Thistle and Stone [Chaennie]

Chapter 19

MEETING

Roseanne ran the back of her hand across her mouth. She was shaking. The words 'what now' ran through her head as she stumbled from her hallway and leaned against the wall. Her home was dark and cool and she couldn't bring herself to flick on the lights.

The vice grip her mother had on her felt weaker than it had in over a decade and Roseanne felt almost weightless. The absurd urge to both laugh and burst into tears overwhelmed her and she found herself sliding down the wall, tasting salt in her mouth as she laughed into the darkness. Seeing her mum—as Baekhyun had predicted—had gone horribly off course, but her relief at having done it was palpable. For years, she had been a shadow looming over every aspect of her life. Seeing her face to face, Roseanne found that she loved her still—loved her despite of what she had done. She also found that her anger was like water in a sieve. Her mum—unchanging—could not hold all of Roseanne's anger, refused to accept her part in Roseanne's life, and Roseanne had nowhere left to pin her grief.

When her limbs started to numb from sitting on the floor, Roseanne clutched at her ribs and stood. The allure of sleep was strong but even stronger was the need to see someone comforting, to talk to someone who'd understand. Without second-guessing herself, she ducked down and fit her body into the fireplace, a handful of powder clutched in her palm. She threw it to the ground and called out her destination clearly, knowing the wards in Taehyung and Jungkook's home would let her in.

Roseanne coughed against the swirling dust as she landed and stepped into the dark and quiet sitting room. Rubbing away any soot that might have stuck to her nose, she paused and listened for noise. Their home was eerily quiet, and Roseanne hesitated before she moved.

"Taehyung?" she called, loud enough that anyone in the kitchen would hear. She poked her head around the corner and did a quick sweep of the quiet kitchen. There was an empty milk carton sitting beside a bowl on the counter but no sign of either of her friends. A chill licked up her spine and she straightened, trying to talk herself out of her instant suspicion. She was just being cautious—Jungkook might have been called in to work, Taehyung too, they could be at Lisa's, or Eunwoo's, or anywhere really. Roseanne paused for a breath. She was jumpier than usual and it frustrated her, feeling like her carefully honed intuition suddenly overnight resembled that of a fresh-faced Auror on their first day in the field. She felt totally out of tune with herself and it unnerved her.

She made her way past Taehyung's office—empty, she found, and further down the house towards Jungkook's. She tried again, calling Jungkook's name, but no answer. By the time she turned the corner, there was light trickling out from under his door. Relieved, Roseanne quickened her step, glad at least one of them was home. Jungkook knew enough about terrible family members to at least commiserate with her, and she felt almost proud of herself that night for taking his advice, feeling like Jungkook would be too.

Her curled knuckles rapped lightly on the door before she pushed it open, feeling exhilarated.

"Jungkook, hi, sorry to intrude but I just had to—" Roseanne tripped over her words in a rush to get them out, half her body already in Jungkook's office when she stopped short.

"Roseanne, hi." Jungkook glanced up from his desk abruptly at her voice and smiled, his face a mix of surprised and welcoming.

But Roseanne was looking to his right, at the mass of dark curls hiding a bowed head. Jennie turned a half-second after Jungkook, and Roseanne caught the look of confusion that marked her face.

"Roseanne?" she breathed, quiet enough that Roseanne almost missed it. She watched as Jennie pushed her hair from her face and stared at her, bewildered.