(A/N): We're back in 1966 with Evie, Hettie, Vi, Pip, and Lou, and the subtext becomes text. Uh... Happy Valentine's Day, I guess?
As evidenced above, this is the chapter that was supposed to be the Valentine's Day chapter (so, chapter 509) before I changed everything around. I'd like to let you guys know that there will be an extra chapter uploaded in two days, on Wednesday (the 6th) for my birthday. I'd also like to let you know that I finished typing up chapter 527 last night, which is the chapter currently set to come out on the 12 year anniversary (so, 6/6/24). I don't think I've given you an update in a while as to how my preloading of chapters is going, so there it is. I'm three months ahead- I'll get back to working on 528, now.
Trigger Warnings: Vi, Hettie, Pip, and Lou's concerns about Evie become more explicit, and while they don't mention it OUTRIGHT, they do infer that Evie might have been sexually assaulted far more strongly than they have in any other chapter, and go so far as to want to check her for traces of that (bruises, bite marks, etc), and contemplate her reaction to such a thing. There is a reference to it that is both slightly more vague, and more explicit, where Vi reprimands Hettie, Lou, and Pip (though mostly Hettie and Lou) for wanting to 'invade Evie's privacy', in a way that basically implies, well... Evie being invaded, physically. There's also some vaguely incest-y things (just by virtue of characters talking about romance/sex, and then calling the person they're talking to/about their sibling), but no actual incest, and any time someone ACTUALLY refers to someone as their sibling (calling Pip 'Little/Big brother') they are joking. I should also warn you about, hm... abandonment issues, secondhand embarrassment, and Evie being panicked about her sexuality (not exactly worried about being outed, but just sort of panicking that sexuality was mentioned in relation to her, AT ALL). Also, discussion of bruises occurring during rough sex, NOT in a sexual assault sense, which may give you a bit of whiplash, given the conversation it happens in the middle of.
January 16th, 1966
Evie
Thankfully, I already had an excuse to get away from them for a little bit- to postpone the worst of the questioning, and apparently, their condemnation- one they had provided me with, but I'd turned down. Now, however, I told them I did want to change my clothes, and predictably, Hettie followed me out of the living room and all the way up the stairs, as if she thought I might have forgotten my way around the house. When I entered my room and saw the rumpled bedding, and felt Hettie still hot on my heels, I turned to face her with raised eyebrows. "Hettie, I understand that you're worried about me- and I appreciate it, I do- but... some breathing room wouldn't go amiss."
She blinked, looking slightly confused before it seemed to dawn on her just how close she was, and she took a step back as her cheeks flushed- which was a novelty in and of itself; Hettie didn't blush very often. Or... ever, really. "I- I wasn't- I wanted to grab you that business card, while I had it in my head." Oh. Oh, I felt bad now. She was just trying to help- it wasn't like she was trying to spy on me, or anything.
"Oh, I- I forgot about that. I just thought..." I trailed off, biting my lip and eyeing the bed again.
She was quiet for a second- longer than I expected her to be- and when I turned back to her, I saw her studying my expression in a way I really didn't like. "Does it bother you?" She asked suddenly, and I felt my brow furrow. Did what bother me? "Vi, Pip, and me slept in your bed together- does that bother you?" My confusion eased, now that I knew what she was referring to- then almost immediately re-intensified, as what she asked actually sunk in.
"Why would it?" I asked in return. "You've all slept in my bed before, with or without me in it- even Pip. I mean, you slept in my bed on New Year's, and Lou in Vi's- At least poor Pip didn't feel the need to suffer on the couch this time, rather than make himself at home in mum and dad's room." The look in Hettie's eyes wasn't mischievous, exactly, but it was sly... and worryingly knowing.
"Mhm, yes, we wouldn't want 'poor Pip' to be uncomfortable, now would we?" I- I didn't understand why she was acting like this was a new development, or even in any way noteworthy.
I stared at her for a few seconds, bewildered, before I cautiously said, "No, of course not.. I wouldn't want any of you to be uncomfortable- any of my friends. I care about you all, and that's- What sort of person would I be, if I didn't look after the people I care about?" She rolled her eyes at me, even if the gesture was tempered by as much fondness as a person could possibly manage.
"But he's not just a friend, is he, Evie?" Huh? Who- Pip?
"I mean..." Her face lit up. "I don't know what having a brother is like, but if I were going to use that label for anyone, it'd be Pip." Instantly, her face morphed into one of incredible exasperation, which I didn't entirely understand. Or understand at all, actually.
She put a hand on both of my shoulders, staring deep into my eyes like she was about to impart some crucial knowledge and wanted to make sure it got through. "Evie-" She paused, then sighed. "I thought, considering the kiss on the cheek, that maybe your night with the married bad boy-" I opened my mouth to protest, and she cut me off by amending herself. "-your foiled night, whatever-" Well... that was better than nothing, I guess. "-had given you the kick in the arse to realise that if you don't snatch him up, someone else will... and judging by last night, it might just be Vi." I- what? Snatch who up? Wait...
My mouth dropped open, and I spluttered helplessly for a few seconds, too confused to convert thoughts into words. "I- Hettie- Good!" She blinked. "If Vi wants Pip, I wish them the best- Lou, you, I don't care; Ruthie can throw her hat in, if she wants to. My only interest in Pip is purely platonic- and I hope that's the only way he sees me, too." Hettie gave me a skeptical look.
"Oh, come on, Evie- it's been years since you've had a boyfriend, there has to be a reason-" I blanched, and the blinding panic made me lash out.
"Or," I told her, my voice deceptively calm- at least to my own ears. "I don't feel the need to go from man to man, cutting relationships off before they even have a chance to start because I'm too scared to take the risk that they'll leave me later." Immediately, her face dropped- and as she pushed me away, my stomach followed it. "God, Hettie, I didn't- I didn't mean that."
The look she gave me was full of hurt and a kind of bitter resignation- two things I never wanted to see on her face, let alone caused by me. "That's the thing, Evie," She said, her voice painfully flat. "Even if you didn't mean it... you still said it." She stepped away from me and I was worried she would leave, but then she moved over to the dresser and there was a quiet rasping noise as the sequins of her dress from the night before scraped against the wood. A moment later she returned to my side, and pressed something small and paper into my hand- the business card, it had to be. "Here. That's what you really want, isn't it?" I winced.
"Hettie-" She cut me off, shaking her head.
"Take a shower, get changed- you're a mess." Somehow, I knew that wasn't true- that her comment was equal parts an attempt to get back at me without going anywhere near as far, and also to take her leave before she said something she'd really regret. It was this knowledge, more than anything, that made me nod.
"...yeah, okay. Can you... tell the others? I don't want them to worry and think I've been abducted again, or anything."
Her mouth tightened and I knew that once more, I had said the wrong thing. Which seemed like the theme of the day, unfortunately. "I'll be sure to let them know." I opened my mouth again but she was gone before I had the chance to say anything, the door thudding shut behind her- a clear dismissal that chafed something in my very soul.
"Well," I muttered to myself. "As Jerremyah would say: 'That could've gone better'."
Vi
When Hettie followed Evie upstairs, I knew one of two things was inevitably going to happen- one, we were going to get answers, or two... someone's feelings were going to get hurt. As Lou, Pip, and I crept to the bottom of the stairs to eavesdrop, I assumed it would be Evie just by virtue of her softer nature- but things quickly went sideways, and I thought it could end up being Pip, instead. It started with Evie expressing concern over 'poor Pip' sleeping on the couch- a valid concern, despite how often he chose to do so- and proceeded on to both Pip and I- though, mostly Pip- being absolutely mortified by what Hettie was saying.
Firstly, she insinuated that Evie saw Pip as more than a friend- or, in a romantic sense, anyway- which, as I shot a sneaky glance sideways at him, I saw caused horror to bloom on his face. Unsurprisingly, Evie refuted it- going so far as to say he was almost like a brother to her, which Pip seemed appropriately touched by. Hettie, of course, wasn't willing to let it go, even with such a declaration. She cited the kiss on the cheek from when Pip had hugged her right after she got home, and told Evie that she'd assumed that the failed- well, if Evie was telling the truth, anyway- night with 'the married bad boy' might have 'given her the kick in the arse' she needed to realise that if Evie didn't 'snatch Pip up', 'someone else' would- which was embarrassing enough just to witness, before Hettie threw my name into the ring.
'Judging by last night, it might just be Vi'... the look Pip and I shared was equally confused and horrified- well, at least we were on the same page. Lou was conspicuously silent throughout all of this- not just because we were trying to listen in and didn't want to get caught, but likely because she was the only one not 'involved' at the moment, and was determined to keep it that way. Figures.
Evie explained that her interest in Pip was purely platonic, and that she hoped he felt the same way- by his firm nod, I knew that was indeed the case- however, she also said that she didn't care if Pip and I got together- or Lou, or Hettie, or anyone else- and Hettie... Hettie brought up Evie's lack of recent relationships. Sure, Evie had dated before- never as seriously as I knew she would've liked- but in the last few years, she'd barely entertained the idea of dating. I wasn't sure if it was just because she was always working, or some other reason, but... interrogating my sister's innermost self wasn't my job.
Hettie was making it hers, however, and for that, Evie snapped at her- rending far deeper wounds than I ever would've expected from her. Hettie had said there had to be a reason Evie wasn't dating anymore, and insinuated it was because she had feelings for Pip, which... I mean, it could've been possible- that is to say, the timing matched up, and I don't think Evie would date someone if she was in love with someone else, but clearly, that person wasn't Pip... if such a person even existed. Evie's comment was out of line, but we all knew that wasn't why it had hurt Hettie... it hurt because it was true. Hettie was scared of getting attached- terrified that if she fell in love with someone, they would leave her. It was an appropriate fear, given her history- her family- and it was exactly the sort of thing Evie knew would hurt... which begged the question, why had Evie been hurt enough by Hettie's comment about her lack of a love life to hurt Hettie that badly, in response?
Evie, of course, tried to apologise, and again, of course, Hettie was having none of it. She gave her the business card by the sounds of it, and left Evie to shower. A few seconds after she closed the bedroom door behind her, Hettie turned her head and obviously saw ours peeking up from the bottom of the stairs, because she asked, "I take it you heard all of that?"
Lou nodded, and Pip- being Pip- held his arms open for her to crawl into if she wanted. I wasn't sure if it was just the distance, or what Evie had said- what she, herself, had said about him- but Hettie simply shook her head, and looked away. Pip- again, being Pip- didn't seem put-out by this in the slightest, and dropped his arms with a shrug. "You want a biscuit? Tea? ...pancakes?" The corner of her lips twitched up, but I had the feeling it was the sentiment behind the offer rather than the actual potential food that made her do so.
"I'm good... thanks, though." Hettie didn't express gratitude very often, and Pip's face softened appropriately. "I'm... sorry." She apologised even less, and Pip's eyebrows furrowed, almost more concerned than confused.
"Why? What for?"
She opened her mouth to answer him, but then shot a look at the door at her back- likely at Evie, beyond it- and made her way toward us, down the stairs. "For... interfering," She said when she'd finally closed the distance. "I know you're not the happiest about that kind of thing-" Pip's face screwed up as though he wanted to be mad, but couldn't bring himself to do so- surprise, surprise. "-but I just... I want you all to be happy, and I don't understand why..." She trailed off, shrugging tersely, and after a second, Pip nodded.
"You don't understand why we can't be happy with each other." She shrugged again and moved to wrap her arms around her stomach, but before she could, he caught her hands in his. No doubt loosely, so she could pull away if she wanted to, but she didn't. "We just don't see each other that way... I don't see any of you that way; I never have." It wasn't a surprise, not really, but... did that mean-? "You're all very pretty, but... not my type. Even if you weren't all like sisters to me, I wouldn't be interested anyway- and I know for a fact, none of you could say differently, either." It was true- the closest was Hettie, but even if she was the one most open to Pip's light brown hair, she was the least into his sweet, 'good boy' personality. Pip... Pip was usually pretty quiet about the girls he did like, but I had the impression he liked dark-haired, strong-willed women- strength of will, we had in spades, but not a single one of us strayed darker than Evie and I's caramel, golden-brown color... which just added to the fact that I already believed what Pip was saying.
"Thanks, little brother," I told him, and immediately, he looked like he immensely regretted ever saying anything. "No, but seriously- Hettie, you had good intentions, but stop meddling in our love lives... We need to devote all our attention to meddling in Evie's regular life, and figuring out why she's being such a- Why she's acting... weird."
Begrudgingly, she nodded- and got to work. "I wanted to check her over, but I doubt she would've let me in that bathroom with her even before..." She trailed off, and Pip's eyebrows furrowed.
"Check her over?" He asked, blatantly befuddled. "Check her for what?" Lou and I both knew what Hettie was checking for but neither of us wanted to say it, so it fell to her. I suppose it was fair penance, for the mortification she'd inflicted upon us.
"Bruises," She said bluntly, and unsurprisingly, he flinched. "Bite marks, that sort of thing."
He looked pained by that, and if we hadn't just gotten through him declaring that he thought of Evie in particular like a sister, I might've thought there was something there beyond just 'brotherly' concern. "You- You think she's lying? About nothing happening? You think he hurt her?" Hettie shot him an odd look- like she was judging him, almost.
"Well, I'd certainly check for that, too, but more just in general. If he went hard enough, there'll be bruises on her hips from his hands- Have you never left bruises on your lovers, big brother? The good kind?" Pip gaped at her, looking a combination of mortified, disgusted, and regretful- ...and maybe slightly intrigued?
"I-" He barely managed to choke even that much out. "No comment."
Hettie shrugged at him smugly, likely only letting the matter drop because he'd been so nice to her, before. "Still," She said, turning her attention to me. "Vi, you're her sister- not to mention you share that bathroom. If you go now, you might be able to-"
I shook my head, effectively cutting them off- feeling sick to my stomach. "No." She seemed surprised by this, they all did. "If Evie- If he did something to her- If something happened, and she feels like she has to hide it... it's not my place to try to rob her of that."
"But Vi-" I really did cut Lou off this time.
"Lou, if something did happen... do you really want to invade her privacy even more?" She swallowed thickly, and I shot them all a stern look- well, Hettie and Lou, anyway, I knew Pip would behave. "If she wants to talk, she will... Our job right now is to just be there for her- no matter how she wants to handle things."
(A/N): So, yes, I know men and women can be friends- and be in completely platonic relationships- WITHOUT having to see each other as siblings, but honestly, I just think that's the way Pip and the girls see each other. He just has such caring energy that the second he was like, 'I'm not interested in any of these girls, sexually', he was immediately like, 'Oh, cool, so, I have four sisters now. Neat.' In case you're wondering, the girl he MOST thinks of like a sister is Hettie, and the one he would be most likely to date is Vi- Evie's the one he's closest with, and Lou's the one he usually ends up paired with. The only reason any of the girls HASN'T considered him as a brother is because they thought one of them dated him- which is why Vi questions 'but... did that mean-?' when he says he's NEVER had feelings for any of them, because she's like, 'wait, does that mean he DIDN'T date any of us?' Which, of course, he didn't.
Also I know I haven't said it yet, so- Evie and Vi have caramel/golden-brown hair (Vi's is a shade darker), Pip has light brown hair, Lou has sandy blonde hair, and Hettie has strawberry blonde hair (basically halfway between blonde and a light natural red). I was originally torn between blonde and red for Hettie (as you can see, I didn't REALLY decide), and blonde and black hair for Lou, but I decided on blonde for... reasons that will become apparent later. Pip was always a brunette. He just screamed 'I have brown hair' at me, and I was like, 'ugh, another one?'