Avery had been speaking with Walker for the last few days, and had found out that her Grandmother was very close to the end. So she'd taken the week off school and was staying with an old friend in Tulsa, wanting to be close by if it happened, but still unable to face her mother.
She woke up after a fitful nights sleep, and just as her eyes focused, she felt one of the family connections in her mind fade away.
"Oh no," she whispered, getting out of bed and dressing swiftly.
As if on cue, her mobile rang. It was her father.
"It's ok, Dad," Avery answered, tears forming in her eyes as she listened to her father struggle not to cry. "I'll tell the others, if you like..."
And so, with his blessing, Avery sent out a thought to her siblings, letting them know that Bea had passed on.
Isaac and Zac
Zac paused mid-stride as the news reached his mind.
"Oh!" he exclaimed.
"What?" asked Isaac.
"Grandma Bea... Avie just sent the word... She's... she's..."
"No. No, she can't be."
"I'm afraid so."
Zoe
Zoe was in rehearsal when she got the news. She stood still, shaking, while everyone was dancing around her.
When her body finally got the message, she ran out of the class, heading for her room.
Mackie and Diana
Mackie walked up to Diana, who was crying and gave her a great big hug. He was in too much shock to cry himself, his mind simply unable to comprehend that Grandma Bea would no longer be in their lives.
Jessica
Jessi was in class with Isabel, when tears started to run down her face.
"Jessi? Are you okay?" Jessi shook her head.
"It's Grandma Bea. She's passed away. Avie just told me." Jessi pulled out her cellphone and pretended to get a text message. Isabel wrapped her arms around her friend in a hug. They were in a practical lab, for wedding dress class, and the teacher came over to see what was wrong.
"Miss Hanson, are you okay?" She noticed the cellphone on the table. "You know we don't allow cellphones in class."
"I know, but my sister just messaged me to tell me my grandmother died," Jessi sniffled. "My family's pretty close."
"Yeah, they're all homeschool freaks who drove around in a bus," some girl behind her cracked. Isabel shot the girl a dirty look, and then started packing things up. Isabel knew that Jessi would want to call her parents as soon as possible.
"Mrs. Moralez, do you mind if I take Jessi home? We can finish up at home, or come in for the evening class," Isabel said.
"Of course, please, go." The older woman patted Jessi gently on the back, and Jessi managed a smile.
"Let's take a cab home, and then you can call Diana," Izzy said, helping Jessi carry all her things.
"Thanks, Iz," Jess smiled. As Izzy flagged down a cab and they climbed inside, Jess rested her head on her friend's shoulder.
"So, if Avie just told you, she probably just found out. Give your parents a bit, an hour or so, and then call your mom and ask about the arrangements. And ask what we can do to help." Izzy stroked Jessi's hair. Isabel noticed that Jessica had been too busy lately to bother colouring her hair, so her natural blonde was starting to show through. She liked it.
"Kay," Jessi said, sniffling. She wasn't really crying too hard, yet. But she definitely wanted her Grandma.
Avery and Zoe
Avery kept her prescence in all of her siblings minds, just in case someone needed to know more, or wanted to know more, or just wanted to talk to someone about it. She knew that Zoe and Jess were both away from home, so may need a bit of family support.
She sent out a collective thought.
"Everyone ok?"
Zoe hiccupped. "I want to come home!"