to live for the hope of it all.

Chapter 41

December 15th, 2023

"She doesn't have to say a word,
She doesn't have to try,
'Cause you can see it in her eyes..."

Beckett

"Something isn't right."

There were those words again, but this time they came from Bailey. I followed her line of sight to where Wren laughed at something Caleb said, and then turned back to Bailey with a frown.

"Do you want to go home?" I asked. "I can go tell Kyle something came up."

"No I uh, I don't want tonight to end yet," she said, her gaze softening as she finally met my eyes. "I'm sorry."

"Bailey, say the word and we'll go home," I said, seriously. "Whenever you're ready."

Her lips tilted up as she looked at me, and then she stood on her toes to press a kiss to my cheek before pulling back with an even wider smile.

"Thank you, Beckett," she said softly, before her mouth tilted in a smirk, and my knees went weak. "I think it's time we avenge ourselves though, don't you agree?"

"Let's do it," I said, and let her lead me to our side of the table. I watched Bailey give Wren a tense smile when their gazes met, and could tell whatever they had talked about had unnerved Bailey.

I wasn't going to push it, because we had just gotten to a good place and I didn't want to ruin it. But I'd be here when she wanted to talk about it.

But she's definitely right, something is wrong.

Shaking my head of the thought, I tried my best to distract Bailey from whatever she was thinking. Caleb had given us another shot midway through our game, and I could tell he sensed something was off with them too.

When it wasn't our turn with the balls, Bailey was glued to my side. Not that I minded, I was holding her to me while her head rested on my shoulder. It seemed that the kiss tonight had broken the last tethers we had, because now I didn't want to be around her without feeling her. She only pulled away to take her turn, or whenever I went to go grab her another drink as the night went on. I was enjoying every minute of it, but though she was relaxed against me, I could still feel her thinking.

After our third game of the night, it was clear we were all starting to feel a buzz from drinking. We decided to be done with pong for the night, and Bailey was leading me to a couch in the middle of the living room where some of my friends had gathered. I turned to see if Wren and Caleb would follow, but I was meant with my cousin's uneasy glance in another direction.

Following his line of sight, I watched as a head of blonde hair pushed through the crowd of people and into the hallway.

"Bailey," I said, squeezing her hand and halting her movement. She stumbled before turning back into me, concern swimming in her eyes. "I think you need to go check on Wren."

"What?" She asked, alarm overtaking her face as she looked to the last place she saw her best friend. "Where did she go?"

"Come on," I told her, leading her in the direction I last saw Wren running. Rounding the corner of the hallway we were met with a line to the bathroom, and a few more doors down the hall.

I said sorry to everyone as I shoved through, pulling Bailey with me. Reaching the end of the crowd, I was met with Caleb as he burst through the door, an out-of-it Wren in his arms. Her eyes were puffy, as if she'd been crying and she laid limp against him.

"Call Kyle, we're going home," he said, and his tone left no room for discussion.

"Wren, Wren what's wrong?" Bailey asked, her voice cracking as she reached out to touch her friend's face.

"I'm okay, Bay," Wren said softly. "Just don't feel good."

Bailey looked like she didn't believe her, but she swallowed it down as we followed Caleb outside to Kyle's car.

"Kyle! Let's go!" I hollered, spotting him on his porch. He waved goodbye to the people he was talking to before climbing in the driver's seat. Bailey sat against the window in the backseat with Wren lying down on her lap, and Caleb on the other side of her.

I hopped in the front with Kyle and met my cousin's eyes through the rearview mirror as I closed the door. He shook his head while holding my gaze, and I just knew.

He was right.

He was onto something, that day at Pennbrook, he was right.

I just didn't know what it was.

By the look in his eyes, he didn't either. We could all feel it on the drive home in silence, and I thanked Kyle for the ride before climbing out with the others.

"I'm fine, Caleb," Wren said, gently pushing my cousin from where he tried to help her inside. She looked at him then, her eyes pleading. "I'm gonna go to bed, I'll see you on Monday."

She turned to me then before smiling softly.

"Goodnight, Beckett," she said, pausing to look at Bailey who was standing next to me.

"I'm coming," Bailey said, pointing at me. "Just give me a minute."

Wren's smile was tired as she turned around and went inside. Bailey turned then, facing Caleb.

"I need you to tell me what happened," she said, her tone sharp. My cousin sighed before pinching the bridge of his nose. "Please, Caleb. I can feel something isn't right. I'm worried about her."

"I don't know, Bailey," he said softly. "She stormed off after y'all left, and something didn't feel right so I followed her. She just didn't seem like herself, I found her crying in that bedroom and I carried her out to y'all."

"That's it?"

"That's it," he said, meeting her eyes.

"Okay, thank you, Caleb," she said. He smiled softly at her before turning and heading into my house. "I'm sorry Beckett, I don't know what's going on and I know this wasn't how the night was supposed to go."

"Hey, hey," I said, bringing a hand to her cheek and pulling her towards me. Her eyes watered a bit, and my heart tore in two at how torn she was right now. "I'm sure she's just going through a rough patch right now, and we all drank tonight and that probably didn't help with heightened emotions."

"Yeah, yeah you're right," she agreed, but then shook her head. "I just feel like she's blocking me out from something, and we've never done that before."

"I'm sure she'll talk to you when she's ready, Bailey," I said, giving her a soft smile. "She's your best friend, anyone with two eyes can see that you're her favorite person on this planet. She'll come to you eventually."

Bailey stood then, pressing her lips to mine and I held onto her face tighter, pulling her into me as her hands bunched into my shirt to pull me closer.

Good God, I could get used to this.

She pulled away then, and I chased the feeling of her before opening my eyes to meet hers.

"I've uh, wanted to do that again all night," she smiled.

"I'm glad you did."

"Goodnight, Beckett."

"Goodnight, Bailey," I said, and watched her disappear behind her front door and close it before I turned back to my own house.

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