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My lips part to say something when a soft knock sounds out on the bedroom door and Sasha's head pokes inside two seconds later.
"Dinner is ready, you guys coming?"
"We'll be right there," Mia says without breaking her stare with me.
"Okay," Sasha breathes before disappearing once more.
"If you don't believe me, don't trust me, then what exactly is this, Bex? Why are you even here?"
"Don't do that, Mia. I love you and you know I do."
"So support me."
"What the hell do you think I've been doing? Why do you think I took over Tim's position? All of this is to fucking support you, to protect you."
"I-it's not enough." Her voice cracks, making my chest grow tight.
"I will make it enough, baby. Me and you, we're it."
"We'll see," she says sadly, turning her back on me and walking toward the bedroom door.
I let her go, my shoulders sagging in defeat, disappointment flooding me.
Spinning around, I stare out of the window, running my eyes over the array of orange that's flooding the forest beyond as we get further into fall.
I once again search the tree line. Shadows dance and move, but not one of them looks like a person hiding, watching, waiting to strike.
My stomach growls and I turn once more, my eyes landing on the knife still coated in Mia's blood on the bathroom floor. I blow out a long breath, knowing that she'd rather carve her own skin off than remain in this life.
When is this going to end?
* * *
Dinner is tense as we sit beside each other. Sasha shoots us concerned glances every few minutes, but as she sits between her brother and Channing—both of whom are wearing murderous expressions on their faces—I can't help but think she's got enough issues of her own right now to be worrying about us.
As always, Mulligan's chili is incredible, but we all—aside from Alex, who seems oblivious to the tension around him—just pick at it, our minds too consumed with this nightmare to worry about eating.
A bang from upstairs startles Mia, her fork clattering to the table."What was that?" she asks in a panic.
"Just a door," Alex answers absentmindedly. "It's getting pretty windy out."
I look out the doors, seeing the trees swaying in the wind, and tell myself that he's right, but it doesn't help Mia relax beside me.
Reaching out, I squeeze her thigh."Everything's okay, baby. We're all here with you," I whisper in her ear in the hope it reassures her, but she remains tense and totally forgets about eating any more food, instead pushing her plate away from her.
"Shall we hang out tonight, watch a movie or something?" I ask, trying to come up with something, aside from getting stupid drunk, that might distract everyone.
Mia scoffs beside me. "You want us all to watch a movie?" she asks, as if the mere suggestion is absurd. I guess in the current situation, it might be, but I'm coming up short with ideas right now.
"It'll be nice to do something normal," I say with a shrug.
"I've got loads of work to do. I've got papers due." She pushes her chair out and takes a step toward the door.
"Okay, well, we can do our econ assignment then, maybe."
"Yeah, whatever."
She takes off, andafter moving our plates to the side, I follow.
