ғᴏᴏᴛsᴛᴇᴘs | ᴋᴍ ✔︎

Who Died?

"Dead people receive more flowers than the living ones because regret is stronger than gratitude"
- FRANK, Anne.

| Alex |

"Talk about what?" Cody asks as she continues to play dumb. We decided to leave the others inside the house, though I have no doubt they'll be working on a way to listen in.

"Kristie, for starters." I admit and take a seat beside my daughter. I hold in my laughter when she groans in annoyance.

"There's nothing going on."

"That's not what it looked like in the pictures." I challenge her. We sit in silence for a few minutes, Cody clearly gathering her thoughts.

"Okay. We've been talking a lot, and yes we went out for dinner, but we're not dating. I'm pretty sure Tobin scared her away." Cody mumbles with slight disdain, while I chuckle. "It's not funny! She threatened her!"

"Good."

"Are you being serious?" Cody glares at me. I want to say yes, but I don't.

"I just want you to be happy, and I want you to answer my calls." I glare at her now and she looks away sheepishly. "But mostly, I just miss you."

"I miss you too, mom." Cody sighs out as she leans into me. I rest my head on top of hers as we sit in silence simply enjoying being with each other.

"Aww, that's fucking cute!" Ali beams. Cody and I turn to see the others pressed up against the glass windows, trying the best to hear what we're saying, but failing miserably in the art of being subtle.

"Codes, your phone is going!" Tobin yells from the other side of the window and my daughter stands to leave me, giving me a kiss on the head as she leaves and the others exit the house. "If that's Kristie for phone sex, I'm gonna break your phone!"

"Oh my God, shut the fuck up!" Cody yells from the house, and while I want to scold her for her language, I'm just happy that she and Tobin are getting along.

"Did you two talk about everything?" Ash says as she takes a seat beside Ali.

"Oh. So it wasn't you three that were pressed up against my windows eavesdropping?" I sass, and receive a chorus of 'no, wasn't me'.

| Cody |

"Ellie, I'm sure she's okay. You don't need to worry about Jack-"

"I do. And you need to worry about her too, she's your best friend!"

"Oh, wow. Okay. You're mad-"

"Do you have a degree in stating the damn obvious?!" Ellie snaps back, and I stay silent out of fear. My eyes widen as I experience a new side to my Australian friend. "Just call her. Something's wrong."

Ellie hangs up before I can reply and I remove my phone from my ear to stare at the screen. My eyes still wide as my mind replays the conversation.

I've been a shitty friend.

Over the next hour I try and get in contact with Jack, only for my calls to reach her voicemail. I don't leave a message, knowing my friend well enough to know she hates that. 'It's too much work' to listen to them.

"We'll see you soon, kiddo." Ash nods as Ali pulls me in for a hug, and the couple leave to go home. "Be nice to Tobin, she's trying."

Ali ignores my confused and questioning looks and heads out the front door, leaving me with my mom and my...other mother...

"Are you okay?" Tobin asks as Alex mutters something about Blue and Zeus. "You look worried."

"I can't get through to Jack." I admit letting my eyes drop to my screen as my brow furrows. "I've been trying for over an hour. I'm starting to panic."

Tobin puts a hand on my shoulder, grabbing my attention. She sends me a small smile, which admittedly comforts me, before she hugs me. "Keep trying, you'll get through."

She leaves me to help my mom with Blue, who decided to rebel against the ageing process and behave like a puppy again. As I'm about to call my stubborn friend, my phone rings, and it's Vanessa.

"Um...hi?" I mumble, suddenly feeling scared.

"Hello, Cody. Hope you're doing well." My lawyer greets me, before she continues, not giving me a chance to reply. "I know you're wondering why I'm calling, and I wish it was good news. It's come to my attention that you've been included in a will that's being executed-"

"Wait, what? Who died?" I rush out as my mom comes in and catches the end of my sentence. She's by my side immediately, her own face portraying worry.

"A Margaret Wilkins-"

"When?" I mumble, remembering the old lady who taught me to play piano. Remembering all the times that I ran away from my home to find somewhere to hide. It was always with Mrs Wilkins, or the diner.

"It was a week ago. I don't have a lot of time so I'm going to be blunt. I'm sorry for your loss, but she didn't have any family. It seems she left her music store to you and a Jackie Carter. I'll need you to drop by my office when you have time, but it will have to be soon."

Vanessa hangs up and I get my mom and Tobin up to date with everything that was said.

"You should call Jack." Alex instructs, thankfully missing the look I share with Tobin. When the midfielder nods, I scroll for my friend's name in my phone and hope that she'll answer this time.