When Echo arrived at school the following Monday, she knew things would be different. Although the black glossed gates and ordinary school scenery were the same, everything else differed. The air was thick with tension, and stress spread like wildfire. Even more so with exams starting the following week and the Wrestling Tournament Finals the coming Saturday. Prom would be after that, with Graduation shortly after. As Echo eyed the school grounds intently with suspicion, she'd been unaware of the Darklings creeping up behind her or Aleister stopping at her side, still with her leather studded school bag slung over his shoulder.
"Senotria," voiced Damian as he picked Echo up as if she were a bride, removing her from her current task of being a roadblock. Echo had yelped in surprise before a bout of laughter escaped her. Looking back just in time to see Finn picking up her crutches and eyeing them to determine what was off about them other than not being decorated as Summer's and AJ's had been. "We've missed yah, Queenie," he added with a wide grin; any hint of concern had been forgotten. Instead, a sense of normalcy began to take over, and hope, too, that maybe everything will begin to mend itself now.
"Drama Llama alert," yelled Miz loudly from the top of the hill leading to the main school building; Maryse, Corey, and Carmella stood next to him. With Miz's yelled words, Damian began to run, forcing Echo to wrap her arms tightly around his neck to prevent unwanted and undesired falls and further injury. The other Darklings followed behind, except Cross, who had teleported ahead with her usual bout of crazy laughter.
"Warning would have been nice, senor," commented Echo upon regaining her composure. However, her nerves began to settle upon realizing they were heading for the bleachers on the sports field. The sun was warmer, and the breeze was gentle. It was a good day to spend time outside rather than cooped up on the art floor. "I take it you lot have been playing Dodge the Drama Queen for a while?" she worded, suspecting the game likely extended to Roman as well, especially if Seth and Punk's words were anything to go by.
"Hey, what can we say? We like staying active," replied Aleister. "That reminds me, Hey Rhea," he called, a mischievous smirk painting his lips when she glanced toward him. Almost instantly, she knew what he was going to say and began to pray he wouldn't, at least not if he wanted to live torment-free.
"Don't say it,"
"Buddy, Buddy, Buddy," Aleister sang with a playful tone, quickening his pace when Rhea quickened hers in an attempt to catch him. "Ooh, fun, a game of kiss chase to start the morning off. Should I ask Cross if she wants to join in?"
"Aleister, I'm going to kill you," replied Rhea as she sped after him like a predator chasing her prey. Aleister did nothing but laugh, teasing her further, occasionally hiding behind someone. The group's identical grins grew upon hearing Echo chuckling at their antics, her laughter like the missing song that had been absent for far too long, or a reminder that everything was returning to how it should have been.
"Somethings never change," spoke Summer, shaking her head as she slowed to a comfortable pace, walking at Finn's side. "So what's on the study agenda today?" she asked, recalling when the plans had been made, although she also knew that would mean going somewhere else in the NXT Hall due to the wrestling team practicing in the normal part.
"Studying?" asked Cross as if the word was garlic to a vampire, "Today, about mending what's broken and getting ourselves back on the same page, get the message across in his case," added the Scottish teen, nodding over to Roman waiting for them near the gates to the sports field. He looked like he'd been waiting in the chilly shadows of the small patch of trees for some time, no doubt trying to sum up the courage to approach those already there. "Maybe find somewhere else to gather where Drama Llama and Trouble Magnet can't get."
"Oi, Roman!" called JD, remaining serious even when Roman's startled reaction did tickle him. "You'd make a terrible spy," he added, as Rhea reached for his shoulders and directed him along, ignoring Aleister's teasing song and repeated word of Bubby. "Dean and Seth are running track," he added, guessing the two had arrived a little early just to race each other, as had become the norm since the accident.
"Echo," called Roman with surprising lacing his voice. Unintentionally showing that he'd been unaware she'd be returning to school and displaying how out of the loop he was. At the same time, it was becoming clearer to Echo just how much things had broken down since the accident; it was just a rift between the family, but as if they'd broken in two, like the light and dark side. It was as if both sides didn't know how to interact with each other, or they'd lost what they had in common.
"How many of our little family knew I was returning today?" asked Echo, curiosity getting the better of her. She tried her hardest not to let the concern and sadness show. After all, she knew the rift was bigger than most would admit. Summer was with the Darklings more permanently now, as were Renee, Seth, and Dean. It was just as clear Punk and AJ were slowly beginning to drift to the dark side, too, especially if Punk's words were anything to go by over the weekend.
"Just we Darklings, Wyatt's, Seth, Dean, Ney Ney, Punky Pumpkin, and AJ," replied Cross, choosing honesty over sparing the feelings of those around her. As much as she wished it was prom stuff getting in the way, she knew it wasn't; they all knew it wasn't. Instead, the constant drama and the limbo state of Roman had driven a wedge between the two groups, so much so it was as if they were two separate groups now rather than one larger family. However, even Cross had found herself questioning whether the split was bad. It allowed the lighter side to continue helping Roman and others guilt-free and allowed the Darklings to remain as they were. More importantly, it still taught younger students that it was okay to go down a different path than friends; it still retained hope.
"Is the split permanent or because you all don't want to be around Roman?" asked Echo, her voice gentle and even, lacking the harsh judgment others would have instantly thrown upon them. Instead, she appeared ready to hear the truth and likely already accepted it. "I'm not an idiot. I know a lot has changed, not just the family but all of us as individuals."
"Told yah," spoke Aleister as Damian put Echo back on her feet upon reaching the wooded area behind the bleachers. From their position, they could see the other members of the family, who were now on the light side. Echo smiled upon seeing them at the top, how Becky, Nikki, and Brie sang along to a song playing on a phone, and how they all spoke to each other like nothing was wrong. Upon turning her attention to those around her, her smile faded just a little, especially upon noticing the Darklings around her were lost regarding how to interact with the growing group on the bleachers.
"Call Roman and Serenity," Echo said, her voice quiet. Her gaze switched between the pair running track, the group on the bleachers, and those around her. Occasionally, Echo glanced at the patch of shadowy trees on the opposite side of the circular track but said nothing. "Family meeting," she added to the wordless question, "All of us this time, including the Drama Llama."
"Wouldn't it be better without her?" asked Roman upon joining the group, almost surprised Echo hadn't scolded him the second she saw him. Instead, she'd been her normal self, all be it banged up from the accident. Even when it was obvious she knew about the fights and everything else to have occurred between them. "She's the poison that destroyed our family."
"And you're the asshat that thought he knew everything when he didn't. What's your point?" countered Echo, her words quick and as sharp as her glare. For a moment, Roman stopped and thought about his next action. Even more so when he knew she was right. "I'm done watching my friends fall apart; one way or another, this is getting sorted; if you want to complain, Roman, then you can do so in front of everyone rather than behind the backs of others," she added, this time with more sincerity. She felt helpless; seeing her friends' state only added to it. But at least something could be done about that.
"What if they make excuses?" asked Summer, recalling previous attempts to fix things that had failed before it began. All agreed to attend predetermined town meetings only to back out when the time came, always with one excuse or another. Every time, it resulted in further distance between the two groups, and it felt more like they were strangers rather than family.
"Tell them it was me who called it," replied Echo, sighing and pinching the bridge of her nose. It was as if the sunlight was too bright on her sensitive eyes for a moment. "If they don't want to come, fine, but they can tell me in person why," she added, curious if any would make excuses knowing it was her who called it and the one they'd be facing if they made up some random excuses not to show up.
"Are you sure we need a family meeting?" asked Dominik, appearing with the Darklings for the first time in what felt like forever. Although he'd never admit it, Alexa was a good incentive, even more so since she'd taken a leaf out of Dexter's book and stalked him. Ironically, she didn't try to hide it, much like Naomi didn't hide her recent troubles with Bianca, Jade, and Liv.
"What will it take for you to get the picture?" asked Dean, his voice raised as he and Seth joined those gathered in the shadowy trees behind the bleachers. His voice was loud enough that those gathered at the top of them would have heard his angered words. Seth didn't say anything, as it appeared normal since he had chosen to walk away from the brotherhood. Instead, he walked over to Echo, greeting her and welcoming her back to school as if nothing was wrong.
"Need any more proof?" asked Rhea, set on helping Echo one way or another, as she was sure others would too, even when past attempts to mend things over time hadn't yielded any hopeful responses.
"Proof of what?" questioned Renee as she gently grabbed Dean's shoulder to pull him away from Roman, if only to prevent another fight.
"That we need a family meeting," replied Echo, slowly walking away, this time toward the north end of the track, where the lake that ran through school grounds and a small stone bridge stood. She'd always been curious about what was on the other side, other than overgrown bushes, weeds, and other once cared-for plants. "This idiot and Serenity included."
"Funny enough, I kinda wanna see who will be brave enough to tell you no," spoke Seth, suspecting this was coming; although he'd admit he'd not tried to call one, he was aware others had failed. "Especially when you're in Demon Mode," he added, catching up to Echo if only to wrap an arm over her shoulders, followed by a simple hug and kiss on the cheek. "You got me in your corner; perhaps both of us can find a way to work all of this out."
"Maybe, although we've also got to prepare ourselves for the possibility, the only way to move forward is apart," voiced Echo wisely, at least showing she was smart enough to realize they could take different paths even if the destination and goals were the same. "Families fight, but even they have their limits before it becomes toxic; you, Dean, and Roman need to deal with it before it gets any worse like I need to face Serenity once and for all."
"In case you two forgot, that's why you're the glue that holds the rest of us together," called Finn from behind. His words were followed by laughter from the others around him except Roman, who appeared deep in thought, almost as if Echo's words had struck a cord or slapped him with his forgotten common sense. "So, Dark One, when's this family meeting happening?"
"Dark One?" asked Echo, stopping in the middle of the stone bridge, a smile on her features. "If we can find somewhere quiet and out of the way from the all-knowing teachers and student body, then ASAP," she added, suspecting the rumor and gossip mills that spread around the student's body helped cause the rift, especially when many things got mixed up and important details are forgotten. Most of the time, the gossip or rumors that spread by the end of a school day had no truth. Instead, the truth was lost to those wanting to stir up more pointless trouble and drama.
"I know the perfect spot," called Cross as she ran across the bridge, hugging Echo as she passed and tagging Seth as if to goad him into chasing her. "There's an old school building on this side of the lake. It's run-down but will be big enough to hold everyone and keep away prying eyes and ears. We Wyatt's use it from time to time," she added, recalling when Bo had found it at the start of the school year; he and Bray went there when wanting to escape from all the pettiness of senior year. The other Wyatt's came and went to the point it was like their little clubhouse.
"You Wyatt's have a secret clubhouse and didn't invite us," playfully teased JD, although he knew the NXT Sports Hall had been the Darklings clubhouse since Triple H had given them passes and hidden them away. The rest of the family was in the rarely used classroom Trish had set them up in during the separation period. "At least tell me it's haunted?" he added with a more serious tone, still with the cheeky grin.
"Seriously?" asked Dominik, refusing to admit he'd missed the oddity of the Darklings and the silliness that was so often present between them. "If it's not haunted, can we say it is to wind the others up?" he added, chuckling when Seth shot a questioning glance his way, and Cross nodded with enthusiasm, almost as if she'd been secretly planning it for some time. "Well, at least we Darklings are on the same page. Which reminds me, welcome to our ranks, Summer. If the Prince gives you trouble, feel free to kick his ass."