Studio 22 | Mary-Kate Olsen

Chapter Forty-Seven

June 3rd 2023 - New York City - Casa Mono

Blue's parents picked me up from my apartment without Blue. I knew they were coming alone but I wasn't prepared for the explanation from her parents as to why she didn't come with them to pick me up. She messaged me at around 10 this afternoon saying her parents would come and get me from my apartment and she'd meet me there. She had taken the day off work. By taken I mean I forced her to stay home. Now I wish I hadn't.

She stayed over at my place last night and she seemed perfectly fine. She was a little more quiet but other than that she was her typical self, teasing me, snuggling with me, putting up with my awful singing. This morning she kept zoning out when we were getting ready for work, she would be talking and her thoughts would take her elsewhere. I insisted she took the day off because she didn't need the pressure of work on her shoulders whilst she processed.

She's had a few run throughs of Atlas' birthdays without Atlas but this was the first year she has the thoughts of Atlas still being alive. She agreed to stay home after a 30 minute debate but she wanted to go to her apartment, the dress she was wearing tonight was there or something and my "apartment is boring" apparently.

"When she gets here don't mention anything, just let her be." I nodded at Amos' words. I anxiously waited for her arrival to assess the damage. Her Nanny wasn't happy Blue was late and Amos was trying to explain what had happened just as he was about to say the words that could ruin Nanny's image of her grandchildren, they both walked in together.

Blue's hand was gripping Sage's tightly, his eyes flicked between family members, guilt flooding his eyes when he looked at his dad, the lump in his throat bombing as he struggled to swallow. Blue's hair fell in front of her face as she watched her feet. She wore the Kumita dress from The Row, the white silk complimented her tanned skin beautifully. She always looked stunning but it wasn't often I saw her like this, in a pretty dress with her hair out. Though when she lifted her head my eyes were drawn away from her appearance and they were fixed on the half covered bruising on her cheekbone. I see her muscles in her arm contract as she squeezed Sage's hand. I don't know if this was to reassure him or herself. Her Nanny no longer required an explanation. Though she assumed her brother was her saviour not her abuser.

Amos breaks immediately, "What are you doing here?" He was filled with anger as he stood from his seat. "It's Atlas' birthday, Papi. He just wants to be with us." Blue voice was weak, barely reaching my ears. She was jerked away from her brother by her uncle. "You're not welcome here, Mateo," Amos spoke firmly, trying to keep his anger concealed but failing. "Amos, let the poor boy sit down." Nanny spoke up. "No, Mami. Look at her face." Amos gestured to Blue. Blue visibly shrunk back behind her uncle trying to make herself as small as she possibly could. "It's Atlas' birthday, please can we just forget about it until tonight." She tried to move back to Sage but her uncle was acting like a wall between them. Her instincts were kicking in and she wanted to protect him from her family. She was growing more impatient with them. "Blue?" "Yes, Nanny?" "Are you okay with your brother being here?" She looked at me, my eyes haven't left her since she walked in a horrified look was hung on my face. "Atlas would want us to be together." She says simply, abandoning her mission of getting to Sage and coming over to me. She pecked my cheek and sat down. Her Nanny took control of the situation and told everyone to sit. As much as she welcomed Sage to the table she wore a disappointed look directing it in his direction. 

She took my hand in hers and slipped them under the table on her lap. "Are you okay?" I asked, leaning into her, keeping my voice down. "Let's just get through dinner." Her voice quivered, she wasn't okay. She didn't want to be here. She didn't want to come to this dinner before the Sage drama never mind now. The table was silent and Blue kept adjusting her hair to try and get it to cover the developing mark on her face. She had tried to cover it with make-up but it was a hard task. I fiddled with her hand which caused her to look over at me. "It's okay, it's all perfectly okay." She spoke so calmly that it unnerved me. She was trying to assure me because she probably could read the horror on my face. She had probably practised that line a thousand times today to try and convince me and the rest of her family that nothing was wrong. Desensitised herself to the situation. How many times has it happened and I haven't noticed? How many times did I miss that she was lying about it all being just fine?