"Alice baby, I think it's time to go to bed." FP pleaded as she was still sobbing into his chest. "I-I-I I can't FP, I can't deal with this." She stuttered to get out.
-
"Should we do something?" Charles whispered in the living room, to Betty and Jug. "Oh, I don't know," Betty sighed. She couldn't listen to her mothers sobs anymore. Jug saw how broken she was and pulled her into his chest trying to block out the sound.
-
"I-I-I'm, I think I'm- I'm gonna puke." Alice tried her best to get it out. It was hardly understandable; but the immediate puking was understandable. FP assisted her to the sink and held her hair. "It's okay Ali. It's okay." He softly rubbed her back.
-
"I think we should go upstairs and give them some privacy." Betty whispered. "My room is down here, but you guys go upstairs."
"Oka-"
"Alright Al, lets get you upstairs." FP was helping Alice out of the kitchen, when they both stopped to see the kids looking at them. "Oh God." Alice began to feel nauseas again, and rushed up the stairs. She couldn't talk to anyone right now. All she needed to do was crawl into bed with FP and pretend the phone call never happened.
"Is she going to be okay?" Charles asked FP. "I-uh, I hope so." He quickly rushed up the stairs to her. "I am so confused." Jug sighed.
"I can't believe Penny is my aunt."
"Who is Penny?" Charles asked.
"Penny is my moms sister apparently. She's a drug junkie and now pregnant."
"Wait... Do you mean Penny, like former serpent Penny?"
"Yeah, how do you... do you know her?" Jug asked. "No, no. I uh, I just have heard that name before. Excuse me, I have to get to bed. I have an early shift at Pop's tomorrow." Charles rushed to his room, Betty and Jug were so confused.
"That was weird."
"Do you know whats even weirder?"
"What Betts?"
"If the baby is Hirams... that means that Penny's baby, who will be my cousin, will be Veronica's sibling. Veronica and I will be related."
"So the Lodges, Blossoms, and Smiths will all be related somehow." Jug laughed. "This whole town is practically related." They headed up to bed, both wondering why Charles knew about Penny.
- 1:00am Tuesday Morning -
After a few more hours of heart wrenching sobs Alice finally calmed down. FP had her curled up in his arms, trying his best to keep her calm. "FP, I don't think I can handle it anymore." Alice sighed. "Can't handle what?"
"She mentioned Cassidy."
"I heard."
"The whole neighborhood heard," She sighed. "I haven't heard her name in almost twenty years. It still hurts."
"Alice, don't blame yourself for what happened to Cassidy."
"I can't help it."
"There was nothing you could have done to stop it from happening."
"You don't know that," She curled further into his chest and tried her best to sleep.
"There is nothing you could have done to stop the drunk driver from hitting you."
"But-"
"No Alice, stop blaming yourself and please get some sleep." He kissed her cheek and he started to drift off. But Alice's mind was still awake. She continued to replay the events that took place that awful night.
-Summer of '91-
"Hey Alice, how was practice?"
"It was fine. wanna go grab a drink at the Wyrm?" Alice asked packing up her locker.
"Sure, but maybe we should stick to non-alcholich drinks this time." She laughed. The last time they went to the Wyrm after school they ended up so hammered that their thirteen year old sister, Penny had to drag them home.
"Can you drive there? I really don't feel like walking," Alice sighed, cheer practice with Hermione really wore her out. "You are so lazy, but yes lets drive."
They both hopped in the car and started to head off. They were just crossing the tracks into the Southside when there was the sound of people yelling and a loud crash. Just as Alice was looking up to see what was going on a car came flying at them head on. Cassidy swerved the car to get out of the way, but she yanked the wheel so hard that her car just spun.
The drivers side was hit. Cassidy tried to shield Alice with her body, but she flew through the windshield. Cassidy was laying on the ground in-between the two cars. Tons of serpents came running out of the bar to help.
Alice jumped through her window and ran to Cassidy's side. "Someone call 911 now!" One serpent yelled.
Alice placed her hand over an open wound on her chest and tried to stop the blood. "Cassidy please say something." Alice used her other hand to check for a pulse. Cassidy's eyes fluttered open and quickly closed.
"Oh my God Alice, what happened!" FP yelled coming out of the bar. Alice didn't answer and only stayed focused on her sister. "Someone go get help!" FP yelled.
"Alice, your head!" FP placed his hand over a large cut over Alice's eyebrow. She pushed it off and wiped her eye clear of blood. FP ran back into the bar to grab a cloth to help Cassidy.
"Cassidy, please stay with me. The ambulance is almost here!" Alice cried. "Al-Alice, I need you to be strong, okay? Look out for Penny, don't let her get into jingle-jangle." Cassidy scratched out.
"Cassidy, stay with me! Stay with me!" Alice begged as her sisters eyes were slowly closing again. "Please Cassie! Please!"
"Alice, please stay safe. And tell mom and dad that I-I-I love-"
"Cassie! No, please don't die on me!" Alice cupped her hands around her cheeks and tried to wake her up. "Please stay alive. I can hear the ambulance coming! They're almost here Cassie. Please open your eyes!"
That night Alice, Penny, FP, Mr. and Mrs. Smith all gathered around Cassidy's hospital bed as the heart monitor slowly stopped beeping. After that night the whole family never spoke her name again, as it just brought to much pain.
Now the thought of Penny breaks Alice, as she feels she failed her sister.
-•-
-•A/N•-
I know this chapter is super short. Sorry. I'm trying to update as often as I can. I'm going to be on vacation for the next two weeks, but I'm pre-writing some stories. So sorry if I don't respond to comments or update as often.
