Studio 22 | Mary-Kate Olsen

Chapter Forty-Five

May 4th 2023 - New York City - Safe Haven Community Centre

I hesitantly left MK and walked into my room where group was held every week. Everyone was already sitting down, MK and I argued about coming today. I didn't want to, she said I had to. She won. They were all talking amongst themselves as I edged towards my seat keeping me head pointed towards the ground.

"I can't believe it!" Someone whispered. "He was lucky to get home." "I heard it was 8 years." I knew what they were talking about. "Have they found out where it is yet?" "No, they apparently haven't got many leads." I take my seat and look around the hushed voice buzzing around my brain as they discuss the findings. "Let's be sensitive please, people. We don't know what people's situations are right now," Will announced as he came into the room. I kept my eyes glued to the floor like I would when I first started coming to this place. I felt the exact same too. I wanted to disappear. They didn't stop talking about it, only began whispering in hushed voices that Will couldn't hear from where he was in the room.

I looked up and Will was scanning the room, his eyes lingering on me a second too long. I knew he knew. My mother probably called him to try and get me to open up. I found the handle of my bag and gripped it before swiftly making a b-line for the exit. "Blue!" Will called, I was already down the hall. "I have a meeting, I forgot." I called back to him, continuing my pursuit for the front doors. Fresh air hits me and I take deep breaths as if I had been starved of oxygen since I was pulled into the building. I didn't think hearing others talk about it would bother me, I knew people would know about it. I just didn't expect them to be talking about it like high school gossip. I thought maybe they would just know about it and mention it once, say how terrible it is.

I walked towards Studio 22 needing to keep my brain busy. If I stayed out here I would let myself spiral and MK would never let me go to work. It was a whole debate on the way home from her parents. She wanted me to stay home with her for a few days. "Adjust" to the news. I wanted to work overtime and not stop. We seem to be having a difference of opinions surrounding this whole situation. I texted her letting her know I was heading into work and was no longer at group. I knew she wouldn't answer until she finished group but at least she wouldn't be worried as to my whereabouts.

May 4th 2023 - New York City - Studio 22

It wasn't long before I was standing in front of Ashley who was frowning at me. She along with everyone knew my routine on a Monday, start late finish later. That's how it's been since the first few weeks here. "Where's MK?" "Group." "Why aren't you there?" "Felt like my skills could be used elsewhere today." She narrowed her eyes at me, the green orbs piercing through my soul pinning me to the wall. "We have a whole promo board to do, plus selecting and finalising the photos for the website." "She's going to kill you, you know that?" She said ignoring my list of tasks. "Oh I'm aware but I've decided it's a future me problem not a current me problem. So can I get you a coffee?" She signed but nodded dismissing me.

I got her coffee which she traded for a stack of paperwork. "Can you input this data into the system please... Then can you go up to Mel's office and help her select the photos for the product images. I'll be up later to finalise the campaign images." I nodded. "I'll try and keep MK busy." "Thanks." I went to my desk and dealt with the paperwork, MK arrived and she was hoovering. "I'm fine, I swear. I just didn't want to be part of high school gossip." "You know group helps... It's weekly for a reason." "I know that, but I just can't today... I have enough to deal with." Sage hadn't turned up. Mami hadn't gotten out of bed, we had a lot of work, I was overflowing with guilt. Dealing with chit chat around something so terrible wasn't something I had on my agenda for today. "Can you go to studio 2 and help with the fashion show sequence please." "I can this afternoon. This morning I'm with Mel." She nodded. "Don't forget we have a meeting at 3." I pulled the post-it note with the meeting time and location written on it and held it up. She smiled at me. "I'll bring you a coffee once I've done this." "No rush." She pecked my cheek before she left. She closed her office door, which she never did.