To the bones

The butterfly

The next day, Andy came to work with an idea. She had been thinking about Athena the whole night, wondering how she could help her.

'You're too invested. You're dealing with stories that are none of your business and with problems that are not for you to solve. Let the Dragon handle this for once !' had Nate told Andy last night.

He was right in a way. But things were getting complicated with him now and his opinion mattered less and less to Andy. She wanted Athena and Miranda to be happy, she needed them to. And this was more than just about work: this was about a hopeless family, torn apart, that needed help and right now, nothing could make Andy happier than succeeding in her mission. It was weird, even to her, but Miranda's happiness would make her own and she wanted the world to know that Miranda wasn't the cold and heartless woman everyone thought she was.

Thus when she got a moment, and against Emily's will, she went to see Nigel, seeking his help and most of all: his observation skills. Nigel was indeed the 'eyes' of Runway and knew everything. Every rumor, every secret, every story and most importantly: he knew how to adapt to everyone, how to make them like and trust him. He knew Miranda better than everyone else, maybe even better than Athena herself. He once even told Andy he constantly studied her. So there was no doubt he knew a lot about Athena and would be able to help Andy to approach her.

'There you are !' Andy said entering the room.

'Where else would I might be ?' Nigel said, not looking up from his work. He was drawing some mock-ups of dresses he probably had imagined himself.

'These are beautiful.'

'What is it you want Six ?'

'Can't I just visit my friend and tell him his drawings are amazing ?'

'Seems highly unlikely.' He said finally looking at the young woman next to him, his eyes begging her to spit it out.

'Okay. I... need your help-'

'-Again.'

'Yes ! I know it will seem weird to you, but I need to know everything about Athena and you know everything so...'

'What do you mean by 'everything' ?'

'I mean Emily introduced her to me and she showed me some pictures and... She seems so hopeless and it seems she has a hard time having a real mother/daughter relationship with Miranda. And she's so skinny !'

'Ah... yes. Athena is quite a tormented teen and it's been years since I've seen her and her mother truly happy. And I know what I'm talking about here, I've known the Priestlys for 18 years now.'

'Wow...'

'Well I survived and I think I know why you wanna help them.'

'Do you ?'

'Uh uh. I've learned to love them somehow I too know that they're not that awful. And Athena...' Nigel's voice trailed off as he took his glasses off, shaking his head with despair. 'Athena... I call her my little butterfly. She wants to be free and she's trying to fly away but she's so fragile I'm always scared something bad happens to her. She fights against her mother so hard and yet I know she needs her so much. She's like a butterfly needing the wind to fly but still fighting against it because it keeps pushing her in the wrong direction.'

He seemed really concerned and by the time he finished his sentence Andy's smile had completely faded. If she didn't know better she would have swore Nigel was about to cry. The situation was actually bad... But then he took a deep breath and said:

'I shouldn't be telling you all of this. You're the kind to get too involved with other's business. Look at me Andy, you don't want to face what I've been facing for years with those two.'