Tartt

Part 2

Isabelle let her eyes adjust to the dim room.
Everything rushed back to her as she looked around. She appeared to be in a guest room, it looked empty and sparse.
She couldn't help but nestle back into the warmth of the bed as she thought about everything that had happened last night. She wanted so badly to be back home, back in her house with her room and her belongings, even if that meant being around her Dad.
She heard a voice coming from outside the room talking on the phone.
"I don't know what to do, Keeley. I don't even know how to talk to her, I haven't seen her since she was 4.", she heard Jamie say.
"No of course not... I'd rather her be here- safe- than with that asshole we call a Father.", he continued.
Isabelle felt upset by this. Despite all his drugs and alcohol, his lack of care and concern for them and his general abuse, he was still their Dad.
She crept out of the bed and snuck downstairs the hall as the voice became clearer.
"I guess so... I can't just leave her here alone all day..."
She reached the bottom step and could see Jamie in the kitchen.
He put the phone down a moment later and turned to see his little sister make an attempt at sneaking back upstairs.
"Iz-"
"No. Don't call me that.", she cut in.
He looked at her sadly and stepped a little closer as she paused her ascent of the stairs.
"Isabelle... I'm so sorry this is happening. But I need you to understand. You weren't safe there. With him. He can't take care of you, that's why you're here with me."
She tried hard not to roll her eyes.
"With you? Who literally left me in a shit hole and never came back? Sure."
Jamie's heart sunk. She felt abandoned by him. And now he had swooped in to save the day, and ended up upsetting her even more.
"Isabelle.... there's nothing I can say to fix this, ok. But I'm going to try. Whatever how long it takes. I am sorry and I never wanted to leave. I should never have."
Isabelle looked down. She didn't know how to feel. She loved her big brother so much. But her admiration of him faded after he seemed to cut contact.
She couldn't deal with this right now. She was overwhelmed. She felt angry and betrayed but also just sad.
"Isabelle?"
She looked back up to meet Jamie's eyes.
"I have training today. I can't leave you alone, it's just for a few hours, is that ok?"
Isabelle shrugged. She couldn't bring herself to even care, but the idea made her anxious.
She knew about Jamie's career. His football and his team had been on TV many a time. She thought they seemed scary and intimidating. She also didn't want to get in the way or be a burden on Jamie. She felt slightly sick at the idea of being 'Jamie's stupid little sister' and always being in the way. He probably didn't even want her there to be honest.
Isabelle realised she was spiralling and the anxiety was kicked up a gear.
"We'll leave in 5. Ok?"
Isabelle nodded but stayed silent.

Jamie looked in the mirror to see Iz sat in the back seat biting her nails.
"Iz. Stop biting your nails." Jamie said gently.
Iz just looked at him through the mirror for a second and then continued biting her nails.
Jamie smiled sadly and pulled into the car park.
As the AFC Richmond entrance came into view, Iz felt increasingly anxious. Her heart raced as Jamie opened her door for her and her legs felt heavy as she forced herself up and out of the car.

She walked with Jamie up to the entrance. She only just realised how small she really looked next to him. It felt intimidating, and she was about to be in a room full of Jamies. Shit.