Katie's pov:
I was in the middle of a training session when my phone buzzed insistently in my pocket. Seeing Dad's name on the screen made my stomach drop. Dad never called during training unless it was serious. I quickly excused myself and answered the call, bracing for whatever news he had.
"Dad? What's wrong?" I asked, my heart pounding.
His voice was tight with anger and frustration. "Katie, you need to come home. Maddie's out of control. She needs to go back to London. Bringing her home was a mistake."
I felt a cold wave of fear wash over me. Dad didn't get angry quickly, so I knew things were very bad. "I'll be on the next flight," I said, already heading toward the locker room to grab my things.
I booked the earliest flight I could find and rushed to the airport. The entire journey, a knot of anxiety twisted in my stomach. I knew Maddie had been struggling, but I hadn't realized it had gotten this bad.
When I finally landed in Dublin, I picked up a rental car and sped to the house. As I walked in, the tension was palpable. Mum was sitting on the couch with Dylan, who looked like he had been crying. Lauryn and Leah were nearby, their faces pale and worried. Dad was pacing, his jaw clenched tightly.
"Where's Maddie?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
Dad shook his head. "She still hasn't come back yet."
I took a deep breath, trying to think. "I think I know where she might have gone. Pack her stuff while I go find her."
Mum looked up at me, her eyes filled with worry. "Katie, please be careful."
"I will, Mum," I promised, giving her a quick hug before heading back out the door.
I drove to a small park near our old neighborhood. It was a place Maddie and I used to go when we needed to clear our heads. Sure enough, as I pulled up, I saw her sitting on a bench, her head in her hands.
I approached her slowly, not wanting to startle her. "Maddie?"
She looked up, her eyes red and puffy from crying. "Katie?"
I sat down beside her, wrapping my arm around her shoulders. "Hey, sis. I've been worried about you."
She sniffled, wiping her eyes. "I messed up, Katie. I messed up so bad."
"It's okay," I said softly. "We'll figure this out together. But we need to get you back to London. This isn't working."
She nodded, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs. "I know. I just didn't know what else to do."
"We'll take it one step at a time," I promised. "Come on, let's get you home."
We walked back to the car, and I drove us back to the house. When we arrived, Dad had packed up Maddie's things, and everyone was waiting in the living room. The tension was still thick, but there was a sense of relief that we were finally taking action.
"Maddie's coming back to London with me," I said, addressing the room. "We'll get her the help she needs."
Dad still looked angry, but he nodded. "Take care, Maddie. I hope you get better."
Maddie nodded, her eyes downcast. "Thanks, Dad."
Mum stepped forward, her eyes brimming with tears. "Goodbye, Maddie. We love you."
Maddie hugged Mum tightly, whispering something in her ear. Mum nodded, her tears spilling over.
Dylan, despite everything that had happened earlier, looked heartbroken. "I don't want you to go, Maddie."
