Chapter Text
**
If you’re listening to this message, it means I’m dead.
Ok, not really. I’ve just always wanted to say that.
But, look, I think you should come back, ok? I know Beth said a lot of shit yesterday, but you know she didn’t mean it. Don’t call her, she won’t pick up, but just… come.
**
Hey. So Beth started cleaning today.
She said we’re moving out tomorrow. And by cleaning I mean she said we should clean then opened a cupboard, looked inside, got into bed and cried for five hours.
It was yours. And – and it was empty. You… took all your stuff.
Which I – weirdly – wasn’t expecting.
Just… come back, ok? I’ll mediate, or whatever.
**
Dude, what the fuck?
You really aren’t going to return my calls? Two years and then you just walk out and leave us all behind like it’s nothing?
Fuck you.
**
Why don’t you have a proper voice message prompt? You really couldn’t just say ‘Hi, it’s Rio; leave a message’ like a normal person?
…Look. I was mad yesterday.
I get it. She said some awful things, ok? I get it. But she was hurt.
She is hurting and… she needs you.
**
God, you’re a fucking coward, you know that?
Jesus. Fuck you.
**
It’s a miscarriage.
People get through this kinda thing all the time, but they can’t do that when one person just ups and leaves.
I know she said she didn’t want you here, but… god, I’m out of my depth, ok? I’m eighteen years old and I have no idea what this has got to feel like. If I’d lost Sadie… I don’t even know what I would’ve done.
But you know what she’s feeling. And I think that—
Never mind.
**
We moved in with Ruby.
Beth pretty much just lays on the couch all day with dead eyes.
FYI, it’s been a week. This is your last chance to return a fucking phone call with no kickback. After this, I am going to be mad at your boney ass for, like, ever.
**
I don’t know what the point of these is anymore.
It’s been two weeks, it’s obvious you aren’t coming back. Maybe I just want you to know. Not that I’m even sure you’re getting these. You probably left your phone behind just like you left us.
I guess… I guess maybe I just miss talking to you.
Beth’s pretending you never even existed and it’s so stupid. You’re both idiots.
Sometimes it feels like she doesn’t exist anymore, either.
I miss my sister and my boy.
Anyway.
**
I guess this is what I do to vent now.
Though I hardly know what to say. It’s been three weeks and she still cries every night.
…I think I hate you a little.
**
Demon called me today. Wanting to know how Beth is.
I don’t know if it was for you or not, but he kind of made it seem like…
Are you ok? Please just call me back. I’m really worried.
Beth’s chewing her lip nearly all the way off.
Her phone rings and she flips it over immediately, heart in her throat, but the screen flashes with Andrew’s name.
God.
“Hi,” she puts on her most cheerful voice.
“Hey, how are you?”
Panicking.
“Uh, good. How are you?”
“You weren’t at the store today,” he notes.
“Yeah, it’s my day off.”
She starts tapping on her leg, impatient. What if her sister tries getting through while she’s on this call?
“I have to start getting better at that.”
“At what?” she frowns, panic subsiding for a moment.
“Working out when you’ll be there or not.”
A light blush rises to her cheeks and she’s genuinely not sure what to say.
But he doesn’t say more, and she realises suddenly that she’s supposed to give him something so he can gauge her reaction to that.
That’s how flirting works, Beth.
“It’s not your fault,” she says as diplomatically as possible. “I was supposed to work today, but I had to do something important.”
“You’re out?”
“No, at home.” She winces. “…My sister’s out doing it.”
“Ok, Little Miss Cryptic.”
She smiles, about to say something else when suddenly the front door opens.
“Oh my god.”
“What’s wrong?” he sounds immediately concerned.
“Nothing! It’s just – she got home.” Beth can barely breathe, all the panic flooding back. “I have to talk to her, I’m sorry.”
“No problem. I’ll see you?”
“Yes!”
She hangs up without even really thinking, her phone dropping from her hand as she jolts up off the couch.
“Where have you been? It’s been hours!”
Annie rolls her eyes, dropping her stuff on the kitchen counter.
“It’s Rio’s family. They stuffed me full of every kind of food imaginable while asking me every question in this universe about you.”
Beth’s eyes widen.
“Did you—”
“No, of course not.”
She swallows, relieved.
“Well, did you get it?”
“Yeah,” she shrugs easily. “No problems. You’d think they’d protect Mr Dangerous Crime Lord’s phone number a little better, but nope.”
Beth nibbles on her lip, somehow even more stressed now.
“What did you say about why I wanted his number?”
Annie shakes her head.
“I said it was for me. That my boss was bothering me again and Rio said to call him if I ever needed his help with him again, but that that was like twelve years and twenty phones ago.”
Wait, what?
“That’s not what we talked out,” she glares.
God, why does her sister always have to go off-book?
“It came to me in the moment! And besides, it wasn’t completely a lie. I do need it for me.”
“What do you mean?” Beth frowns.
Creating a little more space between them, Annie pulls a face.
“I’m your sister, so I’m just going to be honest: you’d be terrible at this.”
No, no.
“This isn’t a joke, Annie.”
“I know. And that’s why I’m calling him.”
“That doesn’t even make any sense!”
“You're taking it too seriously, so you'll choke and it'll suck. Whereas I’m a pro message-leaver.”
“What if he answers?!”
“Oh, trust me,” she scoffs, “he never answers.”
“Don’t do this.”
But her sister only smiles sweetly.
“If you promise to be quiet, I’ll even let you listen in.”
Folding her arms with the dirtiest look she can manage, Beth flops back onto the couch.
Annie grins triumphantly then comes to join her, pulling out her phone.
“Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve done this,” she mutters to herself as she dials, almost amused.
And Beth watches with horror as, for the first time in nearly thirteen years, her sister calls Rio.
And though with time so much has changed, one thing hasn't: there's no way of knowing what this will mean.
**
Yo, it’s Annie.
I got this number from your sister, who handed it over really easily; you should look into that. Also, your mom still makes those crazy amazing buffalo wings – dude. Missed those.
Anyway, I’m calling because… well, I’m just gonna rip the Band-Aid off: Beth’s pregnant. Five months.
And if you can still do any kind of math, you’d know that you should get your bony ass down here. ASAP.