Flip of a Coyne

A Coyne Twins Story

Chapter 38: Fiona and Matt

"Mack, come on, you can't hide forever," Matt said as he leaned against his locker. He went through the same routine for the past couple of days. As soon as they got to school she would duck and hideout so she didn't have to deal with Drew or Fitz nor face her feelings for either of them. It was beginning to get on his nerves. He didn't know how much longer he could take being the "lookout" for her. He had other things to worry about.

Like why Fiona and Declan were suddenly acting so strangely in the past couple of days. Fiona would either be tired or strangely wide awake; Declan would be extremely quiet or really irritable. Both looked like they haven't gotten a good night's sleep in days, but it wasn't only their sleep that was suffering. Their school work was starting to fall short of their usual best and their energy was gone, as if sucked out of them. Holly J noticed and was equally concerned but he couldn't see her doing much to help, not with her spare time being filled with cramming for the upcoming exams.

"How much longer do I have to deal with this?" He asked, watching as other students walked by, talking to each other. Books were open in their arms and wrinkles of worry were forming in their foreheads. He lifted an eyebrow when the locker door next to him swung open and Mack stuck her head out.

"Just until Christmas Break, so…roughly a week," she replied and closed the door again.

"I don't have a weak to deal with your fears," Matt announced, pushing himself away from his locker and staring hard at his sister's locker door. As if on cue the door swung open and he was met with his twin's glare.

"What do you mean 'deal with my fears'?" She demanded, leaning out of the locker.

He rolled his eyes and grabbed her arm, successfully pulling her out of her locker and closed it behind her with his foot. "Yes, fear," he replied, dragging her down the hallway behind him. "You're afraid of giving either one of them a chance. Fitz because he pulled a knife on a student, however he actually seemed nice to you and you're afraid of the trouble you could get into if you get with him. Drew because he's basically another version of Blake and you don't want to trust anyone again, especially after what he did, but he's not Blake and the sooner you figure that out the sooner you can pick one of them—or neither of them—and get on with your life!"

He continued to drag her after him, successfully weaving her way through the crowded hallway. The students parted as if he were Moses and they were the red sea, not bothering to ask what was happening. Their noses were buried too far in their books to get a few more cram sessions in. They rounded the corner and walked across the front foyer of the school, past the stairs, and then past the double doors of the auditorium. "Sit," he ordered, shoving Mack onto the empty spot on the bench next to Drew in front of the library. "Talk it out," he ordered and then turned to Drew who was looking at him as if he were crazy. "And if you hurt her in any way, shape, or form, I hurt you. Got it?" Drew nodded silently. "Good." He nodded and walked around the other corner.

Come on Fiona, where are you?

"Hey Matt, want to come shoot some hoops?" KC asked as he and Dave came around the corner.

"Nah, I don't want to embarrass you before practice later today," Matt said with a smirk, taking the ball out of his hands and spinning it on his finger. "Again," he added. "Besides, I gotta study."

"Oh come on. We have two weeks left to study," Dave said, taking his basketball back. "What's one missed day going to do?"

"Sorry, I can't risk it."

"Strict parents, huh?" KC asked with a sympathetic smile.

Matt shrugged one shoulder. "Something like that. I gotta go, guys. See you at practice." He moved past them and continued his search. He finally spotted Holly J and Anya talking to each other as they came out of a classroom. "Red, I'm glad I found you," he said with a sigh of relief.

"You do know that's not my name, right?" Holly J asked with a hint of annoyance in her voice.

"I'm aware that you're named after some plant," Matt said with a wave of his hand. Anya laughed and Holly J cracked a smile. "Anyway, I was wondering if you saw Fiona at all today? She was here earlier…"

"No," Holly J replied. "I asked Declan and he said she's out sick today."

"Again?" Anya asked, lifting her eyebrows. "She had a couple of half days just last week. Do you think something's wrong?"

"No, I'm sure everything's fine," Holly J said with a half smile. "She's probably just taking some personal days…" Her voice trailed off. "A lot of personal days."

"OK, I'm going to go check on her," Matt announced.

"You can't leave."

"Well, it's about lunchtime so I'm sure I can," Matt replied. "If my sister asks just tell her…I'm doing some basketball stuff. She won't question any further than that. And if you can, get her to stay on campus so she won't know I took the car without telling her. She kinda hates that," he rambled, shoving his books into Anya's arms.

"But—" the two girls protested.

"Thank you," he said with a small wave before rushing off. He knew that there was something wrong all along. The tiny knot in his stomach had been bugging him all day. He knew he shouldn't have ignored it. A feeling of dread sat like a cement block in his stomach as he got into his car and peeled out of the parking lot. Everything's fine. You're worrying about nothing.

But he knew it wasn't "nothing". He heard random snippets of messages that had been left on the Coynes' phone over the past couple of days and it was enough to make his stomach toss. The way their parents were treating them more like possessions than people made him sick. Declan and Fiona didn't deserve it, but there wasn't much he could do. He was borderline poor, not worth anything in her mother's eyes, no matter how hard he tried to change her opinion of him.

The sound of a honking horn brought Matt back to reality and he quickly swerved to avoid hitting another car. He took a few deep breaths and tightened his grip on the wheel. He licked his lips and tried to concentrate on the road. The closer he got to the condo complex the harder his heart beat against his chest. He took a few deep breaths to calm himself down but it didn't work. His anxiety only got worse.

He found a parking space and jumped out of the car, rushing into the tall building, narrowly missing the door as the doorman pulled it open on his way in. He jabbed at the elevator button and taped his fingers against his side impatiently. The doors open and he bulldozed his way through the people that were coming out, pressing the button for his floor repeatedly. Finally the doors closed and the elevator took him up to their floor. He ran down the hall and stopped in front of the Coyne condo. He dug around in his pockets for their spare key, fumbling in his anxiety.

Finally he pulled it out and unlocked the door. He blinked and had to shield his eyes from the bright white of the foyer with the sun bouncing off of it. Fiona had some strange taste in colors some times. He carefully stepped into the living room and looked around. Fiona was nowhere to be found but the TV was on at the news.

Of course it would be coverage about the Coynes' custody battle against each other. It was in the Toronto newspapers as well, but he did his best to hide them.

"Fi," Matt called. He was met with silence. "Fiona, are you OK?" He called again. He took the stairs two at a time and checked the bathroom, her "salon" and their "lounge room". He then slowly pushed open the door of Fiona's room and looked inside. Lace and ribbons were hung everywhere and off of everything. The room was mostly white except for explosions of red from pillows, carpets, and her chaise by the window. He spotted Fiona slumped over her vanity. Matt rushed to her side and shook her arm. Her head rolled back and he got a good look at her face. Her breathing was slow and irregular, her skin felt like ice to the touch and she looked paler than usual. So pale that her skin looked blue.

Matt's heart clenched as he cradled her in his arms. "Fiona. Fi, come on, wake up!" He begged, lightly hitting her face but she didn't make a sound, she didn't move. Matt then looked down to see what he hand was wrapped around and saw a champagne flute. A couple of champagne bottles were on the floor.

Matt's heart dropped like a stone.

"No, no, no," Matt groaned, reaching for his phone, all the while still trying to get Fiona to wake up. He managed to dial while holding onto her, afraid to drop her.

"9-1-1, what's your emergency?"

"Hello. I need an ambulance right away," Matt said breathlessly. "My friend…I think she's suffering from alcohol poisoning. I don't know, exactly, I was here but…she…she…"

"Calm down, sir. I need you to tell me your address."

"Toronto Condominium Complex, 993, Gerard Street. Third floor, #34. Please hurry."

"Don't worry, sir, the ambulance is on the way."

"Thank you."