[ The words break Andy's heart but what really feels like a punch to the gut is how Carmela starts sobbing again, and she pulls the younger girl to her once more. She steers them gently and carefully towards the couch, sitting them both down, her arms still wrapped protectively around Carmela.
She doesn't say anything right away, though. Instead, she tries to wrap her head around the idea of Jaden breaking up with Carmela. (That's how she figures it had to have happened or Carmela would be at least somewhat less distraught.) It makes absolutely no sense to her; she knows how deeply Jaden cares for Carmela, how he's wanted to be with her for so long; why would he break things off now?
Her hand rubs over Carmela's back, firm enough to be felt and to maybe offer the poor girl some strength but still gentle enough to be comforting, while the other cradles her head. When she finally speaks, her voice mimics the hand at Carmela's back: gentle, yet with a strong edge to it. ] Did either of you actually say you wanted to end things?
He said-- [ Slowly, surely, she gets her breathing under control. Still hyperventilating a little bit, but actively trying to take slow, deep, steady breaths. ] He said-- he needed some-- space.
[ Which in and of itself doesn't sound too terrible, but it was the way he'd said it. The way he'd treated her, in front of everyone in the cafeteria, like she was dust on the bottom of his shoe. That wasn't Jaden. He would never-- but he just did. ]
Something's-- wrong. With him. I don't know what, but-- [ She searches for the right words. ] He's not normally like this.
[ Andy, not having all of the information or details, doesn't necessarily think to need some space is such a big deal or a final ending of a relationship. But clearly there's more it that she doesn't know, which is evident enough even before Carmela says that last bit. ]
Like what? [ Although she's hesitant, Andy pulls back somewhat once more, trying to get a view of Carmela's face. ] How's he behaving?
[ Carmela shakes her head, not sure she can explain it with words. It was more a feeling, of coldness, and disrespect. Not like Jaden's usual behavior at all. ]
He blew me off, and pulled away from me. He's been avoiding me, and when I called him on it, he said, "Can't you take a hint?"
[ Just remembering his angry look sets her off crying again. ]
Okay, okay, shh... [ Andy immediately pulls Carmela back into a tight embrace, one arm strong and solid against her back while the other hand rubs between her shoulder blades to try to calm her once more. What she explained definitely doesn't sound like Jaden, but there's nothing that can be done about that right now; her first priority is calming Carmela down.
She can kick Jaden's ass later. ]
You're gonna be okay, Carmela. We'll get to the bottom of whatever's going on with him and you'll be okay.
[ Andy's touch helps, and Carmela curls into it, crying small sobs as Andy rubs her back. She can't ever remember feeling this hurt, this hollow. It feels like everything she's known about the way her life works, the status of her relationships with the people around, has come crashing down like an unstable house of cards.
She feels like, without Jaden, she has no one. But that's not true. She has Andy, here and present and solid and comforting. And everything is going to be okay... somehow. ]
[ Though she can't completely decipher Carmela's thoughts, Andy can feel that uncertainty in the pack bond, can feel Carmela almost wavering. But she just holds the younger girl tighter, offering to be her rock in this unexpected storm. She even tries to tamper down the desire to track Jaden down and yell at him for this; the last thing Carmela needs right now is to feel Andy's tension and... Anger's not really the right word for it. Disappointment might be better.
Also, of course, confusion and concern because clearly there's something more going on, something she missed, something she's unaware of. And she hates that. ]
Has anything happened recently? [ She at least manages to keep her voice steady and soothing, her hand still rubbing over Carmela's back. ] Between you two or in general?
[ Carmela pulls back, trying to compose herself enough to speak again. She presses her back into the couch cushions and draws her hands in to rest on her lap. Sniffling, she shakes her head. ]
No? I don't-- I don't know. We were fine, then... [ Then Jaden started avoiding her. What had happened to cause that? What was the triggering event? ]
I was away from the school when those monsters attacked. Maybe... maybe it was that?
[ But she doesn't know why that would affect Jaden? ]
[ Andy let's her go easily enough, settling into the couch herself, although she leans her side against it and remains facing Carmela. One of her hands rests in her own lap but the other moves to Carmie's knee, just to keep a point of contact between them. ]
Maybe. [ Mentally, Andy starts kicking herself for not paying closer attention to her pack. She should've sensed if there was something going on with Jaden, or anyone else. ] Whether that was it or not, it's probably just something he needs to work through. I'm not saying it's fair of him to take it out on you, [ she's quick to add, squeezing Carmela's knee for emphasis. ] But sometimes people aren't good at controlling themselves when they're upset. Especially if those people are werewolves. It's not like we're known for being very level-headed, after all.
[ Carmela nods quietly. She's still sad, still angry and upset, but she knows Andy's right. She wipes at her eyes again, then drags her fingers through her hair. ]
Ugh, I must look like a hot mess.
[ She sighs. Then pulls her knees up and hugs them to herself, feeling smaller than she's ever felt. Looking up at Andy, she asks, ] Can I stay here for a little bit? I don't want to go back out there just yet.
Of course. [ Moving her hand to the back of Carmela's head, gently cupping it, Andy leans forward and presses a soft, motherly kiss to her forehead. ] You can stay as long as you'd like, Carmela.
[ She pulls back to look at her again. ] Can I get you anything?
[ Andy will take it, although she'd much rather see a real smile on Carmela's face again. It breaks her heart when any of her kids are upset, but especially Carmela. ]
Okay. [ Andy offers a slight smile, though even hers doesn't feel terribly genuine as she's still fighting the urge to go kick Jaden's ass. ] You stay as long as you'd like.
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She doesn't say anything right away, though. Instead, she tries to wrap her head around the idea of Jaden breaking up with Carmela. (That's how she figures it had to have happened or Carmela would be at least somewhat less distraught.) It makes absolutely no sense to her; she knows how deeply Jaden cares for Carmela, how he's wanted to be with her for so long; why would he break things off now?
Her hand rubs over Carmela's back, firm enough to be felt and to maybe offer the poor girl some strength but still gentle enough to be comforting, while the other cradles her head. When she finally speaks, her voice mimics the hand at Carmela's back: gentle, yet with a strong edge to it. ] Did either of you actually say you wanted to end things?
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[ Which in and of itself doesn't sound too terrible, but it was the way he'd said it. The way he'd treated her, in front of everyone in the cafeteria, like she was dust on the bottom of his shoe. That wasn't Jaden. He would never-- but he just did. ]
Something's-- wrong. With him. I don't know what, but-- [ She searches for the right words. ] He's not normally like this.
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Like what? [ Although she's hesitant, Andy pulls back somewhat once more, trying to get a view of Carmela's face. ] How's he behaving?
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He blew me off, and pulled away from me. He's been avoiding me, and when I called him on it, he said, "Can't you take a hint?"
[ Just remembering his angry look sets her off crying again. ]
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She can kick Jaden's ass later. ]
You're gonna be okay, Carmela. We'll get to the bottom of whatever's going on with him and you'll be okay.
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She feels like, without Jaden, she has no one. But that's not true. She has Andy, here and present and solid and comforting. And everything is going to be okay... somehow. ]
I just don't know why...
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Also, of course, confusion and concern because clearly there's something more going on, something she missed, something she's unaware of. And she hates that. ]
Has anything happened recently? [ She at least manages to keep her voice steady and soothing, her hand still rubbing over Carmela's back. ] Between you two or in general?
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No? I don't-- I don't know. We were fine, then... [ Then Jaden started avoiding her. What had happened to cause that? What was the triggering event? ]
I was away from the school when those monsters attacked. Maybe... maybe it was that?
[ But she doesn't know why that would affect Jaden? ]
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Maybe. [ Mentally, Andy starts kicking herself for not paying closer attention to her pack. She should've sensed if there was something going on with Jaden, or anyone else. ] Whether that was it or not, it's probably just something he needs to work through. I'm not saying it's fair of him to take it out on you, [ she's quick to add, squeezing Carmela's knee for emphasis. ] But sometimes people aren't good at controlling themselves when they're upset. Especially if those people are werewolves. It's not like we're known for being very level-headed, after all.
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Ugh, I must look like a hot mess.
[ She sighs. Then pulls her knees up and hugs them to herself, feeling smaller than she's ever felt. Looking up at Andy, she asks, ] Can I stay here for a little bit? I don't want to go back out there just yet.
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[ She pulls back to look at her again. ] Can I get you anything?
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No, I'm just gonna-- [ She takes a deep breath, forcing herself to blow it out slowly and calmly. ] Try to destress.
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Okay. [ Andy offers a slight smile, though even hers doesn't feel terribly genuine as she's still fighting the urge to go kick Jaden's ass. ] You stay as long as you'd like.