We All Fall Down

Olivia was beginning to hate New Zealand, and she had the feeling it was mutual by the Earthquakes that had plagued her since arriving at her Grandmother's house. The first one had struck while she had been sitting on the toilet, While not the most dignified it was at least safe and her Dad would have probably got a chuckle out of it if he wasn't busy being worried sick. It was unnerving being back again, while she'd seen plenty of the damage from the tv news there was something eery about walking around some streets where everything seemed to be just like before, then others where the concrete was cracked and buildings missing or covered in supports from the repairs that where being done. For the most part there really hadn't been time to sight see, Gran had never really trusted her, always the 'odd one' so rather then being free to roam and show Storm where she'd grown up the pair had been stuck watching tv, playing bingo and the various other boring pursuits of the old aged to the point where she couldn't stand it anymore.

At least she'd be able to do magic soon, she was counting down the days until her birthday, seventeen and finally she could be a real part of the wizarding world, no longer having to hide her wand when she went home and risk getting into trouble for practicing magic. It was something to hold onto when the house was invaded with long-lost relatives Olivia didn't remember and others who had always picked on her for being small and different. Now she knew she was different and they would never in a million years believe all the things she could do. Christmas had passed in indifference of food and 'chatting' to Storm over the noise of the other guests, her Grandmother seemed to have invited the entire family though thankfully her Mother and new husband where not on the guest list. Today however Olivia was alone as she caught a bus to downtown, she'd gotten up early and left Storm a note so she wouldn't worry or tell her Dad. Olivia felt like a rat for leaving Storm at her Grans alone but there was some things Olivia had to do for herself and this was one of them.

Two blocks from the school Olivia got off, putting her bag over her shoulder she thought of all the times she'd sat at the bus stop debating running away forever, the graffiti had been painted over, somewhere her name was written in marker under the dull green paint. Free or not Olivia couldn't help the feel of anxiety as she crossed the road and made the short walk to Stoat, the school for lack of a better word that she'd spent the worst years of her life attending. Where it not for a unanswered question Olivia might never have returned but being in New Zealand again, feeling the cool air from the mountains made it impossible for her to not wonder what had become of her old friend Zoe. For all the letters she had sent after leaving she'd never got a single one in reply. Despite her hopes the school wasn't a hole in the ground, actually from what she could see it hadn't changed a bit except for a new extension to one side. Scuffing her boots on the path she tried to recognize the few people that where visible from the windows before going inside and hitting the bell for attention. It was a anxious wait, the plain room host to bad memories she would rather not think about even as she heard the soft scruff of soles on the tile floor.

"Yes can I help you?"
Olivia frowned, the face was unfamiliar.. this was going to be a problem. Signing /hello I'm here to see Doctor Mitchell/ she waited as the women stared at her before babbling a apology. Olivia waited in the uncomfortable silence until another nurse arrived, this one she did know and gave a awkward wave.
"Olivia? Olivia Watson?" Olivia nodded and then signed her way though a brief interview of how she was and what had happened since she had left, keeping it simple to the point that she'd moved to Australia and was back because she wanted to know what happened to her friend.
"Oh.." Olivia blinked as the woman's face went from concern to a more stern appearance. "You know the rules Olivia, we cannot give out personal information of former patents even if we wanted to". While the woman's voice was clear there was something about the way she had said 'former' that raised hairs on her neck. Zoe had always spoken about running away, but that didn't feel like it fitted either. / Please? / Olivia signed / She was my friend.. I have to know / . Playing the emotional card had always worked on Nurse Mildred but the woman glared. "That girl was no good Olivia and you know it, now Doctor Mitchell is not here today but if you come back tomorrow I'm sure he would be very pleased to see you again. Olivia had seen that look before, it was one too many of the staff shared and as good as a admittance. Zoe was dead, Olivia thought the worlds would hit her stronger then they had but it was like all the years between had created a sense of numbness around it. / No it's fine / she just signed before gabbing her bag and leaving, the nurse's words to stay still ringing in her ear as she walked out the door and into the humid air.

So that was that then, Olivia tried to think on the last time she'd seen Zoe as she walked to the bus stop, probably right here on the last time she had caught the bus to go home to her parents. Olivia sat and thought, she didn't cry but when the bus came she paid the fare wondering if she should bother Storm with what she had learned, or was it better to keep it to herself? Either way she wanted to be home, home with her Dad and Australia where it would be safe. Storm would understand, Olivia hoped she would anyway. New Zealand was beautiful from the air but from her level it was just bad memories and boring people. The most interesting person in the entire country was gone and Olivia didn't have to know the hows and whens to guess, the Nurses' expression told enough that it wasn't a earthquake or disaster that had taken Zoe's life. For a moment she wondered if there was something she could have done or said but of course it was a natural but pointless train of thought, whatever could have been done was a long time ago and there was only the here and now.

Arriving back at her Grandmother's she ducked her head to avoid a scolding for her disappearing trick, only to find her Grandmother going on about her Mum's Mother who Olivia had never met. Little did she care of the stories of her grandmother who had died long before she was born, though mention of her unlikely appearance one day in the small village where she had grown up might have sounded odd had Olivia's mind not been elsewhere. Moving the old cat off her chair Olivia wondered what her Gran would have thought of the pigmy puffs that where currently being minded by her Dad, it was a slightly bright thought for a day that already felt too long. Olivia hated talk of her Mum's side of the family, ever since she'd found out the truth about herself it just annoyed her to hear about how her Mum who had refused to see what was right in front of her was doing in her denial of a life. Annoying or not it was a distraction from the other thoughts on her mind, so much so that by the time they had finished lunch Olivia had forgotten about calling her Dad or telling Storm, it was her birthday in a couple of days and then they where going to go visit Storm's Nonna and Olivia was excited about that part of the trip if nothing else. So she'd keep calm and carry on as the t-shirt's said. If nothing else she could remember her old friend, she didn't much know anyone else who would have cared that Zoe was no more, so she would. It wasn't much, but it was something.