Chapter 2
Beth is nervous as they walk up the porch steps, her fingers still wrapped around the movie case like a lifeline. Mrs. S has been kind enough but Beth knew children could be cruel, even if unintentionally so. “Come on, they don’t bite...well, Sarah might but she’s had her shots.”
Beth snorts at that, the smallest smile curving her lips. “Okay,” she replies softly, allowing Siobhan to lead her inside.
The house is small but cozy, with wood floors and an off white paint job. They just make it into the kitchen when two sets of footsteps come thundering down the steps.
Beth flinches at the sound, pressing herself into the counter behind her, the movie pressed to her chest like a shield. She had been an only child, she isn’t used to the sounds of a loud household.
“Mum! Can we order pizza?” The little boy, Felix, asks, bouncing on the balls of his feet.
S is quiet for a moment before turning toward Beth, brows raised. “What kind of pizza do you like, chicken?”
Beth’s head tilts to the side at the odd nickname but shrugs her shoulders at the question. “My parents never...we didn’t eat pizza.”
“What!? Who doesn’t eat pizza?” Felix exclaims, the time of his voice making Beth flinch again.
“I-they...” she trails off, hugging the DVD tighter to her chest. “We just didn’t.”
“Fe, you need to chill out,” Sarah says quietly but there’s a firmness to her tone that has Felix sitting in a chair at the table. “Sorry about him, you know how seven year olds can be.”
Sarah has a kind sort of half smile on her face, her eyes warm despite the obvious tension in the room. “I’m Sarah and that’s Felix, but you probably already knew that.”
Beth nods and forces herself to loosen a hand from her movie to offer it to Sarah instead. “Beth,” she replies softly, biting her lip.
Sarah takes the offered hand and shakes it once before looking at S. “We could do a regular cheese pizza, it’s a safe option.”
Siobhan smiles at that and nods, walking by to grab the phone. “You’re a smart one,” she chuckles, leaving them in the kitchen alone.
“I promise it’s not so bad here, I know Felix is a little hyper and being somewhere that isn’t home can be hard but,” she pauses, looking around the room. “S makes this place feel good, ya know?”
Beth can feel her chest tightening as Sarah speaks, her mind going a mile a minute trying to figure out how much Sarah must know about her being here. She must have shown the panic on her face because in a moment there’s a surprisingly strong pair of arms wrapped around her, holding her tight.
“Hey, breathe, it’s okay,” Sarah murmurs into her shoulder while Beth just trembles. “I know it sucks and it’s scary, but you have to be brave.”
Beth faintly registers the sound of her movie clattering to the floor as she wraps her arms around Sarah’s middle tightly, tears pouring down her face. “They’re gone,” she sobs into the other girl’s shirt.
“I know,” Sarah replies softly, rubbing soothing circles against Beth’s back. “I know you don’t really know me and this place is never going to feel like home, but it is a safe place. Even if you don’t stay here, you’re always welcome. We all know what it’s like to lose family.”
Beth just sobs a little harder as Sarah keeps them together, humming something soft until Beth’s chest doesn’t feel so tight.
She about to pull away when she feels another pair of arms around her middle, Felix’s hair brushing against her chin. “I’m sorry if I scared you,” he says softly, squeezing Beth a little.
“It’s okay,” she mumbles, moving an arm from his sister to wrap around his shoulders. “I’m okay.”
“It’s okay,” Felix echoes back, his dark eyes tipping up to look at her. “If you’re not okay. It’s okay.”
Beth offers him a watery smile, bringing her hand up to ruffle his hair. “You’re very wise, Felix.”
“I get it from my sister,” he smiles, letting Beth muse his hair before pulling away, picking up the discarded DVD off the floor. “Can we go watch this?”
Beth and Sarah pull away from each other so Beth can take the movie, turning it over in her hands. “It’s kind of a sad movie, I didn’t think about it when I picked it out.”
“That’s okay, it’s a sad sort of day,” he replies, taking one of her hands to lead her to the living room. “We can handle sad.”
Beth’s heart warms as he offers her the overstuffed recliner before taking the movie from her. She settles into the soft piece of furniture, feeling a little awkward in her basketball uniform.
“Alright, chickens, pizza will be here in about twenty minutes,” Mrs. S announces as she walks into the living room. “Beth, dear, I have some clothes for you if you want to change.”
Beth blinks at the woman, trying to figure out if telepathy could be an Irish super power. “Uh, thank you,” she says after a moment before climbing out of the chair to follow S to a room.
There’s clothes on the floor and hanging off one of the bed frames. A small vanity is shoved in the corner, make up sprawling across the spray painted top. “Excuse the mess, Sarah isn’t used to sharing a space anymore.”
“It’s okay, I don’t mind,” Beth replies, as if she had a right to complain, they were taking her in for the night. “Thank you, for all of this.”
“Oh, hush,” S chuckles, running a hand over Beth’s smooth ponytail. “I like helping people and you need help. Felix likes you so you might as well be family now.”
Beth smiles at that and nods a bit, her eyes drawn to a small pile of folded laundry on the end of the untouched bed. “Can I come by after everything is said and done?”
“Of course,” Siobhan hums, patting the top of her head. “Get changed, we’ll be down stairs waiting for you.”
Beth nods and waits for the door to click shut before she approaches the clothes. They are definitely Alison’s clothes, too much pink, too many patterns. She sighs softly and pulls on a light pink hoodie and a pair of black shorts with little pink flowers on them. “Ali, you suck.”
She pauses in her way out to glance in the mirror, frowning at what she sees. Her face is blotchy and her eyes red rimmed and swollen from crying. She huffs at herself as she pulls her hair down, running her fingers through it until it looks semi presentable before turning away to head downstairs.
The movie is on the start menu and everyone has curled up in their spots, leaving the recliner empty for her. She’s not sure what it is but the sight makes the ache in her chest ease a little bit. “You didn’t have to wait for me,” she murmurs, getting the same look from three pairs of eyes.
“It’s your movie, we weren’t gonna play it without you,” Sarah chuckles, shaking her head like it was a ridiculous notion to start something without everyone present. That had been Beth’s whole life.
“Well...thank you,” she replies quietly, curling up in the recliner. “This is—was my dad’s favorite movie.”
This earns her a different kind of look but then Felix is playing the movie and she doesn’t have to focus on what they might think of her.
The pizza arrives during a particularly funny bit, Hooch slobbering all over Turner. It makes Beth laugh the kind of laugh that makes her feel whole for a moment.
S sets the pizza down on the coffee table and they all wait for Beth to take a piece before helping themselves. Beth looks at the food for a moment before shrugging to herself, taking a small bite.
She must have made a face cause everyone is chuckling at her but she ignores them to take a bigger bite. “This is...wow,” she says around a mouthful, blushing at her own disregard for manners.
“We’ve just changed her life,” Sarah chuckles, taking a bite of her own pizza. “Bet we just created a monster.”
“Shut up,” Beth grins, taking another slice from the box. “My parents run marathons and drink kale for breakfast, this was never even an option in my house.”
Sarah rolls her eyes a bit, taking another bite. “Gotta live a little, Beth.”
Beth nods at that, thinking back on all the things she would be missing now that her parents were gone. Kale protein shakes and mostly veggie diets, morning runs and evening workouts. Maybe she would keep those routines, just to feel close to them.
“May I be excused?” Beth days suddenly, her stomach rolling. “I’m just...tired.”
“Of course, do you need anything before bed?” Siobhan asks as Beth maneuvers her way out for the recliner.
“Just to brush my teeth,” Beth replies, knowing she would feel worse in the morning if she woke up with a gross mouth.
“I’ll show you where everything is,” Sarah says before S can reply and Beth’s not sure why that makes butterflies erupt in her stomach.
They’re up the stairs again before Beth says what’s been floating around her mind since the incident in the kitchen. “You’re much nicer than you seen at school.”
“You’re not as much of a show boating arsehole, yourself,” Sarah retorts, making Beth snort softly. “Sorry, I should have thought before saying that.”
“No, don’t apologize,” Beth chuckles, leaning against the door frame of the bathroom while Sarah roots around for a spare toothbrush. “I like that you aren’t talking to me like I might break at any moment.”
“Treating you like something fragile isn’t going to help you,” Sarah says matter-of-factly, as she holds up a blue toothbrush with a smile. “Here ya go.”
Beth takes it gratefully and puts a little too much of the offered toothpaste on the brush, frowning a bit. “I always do that.”
“Happens to the best of us,” Sarah smiles, knocking her fist against Beth’s shoulder gently. “I’m assuming you know where the room is, if you need anything just take it, I don’t mind.”
“Thank you,” Beth says around her toothbrush, smiling when Sarah does.
“I’ll try not to make too much noise when I come up later,” Sarah murmurs before she’s heading out the door. “Goodnight, Beth.”
“Night, Sarah.”