Chapter 9

UNEDITED-

Lucille read a couple of the letters realising they are very simular to each other.. an apology, a chapter about how different life has become, and another apology.

A few hours later the sun had set and everyone was in their respected rooms.. except Lucille. *knock* *knock* She opened the door slightly and saw Phoebe shifting in bed to sit up. "Lucille?"

"Can I come in?"

"Yeah.. Is everything alright?" Phoebe asked while wiping the sleep from her eyes.

Lucille slowly walked inside, closing the door behind her.. She stood for a few seconds, trying to remember why she came here. Pheobe lifted the bed cover as an invitation for Lu who awkwardly made her way to the bed to lay down. After a few minutes Lucille finally spoke.. "I love you Pheebs.." Was the one of the only things in Lucilles mind right now that made much sense.

"I love you too.." Phoebe held onto Lucilles hand. The sisters fell asleep not long after that. By the time Phoebe was awake Lucille was gone. Phoebe got up and made her way to Lucilles room, as she opened the door she watched Lucille coming in through her bedroom window. They both stopped still aside from Lucille quickly making sure her mouth was properly wiped. "Where have you been?"

"Out for a walk.."

"Why didn't you use the front door?"

"I didn't want to see anyone.."

Pheobe lifted her head in a slow nod.. "You're healing nicely.." she made a small smile.

"Yeah." Lucille smiled back awkwardly as she grabbed a change of clothes and a clean towel. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah.. I'm okay.." Phoebe nodded. "See you later."

The rest of the day was uneventful for Lu.. She had persuaded Julia to take Phoebe to get their hair done, Christopher was busy at work all day. Shiloh and Lucille spent a few joyful hours in the garden playing with the remote control racing car.

Luckily Chris didn't return home in time for dinner.. the girls laughed and joked and loved every second of freedom while they enjoyed their meal. Even Lucille could hardly stop smiling.. Other than when she reminded herself that this couldn't last. The odd moments where her mind wonders off.

The next few days were also uneventful. Chris luckily had a business trip scheduled so he was to be gone for at least two weeks. Lucille had been doing her best to keep to herself, no matter how much she longed to be a part of something, surely it wasn't worth the risk of being broken and abandoned all over again. Friday soon came, Phoebe spent the whole evening on the phone to Ellie while she was getting ready.

After her shower Lucille got dressed into a loose black T, light grey hooded jacket, a black leather jacket with zips down the sleeves and a pair of dark grey skinny jeans with holes in the knees.. she laced up her white nike air force ones and stood infront of the mirror to tie her hair into a messy bun. She still didn't understand why her hair was white.. It was a little darker at the roots but the length completely white. "That'll do.."

Lucille walked past Phoebes room and knocked twice.. "You ready?"

"Yeah two seconds.." Phoebe called back, five seconds later she opened the door. "You look great.."

"So do you." Lucille smiled. Shiloh had just come out of her bedroom down the hall, wearing a familiar oversized black hoodie.. "Hey Shiloh.. where did you get that?" Lu asked casually.

"It's yours, Phoebe let me wear it.." Shiloh beamed.

"It suits you."

"Thanks." She grinned and walked off down the stairs. This put Lucilles mood at an all time high.

"She kind of reminds me of you." Lucille spoke while watching her go.

"That's funny, because she reminds me of you."

"Perhaps it's best that she's a mix.." Lucille chuckled. "Dont forget your bag."

"I won't, don't worry.."

The two girls picked up their bags and left the house after saying goodbye to their mother. "Have a fun sleep over!" Julia hollered as she waved them off.

Lucille sat quietly in the back of the car until Phoebe spoke. "Oh I forgot to tell you, Ellie changed her mind about coming."

"She's a funny one."

"Yeah, I don't know what's up with her lately.."

A short time later they pulled up to an extravagant house. The two girls got out and thanked Alberto.. soon he left and Lucille threw her bag into a bush and started walking. "What are you doing?"

"I don't need it.."

"You're not staying at Nicole's with me?"

Lucille shook her head.. "No way.."

"Where will you stay then?"

"Don't worry I'll find somewhere."

"Make sure you call me if you can't find anywhere."

"I will."

Soon enough they were walking up to the right house. Party banners all over the place, even hanging around the neatly sheered bushes at the front. The music was buzzing and already people were throwing up outside the front. "I'm just going to call Ellie quick."

"Okay, I'll meet you inside?" Lucille asked and Phoebe nodded with the phone to her ear. As Lu walked through the house she heard her name whispered several times, she didn't turn her head to anyone. Until she bumped into Connor and two of his friends.

"I see you haven't learnt your lesson."

"You have.. partying at someone else's house."

"Yeah, I don't think my sister will let me host a party again."

"Maybe that's for a best." The two chuckled.

"Anyway we're going to check out another party because this one sucks. Call me later if you want to join."

"I will.. see you later." Lucille nodded. Connor held his fist out and Lucille bumped hers off it.

"Was that Ellies older brother?" Phoebe asked as she made her way beside Lucille.

"Yeah.. did you find Ellie?"

"She said she's in the garden, but I couldn't really hear what was going on."

"Lets just find her."

The sisters squeezed through the house and out the back door. Five or six party goers were already out there, one of them throwing up, and Ellie who was holding her hair back. "Sophia?" Phoebe asked. Ellie nodded as the girl spewed over the floor some more. Lucille made her way back inside to grab a glass of water and came back out. "There you are." Pheobe sighed a breath of relief as Lu handed Ellie the water.

"Did you think I had left you already?" Lucille chuckled. "Here." She handed Phoebe an unopened can of beer.

"Beer?" Phoebe pulled an uck face.

"It's the safest drink here.." Lu put the can in her hand. "Don't put it down, not even for a second."

"Alright, jeez I won't okay?"

"Okay. Do you want one?" Lucille Looked to Ellie who was struggling to hold up Sophia. "Let me help. You take this." Lucille walked the few feet over and lifted Sophia out of Ellies arms replacing her with a can of beer, she had not expected Sophia to be that light. Ellie furrowed her eyebrows, Lucille doesn't look that strong. "Do you know where she lives?" Lu asked whilst dialing the number for a taxi.

"Yeah but-"

"Text me the address, this girl needs to go home or to the hospital."

"I'll come with you." Ellie nodded.

"No, stay with Phoebe.. please. Yes a taxi for two.. five Highland Court-"

Ellie nodded again but with less enthusiasm. "Why don't we all go?" Phoebe asked.

"You don't kill a bird with three stones."

"I don't think that's how the saying goes." Ellie added.

"Pot-ay-toe, pot-ar-toe.. I won't be long. Text me the address." Lucille carried the girl through the house with an arm over her shoulder. Her phone buzzed half way through. A few minutes later the taxi pulled up and Lu shoved the girl inside.

"Where 'hiccup'.. are we going?" Sophia asked, unable to even keep her eyes open.

"You're going home."

"Where are you going to Miss?" The driver asked. "Whoah.. is she drunk?"

"If she's sick I'll pay for the clean up."

The man didn't believe Lucille until she showed him her wallet shock full of cash. He reluctantly agreed.. Lucille pulled out her phone and read the first line of the text.. she told him where to go and he set off as she read the rest to herself. '-I'll take care of Phoebe don't worry.' Lucille sighed a breath of relief. Even though Phoebe is much more acclimated to that scene than many, she's still in just as much danger. Lucille texted back 'Thank you'.

Five minutes later they pulled up to Sophia's address. Lucille paid the fair and removed the girl from the taxi.. "Wait, I know you.. Sam says, your Phoebes evil twin."

"Maybe I am.." Lucille sighed. She knocked on the front door and a short woman in high heels and a short red dress answered.

"Your home early, and you brought a friend." The woman beamed despite her daughters state.

"Hello mam, I think your daughter might have had a little too much to drink."

The woman reach out her hand and held her daughters chin up to face her.. "Nothing a sleep won't fix.. could you bring her in here love?" The woman asked and walked off inside before Lu could answer. Lucille carried the girl inside and laid her on the couch.. she glanced at family Photos after. None included a man. "Do you go to school with Sophia?" ..

"No mam.. we just happened to be at the same place."

"Well thank you for bringing her home.. I feel so much better knowing that someone like you was there. Would you like to stay for a drink?" The mother raised an eyebrow with a smile, looking Lucille up and down as though she's a breadstick about to be devoured. "-It's the least I can offer?"

"I'm good, thank you.."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure, I better be off, my sister is waiting for me." Lucille smiled and began walking out of the house.

"Okay then love, it was a pleasure to meet you." She spoke as she rested her shoulder on the doorframe.

"You too mam." Lucille nodded. Afterwards she ran the short distance back to the party house. Ellie and Phoebe were waiting outside. "You didn't have to wait for me."

"Did you just run here?"

"Jogged, it's fine. Sophia is home safe. You could have warned me about her mother though."

"What do you mean?" Phoebe asked.

"I'm pretty sure she wanted me in her bed." Lu spoke slightly weirded out. Phoebe started laughing and Ellie too thought it was a joke. "She asked me to stay for a drink and practically fucked me with her eyes, I'm not imagining this." The two girls looked at Lucille as though she might me slightly unhinged. "-Maybe I 'should' have just stayed there." Lu walked off inside.. she was not going to be made fun of.

"What just happened?" Ellie asked.

"Talking to Lucille is like playing operation.. you never know if you're going to strike a nerve. Only in this case you get to apologise."

"I didn't do anything?"

"I meant me." Phoebe answered casually and walked inside to find Lucille. Ellie followed after. Phoebe caught up to Lucille and pulled her in to talk over the loud music. "Sophia's mum is going through some things. If you say that's what happened then I believe you.."

Lucille nodded and squeezed her sisters arm. "Thank you." Then Phoebe began dancing to the music with her sisters hand.. a boy come up behind Lucille and she nudged him back, setting boundaries. He took the hint and backed off. Soon after he was trying his luck with Phoebe who pretty much did the same. Ellie stood with Nicole by the drinks table watching.

"A few weeks ago I didn't even know Phoebe had a sister." Nicole spoke.

"She has two."

"Don't look at me like that, how was I supposed to know?"

"You ask.. that's how you learn things about your friends." Ellie spoke casually.

"I thought she'd just tell me stuff like that.. she knows everything about me."

"Mhm." Ellie could no longer be bothered.. She turned around and grabbed a can of beer. Something she wouldn't usually do.

"I just don't get why everyone is so interested in her. She's not super talented, or super pretty.. you know?"

"Mhm." Ellie answered only half listening.

"And look at the way the boys treat her.. Dorathea even has the hots for her, and she hasn't dated anyone since Brienne. Great now she's flirting with Tyler." Nicole huffed.

Ellie turned around to see what Nicole was fussing over. Tyler, Phoebe, Lucille and another guy playing beer pong against another team. Lucilles group is winning because she hasn't missed a shot and everyone is buzzing. Lucille misses the winning shot, next it's Phoebe and she gets it in.. Lucille raised an arm in the air "Woo" She called out happily. Phoebe laughing beside her, Tyler and the other guy too. They all began high fiving. Everyone started dancing again and Phoebe split to find Ellie..

"Hey did you see us win?.. Oh Ellie you should have played." Phoebe pouted.

"No it's all good.. I'm glad you won."

"Yeah me too.. and Lucille seems alright."

"She seems to be loving the attention." Nicole added.

Phoebe's whole demeanor changed.. "I'm going to get some air." Then she walked outside to the back garden.

"Are you alright?" Ellie asked.

"Yeah I'm fine.."

"I know when you're lying Phoebe."

"So do I.." Lucille added from behind Ellie. "-What happened?"

"Nothing, I just went light headed that's all."

"Okay.." Lucille accepted this.. "-Lets get you some water." And with that the three girls walked back inside. After Lucille making sure Phoebe drank at least one cup of water, she felt it was alright to leave her with Ellie while she fixed herself another drink.

"Hey, Lucille right?" A tall dark haired girl with a silver piercing in her eyebrow asked. She looked through her long lashes to Lucille.

"Who's asking?"

"Dorathea.. the people I like call me Theo."

"So what do I call you?" Lucille asked.

"..I haven't decided yet." Dorathea smirked.

"Well, let me know when you figure it out."

Ellie had come to find Lucille in the crowd.. She had been dancing with her eyes closed, swigging on a bottle of something she found that had been unopened. Ellie grabbed Lu's arm.. "Lucille."

"Huh what? Is Phoebe okay?"

"Yeah, she's fine, she's with Nicole and Tyler but, Nicole is saying she's too drunk to stay at her house so you can both stay at mine instead."

"I haven't seen you dance all night, and you've had the same drink in your hand for over an hour.." Lucille shook her head.. "I'm new to this and even I know how to have a good time."

"I know how, I just don't want to."

"Why?"

"I don't know.."

"Don't let your insecurities define you.. come on, dance with me.. I'll try not embarrass you too much." Lucille smiled and held out her hand..

"What about Phoebe?"

"I think she'll be okay without you for five minutes." After Lu spoke Ellie reluctantly took her hand, unable to stop a creeping smile. It soon turned to laughter as they danced and bounced, blending in with their surroundings. Not five minutes later they stopped, Ellie out of breath and laughing her way to Phoebe, nudging her elbow off Lucille who was enjoying herself just as much.

"Where is Nicole?" Ellie asked Tyler.

"She got bored and left." He replied casually.. "If you girls are good I'm going to set up the table for another game. I'm glad you came, it was nice to meet you Lucille." Tyler grinned and walked off to start another game of beer pong.

"I don't remember why we hang out with Nicole." Phoebe spoke. "-I'm hungry. Can we go now?" ..

"I'll call you a taxi." Lu pulled out her phone and started dialing the number.

"You? Not us?" Ellie asked.

"Lucille doesn't want to stay at Nicole's." Phoebe spoke.

"You're staying at my house.."

"Oh yeah." Phoebe laughed.

"Come Lucille.. My parents aren't home and neither is Connor."

"I'll pay your cab fair." Lucille dialled the number and walked outside so she could hear.

"Is she always this difficult?" Ellie asked no one in particular.

"No, not always.." Phoebe answered. Ellie sighed and walked with Phoebe outside.

"You're getting in the taxi with us." Ellie demanded.

"I'm not.. the night is still young." Lucille argued.

"Going to a party alone is dangerous."

"I'll figure it out. And anyway aren't they your friends?"

"No.. If you stay then we have to stay."

"We do?" Pheobe asked in a sad tone.

"Honestly, I'll be alright. I'm not even drunk."

"Please Lucille.. there is always another party to go to, just not on your own."

Lu sighed.. The taxi pulled up and Lucille helped Ellie get Phoebe into the car. Ellie went in after.. Lu held the door handle in her hand. With her other she dug in her pocket, grabbed a loose twenty and threw it on the seat. "Good night Elizabeth, Thank you for taking care of her." Lucille made a sad smile and closed the door. She quickly walked away from the car as it drove off. Ellie watched through the back window.

"I thought she might do that.."

"You did nothing to help."

"Lucille is the protector Ellie.. and she won't let anyone take that from her. Anyway did you have fun talking to Sam?"

"I only saw him for five minutes.. he left with my brother to go to some other party."

The girls talked some more about their night on the short trip back, before getting out and going into the dark lonely house. Ellie began switching lights on bringing life to the rooms. "Everythings so bright." Phoebe shielded her eyes.

"Go up, I'll be there soon."

Ellie brought Lucilles number up on her screen as soon as Phoebe had walked upstairs, she only managed to hit call almost fifteen minutes later. Luckily Lucille picked up. "Ellie? Is everything alright?" Ellie could hear the loud music in the background.

"Yeah I think so.. it's just.. uh, nevermind."

"Tell me what's wrong.."

"It's Phoebe, she just threw up and, she said she has a head ache. Should I give her pills?"

"What? No. Just, don't do anything.. give her water. I'll be there soon."

Ellie's idea had worked.. Lucille was the protector, so make her think her sister is sick and she will come running. Ellie didn't know at the time that Lucille was literally sprinting to her house as fast as her drunken legs would carry her. Half way along her journey she collided with a mail box and went tumbling over seven feet with it bouncing along the road next to her, scuffing up her clothes in the process. She'd managed to shield her head with her now bloodied scuffed elbows. Somehow she'd lost her leather jacket at the party but managed to find the bag she'd thrown in the bush.

Five minutes later Lucille was at the door. She knocked twice and Ellie came to open it. "Where is Pheobe? Is she alright?"

"She's upstairs, asleep."

"You didn't give her pills?"

"What happened to you? You look like you've been dragged through a hedge."

"..Phoebes not sick is she?" Lucille asked in a flat tone.

"Umm.. no. But you should have just come with us.. In fifteen minutes you've managed to go from tipsy to whatever the fuck I'm looking at right now." Ellie didn't look impressed. Lu smirked. "It's not funny Lucille."

"It is pretty funny.. and hey you lied to get me here.. I'm aloud to look like shit."

Ellie opened the door wider to allow Lucille space to enter... "Seriosuly what happened?"

Lucille walked inside.. "I had a fight with a mailbox.. pretty sure we both lost."

Ellie laughed. "Stupid."

"So where do you want me?"

"First we should do something about your wounds.." Ellie pointed to Lucilles knees, not even noticing her elbows.

"Can I just borrow your shower, and maybe a towel?"

"Alright.. you can use the one in the guest room. It's on the second floor at the end of the hallway."

"Thank you." Lucille smiled and made her exit.. As she got to the top of the stairs she was struck with a memory.. One she'd much rather forget.. she had pushed it to the back of her mind again until this moment. She stood frozen to the spot, feeling his arm around her body.

Ellie come up behind her and touched her arm at the same time as asking "Are you alright?"

Lucille jolted and moved away from her touch.. "Let me go." Lucille shook her head for a second realising she wasn't living it.

"Lucille?"

Lu looked back to a concerned Ellie, now seemingly more herself.. "I'm fine." She walked away before Ellie could ask anything more.

"You can sleep in the guest room if you want." Ellie spoke as Lucille walked away. Then she walked to her own room and went to bed.. for awhile she thought about whether Lucille was asleep yet. If she was still awake thinking about what almost happened here. Curiosity took the better of her.. she quietly left her room and walked down stairs. She felt a draft immedietly and followed it to the backdoor that was wide open. There she saw Lucille stood just outside. "Lucille?"

"Yeah?" She turned and asked, looking like her usual self, only now she wore a vest top, some shorts and socks, her hair still damp and trailing down her back.

Ellie walked closer as she spoke, wrapping her dressing gown more to protect herself from the cold breeze.. "I know you don't want to talk about it, but maybe you'd feel better if you did."

Lucille came inside and closed the door.. "You should know it's not really about what happened here."

"Something else happened, like this?" Ellie asked.

"There are surprisingly many things worse than this."

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NOTES-

Hello readers, I hope you like what I've written and if not, each to their own I guess. The chapters I write have not all been proof read so expect many mistakes. I think of it as kind of like the bones to a story.. just some fleshy parts but mostly bones. Anyway take care!

Love, Love. Peace.

To the one person who has still not given up on this story.. you have also not let me forget it, so here you go. I sincerely hope it's worth your time and power stones, take care aswell :). I hate saying I started writing this again because of you, but it's basically the truth, and I like to show my appreciation where it's due. Thank you for motivating me.