Hidden and Silent (SpyxFamily)

Ch. 11: Part Three

       "She's one of our friends." The brunette said, wandering over and plopping down on the grass beside Damian. Demetrius sighed. The girl braced her arms behind her. "The six of us have been friends since we were kids and for the longest time, Fallon has had a crush on Robert," She pointed to the blonde, "but Robert liked Violet" She pointed to the other girl, "she liked him, and I liked Killian," she pointed to the black-haired boy next, "and Killian liked Fallon. But then Demetrius helped us realize that we were lying to ourselves, that it wasn't actually that way anymore and we were just sticking to what was comfortable, and that Robert and I actually liked each other, and Violet and Killian actually liked each other. When we started dating we kept it all from Fallon because she would be super upset. You see." She leaned towards Damian and lowered her voice like they didn't have a wide space in the middle of a park where no one would hear them to themselves. "Me and Fallon were particularly close and she would be super furious if she found out I was dating Robert. She's liked him for a while, but I also like him and he likes me and we shouldn't not get to date just because another friend might not like it. Violet and Killian hid their relationship because at one point before Fallon liked Robert, she had a crush on Killian, but Killian didn't like her yet, and Violet liked Killian, this was early in middle school," She added, "and Violet knew Fallon also liked Killian and they got into a huge fight about it, like massive and they didn't talk for like, a year. When Fallon began to like Robert instead, they made up."

"Wait, that's what that was all about?! I thought we were dating in secret because Violet was being paranoid!" Killian exclaimed.

"Shush. Anyways," The brunette returned to the present at hand, "when Fallon eventually did find out that we were all dating, it was madness. Everyone was mad at everyone—well, except Demetrius, he tends to stay out of our drama—and Violet was insecure that Killian didn't really like her because he was so concerned about placating Fallon, and Robert and I fought about Fallon, and Fallon was angry at all of us for lying and going behind her back, especially at me, and so now, if she finds out were hanging out like this again without her, she'll be incensed." The brunette took a long sip of her milkshake.

Damian could have sworn he saw the corner of his brother's mouth twitch up.

"Um. . .never-mind. . ." Damian looked back to his kite. He shouldn't have asked.

"Okay, you really didn't need to go and tell him all that." Violet said and the brunette returned eye contact, drinking her milkshake remorselessly.

"How did I not know about this?" Killian threw his hands up and turned away.

Robert took a reassuring glance at his friends before turning to Demetrius. "You. . .wouldn't have any advice would you?"

"Nope." The reply was instant.

"Wait, really? You always seem to know what to do."

"Don't know if I can help with this." He joined Damian at looking at his kite.

"C'mon, please?" The brunette said. "It's a disaster and you've gotta have some sort of idea how to fix it."

Demetrius sighed. "This is why you came over here, isn't it?"

"Maybe. . ." Violet answered.

"I'm kinda of in the middle of something here."

"I don't care." Damian said and it must've been the wrong thing to say because he could feel the annoyance emanating from Demetrius' eyeballs.

With a sigh of obvious annoyance that took the teenagers a little aback, Demetrius relented. "Fine." He said and turned to his so-called "friends" that he suspiciously wanted nothing to do with. "This is what you're going to do. Fallon is hurt. You lied to and betrayed her," the others grimaced, "and are still doing it even after she found out. Her trust for you is shattered and possibly irreparable. If you want to fix your relationship with her, break up with each other."

"What?!" They all said.

"You went behind her back to have relationships and essentially cut her out of this new paradigm—" Demetrius gestured a hand at them "that you've created. She doesn't feel like your friend anymore and nothing less than breaking up will make up for the pain you've caused her. Apologize, show you're repentant, slowly build her trust back, and be completely honest from now on. Maybe overtime, you can bring her around to the idea of you dating each other. Or not." He shrugged and looked at the snake flying in the wind. "She may never be okay with you guys dating after this. It probably could have all been avoided if you didn't lie to her, but if your romantic relationships are more important to you than her, than ignore everything I just said. Who cares if this was all your fault for lying and going behind her back, as long as everyone else is happy, right?" Damian took hold of his kite's handle and unrolled a bit more string like Damian had done earlier.

"But that's. . .isn't that a little extreme?" Killian said softly. Demetrius didn't bother looking at him.

"Do you want to make up with her or never sleep well again?" Demetrius held the kite in the air.

"Uh—how did you know I wasn't sleeping well?"

"Please." Demetrius scoffed. "Anyone who looks at you can tell." With a short backwards run, Demetrius quickly had his kite rising and it soared not far from Damian's. "If my advice doesn't help, then you'll really have to bend over backwards to fix this."

Subdued, uncertain glances were traded amongst the group and the brunette ponderously shoved her straw up and down in it's little hole.

"Okay. . .well. . .thanks. . .I guess." Violet responded.

"Sure." Demetrius replied, though anyone could hear the insincerity.

"I guess. . .we should go now. . ." Killian said to the others as much as to Demetrius. "We should talk this over. . ."

The brunette got up from her place next to Damian and an awkward smile crossed her face in goodbye.

"Yeah." Demetrius said disinterestedly and tugged on his string, watching the red paper waver.

In a few moments, the students were gone and Damian couldn't shake the oppressed mood that they had left behind.