Jade stood with her phone in hand, staring at the last text message she'd sent to Cat, waiting for a reply.

Jade:Can come over to your place? Dad is having another one of his boring client visits and I think my head will explode if I have to sit and listen to it for another minute.

It had been about ten minutes since she'd sent it, and the more time passed, the more unusual the silence felt. Cat usually replied within seconds, eager to hang out or share some quirky idea for an adventure. But this time, nothing.

Jade tapped her foot, growing impatient. She finally typed another message.

Jade:Cat? What's up? You're not answering.

Three dots appeared, showing Cat was typing, but then they vanished. Jade frowned.

Finally, her phone buzzed with a reply.

Cat: Uh… maybe we should hang out at the park or something?

Jade raised an eyebrow, puzzled. Something felt off about how Cat was avoiding her house. Jade fired back a quick response.

Jade:What's wrong with your place? Don't tell me it's because you haven't cleaned up or something stupid.

The dots appeared again, hesitating, and then:

Cat: It's not that. It's just… complicated. Maybe another day?

Jade wasn't having it. She could tell when something was up, and this was definitely one of those times. She was sick of avoiding this topic, of going to her house. It was a problem from before they're even started dating, like she was hiding something. Her fingers flew across the screen.

Jade:What's going on, Cat? You can tell me. I'm coming over.

Cat: Jade, no—seriously. It's not a good time.

Jade: I don't care. I'm coming. See you in 10.

The reply was immediate this time.

Cat: Jade, wait! Don't

But Jade had already grabbed her keys and was out the door.

Ten minutes later, Jade was standing on Cat's porch. Her hand hovered above the door as she hesitated for a moment. Maybe she was being too pushy? No, Cat was clearly hiding something, and Jade wasn't going to let it slide. Every morning when she picked her up for school she was told to never knock on the door, always just wait in the car outside, like knocking on the door would set a bomb off or something. Multiple little stickers plastered around the door 'No soliciting', 'We do not buy from this door', 'Do not knock'.

There was a curiousity there, so Jade knocked.

She heard a sudden yell of a boy, followed by a quick muffled reply from a higher pitched voice, then the sound of scampered running up stairs. Then a long pause. After a minute there the sound of multiple locks clicking. The door creaked open, and Cat stood there, her expression tight, her usual bright energy noticeably dimmed.

"Jade…" she sighed, looking more tired than Jade had ever seen her. "You didn't have to come."

Jade crossed her arms. "Well, I'm here now. What's going on?"

Cat bit her lip and looked down, stepping aside to let Jade in. "It's just… a bad time you see."

Jade stepped inside, her eyes scanning the familiar hallway. She hadn't bene jnside Cat's house since they were young- she could only vaguely remember it now. But it definitely felt different—quieter, heavier, like there was an unspoken tension in the air. "See what?" she asked, her voice softening slightly as she picked up on Cat's unease.

As Cat fought to find the right words, Jade noted more of the inside of the house, the memories of before slowly coming back to her. It was once lively and cluttered with signs of a family constantly in motion, now it felt oddly bare. The walls were almost stripped of decorations, the furniture sparse, like they were trying to create an environment as simple as possible

Suddenly a shrill yell cut through the air "CAT!" It yelled, Jade could see Cat's mom Cassandra running down the stairs towards them. "Why did Matteo just shut himself in his room! ... Oh, Jade." She noted the goth girl by the front door. Cassandra looked so much like Cat, same wide brown eyes—but her face was marked with a tired expression, as if she'd been carrying the weight of the world for too long.

"What are you doing here?" Cassandra said, her tone more exasperated than angry, before turning to her daughter. "You know how Matteo reacts to sudden visitors. Did you not think to tell me you'd invited her over?"

"I'm sorry, Mom," Cat mumbled, looking sheepish. "I didn't think—"

"You never think" Cassandra muttered under her breath, before turning her eyes toward Jade. "It's been a while, Jade."

"Yeah… a few years," Jade replied, feeling a little awkward under Cassandra's sharp gaze.

Cassandra sighed, pulling her cardigan tighter around her. "Well, he'll come back in when he calms down. Just… try not to rile him up while you're here, alright?"

Jade nodded, feeling a bit out of place. "Got it."

"Okay, come on," Cat said, quickly grabbing Jade's arm and pulling her toward the stairs. "Let's go upstairs."

As they climbed the staircase, Jade glanced around the house, noticing how much had changed there too. Gone were the vibrant paintings and framed family photos that used to line the walls. The shelves that had once been crowded with knick-knacks were now completely empty. It felt strange—like the home had been stripped down to its essentials.

At the top of the stairs, just as they were about to head to Cat's room, a door flew open, and Matteo jumped out, brandishing a roll of toilet paper like it was a weapon. He had changed massively since Jade has seen him last, and he wasn't very well then either. He wasn't crazy, that she only knew of through Cat's stories, he was just a boy struggling with addiction back then. They had barely interacted at all, but she remembered him being sometimes really happy and sometimes a little mad, but never like this. Now he looked like a man without sense. He was much taller now, but somehow smaller of presence- like there was a child behind those eyes not a man. His expression was fear and confusion, a furrowed brow but wide eyes. It was like each part of his face had been programmed to portray a different emotion.

"Stay back, intruder!" he shouted, his face full of concentration.

Jade blinked in surprise, not sure if it was appropriate to laugh. Matteo pointed the roll of toilet paper at her, holding it like it was a sword. Before she could react, he rushed toward her, pushing at her shoulders with his free hand, clearly intending to shove her down the stairs. But his balance was off, and instead of pushing Jade, he tripped over his own feet and fell forward, landing hard on the floor.

"Matteo!" Cat exclaimed, rushing over to him.

Jade stood frozen, not sure whether to help or back away. Matteo lay on the floor for a moment, looking dazed, but quickly sat up, looking more embarrassed than hurt. He clutched the roll of toilet paper to his chest like it was a treasure.

Cat crouched down beside him, her tone firm but gentle. "Matty, you can't do that, okay? You can't push people."

Matteo looked up at her, his eyes wide and glassy, and for a moment, he looked like a scolded child. "Sorry, Cat…" he mumbled, his voice small. "I didn't mean to."

Cat softened a little, but kept her voice firm. "It's okay, but you have to be more careful. No more pushing. Promise?"

Matteo nodded quickly, like a child being forgiven after doing something naughty. "Promise."

He then scrambled to his feet, clutching the toilet paper roll, and darted back down the hallway, disappearing into his room with a loud thud as the door slammed shut.

Jade exhaled, running a hand through her hair. "That… was something."

Cat gave her a tired smile as she stood up. "That's just Matteo. He likes to think he's still a knight or a pirate sometimes."

Jade chuckled softly, but there was a heaviness in her heart. "Is he always like that?"

Cat shrugged, leading the way to her room. "Kind of. It's just the way he is now. He's still Matty, you know? Just… different."

Jade followed her into the room, feeling a pang of sympathy for Cat. She'd always known that her family life was complicated, but seeing it firsthand made everything feel more real. Cat, though, seemed to handle it with a grace Jade wasn't sure she could ever muster.

Cat unlocked her bedroom door and they walked inside. Instantly, the tension of the house seemed to fade a little. It was cozy and colourful, with soft blankets and pillows scattered everywhere. It hadnt chnaged an ounce. The familiar warmth of Cat's presence helped lift some of the weight that had settled on Jade's shoulders.

Cat sat on the edge of her bed, her hands folded in her lap as she stared down at the floor. "Sorry he tried to push you, I didn't want you to see him like that," she whispered. "He's… not the same anymore."

Jade sat down beside her, unsure of what to say at first. She had never been great with comfort—sarcasm and biting remarks were more her thing—but she could see how much this was weighing on Cat. "You don't have to hide it from me," she said quietly, reaching out to touch Cat's hand. "I'm your girlfriend, Cat. I'm here, no matter what."

Cat looked up at her, her big brown eyes glassy with emotion. "It's just… he's so much worse than before. The medication makes him calmer, but it also makes him… like that." She gestured vaguely toward the living room. "It's like he's stuck between being a kid and… I don't know."

Jade squeezed her hand gently. "I'm sorry. I didn't know it had gotten this bad."

Cat nodded, blinking back tears. "It's really hard. He used to be so full of life, you know? He used to be the fun one in the house, and now… I barely even recognise him some days."

Jade wrapped an arm around Cat's shoulders, pulling her close. "You don't have to go through this alone, okay? I'm here for you."

Cat leaned into her, resting her head on Jade's shoulder. "I just don't know what to do sometimes," she whispered. "I love him so much, but it's like he's slipping away."

Jade didn't know how to fix this, but she knew she could be there for Cat. That was something she could do. "You're strong, Cat," she said softly. "You've been handling this way better than I ever could."

Cat smiled weakly. "You're stronger than you think, Jade."

Jade smirked a little, trying to lighten the mood. "I know I am. I just wanted to give you some credit for once."

Cat giggled softly, her head still resting on Jade's shoulder. For a moment, the weight of everything felt a little less heavy, the two of them sitting there together, knowing that no matter how hard things got, they had each other.

Cat smiled at her, her eyes soft and grateful. "Thanks. I guess I just didn't want you to think things were too… messy."

Jade smirked. "I don't mind messy."

A while later the two were sat in a comfortable silence, Cat leaning against Jade on the her bed. Not every hangout needed to be this big event, just being with each other was enough. There was a sudden yell from Matteo, Jade flinched but she could feel Cat stay completely unbothered. She could feel the tension in the house, even in Cat's room, which was a safe haven of sorts—bright and full of energy, a stark contrast to the rest of the house. Then a loud, almost manic laughter, before abrupt silence once again.

Cat lifter her head on Jade's shoulder, sensing her sudden stiffness. "I know you say you don't mind, but… I guess I didn't want you to feel sorry for me. Or for him."

Jade turned her head slightly to look at Cat. She knew Cat hated pity, hated being treated like she was fragile, but this wasn't about pity. "It's not that. I just didn't realise how different things were now. I wish I'd listened more when you talked about him. I... I honestly thought you were lying."

Cat sighed softly, tracing little circles on her bed with her finger. "Yeah, some of the things he does are pretty... unbelievable. It's not like it used to be. He's… he's just like this now. Most days he's fine, but sometimes he's worse, and then there are moments when he just… you know."

Jade nodded, the memory of Matteo trying to push her down the stairs still fresh in her mind, she wanted to know if he ever tried to lay a hand on her. "Does it happen often?"

"Not every day, sometimes," Cat said, her voice soft. "He gets overwhelmed by loud noises or if something happens unexpectedly, like you coming over today. I should've warned him first."

Jade was quiet for a moment, processing. "Sorry for turning up so suddenly." She apoligised, in which Cat replied with a look is 'its okay'. "How do you deal with it all? I mean, you're always so…" She searched for the right word. "...happy."

Cat gave a small, bittersweet laugh. "I guess I just learned to be. I don't really know any other way. Matteo's my brother, and I love him. He needs me, and Mom's doing her best too, but it's hard for her sometimes. I try to be the upbeat one, so things don't feel so… heavy all the time."

Jade felt her chest tighten, hearing the weight behind Cat's words. She reached over, taking Cat's hand in hers. "You don't always have to be the upbeat one, you know? It's okay to not be okay sometimes."

Cat squeezed Jade's hand, her smile soft but sad. "I know. But it's easier when you're around."

Jade couldn't help but smile a little at that. She wasn't used to being the comforting one in any relationship, but with Cat, things were different. She felt the need to protect her, to be there for her in a way that she wasn't for most people.

There was a knock on the door, interrupting their moment. "Its me." Cassandra's voice called out, Cat jumped off the bed and unlocked her door. Cassandra peeked in, her face softer now than it had been earlier.

"Is everything okay in here?" she asked, her voice cautious.

"Yeah, Mom, we're fine," Cat replied, smiling at her.

Cassandra gave a small nod, glancing between them. "Matteo's calmed down. He's playing with his action figures now. I just wanted to check on you girls."

"Thanks," Cat said, her tone kind but dismissive.

Cassandra lingered for a moment longer, her gaze shifting to Jade. "It's good to see you again, Jade. I hope we didn't scare you off."

Jade shook her head. "Not at all. Thanks for having me."

Cassandra gave them a small smile before closing the door gently behind her.

Cat turned back to Jade, her playful energy starting to return now that the heavy conversation was behind them. "Well, now that you've seen the crazy side of my life… what do you want to do? We could watch some TV or I brought some ice cream yesterday."

Jade grinned. "I'm always down for ice cream."

Cat bounced up from the bed with her usual bubbly energy. "Perfect! I'll get it. You just stay here and make yourself comfy."

As Cat left the room, Jade leaned back again, taking in the familiar feeling of being in her space. It was different that's for sure. She'd concluded a few things, Cat having to lock her bedroom was probably a safety thing. Seeing Matteo ready to trow the toilet paper was likely why all small objects were removed from the house. It must have been exhausting to live in a place that was curated to remind you of Matteo at every instant. Despite everything that had happened, she felt a strange sense of understanding. She wasn't scared off by the mess, by Matteo's sudden outbursts or the tension in the house. It was just another part of Cat's life—one that Jade was more than willing to be a part of.

A few minutes later, Cat came back, balancing two bowls of ice cream in her hands, grinning as if the weight of the day had been lifted. Jade couldn't help but smile back at her.

They sat together, eating ice cream and watching old episodes of Drake & Josh, the earlier tension slowly dissolving into laughter and comfort.