Legacy

Chapter 77

Addy was taken this morning after being cleared from the hospital. It had been a tearful goodbye, and Stacie had stayed with her the whole time she was in the hospital, other than to grab some stuff from her house for her. Beca and Emily had gone to their new homes the night before but returned to say goodbye. They hoped it wouldn't be long but couldn't say for certain. They watched as Abby was wheeled out as she still had broken bones, but her medical care would transfer to wherever she would end up next, which had yet to be disclosed to her sisters. 

Stacie, Beca and Emily waited until Addy was out of sight before they said anything. They didn't cry anymore; they just stood as they watched their life turn upside down.

"Well, I guess we should get going," Beca said, knowing people were waiting for them outside. She hugged her sisters goodbye, knowing that she would at least see them soon, and headed outside to where the adults were waiting.  She appreciates that they gave her and her sisters space to say goodbye, but there is not enough space in the world that that would make them feel not like they have just lost a piece of themselves when Addy left. She walked up to Mrs Swanson, who smiled weekly at her. Jesse sat in the car with the door open on his phone. 

"You ready to go?" Jesse smiled, looking up at his best friend. He had been hurt to discover that she had hidden so much from him. And now there was some awkwardness in the air. Looking back, Jesse saw signs that things weren't alright. The long sleeves and bruises, the days missing school. He just assumed she was rebelling against her mom because she wasn't there often. Turns out she didn't want her mother to be there at all and now staring at the cast on her broken arm with her sister's name scribbled on, including Addy's left-handed attempt, which just made him sad. He should have noticed at least Addy wasn't herself, but he knows he can do nothing now. When talking to his mom, she made a point of telling him there is no point reliving the past, and that won't help Beca open up to him. He needs to be there for his friend, and that's it. 

Beca nodded in reply and got in the car. The drive home was awkward, and no one spoke. Mrs Swanson had tried to reassure her that she should make herself comfortable and treat it like her own home, Beca using sarcasm as a coping mechanism, she made a joke which wasn't received well and realised it was too soon to be making jokes like that. Once she got back to the Swanson house, she made her way up to her new room and collapsed on the bed. She looked around to see her suitcases and bags of stuff that she had picked up the day before from the crime scene of a house. She sighed, not knowing what to do with it unpacking felt wrong, but leaving it like this felt like she would be kicked out any minute. Maybe because part of her felt as if she was going to be sent back or told to leave. Maybe she should have swapped places with Addy, but it's too late for that now. 

There was a knock on the door and Jesse pushed it open. Beca sat up lazily and tried a smile at her friend. 

"Hey"

"Hi" Beca replied, she didn't know what to say to anyone and other than her sisters the only other person she wanted was Chloe. 

"I thought you may want someone other than me, so I invited a friend around," He moved out of the way, and Chloe walked around the corner. Beca's smile grew about three times she hadn't spoken to Chloe since she asked for her advice the other day and was desperate to see her again. She immediately got up and ran to hug her girlfriend.  

"I'll leave you to it," Jesse said, smiling, seeing her best friend smile honestly was more than he could have ever hoped for. 

"Jesse, wait. Thank you. I do want you just..." Beca didn't know how to say she wanted to be held by her girlfriend, and he wouldn't be able to do it. 

"I know, when you want to play video games and ignore the world, I will be waiting." Jesse smiled closing the door behind him. Beca just kept hugging Chloe not wanting to leave this moment and ruin the silence before the inevitable conversation. Chloe moved back and then led Beca over to the bed. Chloe sat down opening her arms for her girlfriend to climb in and cuddle into her side. Chloe stroked her hair as they sat in silence and let the moment be before they started talking. Chloe also knew asking Beca how she felt was stupid she was never going to openly talk about it. 

"How are your sisters?" Chloe asked not stopping from stroking Beca's head. 

"Stacie refused to be checked out or give any statement. Emily cried when we found out Addy wasn't staying too close and when we weren't told where she was going but physically she isn't too bad. Addy didn't cry since waking up she was very confused and I don't think anything has settled in for her yet. But we are all alive so that's okay... Do you know what happened?" Beca asked hesitantly at the end. 

"Jesse filled me in on the basics we thought it was better I know a bit but I'm here for you whenever you want to talk to me. It doesn't have to be today and you don't have to tell me at all if you can't or don't want to. I just want to be there for you for right now," Chloe said and Beca sighed. She did want to tell her but not right now. She didn't know what to say so they fell into a comfortable silence and Beca felt safe for the first time in a long time and let it all out. Beca started crying and curled further into Chloe. Chloe looked down confused but didn't say anything just held her tighter and let her cry.