PEACH PIT :: ETHAN DOLAN

DIX

June 19th

Christine Atwood is dead.

-

Car doors slam, the trunk popping open so the twins can grab their bags. Ethan almost spills his coffee all over the driveway and sighs, running a hand over his face. The drive back wasn't bad, but it was long, and the four were getting annoyed with each other easily again.

"Say hi to Cam for me," Phoenix yawns, getting out of the car to hug both boys. Alondra comes following out too, and they hug as if they aren't going to see each other again within a few hours.

"And take showers, you smell like campfire smoke," Alondra grins, knowing the smell is embedded in her hair too. "Alright. I'm gonna go home and nap. See you guys later?"

"Bye, Lonnie," Ethan waves, swinging his bag over his shoulder. Grayson hugs them both again, pressing a kiss to Alondra's forehead. "Gray, come on, let them leave."

"I was saying goodbye!"

Grabbing his bag, he closes the trunk and they watch the girls drive off before entering their home. It was quiet inside, which Ethan was grateful for. He needed some time to himself more than anything. That was unlikely however, with his sister home, with his parents still wanting to catch-up with him, and with Phoenix and Alondra almost sure to show up at his house in the evening. So he'll take the few moments of quiet he's getting as he carries his things upstairs.

The box sitting on his bed drags him right back down to reality.

Ethan's mouth dries, his heart in his throat. Something as simple as a large box sitting on his bed shouldn't make him feel like this.

Christine was dead, she died almost two months ago, and now he was receiving packages from her? How, and why him? They spent one day together back in June. He never gave her an address, as far as Ethan knew he wasn't significant in this girls life (though he would consider the lessons he learned with her very important to him), so why would she send him anything?

He can't open it. Not now.

Shrugging his shirt off, Ethan pulls a cleaner one on and leaves his bag on the floor. He lets out a deep sigh, going into the bathroom to wash his face. He definitely wished he packed better while they were up at the lake. Twirling a piece of bleached hair around his finger, he sighs again.

"E! Cam's out back with mom and dad. Let's go say hi," Grayson interrupts, sticking his head in the room. "C'mon."

So much for his moment of quiet.

Ethan always needed time to himself before, but spending months by himself really amplified that. It was time to calm down, to recharge, and to process. Since coming home, he hasn't had much of that and he missed it.

However, he can't be disappointed when he sees Cameron. He hugs her with a grin, mumbling, "you get shorter?"

"Shut up."

Of course, Cameron has questions about his time away. Honestly, he's tired of talking about it at this point. It was a break from life, it wasn't some extravagant trip around the country. He indulges her and their parents in a few stories he hasn't yet told them.

Thought he's mentally drained, being with his family is calming. They haven't all been together like this since graduation, and even though things weren't easy now, Ethan was still doing much better today than he was then.

"Oh, honey, did you get your package from your friend... Christine?" Lisa asks what should be an innocent question. It's not, but he doesn't let his mother know that.