Studio 22 | Mary-Kate Olsen

Chapter Seventy-Five

August 9th 2024 - New York City - Blue's and Mary-Kate's Brownstone

Going to brunch with my family was the last thing I wanted to do. I wanted to go see MK, make sure she was okay. But that wasn't an option right now. I was a Sinclair and that meant showing up to family events no matter what is happening in your personal life. Paint a pretty smile on your face and pull yourself and put on a show for the outsiders.

So after a painfully silent car ride and a small pep talk from my parents, me and my brothers got out of the car and made our way inside like a united front we have always been. I made it through brunch without being questioned which was relieving. If anyone asked about how I was in that moment I would have either broke down in tears or completely flipped at Sage. None of which are very encouraged by my family.

I rewarded my Oscar worthy performance at brunch with going to see MK. She was still in her PJ's when she answered the door. I still had my key but I didn't want to overstep and use it. This was her home, I wasn't living here therefore couldn't just let myself in despite legally being able to. It just felt like a breach of privacy.

Upon answering the door I noticed her puffy tired eyes. "What's wrong?" I asked immediately, stepping into the house and kicking the door shut. "Nothing." She says trying to convince me with a soft smile. I wrapped my arms around her waist keeping her close. "You sure?" She nodded, laying her head against my chest, and I pecked the top of her head holding her for a few moments. I eventually pulled away and kicked my trainers off before we made our way to the lounge, she had the duvet on the sofa already.

"Sorry for falling asleep last night." I say as we both settle under the duvet snuggling into each other. She had one of her reality TV shows that she watched playing. "You don't have to apologise for that. I get it." "I didn't want to go... I w-would have stayed." "I know..." She says. "Were you okay?" She nodded. "The girls ended up staying, Louis and Robbie left maybe an hour after you did." I nodded. "Lizzie was being a diva about losing Just Dance to Ash and I." I chuckled just imagining her dramatic outburst. "How was brunch?" She asked as I took her hand and fiddled with her fingers, she didn't have any of her rings on today.

"Fine." I answer simply. Though it was the most awkward brunch we've ever had, with tensions being high between Sage and I it just wasn't enjoyable and I didn't have the spare energy to fake it anymore. "What happened?" She still had the ability to read me like a book. "Sage and I ar-gued before, is all." I played it down. "About what?" "Nothing," I try to act casual. "Clearly it was something. You love being around your family. You're always gushing after one of your family meals." "I lost my temper with him." I say vaguely. "Over what? Has he done something?" She sat up to look at me, still allowing me to play with her hand, my gaze watching her fingers instead of looking up at her adoring eyes. "He should have told me about you." I say looking up through my lashes at her to see her reaction. She pushed her lips together in a straight line. "Mami, sh-should have told me! And I lost my temper. He lost his." "He lost his temper, how?" She straightened herself up getting protective over me. "Just shouted. It f-fr-reaked me out a little. Nothing major." I looked back down at her hand like it was the most interesting thing in the world to me. I didn't want her to see the fear that was woven through my eyes. "No big deal." I shrugged my shoulders trying to appear nonchalant. "I asked them not to mention it to you." She admits. "Why?" I asked softly looking up at her through my lashes hoping they'll hide my true feelings from her. She didn't need the stress of me fearing Sage all over again, she didn't need to know the disappointment I felt in him as he towered over me, his eyes locked on me like targets. I felt bad that I pushed him to that point but I thought we were past this, past the physical outburst but when I looked into his eyes I knew what would happen if he didn't snap out of it and there was no way I could justify his actions this time. "I just didn't want you to know." She said simply, which confused me. Had I given her a reason to not want to tell me? Had I reacted badly in the past and it made her change her mind of being so open with me? She clearly saw the confusion on my face. "I couldn't deal with." She paused, taking a shaky breath. "I couldn't deal with knowing I didn't matter anymore. Or with  knowing I had disappointed you."