to live for the hope of it all.

Chapter 55

February 23rd, 2024

"Don't tell me this is all for nothing,
I can only tell you one thing,
On the night you feel outnumbered,
Baby, I'll be out there somewhere..."

Beckett

Forcing myself to break apart from Bailey, I follow the others into my house. My tears have subsided, and I feel numb apart from my heart breaking less than 50 feet away from me.

Bailey is hurting.

God, she's hurting so bad.

I watch as Caleb all but carries Wren inside before placing her on the couch. Her tears have stopped too, but her eyes have gone void as she stares at the floor. Wren's breathing is still ragged, and that's the only thing you can hear in the deafening silence.

I'm trying really hard to be understanding, because there has to be a reason Wren would keep this from Bailey. I've seen how much she loves her, and I know she wouldn't do anything to hurt her intentionally.

But Bailey's face when she realized that Wren knew keeps popping up in my head, and my heart lies with her.

Wren has known for months.

Since the summer.

Wren's eyes meet mine then, and they go frantic as her breathing quickens.

"Wren," Caleb tries from where he sits next to her. "Wren, you need to breathe, you're gonna make it happen, just breathe."

What?

Make what happen?

"Don't look at me like that, Beckett," she cries, and her body shakes uncontrollably as she tries to breathe. "I can't uh, I, Caleb, the lights, I can't..."

"Turn the fucking lights off!" Caleb screams, cradling the blonde to his chest as he rocks her back and forth. Wren's face hides under his neck, and I'm frozen to the scene in front of me as my mother rushes to turn the lights off. "They're off, Wren. Breathe, alright? It's not happening, you're fine. I got you."

What the fuck is happening?

This is something more.

"Wren, honey," my mom says softly, sitting beside the girl and stroking her hair. "Why don't you and Caleb go lay down in Beckett's room? It's dark in there, quiet too. I'll come get you if we hear anything."

Why does this feel so much deeper?

Grandpa Matt is dying.

Wren is on the verge of something.

"Come on," Caleb says softly, cradling her against his chest, just like he did at Kyle's party, before carrying her upstairs.

"What was that?" I ask my mother.

"She's hurting, Beckett," she says softly.

"No mom, Bailey is hurting!" I yell. "Bailey's whole world is falling apart next door, and I know Wren is hurting, but that was something else entirely. Why did she need the lights off? What was Caleb trying to stop?"

"Beckett," she sighs. "I know Bailey is hurting, I know she is. But don't blame Wren, okay? She has her reasons, and she's fighting her own battles. Her best friend's world is crumbling, and she wholeheartedly believes she's part of the reason why. Just... don't be so quick to judge her. She loves Bailey, she does."

Then why would she keep this from her?

No, Beckett.

Grandpa Matt told her not to, he begged her not to.

She was doing what he wanted.

And it destroyed her in the process.

I think back to the moment all the pieces fell into place. Wren immediately knew I found out, and before her face completely fell, there was a flicker of relief. But just as fast as I'd seen it, it was gone as she fell apart.

God, Bailey.

I need to see her.

Give her time, Beckett.

Give her time.

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