Snapshots of a life, lived

Trust

Note: SPOILERS FOR THE HALLOWEEN BALL, specifically the second video posted on YouTube on 10/27, "YOU'RE THE SPY"

Carly rocked on her heels outside of the office before taking a deep breath and barreling ahead, going to Autumn's desk. "Autumn?"

"Yes?" Autumn asked without looking up from her computer.

"Marjorie said you'd look over my next activity plan for me."

"Hmm."

Carly waited, but Autumn didn't say anything else. "So... could you?"

"Put it on my desk, I'll take a look later."

"All right, thanks."

Carly hurried out of the room again to get back to the toddler room — lest Winter think she'd wandered off somewhere again — then stopped as a thought occurred to her. Did I put my name on that plan? Autumn would know it's me anyway though. Oh but I have to hand it in as well.

And she went back to the office. "Reece, take this," she heard Autumn say right before she opened the door.

"What? You just told Carly you would do it."

"No, I said put it on my desk."

"So why can't you do it?"

"Because I don't want to."

Reece was quiet for a moment. "Why don't you want to look over Carly's activity plan for her?"

"I'm busy."

"With what?" No answer. "Aut, seriously. Is this about—"

"Exactly what you think it is? Yes. But I'm a professional and I don't intend for it to get in the way of anything. So if you could please take Carly's activity plan, I would greatly appreciate it."

"Fine, fine." They fell silent for a few seconds. "It's not her fault. You know what he's like."

"Yes, I do. But she told him some extremely personal things that I didn't want him to find out. They were my secrets she was passing along, Reece. And I'm rather tired of feeling like I can't trust the people around me."

Reece sighed. "Yeah, okay. I get that. How long are you going to let this simmer?"

"I know don't know. I'll figure it out later."

Carly backed away from the door and walked away. She could check her activity plan later.

* * * * *

"Hey Carly," Charlotte said as she sat. "How's your day been?"

"All right," Carly said without looking up from her phone. Charlotte raised an eyebrow.

"That was convincing."

Carly sighed, looking up. "Char are you still mad at me?"

"No?" Charlotte tilted her head. "What do you mean?"

"I overheard Autumn and Reece talking this morning—"

"Carly."

"I know! I didn't mean to, but I was going back to the office to check my activity plan after I dropped it off. And I heard Autumn saying she didn't want to look at my plan."

"Oh." Charlotte frowned. "Maybe she's busy?"

"She told Reece to do it, and Reece asked why she couldn't do it, and she didn't really answer. Then Reece asked if it was because of and she said exactly what you think it is, yes. Have you noticed they can like, read each other's minds? I can't read my brothers' minds, I have no idea what's going on there—"