About You Now

Family Meeting

"I don't understand why we can't just skip the meeting," began Brie, following Nikki across the school sports fields. Carmella and Corey were just ahead of them, seemingly minding their own business, as were Maryse and Miz behind them. AJ and Punk weren't too far ahead, although they appeared more confident than the rest. As did Becky, who appeared to have worked out what the cryptic directions were about. Drew, on the other hand, remained quiet, almost serious. He didn't offer up his thoughts willingly. Instead, he looked around, trying to find something or someone missing.

"Hope you have a good reason," spoke AJ, a bright smile on her lips, as she skipped around the larger group. After all, she was one of a few people who knew the secret and likely understood better than most what Echo had likely seen in the hour or so since returning to school. "The normal excuses aren't gonna fly this time," she added before skipping off, leaving confusion and unanswered questions in her wake. Brie looked at Nikki and Drew, curious if they knew what was happening. It all seemed so mysterious to her, even more so upon noticing both Serenity and Roman had been included in the group chat where the meeting co-ordinates had been given.

"It's not like Echo will be there," commented Brie. Her past mean-girl persona slipped through for a moment, although she quickly regained control and began to think more rationally again. "We'd know if she was back; she's not one to hide," she added, checking the past messages in the original group chat to ensure no missed messages about Echo's return.

"I wouldn't be so sure," finally spoke Drew, looking around again, noticing the Darklings were nowhere to be found, and neither was Roman. However, most of the Wyatt watched from the shadows of the trees across from them as if ensuring they got to their destination and no one ran away. "It's no secret there's a wedge in our family. When was the last time you spoke to any of the Darklings besides prom talk with Damian?" asked the Scottsman, recalling he'd last spoken to Finn in their shared class Friday afternoon. Since then, only silence grew between them, as with all the Darklings. The family bond was gone; now, they were strangers in passing.

"It doesn't help most of us avoided going to see her," replied Carmella with a prang of guilt flooding her voice. Although she'd admit she'd not done it purposely, she'd just not been able to bring herself to face the trauma or the consequences of the accident, even less so knowing there was no good news to share regarding the culprits being caught. "If I were her, I'd feel abandoned, even more so when we didn't do the promised video calls."

"AJ," called Drew with his usual thick Scottish ascent, "Punk, what don't we know?" he asked, suspecting not all were in the dark. After all, Punk mentioned visiting Echo the previous Friday after school, and AJ visited her the Saturday after. Both had also spoken about the video calls they regularly took part in.

"Why do I have the sense of dread and doom?" asked Serenity, changing the subject completely while finding comfort in knowing she wasn't the only one who felt like that. The way Brie nervously looked around her and how quietly others had gone as they followed behind Becky. "Why am I even being invited? It's not like any of you idiots see me as a member of the stupid group, or Roman for that matter," she spat with harsh words, but that didn't stop her from becoming arrogant and thinking that maybe, just maybe, she'd finally get what she wanted. Not only to be accepted by the group of weirdos but also to become their defacto leader and use them to get everything else she desired, including having Roman back at her side if she couldn't convince Drew she was better than Nikki.

"Perhaps you'll still have enough confidence to ask Echo when we get there," replied Becky, suspecting the Darklings had hidden Echo's return, if only so she could see the truth for what it was rather than everyone actively trying to hide it from her. If only to save all of them the pain of acting like the united front they no longer were.