𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 - lexi howard

- 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧

[no silent readers please]

𝗟𝗲𝘅𝗶 𝗛𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 sits at her long kitchen table beside the young boy she brought home last night. Avoiding everyoneʼs eyes, she stares down at her phone and taps her fingers along the light wood of the table, as she anxiously waits for a text message from Montana. Or Jules. Or Rue. Or Fezco. Or even Ashtray. She doesn't care. All she wants is to know that Montana is okay.

Cassie was more than confused when a seven-year-old took up the space of her bed last night, leaving her to sleep on the couch, but Lexi hasn't said a word to her about what's going on. All she knows is that they've got a random house guest. Though, she can see the clear worry in her sisterʼs eye.

From his seat, Monty sniffs and drags his hand over his nose. He isn't nearly as chatty as he usually is around Lexi. He's never chatty when it comes to Montanaʼs 'slip-ups'. No matter how many people tell her that she'll be fine, he refuses to believe it until he sees her. Sometimes he dreams, his dreams turn into nightmares, and then he won't shut his eyes for more than half a second because he's so scared of losing his big sister to her own fucked up mind. Days pass where he doesn't sleep, they turn into weeks, and then Fezco has to give him something to help because it gets that bad. He doesn't hate Tana — he loves her more than anything — but he hates the way her mind works, and he hates the way it makes her destroy herself and the people who love her.

"Um, here's a tissue," says Lexi kindly, her voice quiet and awkward as she tries to stay calm in front of the kid. But she's not fooling anyone; she's as much of a wreck as he is.

And then there's Cassie, who hasn't got a fucking clue what's going on or who this kid is, but she distracts herself from the uncomfortable breakfast by messaging McKay.

Monty doesn't say thanks, which isn't unusual for a kid his age, but he doesn't look at anyone either. He's turned into the shy, little boy Montana told Lexi about before introducing her to him. At first, Lexi didn't believe the boy she met and eat ice cream with was the same as the boy Tana described to her, but she sees it all now. She can't imagine being in this much hurt before even reaching middle school.

There's a knock on the door and it grabs everybodyʼs attention. "It's probably Mom," Cassie mumbles and stands up, happy for an excuse to leave the uncomfortable morning meal Lexi insisted on cooking for everyone in a way of trying to make Monty feel safe.

But when she opens the door, the blonde girl is surprised to see the person behind it. She almost forgot about her sisterʼs strange new friendship. "Oh, hey, Tana."

Montana smiles lightly and leans sideways to see inside. "Is my brother here?" she asks. "I'm here to take him home."

Cassieʼs eyes widen. "Monty?" she asks, unable to hide her shock. "Monty is your brother?" They're total opposites.

Tana nods. "Yeah, can I see him?"

The boy doesn't hesitate when he hears his sisterʼs voice. With a new burst of energy, he leaps out of his chair and sprints to the door, throwing his arms around Montana.

The girl laughs at the sudden tackle and pats his head. "Ready to go home, kid?" she aks, in which he nods a little bit too eagerly.

Still standing there, Cassie Howard is more than confused. This is not the same Montana Lestari she goes to school with, this is not the same Montana Lestari she has personally watched throw a glass bottle at a cop. This is a complete stranger. But yet she looks so similar.