The Sitter's Sister

Chapter 48

Leigh-Anne usually finished classes early since she was the only one learning. It was about twelve midday.

She was scrolling through Instagram posts about her favourite books while lying on her front in bed. She had still been sleeping with Marcy at night but she felt like she was ready to move back to her own room tonight. Sairah joined us yesterday for some reason. Leigh-Anne had asked her sister why she'd decided to sleep with her and their mum but Sairah had not answered. Hope she's alright. The last time she had found Sairah cuddling behind her in the morning after believing she had been sleeping by herself had been after Sairah had cried at Jesy's house because those awful girls had pantsed Leigh.

Leigh-Anne made a face at the memory of her her pants being pulled down. I always wear a belt just to ensure it never happens again. She wasn't taking any chances.

The girl sat up and continued scrolling and wondering about her older sister. I'd expected her to be upbeat after getting out of town for some time but she was more . . . sombre than anything else. If that was the right word. What had Sairah been doing? I should ask Jade.

So she opened her chat with Jade to do so. Would Jade be in a class now?

Me: Hi Jade. How are you doing?

Jade was surprisingly online.

Jade: Hi Leigh

Jade: Been better honestly :(

Leigh's heart broke a little. Sairah's sad and so is Jade? What happened while they'd been on that road trip?

Me: Oh no. What's wrong Jadey? Why so blue?

Jade: Just have a lot I've been thinking about but I think it's good that I can process it all now.

Me: You're revisiting your trauma?

Jade: Kind of. Not only mine

Me: Whose trauma have you been thinking of?

Me: Is it Sairah's? Did you two open up a lot on your trip? I'd hoped you'd do that but it sounds like it's had a negative effect on you both

Jade: Eh? Has Sairah been behaving strangely?

Me: She's kind of the same but also a bit quieter. Not that she's loud. She just seems to be in serious thought a lot of the time

Jade: Oh

Jade: That makes two of us *sweaty smile face emoji*

Me: Maybe you two should meet again and talk about how you've been feeling since you came back to town?

Leigh-Anne wondered if that would help. Or maybe they just need to sit and think for a few days. She didn't like knowing that either of them were upset though. Sairah . . . She felt anxious. If Sairah was extra upset she would tell her right? We're sisters but she seems to think she's got a macho image to uphold around me. She supposed that that was similar to the mentality of their big sister. She'd put on a brave face for the two of them but it had led to her demise.

Leigh's stomach dropped. I should call her. Once she was done speaking with Jade she would do that.

Jade: I'd been thinking of getting in contact with her again but I thought it might be weird

Me: Is everything that happened out there a secret? Where did you guys go?

Jade: Eh . . . would rather not say. It was just a drive really