(hehehehehehehehe I love torturing characters.. and this isn't even close to the worst I can do.. the worst is yet to come… hehe)
(also I love how Isobel is sobbing in her living room and Alice is chilling in a tree)
The rush of emotions was too painful, the sorrow hurt, ached deep in her chest. Isobel choked out another sob, wiping at the tears painting pathways down her face, but it was like trying to swim up a waterfall with a plastic sand shovel. The tears just kept coming, too fast to stop, and she wanted them to stop so badly. She wanted to stop feeling again, to go back to being a hollow shell. It all hurt too much.
Eventually, Isobel grew angry at herself for sitting here, useless as two shits (turn around bend over I'll sHOW YOU WHERE MY SHOE FITS), and furiously wiped at her face again. She slid her phone off the coffee table and dialled her stepmother's number.
(Hamilton… A WORD)
(I actually don't know what I should get Alice to do. I think if Isobel leaves the kitchen I'll get Alice to come inside?)
Alice tried to lean in forward but any movement sent shooting pains up and down her body, so she forced herself to sit still and watch Isobel on the phone. If only she could hear her…
(lol)
(yeah sure!)
(and she has left the kitchen, I think she's in the TV room now)
"Hello?"
A pause. Neither of them dared to breathe. Then, her stepmother's voice rushed to fill the silence.
"Isobel? Is that you?"
"Yeah. I–" She had to choke back a sob. "I just– I was wondering when the funeral was?"
Her stepmother did not reply for a full five seconds. When she finally did, her voice was thick with emotion.
"We're trying to have it this Saturday– but Isobel– it's all the way up here, you should stay and concentrate on your studies."
Isobel walked out of the kitchen to a room just out of Alice's line of vision. She bit her lip, deliberating. Should she go inside? Legally, absolutely not. Intelligence-wise, even less. Instinctively?
Alice carefully stood on the branch, pressing down on her stomach to limit the pain. She pressed down on it to check if it was stable. It was bouncy but sturdy. A perfect mix. Alice bent down, and using the momentum from the bounce jumped onto Isobel's balcony. She landed with a quiet thud, wincing loudly from the impact.
Isobel heard a faint thump, but was too preoccupied by the rush of emotions.
"Elizabeth, it's their funeral. I'm not– I can't–" here she had to clench her jaw to hold back from dissolving into tears. "You can't expect me to miss that for– for–"
"I know, sweetheart–"
"Don't call me that."
"I know, Isobel, but– all I'm saying is that it's such a long drive, and you- well, you don't have a car."
"I'll take the train. A plane. Anything."
Her stepmother sighed.
(THEIR? Topaz, I swear, if you've killed a pair of twins I'm leaving this rp. XP)
Alice searched along the window frame for a lock or handle or something. She found a latch in the top left corner and, putting her hand on it to muffle the sound, flicked it open with a satisfying click.
(hehehehehehhehehhehehehehehehehehehhehehehehhehehehehehe)
(more than just a pair of twins……………… there's a baby and a father too…………)
"Isobel listen to me–"
"No. They're my family too– you can't expect me to stay away!" The tears were coming again, faster and faster.
"He raised me! You didn't come along until I was in my senior year of highschool! What are you going to do, keep my mother away from the funeral too? His original wife?"
Alice swung the window open. It creaked loudly and Alice stood still a minute in case Isobel came in. She suddenly heard shouting from the other room. Filled with insatiable curiosity, she dismissed all cautious thoughts and climbed into the house, carefully closing the window behind her. She walked towards Isobel's voice on tiptoe and ducked behind the door frame of what looked like the TV room.
Isobel's stepmother sucked in a breath.
"Watch your tone, young lady–"
"You watch your tone! He doesn't– he didn't belong to you! He had a family other than you and your stupid, discriminative parents! Guess what? He had a daughter that he didn't make with you! He had a wife before you! All of which loved him and his children with you very much!"
Alice tried to comprehend what was going on. She was probably talking to a stepmother since she was talking about first wives and daughters. She leaned forward to listen in.
"Isobel–"
"No. Stop. I am coming to that goddamn funeral and you can't stop me, or my mom. My real mom. Do. You. Hear. Me?" Isobel was literally shaking with rage.
There was a long silence on the other end of the phone. Then, her stepmother hung up.
Alice went still, feeling the rage rippling off Isobel. She didn't move for fear of making a noise, but listened to Isobel's angry breathing around the door frame. She leaned forward further, hoping to catch a glimpse of Isobel.
She managed to see a bit of her: she sat, unmoving, phone at her ear.
Isobel took a moment to catch her breath, practically seeing red. She sagged against the wall, the tears beginning to flow again as she let her eyes fall shut. “I- I’m sorry— Dad—“ she choked out, calling for a father who would never come back.
(the feeeeeeeeeeels)
(Sept huit neuf… Sept huit…)
Alice felt the tears welling up in her own eyes as she had to watch her friend collapse to the floor in wracking, full body sobs. In a moment of weakness, she whispered Isobel's name comfortingly before realising the mistake.
( s o b )
Isobel's head snapped up when she heard her name being whispered, but she quickly lowered it again. I'm hallucination…. ghosts aren't real… that couldn't have been Dad…
(OK so Alice is going to be really stupid rn but it's just for the sake of the story)
Alice approached Isobel from behind and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. She kneeled behind her and wrapped her arms around Isobel's chest in a hug.
(OK so Alice is going to be really stupid rn but it's just for the sake of the story)
Alice approached Isobel from behind and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. She kneeled behind her and wrapped her arms around Isobel's chest in a hug.
(It’s cool
I didn’t make Isobel see her earlier because I wasn’t sure whether or not you wanted me to)
Isobel screamed, jumping forwards and whirling around, heart pounding. Her eyes grew even wider when she saw who it was, and she took a step backwards. “Alice??!”
(No problem. Anything that causes commotion is fine by me)
Alice froze. "Isobel," she said blankly, searching for an excuse for this ridiculously bad situation. "Hi?" she tried.
(Great :)
Isobel took another step backwards, steadying herself with one hand on the wall. The whole room swayed and blurred across her lone of vision, her free hand shook slightly. “Oh god I’m hallucinating aren’t I. Ohgodohgodohgod—“
Alice stepped towards Isobel. "Isobel, calm down. Deep breaths. You're not hallucinating, I promise you're fine."
Alice knew that Isobel would loathe her for being here but she'd much rather assuage Isobel's fear that she was hallucinating– she knew first hand how painful it was.
Isobel took another step back, terror seeping through to her core. “N-no. This- This isn’t possible— ohmygod you’re bleeding- you can’t be real—“ Her voice quaked.
Alice brought Isobel over to the couch. "Sit down," she said calmly. "Come on."
Isobel trembled all over, her eyes glued to Alice. “What the hell Is happening?” It came out as a broken whisper.
Alice paused a second. "You broke down after the phone call," she said slowly.
Fear, real fear, shone in her red-rimmed eyes. “H-How— how do you know that— oh god— this can’t be happening— I’m hallucinating—“
Isobel, please…" Alice said desperately, starting to panic. Stay calm, Ali, keep cool, she silently begged herself. "You have to calm down, now."
Isobel shook her head violently, choking on more tears. “N-no— I— I — I cant— c-can’t—“
