The Misfits

I stepped into the small house with a sigh, dropping my things on the floor and letting myself be pulled into hugs by Maeve and Elaine. Mackenzie was behind me. She looked like and moved like a zombie due to the stress and lack of sleep she had endured in the last day and a half. Her eyes and nose were red from crying on the car ride over. Large bags were present under her eyes and her usual spark seemed to have disappeared.

The past 10 hours had been a whirl and I was hardly aware of what was happening around me. Sophia and Eleanor had helped us pack our bags before they and the boys whisked us away to the airport. Mackenzie had used all of her energy to convince our friends that she was all right, but after we made it to the sanctuary of the plane she had burst into tears before passing out. I had promised everyone I would keep them updated on what was happening. I only hoped I would have good news to tell.

“No word yet,” My mother said as she wrapped her arm around Mackenzie and led her into the living room. “Come sit down dear.”

“How is she holding up?” Maeve whispered in my ear. I shook my head in response and was immediately pulled into another hug. Feeling stinging behind my eyes, I quickly released her before I started crying.

“What’s been done?” I asked, desperate for information. Everyone trickled into the living room, giving company with their presence. Little Millie ran over and settled herself in my lap. I hugged her tight as my Aunt Lucy responded.

“We’ll tell you everything we know so far,” she said, gently rubbing Mackenzie’s knee.“Apparently there was a clerical error with the paperwork. He was let out by mistake, he should be serving another five years.”

“So he’s a fugitive as well?” I half laughed. This meant that they would be flying even lower under the radar.

“This means more people will be out looking,” my mother interjected. “It helps that your friends have put out a reward as well.”

“What?” I frowned.

“They called this morning. They’re offering a reward to whomever finds Jasper.”

Mackenzie looked up and our eyes immediately locked. For a split second she had hope. I knew the boys weren’t just going to sit back and do nothing, but to put out a reward? I don’t even want to know how much they offered. I felt Millie take my hand and gently play with it.

“What else?” I asked, knowing Mackenzie couldn’t bring herself to speak right now.

“We know what car he’s driving.”

“He got Jas after practice,” Hugh said. He was staring at the floor with his head in his hands. “Our friend Thomas saw him talking to a guy in a green sedan. Thomas said Jas seemed on edge. They talked for a few minutes before Jas got in the car…Kenz I’m so sorry. I should have kept a better eye on him. I—”

“It’s okay,” Kenzie whispered. “It’s not your fault Hugh.”

“Besides, if you had tried to stop him who knows what could have happened,” added Elaine. But their words wouldn’t mean anything to Hugh until Jasper was back home safe. We sat for a while in silence, occasionally sharing thoughts and words of comfort.

Half an hour later the police came to question Mackenzie and gather additional information on her father. The atmosphere in the house had changed dramatically. We had dealt with these situations before though it didn’t make it any easier. Once the police took Millie to live with her mother after she was released from prison, however that was short-lived when she was busted less than a month later. The second time was when Leo had run away for a few days.

I was gratefully distracted by the ringing of my phone, and stepped outside to answer. “What the hell are you doing up right now? It’s nearly three in the morning there!”

“Have you heard anything?” Harry asked. “We can’t sleep.”

I felt myself relax immediately upon hearing his voice and my heart nearly broke at his words. It still baffled me how they could care about someone they knew so little about. “The police are here talking to Kenz now. Still no word yet.”

“How’s Mackenzie?” he asked. I could almost see him pacing back and fourth, running a hand through his long hair.

“She’s stronger than she looks,” I replied. “The family is taking it well too, but we’ll all be able to breathe when he’s back safe.”

“If there’s anything we can do—”

“I don’t know what else there is,” I half laughed. “My mom said that you guys offered a reward?”
“We couldn’t just do nothing,” he replied.

“Well…thank you. From all of us.” I smiled into the phone. “It really means a lot.”

“Anything for you lot,” he laughed. There was a pause before he asked, "Uh...Thalia? Niall accidentally mentioned something about Kenzie's father. Did he...abuse her? I mean I know you had said he was violent but did he...did he-"

"He was sent to prison for kidnapping, endangering the welfare of a child..and sexual assault," I whispered. There was a painfully long silence before I was able to speak again, "Harry? Harry you can't ever tell anyone."

"No," I heard him sniffle and knew he was crying. "No. I swear I'll never tell anyone."

"I'm so sorry we dragged you into all of this," I said, fighting back tears of my own. "You don't deserve any of this and we just dumped all of our drama on you and-"

"Hey. Stop that. Don't you worry about us, you have enough on your plate," He scolded. “Tootles…are you okay?”

I took a deep before wiping some rouge tears from my cheeks and pulled my sweater closer around my body. I wish people would stop asking me that. I was tired of lying to them. I shook my head and tried to pull myself together. I needed to be strong. I needed to convince him that I was okay.

“Thalia…”

“I’ll be alright,” I sniffled. “I’m just worried is all. But once we get Jasper back I’ll be alright.”

“Thalia, you can tell me—”

“I have to go, Millie’s calling me.” I interrupted. “I’ll call you later…I love you Harry.”

“I love you too Tootles.”

I hung up the phone and pulled my knees up to my chest before breaking into new tears. I wanted to scream, to cry out. But instead I held my breath and grabbed my stomach to keep quiet. I could feel my heart pounding faster as if it were trying to defend itself against some impending danger and my breathing be came shallow as I desperately tried to get air into my body. I could feel my throat constricting and my chest contract. My entire body was feeling everything and nothing all at once. All I wanted to do was to jump out of my skin and get away from this feeling.

I was tired of being strong. Tired of having to be the one to fix myself and everyone else. For years I have shut out my own feelings. I’ve been there for my siblings and friends when they needed me. I’ve given everything to try and protect them from the world. But no matter what I did they always ended up hurt. Why couldn’t life just, for once, be easy?

“There you are.” I jumped and turned to see my mother at the door. She still had that sad look in her eye, which only deepened upon seeing me sobbing my heart out on a bench. “How is it…that after everything you’ve been through you have become such an amazing young woman?”

"I guess my mother did a damn good job at raising me," I half laughed half sobbed. My mother was immediatly at my side, wrapping her arms around me and pulling me close. She began gently rubbing my arm as I cried my heart out. After a few minutes I tried to wipe the tears from my eyes but she took my hands.

"Thalia dear, you can take off the mask now. You don't have to be brave for me." She whispered. "You're always the first one to comfort, the first one to put on that smile and reassure everyone that it will be okay. Well it was about time I was the one who held that burden."

"You always have," I replied, my voice hoarse from crying. I had been sobbing so hard I had given myself the hiccups. "Where do you think I learned it? You've always been so strong. You never break."

She let out a chuckle and pushed my hair back from my face. I looked up in to her tired and worried eyes as she said, "oh believe me darling...I've broken. But you know what? We're all a little broken...and that's okay. The key is finding someone who can help put the prices back together."

I looked up at her and before I could stop myself said, “You haven’t.”

She gave me a small smile and held me tighter to her chest. “Well it turns out I didn’t need a Prince Charming. Just a little princess with a big heart.”

“I thought Millie was the princess,” I smiled. She let out a small laugh before gently running her fingers through my hair.

“Honey you can’t keep holing this in,” she whispered.

“I’m usually fine I don’t know why—”

“Everyone has a breaking point Thalia. It’s okay to let people in. It's okay to ask for help.”

I shook my head. “Harry asked…and I couldn’t tell him. I’m worried if I tell him it will destroy him…that he’ll leave.”

“So you’re going to bury it deep inside yourself where it will destroy you instead?” She asked, gently brushing away my tears with her thumb. “Baby, worrying is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn’t get you anywhere. And, from what I’ve heard, it doesn’t sound like Harry will be leaving anytime soon.”

I let out a weak laugh and nodded. I could feel a weight being lifted off my chest and finally felt as though I could breathe again.

“Promise me you won’t hide your feelings from him, or anyone for that matter. That’s what tore your father and I apart. It created barriers full of secrets of lies…you have to be open with each other. Even if it means taking a risk and showing those feelings you’d rather hide.”

"I promise."

She pulled me into a tight embrace. We sat there for a while in silence and in that moment I have never felt so loved. Eventually the tears stopped and the numbness began to fade. I took a deep breath and together we headed back into the house to face the others.

“Thal! Miss Irene!” Maeve cried out as soon as we entered. “They found the car.”

“Where?” My mother and I asked simultaneously.

Maeve shook her head. “Near the West Bridge. It was abandoned. But a store’s security camera across the street saw him stealing a new car. They said Jasper looked fine and they’re searching for the new car now.”

“Well, at least we knew he’s alright,” my mother replied, gently rubbing my back. “Do you girls think you could get dinner going? I need to go check on the little ones.”

“Of course Miss I,” smiled Maeve. The second the two of us were alone in the kitchen she pulled me into a bone crushing hug.

We stood there for a moment consoling each other before Maeve said, “Hugh and Ralph snuck out to gather the guys on the football team. They’re doing their own search. And Miss Lucy’s upstairs with Kenzie…the police left a few minutes ago.”

I nodded and began pulling out supplies for supper, needing something to take my mind off of this. Maeve began rummaging through the fridge for ingredients while I pulled out the dishes.

“Was that Harry on the phone earlier?” she asked as she tied her hair in a knot on the top of her head.

“Yeah. It’s like 3am there but he and the boys were so worried they couldn’t sleep,” I replied. Then I smacked my head in remembrance. “Oh shit! I need to text him!”

Maeve let out a snort as I whipped out my phone.

To Hazza: I’m sorry I hung up on you. I’m okay I promise. The police are following a lead and I’ll keep you updated. Call me when you wake up? Love you xoxo

“Have you told your dad about you two yet?” Maeve asked curiously.

“Oh my god…I haven’t told you yet have I?” I asked, letting out a laugh. “I completely forgot with everything that's happened. Mae, my dad caught me sneaking out of Harry’s room the other night.”

“Oh shit! Really?” she cried. “Was he pissed?”

“At first, but we had a heart to heart—”

“Adorable.” Maeve noted.

“But the next morning as we were leaving he saw Harry and came barreling after him. He chased him halfway down the hall! Harry and Louis managed to lock themselves in our room to keep my dad from murdering them. But he broke down the door—”

“What the fuck!”

“He had Harry pinned against the wall Mae. I swore he was going to kill him. Then, all of the sudden he burst out laughing! I think Harry nearly wet himself because he was so scared!”

Maeve was in stitches and leaning against the counter for support. “Please tell me someone has that on video!”

“I hope so,” I laughed at the memory. Leave it to Maeve to find someway to make me laugh. This was how she comforted people, by taking their mind off of the current situation and getting you to laugh your ass off.

“Oh man,” Maeve said between breaths. “I think that’s the best story I’ve ever heard.”

I continued sharing stories from New York as we worked, effectively distracting both of us from the situation at hand. For a moment there it almost felt normal. That was, until we saw police lights in front of our house. Maeve and I exchanged a glance before making a break for the front door.

“Mom! Aunt Lucy!” I called as we ran to the entryway.

Maeve opened the front door to see a police officer standing patiently. He took off his hat and ran his hand through his grey hair as he stepped inside. I couldn’t read his emotions and I almost screamed at him to just tell us something, anything.

“What’s going on? What’s happened?” My mom asked as she appeared in the entryway looking frantic. We all turned back to the officer.

“Mrs. Kalfis…we’ve found him.”

Notes

Yay! Jasper's been found!
But the question now is...is he alright?
Have they caught Mack's father as well?
Do you think the nightmare's finally over?

Also, how did you feel about Thalia's minor breakdown? This is the first time that I've really shown the feelings she is so determined to hide and I hoped this helped give more insight to her character.

I've suffered sever anxiety when I was younger and tried to do the situation justice. I'm sorry if I have offended anyone or brought back any unpleasant memories. Anxiety and depression are a deadly combination that affect a large number of people, often more than we think. And if anyone ever needs to talk, whether about anxiety or just life, I'm always here for ya :)

I hope you enjoyed the chapter and I promise I'll get a new one up soon!