The Silence Within

I'm No Angel

A/N: Hello everyone! I (Lewis) will be handling both Author's Notes this week as Z, seems to have gone missing (MAYBE SHE'S SKYE) lol, no, I just can't get a hold of her. Anyway, due to that, this episode is shorter than our previous ones but please don't forget to vote and comment any theories or feedback you might have!

"Am I the only one who's being ignored by Finn?" Scarlett demanded aloud. It was her fifth attempt in two days to get a hold of him and either his cellphone was off or he ignored the call.

Charlie shook his head. "I don't think he wants to talk to anyone right now." His voice was hoarse, throat sore from his previous breakdown. "He's probably taking it really hard." He glanced to Riley, who nodded her head in agreement.

At this, Scarlett scowled. "I don't think anyone wants to talk about it, but you know what? It still has to happen!" She'd been the only one bothering to go to school until Charlie and Riley finally showed up. Finn was the only one missing.

"He's hurting," Riley said in his defense. "And I know we all are, but Skye was the love of his life and nobody even knows where she is now."

"That's bullshit!" Scarlett snapped. "He's being selfish and inconsiderate. He's moping around in his bed while we here sitting like ducks!"

Charlie sighed, "Scar -"

"No," she interjected. "I want to grieve. I want to sit in my bedroom and eat ice cream all day." She exhaled. "But if we all just...shut down, nothing will get done. Eventually we'd stop talking to each other completely and then what? What will Skye have to come back to?"

Riley fidgeted with the water bottle in her hands. "He'll come out when he's ready. Let's just be there for him when he does."

Scarlett didn't look satisfied, but still nodded. "I just..." her eyes watered, "What would Oliver think if he saw Finn now?"

Charlie put his arm around her and squeezed reassuringly. "Oliver's in a better place; he has faith in Finn."

She wiped beneath her eyes, checking to see if her makeup had smeared. "And what if there's no Heaven? What if he's just sitting there, watching us blubber like babies?"

They chuckled faintly at the thought. Riley slung her arm around Scarlett's shoulders, linking arms with Charlie. "Then he'll be doing everything he can to help us. Because even when he should be sitting back, Oliver's saving the day."

Behind them, they heard the school bells ring and gave a collective sigh. While Riley and Charlie slid off of the picnic table, Scarlett remained planted on the seat. When Charlie looked back to her, she waved her hand in a shooing manner. "Let me just check my makeup..."

"Oh come on!" Riley yanked her to her feet and guided her by the hand towards the school building. They laughed as Scarlett fussed over her mascara, but none of them could deny the lingering heaviness in their chests.

-----

The school day was nearing its end when Kennedy Edwards approached Riley.

Riley had been finishing off a late paper, her fingers flying across her laptop keyboard. When she paused to proofread the last paragraph, two manicured nails tapped against the back of the laptop. She looked up, surprised to see the familiar voice.

She plastered on a faint smile. "Riley? I need to talk to you about Oliver Johansson." Kennedy said, leaning over her laptop. Riley shut the device and noticed the pen and notebook in her hands.

"Why?" She was well aware that Kennedy was head of the school news committee and grew wary.

The girl shrugged, innocence passing over her features. "I just wanted to include a bit about his tragic death - and people these days are such drama queens. You were there, so I need your point of view on what exactly happened that night."