but he would recognize her out of thousands.

"Hi." She smiled shyly.

"What are you doing here?" He asked confused, his eyes not leaving her face.

She still had those innocent but fierce eyes. Her raven locks were even longer after all these years, and her bangs were new to him, but fitted her perfectly. She wore a deep red lipstick, but those eyes... still the same. That was Poppy.

"I came looking for my brother. Nice to see you too." She made her way into his apartment by brushing past him, not caring if she would be invited in or not.

"I thought you were in Ohio." FP said carefully, knowing how sensitive the subject was.

"I was. With Mom, remember her?" Poppy raised a sassy eyebrow and FP immediately felt his heart sink.

"Don't give me that." He defended immediately.

"Why are you here?" FP needed to know why she was suddenly on his doorstep after all these years, and why exactly she had coming looking for him.

"Because I came to talk to you. I want answers." She stated, giving him a piercing look.

"You can push me away all you want, but I'm not letting it happen again." She tried to make him know that she was angry, but he could see the tears in her eyes.

"It's late, I cannot do this right now." FP said calmly, knowing that raising his voice wouldn't do anything good. He understood that she wanted a story, and if he had a moment to breathe he would give her that.

"So, this is how you treat me after not seeing me for years?" Poppy scoffed. She had expected more from her big brother. She actually hoped he loved her.

"Of course I'm glad to see you! It's just that..." FP stuttered, not being sure how to finish his sentence.

"That what?" Poppy asked, quietly.

FP stayed silent. He couldn't explain it right now, he didn't want for her to see him break down.

"Yeah, just what I thought." She casted her eyes away, but he didn't miss the shimmer of tears in her eyes. She was on the verge of breaking down too.

"I'm staying at this hotel. I hope we can talk tomorrow." She handed him the card, giving him one more pleading look. All she wanted was her brother back, was that too much to ask?

"Yeah, absolutely." He gave her a small nod, before watching her leave out of his apartment.

How she had found out he lived here, or why she had returned was one big question for him, but he couldn't help but feel happy to know that she came back for him, that she hadn't forgotten about him even after he had told her to all those years ago.

His sweet little sister, the one he had always sworn to protect was back at the town of all their hurt, where their family had broken apart. He felt his chest tighten and began to have trouble breathing, and before he knew it his cheeks were soaked with tears.

He needed the one person that understood him, that knew what this meant to him. He didn't need to talk, he just needed her.

As if his feet had their own will, he made his way over the Maiden-Gomez apartment, letting himself in with his spare key and walked right at the second bedroom. He didn't even knock on the door, he just came in without a warning.

"FP what are you doing here?" Alice said confused, as she turned her head instantly when she noticed him in the barely lit room. She had been writing.