eternal sunshine

𝓕𝓞𝓤𝓡: 𝓒𝓞𝓝𝓒𝓔𝓡𝓣 𝓥𝓘𝓢𝓘𝓞𝓝𝓢

     Odessa was relieved that for the past three days, nothing too out of the ordinary had happened. After the recording and rehearsal session at JD's, she was given an apology from her mother. Calliope stressed that the events occurring in Nadia's life were not more important than the ones happening in hers. It was never Calliope's intention to make Odessa feel as if she didn't matter.

     When Odessa asked what had changed to make their relationship shift Calliope wished she could provide her with the answer she knew was needed instead of telling Odessa that with time she'd know. But if Odessa hadn't had signs of who she was Calliope telling her would do more harm than good. Had Odessa mentioned to her mother that she was having nightmares, even if she didn't mention anything else, then Calliope could've provided her daughter with the information she needed to clarify some of her confusion and worry. Even if it would cause more confusion before providing the clarity.

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

     Sunset Curve was on their fourth song of the night when Odessa looked out into the crowd not in search of her mother but because an odd chill ran down her back. Her brown eyes landed on a woman in the center of the crowd. Her skin seemed to turn to leather and it looked as if she had wings. Long, bat-like wings that extended about three people's worth. Skylar nudged her which returned Odessa's attention to the group instead. For a split second, she turned back to the middle of the crowd only to see the woman, or what first looked like a woman had vanished. The band continued to play the remainder of their set but every now and then they'd glance over at Odessa to make sure she was okay. Odessa would often zone out that want knew to them but it had been happening more often in the past year and the fear she had in her eyes sometimes worried them. But none of them knew how to bring it up as they didn't want to upset Odessa or be insensitive if she was struggling with something she wasn't comfortable telling them about yet.

     "Okay, Odessa, what's the problem?" Leo's British accent filled the air. "Are you alright, love? You have us a tad worried if I'm being honest." Leo was about the nicest person Odessa had ever met in her life. And that was saying something because all her friends were nice, caring, and down to earth but with Leo it was different. Think about the energy of both peace and chaos that was exuded from a golden retriever that was Leo.

     "I'm fine, Leo, just a little distracted."

     "Because your mom didn't come again?"

     "No. We've talked about it. She had a conference out of town tonight but she promised she'd come to the next one. It was something else. I can't really explain it."

     "If something is bothering you, you can tell us, Dessie, you know you can," spoke the light-skinned girl with braids ending at her waist as she wrapped her arm around Leo's waist, resting her head on his shoulder.

     "You'll think I'm crazy," Odessa told them as she packed away her guitar. "I think I'm crazy. Fucking insane actually."

     "Try us," Leo set down the bass to give Odessa his undivided attention. Packing up after the show could wait, whatever was happening with his friend couldn't.

     "Have I seemed agitated, disoriented, or socially withdrawn at an alarming rate? Has my speech been disoriented or have I had inappropriate or restricted emotional responses to things?" The four teens looked at each other before returning their attention to the brunette.

     "Love," Skylar spoke taking a seat beside Odessa taking her hand, "we have been worried about you because you've been zoning out quite a bit. Why are you asking if we've noticed these things?" The rest of the group sat around Odessa. JD was hoping that the conversation wasn't heading to where he thought it was.

     "They're some of the symptoms a person with Schizophrenia may have experienced. There's more like uh," Odessa took in a shaky breath, "hallucinations and hearing things. I ask if you've noticed any of that because I think I'm losing my mind or something. I hear things no one else does a-a-and I see things that aren't there. I mean the other day I saw a fucking winged horse and a fox in the middle of a crowded street."

   JD didn't hold the same look of confusion as everyone else. His face bore worry and concern but not because she was seeing things but what seeing those things meant. He too had the same visions years ago. He thought that maybe Odessa was safe considering her age. That she would never have to experience what others had but he was proven wrong. And he really wished he hadn't.

     "A winged horse?" Ellie questioned, Odessa nodding looking down at her rings instead of her friends. She didn't want to see the looks on their faces. She didn't want the confirmation that she was losing her shit.

"Like a pegasus?" Leo suggested. Odessa nodded again.

"I'm sorry if I ruined tonight's show." Odessa's apology only made them more confused. Why would she apologize for getting lost in her head? They all did that sometimes. 

     "You have nothing to apologize for, Dessie. We just want to make sure you're okay," Skylar stated letting Odessa play with the rings on her hand.

     "We don't give a shit if the show was bloody awful we care about your health, mental and physical," Leo chimed in placing his hand on Odessa's knee to add a feeling of comfort. "We always have. We look after each other, Dessie, right? It's what comes with being friends for years. Does your therapist know?"

     "N-not yet. I'm scared of what she'll tell me all of it means. What if something is like really wrong with my brain?" Her voice began to tremble like her hand had.

     "Well, we're all a little fucked in the head, aren't we?" JD asked. "I'm a little fucked up there."

     "Me too," Leo added making Ellie stroke his hair.

     "Eh," Skylar spoke, making Odessa laugh. The rest joined in.

     "You can always make me laugh, Sky. Never change, Blondie." Odessa finally looked up.

     "Didn't plan on it, babes," Skylar rested her head on Odessa's shoulder. "Now that we've done the serious shit. Can we get food? I'm starving." Odessa smiled.

     "Me too. Let's fucking go," Leo stood and they continued to pack away their equipment. Odessa was so extremely grateful to have them as friends. She didn't know what she'd do without them. They may drive her a little crazy sometimes but they made her feel so understood and loved that she could deal with the crazy.