Freya sat at the kitchen table along with Eve, Mac, and Ty. They were all discussing what their plans were for the night. Usually Freya would be all about planning a night out on whatever town they were in at the moment but she was more concerned about the figure in the living room.
She watched Vaal seated on the couch skimming through a magazine looking not so interested in it. Ever since Skylar took off back to New York last week, Vaal had more or less just been wondering aimlessly around the lodge bored and just looking for something to keep his interest until his friend returned to the lodge.
Freya remembered the night Skylar got, what must have been, a rather disturbing phone call. It was about a week ago; the group had all sat down for dinner when his phone went off. At first he ignored it saying it was his brother probably asking for money but he eventually did answer after the calls wouldn't stop.
Freya couldn't understand the Spanish he spoke into the phone but his expression told the group something was terribly wrong. Once he hung up he informed Griff he would be taking a temporary leave of absence. Freya wanted to ask what was wrong but Vaal held her back saying let him be for the night, he looked very worked up and to talk to him in the morning. But by the time morning came he was already gone.
That was a week ago and the lodge had never been so quiet. Freya and the others had been texting Skylar to see if he was ok and what was going on. He only ever responded with 'I'll be back next week' or 'I'll explain later'. She found it suspicious that he wouldn't even tell Vaal what happened, and from what she's seen, those two shared everything with the other.
"So we'll hit these three bars tonight ok?" Mac asked the small group at the table then called out to the adjoining room, "Hey Vaal you in?"
He looked up from his reading material kind of expressionless, "Sure," then continued flipping the pages.
"Sky comes home tonight right? You think he'll wanna go?" Eve asked them.
Freya shrugged, "I think so. Hopefully he's better now."
~*~*~*~
It was later in the day when Skylar did eventually come back. He had a duffle bag of his stuff slung over his shoulder and spoke his mother language into his cell phone. As he walked through the living to get to the staircase Eve called out to him, "Hey, wanna' come out with us tonight? We're all going bar hopping." He stop speaking as if listening to the person on the other line and scan the group on the couches. He replied to them, "No," and walked away continuing his conversation in Spanish.
Freya eyed Vaal until he could almost feel her stare. He looked up from his seat, "Yes?"
"Shouldn't you go talk to him?"
He looked at the staircase for a moment, "I should." He got up and headed in the direction of Skylar's room upstairs.
~*~*~*~
Skylar walked into his room kicking the door closed behind him. He hung up his phone as he tossed the duffle bag on the floor and removed his jacket, shoes and shirt. He was about to grab his towels and take hot shower but stopped in front of his large mirror mounted to his dresser.
He looked at his reflection and saw how bad he really did look. His eyes were bloodshot and he looked thinner than usual. But his face looked that of his mother's. It was her pained expression she wore for years after his father abandoned them, the pain from watching her only her daughter run away to California, her youngest son fallen victim to gangs and drugs... and him.
She had put up with a lot and she didn't deserve to go like that. Skylar was haunted by never fully making amends with her but that last phone call just now had started a fire within him. His brother had called as soon as he walked through the door and told him they found the culprit who had broken into his mother's house. It was his best friend Dane. Apparently the shop they worked at together went under and left him homeless. He knew Skylar bought his mother a brand new house in the Bronx and car so he thought he would be able to get something from it. Dane told the police it was dark and didn't know Ms. Aguilar was right behind him... and he accidently shot her.
