Only The Goode Spy Forever

Chapter 79: The Stand

  ("But as for you, be strong and do not give up. For your work will be rewarded." -2 Corinthians 15:7)

The next few weeks at the academy we're weird. Annalise had tried to check on Bree every day. Bree was always doing the same thing. She sat in a sweater and stared out her window. Morgan protested looking out the window because it wasn't safe, but couldn't argue with Bree. Bree held the same stone cold look on her face all the time. She always had dried tears streaking her face.
  Annalise's parents felt awful. Apparently Zach and Cammie thought that there was a chance that Bree's grandfather was alive. The autopsy confirmed that Bree grandfather had been hit in the head with a blunt object and strangled to death. There were signs of a fight, but he was old and untrained.
  Anna noticed that Chase was absent most of the time. She suspected that he was either with Bree or working on his own project.
  Anna was walking the halls late one night. She was struggling sleeping. She passed her brother. He had books in his hand and cocked an eyebrow to her.
  "What are you doing awake, Anna Banana?" He asked as he pulled her next to him and kissed the top of her head.
  "I couldn't sleep," Anna admitted. "You?"
  "Research," came Chase's reply. Anna knew better than to ask what for.
  "Why did she do it? Why did our grandma kill Bree's grandfather?" Anna asked, dropping her voice.
  "Mom says she was trying to send a message. Dad thinks she did it out of retaliation," Chase replied. Anna knew her brother better than anyone else. She saw right through him.
  "But that's not what you think," she finished for him. He shrugged.
  "It doesn't matter what I think," he replied. Anna raised an eyebrow at him. He took a breath and shrugged. "I think her grandfather knew something. I think he had information that Catherine desperately wanted. I think that he resisted to telling her. And what she can't have.... she destroys."
  "What do you think he knew?" Anna asked. Chase's theory was actually quite brilliant to Anna. Chase opened his mouth to speak. He changed his mind at the last second and shrugged. Anna was shocked. Chase knew. He knew what Bree's grandfather knew. And he was lying. "What are you hiding?" She cut her eyes at him.
  "Nothing thst needs to be shared," Chase replied. Anna got angry. He always left her out of the loop.
  "Why do you hide everything?"
  "Because something's are better off left hidden. Somethings you don't want to know."
  Chase's reply sent chills up Anna's spine. She trusted Chase. She knew he wouldn't hide something from her unless it was important. It had to have been for the best.
  "Thanks for the alumni list, by the way," Chase said. Anna nodded.
  "No problem. What did you need it for anyways?" She asked.
  "Oh, I was just trying to get my suspicions confirmed," he replied. Anna was intrigued.
  "Did you?"
  "Yes."
  "What were your suspicions?"
  "That's for me to know," Chase began. Anna leaned in to hear what he had to say. "And for you to think about at night." She pulled back  and glared at him while he grinned at her.
  "How's Bree?" Anna asked. She knew Chase wouldn't tell her about his project, so she changed the subject.
  "Not good. She just stares out the window. She's broken. I thought I could help, but this is too much for her. She's not acting like herself. Her reflexes are slow. She doesn't care about anything. She's forgotten who she is," Chase said with a sigh. He ran his hands through his hair.
  "Well then we'll just have to remind her," Anna said with a smirk. Chase gave her a questioning look. Anna simply smiled.
  "What are you plotting?" Chase asked.
  "We're gonna help her. Let's show her who she is," Anna replied.
  "How?" Chase asked.
  Anna channeled her inner Liz and said "we're going to reminisce!"
*                                      *                                     *
  Anna, Chase, Caroline, and Diana all crowded outside of Bree's suite. Bree's roommates were spending the night in some of the extra rooms. They claimed that Bree was killing their vibe and they couldn't stay in there. Chase knocked on the door.
  "Bree?" He called. The door opened and Morgan's face shown through the crack. She saw the kids and opened the door. Anna frowned at the sight of Bree sitting in a chair and staring out the window.
  "Hey kids. Sorry, she doesn't seem to be up for visitors today," Morgan said apologetically.
  "Oh that's okay aunt Morgan. She'll want to see us," Anna replied happily. Morgan looked skeptical, but let them in. Anna smiled and entered the suite.
  "Hey, Gallagher Girl," just said with a playful grin as he put a hand on Bree. She looked at him. She had tear streaked eyes, messy hair, and cracked lips. She was still gorgeous. She looked away from Chase and back out he window.
  "Hey Breezy. I've missed you eating with us. We should study sometime. Or we could have a movie night. Or a spa day. Actually, let's just do whatever you want," Caroline rambled. Diana elbowed her.
  "You're looking a tad washed out. Maybe you'd want to get dressed up and out in some makeup. We'll get you all gorgeous again," Diana suggested. Bree stayed silent. Anna sighed. She moved in front of Bree's view of the window. Bree looked her in the eye.
  "This too shall pass," Anna said. Bree's face softened. Anna had never been good at advice like Bree, but she figured this wasn't too bad a piece of advice. Bree sighed.
  "He was a good man," Bree said. Everyone shared stunned looks. Bree hadn't said a word in weeks. "He really cared about me. He loved my grandma. The two of them had a relationship that was truly pure. Grandma wasn't always a good person. When she was younger she was into some really bad things. Then she met grandpa and he changed her. And grandma raised my mom to always be kind. And then my mom had me. Mom says that grandpa was so happy to hear mom was pregnant with me. Grandpa claimed we were best friends before I was even born. I never felt like an outsider with him. I always had a place."
  Anna's heart broke. Bree had never been that open with the girls. Anna didn't know that Bree and her grandfather were best friends.
  "He wouldn't want you to be sad. He'd want you to get up and show the world how strong you are," Diana said. Bree nodded.
  "This isn't you, Gallagher girl," Chase added. "The Bree I know is strong. She's selfless. You would do anything for anyone without hesitation. How many times have you stepped in front of a bullet for someone? You amaze me. You think that you don't have a place, but you do. Everywhere you go you light up the room. No one can stand not to be happy when they see you smile. You are one of the people on this earth that is truly good to the bone."
  Bree tested up and grabbed Chase's hand. "Thank you," she whispered. He nodded.
  "Well why are you still sitting there?" Anna's asked with a laugh. "Get up! Go show the world the Bree Morrison that we know. Go change the world."
  Bree grinned and stood up. She fixed her posture and looked confident again. Her hand didn't leave Chase's.
  "What are you gonna do now?" Caroline asked.
  "First, I'm gonna go clean myself up," she had a shimmer in her eye. "Then, I'm going to find Catherine and find what she wants with me. Then, I'm gonna pay her back."