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Drew didn't know how she ended up here.
Seriously what is happening right now? Why is she standing behind the school, skipping class, just to talk to Sadie Kane of all people.
A few minutes earlier
"Sadie what are you wearing? I though your taste in clothes was getting better." Drew smirked, "Lacy why don't you help the poor girl, I know you know how to dress."
At that Lacy looked at the floor. Sadie just stared at her, expression blank.
"People like you are just a waste of air." Drew didn't know why she said that, she didn't mean it, it just came out of her mouth.
"Well maybe I should just kill myself and stop wasting your precious air." Sadie snickered.
To anyone listening this might've sounded like a joke, but not to Drew. She knew what tone people used when they were joking, this was not it. No, Sadie was being serious.
Drew was frozen for a moment, she didn't know how how to react to that.
So she just grabbed Sadie, told Lacy to go away and dragged her behind the school. Sadie didn't even try to stop her, she just followed.
Present
So here they were now. Standing next to each other, in silence.
"You weren't joking, were you?" Drew asked, she didn't know how to help her, or what to say, but she knew she needed to say something.
"About what?"
"Killing yourself."
Sadie's eyes widened at that, like she didn't know anyone could notice.
"Of course I was." Drew didn't know if Sadie actually though she would believe that lie.
"Listen, I'm not gonna make you tell me anything, but it's obvious you're not okay. And I know what it's like. I know I don't look like it but I do. Also if this has something to do with your other life you can tell me, after this is over I'll pretend this never happened."
"What other life? I don't have any other lives." Sadie tried to deflect, then, so quiet Drew almost missed it, "And even if I did, it's not like you would believe me."
"I'm a daughter of Aphrodite, try me." she sat down on the ground.
"I-what?"
"I know you're not a normal human, still don't know what you are, but not a mortal I can sense it." she patted the ground next to her signaling Sadie to sit, she did.
"This has nothing to do with that but yeah, I'm not a normal human."
Drew knew Sadie wasn't gonna tell her anything else, so she started talking instead.
"We had this war a few years ago. I lost a lot of people I loved, one of them was my sister. She was beautiful, and I don't mean it in the 'daughter of Aphrodite' way beautiful. No, she had a beautiful soul, she was kind, good, she was really good. And I looked up to her, like a lot of other campers did. But she betrayed us, got some of our siblings killed because of it." she wiped a tear of her face.
"I became bitter after that, everyone was saying she was this hero and I just couldn't see it. How was she a hero, she got so many people killed, and after that people started hating Aphrodite kids. I became the head of my cabin, cabin is a house were children of the same god or goddess live, and I hated it. One night I was lying in my bed, thinking about everything. I had a knife beside me."
Sadie exhaled shakily.
"I was thinking about killing myself. I couldn't take it, everyone hated me, even my own siblings, they still do."
"Why didn't you?" Sadie asked.
"One of my sisters started crying, she had a nightmare, it's common thing, I heard her and came to her, stayed there until she fell asleep again, same the next night, and the one after that. After some time I started feeling ashamed. I mean, I was gonna kill myself in my bed, what if one of the little ones found me. Not like they'll be sad but it is traumatizing to see a dead body."
Drew was crying now, which was weird, she wasn't crying when she pressed a knife to her chest, why was she crying now just thinking about it.
"After my mom died, my grandparents took me and not my brother, he went with dad. And for the longest time I thought they didn't want me, we saw each other twice a year, they were strangers to me. My grandparents loved that I looked like my mom, I don't think they really loved me. Than one day, on one of their visits, I saw my dad die, learned about a new world and how I had to save it with a stranger, my brother."
"And you did it. Saved the world, I mean."
"Yeah, we did, and we became closer. But now, that it's over, all I can think about is how my grandparents probably never loved and only saw me as my mom, that my dad loves Carter more and that I'll never be part of the family, which is stupid, I know it is but-"
She was cut off by Drew taking her in her arms and holding her tight.
"It's not stupid to feel that way, no emotion is stupid. You are not stupid for feeling alone in a world were no one was really there for you." Sadie was crying now, "But you are not alone now, right? You have so many friends that love you, Lacy would kill for you, and I'm sure your brother would as well." she patted her on the back.
"Yeah he would, I know that, but sometimes…"
"It still feels like he's not really there, like you are kids again and don't know each other."
"Yeah." she started moving and Drew let go of her, "You are really good at this, for someone so mean." she said as she wiped her tears.
"You learn a thing or two when you have so many siblings." Drew smiled.
"I think you're wrong." Sadie said and Drew looked at her, confused, "About your siblings hating you. I never really hated Carter, even in the start when we were strangers, and your siblings knew you before the war, when you were probably nicer. You don't just start to hate a person that raised you."
"I'm not so sure about that. But that's not the point here, we are talking about you, not me. Give me your phone."
"Why?" she asked as she took her phone out of her pocket.
Drew took it and found a number she was looking for, "So I can call your brother and tell him you two need to talk. I know you don't want that but it's necessary." she held the phone tighter afraid Sadie would try to take it back.
"No, no, I understand, and it's better you tell him, I probably won't be able to." she chuckled slightly.
"That's okay, you know."
"Yeah."
"Go get your things, you're going home."
When Sadie was far away Drew called her brother. It rang for a few seconds before he picked up.
"Hey Sadie, what's up?"
"Carter Kane?" Drew asked.
"Who is this? Why do you have Sadie's phone?"
"The name's Drew, your sister gave me her phone."
"Why would Sadie give her phone to you?"
"Where are you Kane? Home? Sadie is going home early."
"Why? Is she okay?"
"Yeah, she's good. It's just…" Fuck, how do you tell someone that their sister is suicidal? "Look, I don't know how to say this but you two need to talk when she gets home, alone. I'm not gonna tell you the details, it's up to her what she's gonna tell you, but there is one thing she wanted me to tell you because she doesn't know if she'll be able to."
"Why would she tell you something she can't tell me?"
"Because she hates me enough to tell me and loves you too much to say it to your face. Your sister is having suicidal though."
Look, she knew that wasn't the best way to say that but she was panicking, can you blame the girl for being a little too blunt.
Carter was quiet for so long Drew though the line went dead.
"Why? Why would she-"
"Carter you're a good brother. This has nothing to do with you. I promise you are not the reason she is having these thoughts." She wasn't really sure that was true, Drew didn't know the whole story, but she had a feeling Carter wasn't the reason.
"I- okay, yeah, um, what should I do? I don't know what to say." his voice wasn't as strong as it was at the beginning of their conversation, Drew though he was holding back tears.
"That's okay, you can just listen to her talk, sometimes that's enough. And you will know what to say when it's important. I know it sounds like bullshit but it's true."
"Thanks. You're not as bad as I heard."
"Oh I am, I'm just not that evil to turn a blind eye to this."
"That's something."
She didn't know what to say to that so she just said goodbye and hung up.
As she was walking back to school to give Sadie her phone back and go to her class she saw someone and froze.
"Lacy, what-what are you doing here?" Lacy was standing behind the wall crying, "How long have you been standing there?"
"From the start. I followed you when you dragged Sadie away." she said quietly.
"How much did you hear?"
"Everything."
This was bad, Drew really didn't want to deal with this today.
"Just forget you heard anything. And don't talk about it to Sadie unless she starts it."
"I-I don't h-hate you."
"What?"
"I don't hate." she started crying harder at that.
"Oh mother, Lacy come here." she dragged her behind the school (what's up with her and dragging people today).
"Did you really want to kill yourself?"
"Yes." Drew knew there was no point in lying.
"I'm sorry, I'm so so so sorry. Sorry."
"Hey, hey, it's okay." she hugged her and Lacy sobbed against her.
"There, there, you'll ruin your make up."
"I'll fix it later." she said thru her tears.
They stood like that for a few minutes before Lacy pulled apart.
"Sorry I ruined your shirt."
"I can wash it later. Lacy you better go back to class, you missed enough of it."
"But-"
"No buts, go."
With that, she turned and left, she couldn't look her sister in the eyes after everything she said.
The next day
"Hey, Kane, where do you live?" Drew asked over the phone. Sadie forgot to take it yesterday and Drew wanted to give it back, she didn't need monsters going after her.
"Hello Drew, it's Sadie, why do you want to know?"
"Hi Sadie, how are you? I wanted to return your phone, you left it with me." Drew couldn't help the smile when she heard Sadie's voice, it sounded alive.
"I'm good, thanks. I can send you the address or we can meet somewhere?"
"You can send me the address, I'm already going to camp so I can just come by."
"Yeah okay, I'll send it, bye."
Drew smiled a little at how nervous Sadie sounded.
She gave her driver the address and sat in the car. When they got to the house Drew told him that she will call him when she's done and that he can do whatever he wants in that time.
"Hi." a child welcomed her.
"Hi." she smiled and bent down. "I'm here to see Sadie, do you know where she is?"
"Yes, I'll go and get her." with that the little girl was gone and Drew was left standing there.
A few minutes later Sadie and Carter came.
"Here." she gave Sadie her phone, "How are you two doing?" It might've not been her place to ask but she just wanted to know if they were okay.
"We're okay, talked things out, you know."
"I hope. I'm glad you're okay."
"Thanks."
"Do you want to come in?" Carter asked, breaking the awkward silence.
"I shouldn't, I have to go to camp."
"Come on, you can miss a day." Sadie said.
Why was she declining? It's not like she had anything better to do at camp.
"Okay, why not. I just have to tell my driver to come later."
Sadie gave her her phone and she made the call.
They spent the next few hours going around the house and talking, sharing experiences and stories in general.
"It's getting late, I should probably go if I want to get to camp today."
"You can stay the night, go tomorrow." Carter suggested.
"I don't want to bother you."
"You're not bothering anyone, and I'm sure Shelby would like you to stay too."
"Okay, sure, maybe I can show you how to take care of you hair tonight."
"My hair looks great, thank you very much."
As they were arguing about whether or not Sadie's heir was being taken care of or not Iris message appeared in the room.
"Drew, where are you, do you know what you did?" Piper's voice came thru.
"What now, McLean? I'm not even in camp what could have I possibly done?" Drew was getting angry now, she's not there and somehow she did something.
"Sorry, I worded that wrong. Where are you, when are you coming to camp?"
"Tomorrow." answered Carter, there was an edge to his voice.
"Who are you with? No, that's not important. Lacy told us about yesterday-"
"I'm not doing this now. I'll be there tomorrow, bye McLean." she waved her hand and the message dissolved.
"What's her deal?" Carter asked.
Drew told them about the whole Piper thing, how she took her spot and basically respect.
"Not that she's wrong, I was bad, but she had no right telling me how to deal with my sister's death."
"I'm not gonna tell you you did nothing wrong but she's not an angel ether." Sadie said.
"Let's talk about something else, please, I don't want to think about it now."
"If you ever want to run away from the camp come here, we have a lot of rooms." Carter told her.
"That's nice, thanks."
They talked until two in the morning and the next day when Drew left she spent the whole ride thinking about how she will make her siblings forget about the whole she-wanted-to-kill-herself thing.
When she came to camp it was dinner time and no one was in the cabin. Perfect. But that didn't last long because twenty minutes later Sophia came in, saw her and left the cabin, probably going to tell everyone she was here.
Yup, five minutes later and all her siblings were here.
What caught her by surprise was that they were crying and looked worried. Even Piper.
"I'm sorry, I didn't want to tell them but when I came and didn't see you here I panicked and it all came out." Lacy was talking so fast it was barely understandable.
"Lacy, calm down, you didn't do anything wrong." Mitchell said.
"He's right, calm down. What do I always say about crying?"
"It makes our eyes puffy and ruins our face." Lacy said with a few other younger girls.
Sophia came running to her and held her pants, crying she said, "Did I do something wrong? Did you want to hurt yourself because of me? I'm sorry I didn't tell you I loved you."
Drew took her in her arms, lifting her up, "No, no, you did nothing wrong, sh, shh. Does anyone else feel the same way?"
Almost everyone raised their hand and it left Drew baffled. Why did so many of them care.
"Guys, it's not your fault. Why are you even sad, I was horrible to you. Huh, I thought you would be happy."
"Why would we be happy that our sister wants to kill herself?" Emma practically screamed.
"I don't want to kill myself. Why are we talking about this in front of children? Everyone who is thirteen or less come forward. I don't want to hurt myself and you did nothing wrong I promise. Now go outside and play or something, we older ones have some things to talk about, okay?"
"You pinky promise?" Ave asked and held her finger up.
"Yes, I pinky promise, now go."
"Guys, this is too much. What were you planning to accomplish doing this?" Drew asked.
"Oh I don't know, maybe finding out what happened to our sister?" Emma said, "You used to be kind, what happened?"
Drew looked at Lacy, "You told them everything right? Didn't left anything out?"
"No."
"Then I don't see what you want me to say?"
"I'm sorry." Piper said, "I jugged you and I didn't know what happened. I had no right to tell you anything like I knew something, because I don't. I didn't know Silena, I wasn't there when it happened and yet I acted like I knew everything. I'm sorry."
"I-" Drew was speechless, she didn't know what to do, or say at that.
"Can we pretend this never happened, start over. I know I can't erase what I said but I would like to make up for it." Piper asked.
"We can do that. And I'm sorry, for everything I did and said."
Lacy ran to her and hugged her so hard Drew could barely breath.
"Let's go back to dinning pavilion." Emma said.
"Why, weren't you just there?" Drew asked.
"We kinda left before really eating when Sophia told us you came."
As they walked outside Drew though this might not be a summer after all.