Together We Stand

CHAPTER THREE

don't be like the rest of them

Blaire Marjorie Everly

extremely unedited

BLAIRE QUIETLY OPENED RUTH'S bedroom door, after she had promised to meet Venus five minutes after she finished singing.

"She asleep?" Blaire whispered, careful not to wake her sleeping sister up.

"Out like a light," Venus chuckled, stroking her hair.

Blaire worriedly sat in the chair next to Ruth's bed and said, "Why hasn't she been getting much sleep?"

"She's worried about you," Venus murmured, looking down at the sleeping girl who was gripping onto her in her sleep. "Her abandonment issues don't help when she tries to sleep. She's too scared to sleep."

"Abandonment issues?" Blaire questioned, getting more worried by the second. She didn't know Ruth has abandonment issues, but she realized how that would make sense.

"She's terrified of being abandoned, ever since your dad left, Blaire," Venus whispered, pulling her sleeping girlfriend closer to her. "Blaire, I think you need to talk to her. I really shouldn't be telling you all of this, it should come from her."

"I'll talk to her, but I have one last question," Blaire said, her heart breaking at the sight of her sister. She finally understood why she acted the way she did, because she was terrified of being abandoned. "Could you try to help her smoke less?"

"I'm trying, but she needs it, she thinks," Venus murmured. "She smokes so she doesn't cry, Blaire. It doesn't go in her favor often, she's very emotional, high or not."

Blaire felt her heart being broken to pieces. She had no idea her sister was hurting this much. She wanted to help her. Ever since they were young, it was her and Ruth against the world. Now they are both fighting their own battles, and Blaire really, really, needs to help Ruth with hers.

"Damien's right, Blaire," Venus whispered, and Blaire shot her head up. "You're really beautiful. Perfect the way you are. Please, join our friend group any day you wish."

Blaire nodded, standing up. "Thank you, Venus, for taking good care of her. I can't imagine it's easy."

Venus smiled at her, and Blaire walked out of the room, shutting the door. She walked down the stairs to grab a cup of water, and paused when she saw her mother in the kitchen.

"Hey, Mom," Blaire said, and watched with a hidden laugh as her mother jumped.

"Where's your sister?" Her mother asked, looking up at her once before continuing what she was doing.

"Sleeping," Blaire responded, grabbing a cup of water.

"Still with her... girlfriend?" Her mother asked with a snarky tone.

"They love each other, Mom," Blaire said with a smile. "It's the cutest. Venus and her have the cutest relationship."

"Thought she was over that phase," her mother muttered, and Blaire glared at her with hatred.

"You're a bitch," Blaire snapped, storming up the stairs.

"Don't walk away from me!" her mother shouted as Blaire slammed her door, locking it.

"Oh, Ruthie," Blaire whispered, sitting on her bed. "I'm going to try to fix you."

Blaire could feel a tear running down her face as she thought about how much her sister was hurting. All she could wish for was that the two of them would be able to fix each other.