somewhere only we know || grayson hawthorne x oc

chapter eleven (xander)

Everyone was enjoying the delicious meal Mrs Laughlin had prepared when the doors opened loudly to reveal Izzy. The entrance was not unlike the one which she had made at the will reading, and Xander was sure that it would not be the last. This is definitely going to be awkward. Izzy hadn't really spoken to anyone in the house over the last couple of weeks, meaning her presence was one that came with tension. Xander presumed Nash had made her come, or she wouldn't have bothered.

"Thea, how is field hockey?" You could always count on Zara to make somewhat-strained small talk.

"We're undefeated this season. Have you decided which sport you'll be playing, Avery?"

Avery could barely hold back a snort. "I don't do sports."

"Everyone at Country Day does a sport," Xander stepped in before enjoying a bite of his roast beef. "It is an actual, real requirement and not a figment of Thea's delightfully vindictive imagination."

"Xander", Nash warned.

"I said she was delightfully vindictive," Xander said with mock innocence.

Thea flashed a sweet smile. "If I were a boy, people would just call me driven."

"Thea." This time, Constantine issued a warning.

"Right. No feminism at the dinner table." That earned a snort from everyone else apart from Izzy, whose eyes had remained stubbornly on her food.

Unfortunately for her, Thea had taken note.

"Haven't seen you at school lately, Izzy." And you could count on Thea to stir up the pot.

Izzy clenched her teeth, eyes refusing to look anywhere but her plate. "I graduated, Thea."

"Of course, of course. I just thought-" Constantine issued her a pointed look. She turned to Avery. "Izzy here excels at basketball. The team isn't doing nearly as well without her on it."

Both Avery and Libby looked puzzled. Xander wasn't sure whether they were still under the impression that Izzy was a stranger to the family; but if they didn't before, they definitely did now.

"A toast," Skye announced suddenly, clearly drunk.

"Skye, dear, have you considered sleeping it off?" Nan was firm with her granddaughter.

"A toast," she repeated, "to Avery. And to Bel."

Izzy didn't look pleased at the use of the nickname, but she held her glass up anyway, just like everyone else.

"To Emily." Thea's eyes were on Jameson's. "May she rest in peace."

Jameson brought his glass down and left the table. Grayson's knuckles were white around the stem of his wine glass. Izzy got up decisively with an overdramatic sigh and said "Well, I tried," before leaving the room.

"Theadora," Constantine hissed.

But Thea wasn't bothered at all. Instead, she took a sip of her drink and shrugged her shoulders with a tinkle in her eyes. "What?"

Well, that went well.