IMPORTANT NOTE AT THE END!
"so, what's this about?" ethan said vanessa, having just gotten back from dropping his girlfriend off at school.
"the other night. she has these panic...or anxiety attack and she just can't seem to control them. over the years, i've learned to just let her be unless she tells me otherwise," vanessa pauses, and ethan lets the information sink in.
"it's been going on since her father and i got a divorce. at first, i would try and try to help, but nothing was working. eventually we figured out that she just needs to work it out with herself. and really anything can cause them. she's even had episodes at school, and let me tell you, the torment that she got because of it absolutely breaks a mother's heart." vanessa lays her hand on her chest, over her heart.
"what do you think caused this one?" he asks lowly, taking a seat across the counter on a stool.
"could be the fact that she got into a relationship, missing her sister-"
she pauses.
"you know about that right?"
ethan nods, and she gives a reassuring sigh, most likely afraid that she said the wrong thing if he happened to not know about the incident.
"delia really was such a sweet little girl. they both were. you must know what that's like, having a twin." she refers to the ethan and grayson's relationship. he nods slowly, staring at the counter.
"they're your other half. i couldn't imagine losing gray." just the thought makes his skin crawl, his heart nearly stop.
"i really do appreciate you helping out. she has never asked me to help, and i was just as surprised as you when she called you and not me. so, so many nights that i've just had to listen to her screaming down the hallway, or crying herself to sleep. it's like having an infant all over again." she chuckles to herself, not making eye contact with the boy.
his throat becomes dry, and when he opens his mouth to speak, nothing comes out.
"well, i should be going to work!" she perks up, lightly wiping under eyes. ethan realizes that she has been crying a little.
"are you sure you don't need anything?" the woman glances at him as she stands by the door, slipping her shoes on. he hops off the stool, standing up straight.
"i'll be just fine mrs. martinez." vanessa sits in thought for a moment, just looking at ethan. she scowls sarcastically when she sees that he's realized the mistake he just made.
"uhhh-"
"you're alright. i'll see you later." she laughs warmly, walking on the front door, work bag in hand.
a/n: so uhhhhh yeah sydney and her sister were actually TWINS and she passed away when they were six. i changed that in chapter eighteen :)
