𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐲 - 𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞

fourty-six

"What is it, Jord?" Mollie asked cautiously, noticing something more than just exam-fear in his eyes.

"Can you meet me here after my exam's done?" He bit down on his lip, nervously. "I, uh, need your help with something."

✰ ✰ ✰

"𝐘𝐎𝐔'𝐕𝐄 𝐆𝐎𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐁𝐄 𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐈𝐒𝐒, 𝐉𝐎𝐑𝐃." Mollie wore an unimpressed look on her face as she stared up at the tall building that towered across from them. A stately pub with cobbled walls stood tall against the grey sky, leaving Mollie feeling nothing but confused. "If you wanted a piss-up after your exam, we could've just gone anywhere in Ackley instead of taking a bloody bus journey to-"

"Mum works here." Jordan cut her off, his voice wavering slightly.

Mollie swallowed thickly, feeling her heart drop to her chest. "Wh...what?"

"Social worker told me." Jordan replied, finally taking his eyes off the building to look at Mollie only to see a stunned look on her pale face. "Look, before you say owt-"

"Why didn't you tell me?" Her voice wavered as she swallowed nervously.

"'Cause you wouldn't have come." Jordan admitted, knowing it was wrong to have kept it from her but also that he couldn't have done it alone.

"You're damn right, Einstein." Mollie fired back.

"Please, Mol, I have to talk to her."

"About what? Because personally I've got nothing to say to the bitch that left us and Dad without a second thought." She crossed her arms over her chest in defiance, her dark hair blowing in the wind.

"Please, I just...I can't do this without you." Jordan's voice cracked in desperation. "I need you, Mol."

As much as Mollie resented the woman, she could tell that Jordan was desperate to talk to her. She didn't know what about or why, but she couldn't find it within her to turn her back on Jordan when he clearly needed her.

Inhaling deeply, she let out a strained sigh in an attempt to calm her nerves. It failed, of course, as fear still surged through her but she nodded her head lightly at Jordan. "Alright, fine."

"Okay, come on." Jordan grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the pub, guiding them to an empty bench. The air was freezing outside, but he couldn't bring himself to step foot inside the building.

The two siblings sat in silence, both collecting their own thoughts as they waited for any sign of the woman they once adored. Mollie breathed deeply to try and keep herself collected, playing with a loose thread on the hem of her blazer to stop herself from shaking.

After a moment, the sound of boots clacking against the ground could be heard and they both looked up to see the very person they were hoping for. A tall woman with a red apron tied around her waist approached a nearby table, leaning over to collect the empty glasses.

She almost looked like a different person, her hair was now blonde and her features had changed as they so inevitably do with age. But aside from all that, there was still no mistaking who it was. 

Laura Wilson.

Mollie felt her breath hitch in her throat at the sight of her, and a pit formed in her stomach. No matter how much preparation she could've had for this moment, she never would have been ready to see Laura after so long. It almost felt like a fever dream, a figment of her imagination. And from the way that Jordan was nervously rubbing the palms of his hands on his legs, it was evident that he was feeling the same way.