𝙅𝙐𝙉𝙀 2018, eli moskowitz/hawk

02

𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝘄𝗼 / ❛ kyler ❜

[ episode five, counterbalance ]

The sun was already high, casting a golden glow over the backyard as Marlee sat at the outdoor table, picking at her pancakes. Her brother, Ryder, was next to her, already digging into his food with one hand while scrolling through his phone with the other. Their parents were in the kitchen, the scent of bacon and eggs filling the air, while a couple of their aunts and uncles chatted nearby, sipping coffee and catching up.

It wasn't unusual for family to gather on weekends, but Marlee still felt a bit out of place. It was hard to shake the feeling that the version of herself everyone remembered didn't exist anymore. There were moments when she could almost pretend everything was normal, but then she'd catch herself slipping back into the quiet, withdrawn shell she had become over the last few months.

"You're not eating," Ryder said through a mouthful, his eyes still glued to his phone. "You sure you're okay?"

Marlee rolled her eyes, reaching for her juice. "I'm fine. Just not really hungry," she muttered, trying to sound casual.

Ryder shrugged, shoveling more food into his mouth. 

Marlee gave him a sideways glance, then flicked her gaze to their parents, who were busy chatting with Aunt Carla about some new home improvement project. Everyone else seemed wrapped up in their own little world.

"Seriously, though, you've been super quiet lately. Is everything okay with you?" Ryder asked again, this time putting his phone down and giving her his full attention.

Marlee hesitated. She wanted to tell him everything—the rumors, the isolation, how she'd been feeling, but she wasn't ready to put those feelings into words just yet. Instead, she shrugged. "Just tired. It's been a long week."

Ryder raised an eyebrow but didn't push further. He was never one to make a big deal out of things. "Okay then," he said with a grin. "If you're not gonna eat, I'll take your pancakes."

"Help yourself," Marlee said, pushing her plate toward him. "I might go for a swim later. You wanna join?"

"Yeah, sure," Ryder said, already digging into her pancakes. "Just try not to drown yourself, okay?"

Marlee smiled faintly at his teasing, watching as he piled up more food onto his plate. 

.・゜゜・・゜゜・

Marlee pulled into the parking lot of the Mexican place, the hum of her car's engine fading as she parked near the entrance. She had just come from the shops, grabbing the last few ingredients her mom forgot for cinnamon rolls. Ryder had been insistent on getting lunch early, so she figured she'd save her parents the trouble of cooking twice.

As she shifted her car into park, a loud beep sounded from behind her, making her jump. She furrowed her eyebrows, glancing in the rearview mirror and going forward a bit.

Before she could react, a loud thud followed by a scream reached her ears. Her heart dropped. "Holy shit," she whispered under her breath, swinging the car door open and stepping out.