Hello all, happy new year! I hope you are well and I send good vibes. This chapter was a last-minute addition that I just decided to whip up because I like leaving people on edge for the fun stuff. A bit of a warning, there is mention of past sexual assault so do take care. I send good vibes and hope you have a good day, week, or potentially a good year. Let's hope this one doesn't go to h*ck. ~Shaymie

Angela

"Why don't you call my sister by her name?"

Molly had gone off to the bedroom to freshen up before they left for the day, which left Angela and Chase alone together. She picked at her chipped nail polish with a disappointed sigh. She was never good at keeping her nails in good condition. She had hoped the gloves she used when she worked would keep them neat for at least a little while longer. Oh well. She isn't really the nail polish type, anyway.

"She doesn't want me to. Believe me, I tried." Chase opened the fridge, which Molly had given him free reign of, and raised an eyebrow. No doubt he was questioning the amount of baked goods sitting in there. Even after giving things away to people around town, there was an overwhelming amount of sweets. Their poor oven hasn't known peace since Chelsea came to town.

Angela peeled the last bit of polish from her thumb and watched as Chase pulled the pitcher of orange juice from the fridge and poured himself a glass. He really needed to stop acting like he was too cool to care about anything. He was just as worried about Molly as everyone else but just refused to show it. Stubborn bastard. What, was he afraid of his reputation being ruined?

Like everyone isn't already aware of how much of a softie he is around Molly.

Well... not everyone. Despite having spent barely any time around Chase, Ash has decided he doesn't like him. He said Chase reminded him of Chelsea, but that wasn't really fair to him. They both have similar crappy attitudes, but Chase doesn't go around attacking the people he doesn't like. And unlike Chelsea, he's actually nice to Molly. Angela almost regrets doubting their friendship at the start.

But still... He could have picked a better nickname than Freckles. Molly used to be self-conscious about her freckles, saying that they made her look like a little kid. It wasn't until she started dating Ash that she grew to like them and stopped hiding them with concealer. Now that she thought about it, both guys had nicknamed Molly after her freckles. At least Ash picked a cute name.

Freckles is just... straight-forward. Just like Chase, Angela supposed.

"Do you have any videos from when she did ballet?" She flicked a chunk of red nail polish onto the coffee table and looked over at him. Not a hint of sarcasm or snark. She knew that Molly told him and Maya everything about Chelsea and what she did. What did he think about it all? He's so infuriatingly aloof, it's hard to get a proper read on him. He's so different from Molly, who wore her heart on her sleeve and was almost painfully easy to read even when she tried hiding her feelings.

Maybe if he spent more time with Molly, he'd stop being so emotionally constipated. He's certainly had an effect on her. Angela's noticed her sister having a bit more of a... bolder personality, occasionally rolling her eyes or making a witty comment or two. It's not a complete change. She's still introverted and anxious, but she's not as withdrawn anymore. She's almost how she used to be before Chelsea dug her claws in all those years ago.

"Kasey kept a lot of those videos. Molly... didn't want the reminder." Though Angela had selfishly kept a handful of them for herself, from when Molly was younger. Back when ballet was just something she did for fun, before she started looking at it as a career path, before she started losing weight. But Angela couldn't bring herself to watch any of them. It would feel like she was going behind her sister's back. They were just... nice to have to remember when things used to be simple."Do you think she's making a mistake trying to talk to Chelsea today?"

Ash thinks that Molly's being stupid and reckless, but he hasn't been here to watch Molly. It's clear she's been thinking about this a lot, almost obsessively. Angela just wished that thinking wasn't all she's been doing. Molly's just been pushing everyone away. Does she think she has to handle this on her own? Does she think that since she's the one who has to deal with Chelsea that she can't ask for help or support or... something?

"Sounds like you do."

"I don't think it's a mistake. I'm just worried. I'm the oldest, it's kinda my job to worry." Angela huffed as Chase took another sip of orange juice. She told herself—and Molly—that she wasn't going to butt in, no matter what. She'd ask Luke to hold her back if she had to. This was one battle she couldn't fight for Molly. It wasn't her right to get in the way. This was between Molly and Chelsea. The only thing she can do is be there for her sister no matter what happens.

No matter what happens... She warned Molly about Chelsea, who's been acting bitchier than ever. Not even her own boyfriend was safe from her shitty attitude. Angela wondered if Chelsea was only with Mark to hurt Molly, since she knew what he'd done to her. She knew that he only went out with her because of some stupid bet and that he'd tried forcing himself onto her because he'd get twice the money for it, like he wasn't already stupid rich. He really did deserve Chelsea.

The worst part of it had to be Molly blaming herself for not being assertive enough with her refusal even though once should have been enough for him to stop.

Angela had never liked Markus Ziegler.

Something about him felt off. He acted lovey-dovey around Molly, constantly peppering her with kisses and calling her sickly sweet pet names, but it all felt... fake. It was like he'd looked up every cliche in the book and used them on Molly. But he was Molly's first boyfriend, so she let it slide. Besides, teenage boys did dumb things all the time to try to impress the girls they liked. Maybe he actually thought that was what a good boyfriend did.

She should have trusted her instincts.

It was a gradual thing. The short, sweet kisses transformed into full-blown make-out sessions that left hickeys that Molly asked her to cover up so Kasey wouldn't find out. The "innocent touches'' lingered a bit too long. He'd whisper things into her ear that would make her blush. His constant flirting started to border on sexual harassment. He seemed determined to sleep with Molly even though she repeatedly told him she wasn't ready.

He got drunk one night when the two of them were home alone and refused to take no for an answer. Angela had come home early from a night out with her friends to find that Kasey had gone somewhere for the night. She was planning on spending the rest of the night texting Mikhail when she heard a quiet whimper and part of a whispered conversation seeping out into the hallway through the cracked door.

"...just gotta relax, babe, it'll be fine."

"I'm scared, Mark. Can we please stop?"

"After you've gotten me so worked up? Are you fucking kidding me? I told you it'll be fine. Just... stay still."

Then she heard the sound of ripping fabric and Molly's sobs as she begged Mark to stop. That was enough to sober Angela up. She shoved the door open and crossed the room in three quick strides, pulling the creep off of her sister. She wanted to wipe that cocky smirk off his face, but Molly was more important. Thankfully, aside from some hickeys on her neck and her ripped tights, she was fine. Shaken up, but fine.

But if Angela had been just a minute late...

She was shaken out of her regretful thoughts by the front door opening. Ash walked in with his eyes closed, asking if she was decent. She rolled her eyes. Molly's friends really need to learn to knock. And was Bridget telling everyone what she and Linh had walked in on?!

"Even if Luke and I were fucking right on the couch, if you saw anything it would be your fault for walking in like you own the place." Angela stopped picking at her nails and got up from the couch with a long stretch. Molly's been gone for a while. She's probably freaking out right now. She had a tendency to overthink things and worry herself into an anxious mess, which was definitely the last thing she needed right now. "I'm going to check on Molls. You two boys play nice."

"When am I ever not nice?" Chase asked, finishing off his orange juice and leaning against the counter with a smirk. Angela shot Ash a warning look before going to check on her sister. She liked him, and he's been a big help in getting Molly to the point she's at now, but he brought overprotectiveness to a completely different level. She had to wonder if he still cared about Molly as more than just a friend.

Molly had been the one to break things off with him. Angela caught the aftermath of the break up: Ash's heartbroken face, the bouquet of flowers on the ground, Molly's tear-filled eyes as she fidgeted with the scratchy hospital blanket. Angela stayed with her sister until visiting hours were over and comforted her. She didn't want to break up with Ash, but she felt like it was the right thing to do and worried that he would hate her.

It was literally, physically impossible for Ash to ever hate her.

Molly was staring at her reflection in the mirror when Angela walked in, her delicate features scrunched up as she brushed her hair to the side. Angela watched in silence, taking in the concentration on her sister's face and the way she was trembling. Molly's been avoiding mirrors like she was worried they would hurt her. She'd learned how to adapt to life without them, managing to fix her hair without looking in the mirror and applying less makeup than she usually would.

"I'm not ugly," she was whispering around a pair of bobby pins as she tied a ribbon into her hair. "I'm perfect and complete the way I am. I deserve to feel good about myself. I deserve it."

Was this... something Dr. Kane told her to do? Angela didn't have a clue about what Molly talked about during her therapy sessions. She always left the house to give her sister some privacy. It was really none of her business, anyway. She's just glad Molly's therapist was okay with phone appointments and didn't charge extra.

"My body is fine. It's mine and it's beautiful." Molly's words slowly grew in confidence, her fingers steadying as she made the ribbon into a bow. It almost felt wrong to interrupt, but Angela couldn't just stand here watching her sister in silence. She called out to Molly quietly as she shut the door behind her.

"You doing alright? You've been in here for a bit."

Molly tore her gaze away from the mirror with a squeak. Her cheeks reddened as she pinned some hair back with the bobby pins she'd had in her mouth.

"I was just trying to give myself a pep talk. I... can't remember the last time I looked at myself in the mirror. It's like every time I look, I just see some twisted version of myself. I don't know if that'll ever change..." Molly gnawed on her bottom lip, effectively ruining whatever gloss she had applied. Her hand went down the part of her stomach that was exposed by her top. "It's been hard gaining weight. I have to keep reminding myself it's a good thing. I don't think I'd be able to fit Maya's clothes if I was the same size I'd been when we moved here."

"Molls..."

"I'm scared. The thought of talking to Chelsea is terrifying. But I have to do it..." Molly started twisting her hair into a side braid. She had forced some confidence into her voice earlier, but Angela could see how worried she was. Her trembling had stopped but she was still nervous. Eyes truly were the mirror to the soul and hers were wide and anxious. This was something she wanted, maybe even needed to do.

Angela only wished she didn't have to do it at all. None of this should have happened. She should have done more to protect Molly from Chelsea or maybe even notice something was up. Molly's a terrible liar. She should have known she was lying when she kept insisting that she was okay. If Angela hadn't been so complacent, Molly would still be dancing right now. She'd be happy.

"I'll be there if you need me, Molls," was all she could think to say. She blinked at the speed in which Molly finished braiding her hair, but she really shouldn't have been surprised. She was used to braiding hair quickly after spending so much time with Ash's little sister. She could probably braid hair with her eyes closed at this point.

"Thank you, Angie... For promising not to get involved. I know you and Ash want to protect me, but I have to do this myself if I want any proper closure."

"Speaking of Ash, I should probably make sure he isn't trying too hard to intimidate Chase." Molly's eyes widened at that, but Angela waved off her concerns. "It's fine, I've got it handled. You just spend as much time as you need getting ready. Love you, Molls."

"L-Love you, too..."