Laurel 

The house was gloomy, it had been gloomy since Sara's... Doesn't matter, its a dark house, no ones home, I can just go in and grab a few things and head over to Olivers.

I made my way up the pathway, fiddling with the keys. I unlocked the door, slipping in.

The house smelled like alcohol and musk, looking around the front hall, mail scattered across the floor. I stepped over shoes, junk mail, newspapers, and garbage. The house was a mess.

I was about to walk up to my old room when a thud made me jump back, "Hello?" I asked.

"Who's there!?" Dad.

I walked into the living room, which wasn't much better than the boot room. Dad was dressed in a grey shirt filled with stains, black basketball shorts, and his hair and beard were matted. "Dad" I whispered.

"Laurel, what are you doing here?" He put a file down and came up to me.

"I came up for a visit," I said, "I thought you said you were leaving for China, to look into something your friend mentioned"

"Right, well, I am," He said, "I'm supposed to leave Thursday"

"This Thursday?" I asked.

"Yes, I had to wrap up a few things," He said, "How long will you be here?"

"I leave for National City tomorrow," I said. 

"Why didn't you call?" He asked.

"Because you never answer" I stated. "Also, you have left the biggest mess for me to clean"

"You don't have to clean the house, Laur" He turned to his box.

"Not the house, dad," I said. "You have turned investigators against an innocent man"

"What?" He asks.

"Malcolm" I stated, "You made the investigators believe he could kill his own wife"

"Why are you upset about that?" He asked, "I thought you hated rich self-centred, playboys" 

"Yea, I hate them. But Malcolm isn't-" I stopped. "I don't hate Malcolm"

"Can we just talk about this over dinner?" He asks, putting some files away.

"I can't, I'm having dinner at Thea's," I turned back, "I'm just grabbing some stuff" 

I headed up to my old room, nothing had changed since I moved out for university. It felt like a lifetime ago we were happy here.

~

I sat back at the dinner table, Thea was telling a story about a time Oliver played dress up with her. "He wore a sparkly dress and everything" She giggled.

"You have to tell Slade that" I had to cover my mouth to stop myself from spitting out my wine.

"He would not let him live that down" Malcolm laughed.

"If you tell Kara this story" Oliver looked at me threateningly. 

"Don't worry, we'll save it for the wedding" I giggled.

"YES!" Thea cheered. "Our speeches will be a bunch of embarrassing stories of you"

"I hate both of you" Oliver shook his head.

"Who would Kara choose as her maid-of-honour?" Malcolm asked. Thea and I looked at each other.

"I'm the grooms' sister"

"I'm the brides Bff" 

"What about Alex?" Oliver asked.

"Alex would probably be maid-of-honour" I whispered.

"Kara would still have you as bridesmaids," Malcolm said.

"She better" Thea spoke into her wine glass.

"How was your dads' house?" Malcolm asked me.

"A mess" I stated, "I could barely get on the steps"

"What did you grab from there? I thought you brought everything with you to National City" Thea said.

"I did, but I did leave a few things here, a few outfits and my hairdryer," I said.

"Where is your dad?" Oliver asked.

"Asia" I lied, "I think"

"You think?" Thea asked.

"It's a long story," I said. "Involves my sister"

"Oh" Everyone went silent. 

"Anyone want more wine?" Thea offered.

"I'd love some," I said. My last night on 'vacation', so why not? 

Yea, I'd probably regret that tomorrow...

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Yea, just a filler today... I caught the flu again! send help