Studio 22 | Mary-Kate Olsen

Chapter Seventy-Three

August 6th 2024 - New York City - Ashley's House

I impatiently waited for Blue to make her way over to Ashley's. I hadn't seen her in person for almost a month. It was torture, speaking to her on the phone wasn't the same as seeing her, seeing her deep brown eyes swirl into liquid honey under the sun or her little cheeky smile grow when she's teasing me or amused by something. Or hearing her deep croaky morning voice first hand.

"She said she was on her way?" I asked Ashley. "Yes, for the tenth time!" She says as she changed Jude. She was leaving him with a baby sister for the first time, she was panicking about it and I wasn't helping the situation by bugging her. We were going to a baseball game. Me Ash and Lizzie and Louis, Robbie and Blue. Lizzie was meeting us there. And I said I'd meet Blue at Ash's so Louis can drive us in. I arrived last night and I wanted to see her then but when I called Atlas answered her phone. Blue was fast asleep and laid with her Papi on the sofa. She had apparently had a bad session with her physiotherapist and was wiped out. I was disappointed but she couldn't help if she was tired and I'd rather get the rest she needed.

I moved over to the bay window to keep a lookout for Blue. Her brother was driving her over apparently but she was taking forever. I watched people pass Ash's house, none of them peaking my interest until a familiar car pulled up. A smile immediately sprung to my face and I began bouncing on the spot. Her brother got out of the car first and went to help Blue out, she was getting stronger but she got unsteady from time to time, especially when she had been sitting for a while. I saw her mane of curls first and I ran to the front door and down the steps, by the time I was there she was standing on the sidewalk.

"Bluebell!" I cheered, refraining from throwing my body at hers like I used to. She looked up and a beautiful smile flourished on her lips. "Tiny." I was glad she was as happy as I was to see me. She opened her arms and I fell into her embrace, slotting under her chin, she pecked the top of my head, wrapping her long limbs around my frame holding me against her chest. Neither of us said anything, just enjoyed the proximity we had clearly missed. "I missed you." She whispered to me. I squeezed her tighter tip toeing to bury my face in the crook of her neck. "I missed you too." I say back in a small voice.

When we pulled away I greeted Atlas. Blue had her arm securely snaked around my waist keeping me against her. "Do you have your stick?" I asked her, she had graduated from crutches to just a single stick before I left. I knew we'd be standing a lot and I didn't want her to forget it. "Don't need it anymore." She says casually. "You failed to mention that!" I say, happy for her. She would get so frustrated. "She uses it when she's tired." Atlas told me. "But Miss Independent refuses." He continued causing me to cock a brow at her. "I'm fine." She says with an eye roll. "Keep it with you at least." She shot her brother with a death glare. "We'll leave it in the car." I compromise. "I'm gonna be able to kick both your asses someday soon. Just remember that." She says, really meaning it. She was annoyed but we were trying to keep her safe.

Atlas got her stick out and handed it to me. "I'm not using that thing." she mumbled as we turned for the steps. "Love you, Monkey." She looked over her shoulder at him. "Love you." She says clearly unhappy with him telling me she still may need her stick. "You don't have to use it but if you're tired and need it at least we'll have it." "Whatever." She mumbled as she took the first step letting go of me to balance herself. We slowly took the stairs, she was getting a lot better at them, quicker too. She was right it wouldn't be long until she was strong enough to kick our asses again. We made it to the top and normally she'd have to take a minute before entering, completely out of breath and in some discomfort but today she walked right in.

"Hey Ash!" She called as she kicked her shoes off and hung her jacket up. "I have your Yankees one here, if you want it." I tell her, knowing she wears it to every game we've been to. I always steal it before the night is up. "Do you have some-thing warm to wear?" She asked. "I will when I borrow your jacket when we head to the bar." I smiled up at her, trying my best to be innocent. "Sure." I pecked my forehead before we walked into the lounge. Jude was crying and Ashley seemed stressed as she tried to calm him.