Sibling spotlight - billie and Finneas story

happy then anger

Chapter 60: happy then anger

As the movie played, the three of them laughed and shared popcorn, the atmosphere feeling lighter than it had in days. Y/N felt her worries begin to fade into the background, but just as she was getting lost in the film, her phone buzzed again on the coffee table.

Curiosity sparked in Billie and Finneas, and they exchanged glances. Y/N, still in the cozy embrace of the couch, didn’t seem to notice the vibration at first, but it buzzed again, drawing her attention.

“Hey, what’s that?” Finneas asked casually, though the concern was evident in his tone. “Another notification?”

Y/N hesitated, glancing at her phone. “It’s nothing,” she said quickly, but the way her body tensed told them otherwise.

Billie leaned forward, “You know you can tell us, right? Is it about your ex?”

“No! It’s just… a group chat,” Y/N replied, trying to dismiss it with a wave of her hand, but it was too late. The intrigue had already piqued Finneas and Billie’s curiosity.

“Okay, but can we at least see it?” Finneas asked gently, attempting to reassure her. “You can show us; we’re here for you.”

Y/N felt her heart race. “No, really. It’s just silly stuff,” she said, but it was clear to both her siblings that she was being evasive.

Billie’s voice softened, “We just want to make sure you’re okay. We’re not here to judge. If there’s something upsetting you—”

Before Billie could finish her sentence, Y/N grabbed her phone, taking a deep breath as she swiped through her notifications. A sinking feeling filled her stomach as she saw the latest messages in the group chat with her old friends.

But it wasn’t just that. A notification from her social media caught her eye, and she reluctantly opened it. The screen filled with comments from followers, the same kind of comments that had plagued her lately, but this time it was something different—a new post featuring her picture from earlier that day.

“Y/N, I’m so proud of you!” read one comment. “But seriously, do you have to wear clothes like that?” read another, more cutting.

The comments started to flood in, each one seeming to cut deeper than the last. Her heart sank as she read through them, and she felt her cheeks flush with shame and anger.

Billie and Finneas leaned in closer, finally catching a glimpse of what had captured their sister’s attention. “What’s this?” Finneas asked, his voice laced with concern.

Y/N felt her emotions surging again. “It’s nothing! Just some stupid comments!” she snapped, her voice rising as the weight of it all crashed back down on her.

“Y/N—” Billie started, but Y/N stood up abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor.

“Just leave me alone!” she shouted, her voice cracking with frustration. Tears pooled in her eyes as she turned away from them, her heart racing.

“Y/N, please don’t—” Finneas reached out, but she flinched again, moving away.

“I can’t… I can’t deal with this right now!” she yelled, running up the stairs, her footsteps echoing in the silence of the house.

Billie and Finneas exchanged worried glances, both feeling the heavy weight of helplessness. They knew this wasn’t just about the comments; it was a manifestation of everything Y/N had been struggling with.

“I’ll go after her,” Finneas said, determination flickering in his eyes. “We need to talk this out.”

Billie nodded, knowing how important it was for Y/N to feel heard. “I’ll grab her some water. She might need it.”

Finneas quickly climbed the stairs, knocking on Y/N’s bedroom door. “Y/N? Can I come in?”

“Go away!” she shouted from inside.

He hesitated, unsure of what to do, but then spoke softly. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m worried about you. Can we just talk?”

After a moment, the door creaked open slightly, revealing Y/N’s tear-streaked face. Her eyes were filled with hurt and anger, but there was also vulnerability. “What do you want?” she said, her voice shaking.

“I want to understand what you’re feeling,” Finneas replied gently, stepping inside. “You don’t have to go through this alone. We’re your family.”

Y/N’s defenses began to crumble. “I just… I don’t want to be judged, okay? I’m so sick of everyone saying things about me, and I don’t even know how to deal with it.”

Finneas took a step closer, lowering his voice. “No one’s judging you. We love you. But keeping this bottled up isn’t going to help. You’re not alone in this.”

Y/N glanced down at her phone, the notifications still glaring back at her. “It’s just so overwhelming… I feel like I’m drowning,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Finneas moved closer, wrapping his arms around her in a gentle hug, this time being careful not to invade her space. “You’re not drowning. We’re here to help you float. Just talk to us, please. You don’t have to fight this battle by yourself.”

As she leaned into her brother’s embrace, Y/N felt a flicker of hope reigniting within her. “I don’t know where to start,” she confessed.

“Start with what’s bothering you the most. We can take it one step at a time,” Finneas encouraged, holding her tightly.

Y/N sighed deeply, feeling the tension begin to ease. She pulled back slightly to look up at him. “It’s just… everything. The comments, the pressure, feeling like I’m losing myself.”

“Let’s take it slow,” Finneas said, brushing her hair back from her face. “We’ll get through this together.”

After a moment, Y/N nodded, her resolve starting to strengthen. “Okay. Just… stay with me.”

“Always,” Finneas promised, smiling softly.

Meanwhile, Billie stood outside the door, her heart aching for her sister. She took a deep breath, silently wishing for the best as she prepared to bring the water and offer her support.

Together, they would navigate this storm, and Y/N would learn that it was okay to ask for help, that vulnerability could lead to healing, and that her family would always be there to catch her when she fell.