New Year, Old Regrets (Openish)

[Roberta "Bobby" Sanders]

Bobby's heart skipped a beat and the world around her became very, very quiet. She didn't really hear the rest of what Callie said, because none of it mattered. Her sister and Rabastan kissed.

When? Was it before Rabastan had even kissed her? Was she the last of the three, naive and shy and inexperienced enough that Rabastan had gone somewhere else to get what she wouldn't give him?

Was it just a kiss? Was it more? Did Callie want it to be more?

Her world turned on its head and she did feel utterly betrayed. What did Callie expect her to say? That it was all right and she understood, that she got why it had been gnawing at her for the weeks they weren't speaking? It wasn't something Bobby could force herself to lie about. Maybe she shouldn't have been too angry at Callie, but after all of this, after finally getting Bobby to sit down with her, why would she say it now if not for the reason to destroy her?

"Wow," Bobby said, unmoved by her sister's tears. "You're a real banshee's wail, you know that?" She grabbed her book bag so she could leave before she broke down, too.

[Callisto "Callie" Sanders]

Callie regretted it almost as soon as the words had left her lips. She wasn't sure what she had expected Bobby to do or say when she heard the horrible truth, but the weight of the secret had begun to sit too heavily on her shoulders. And hearing Rabastan's name again had nearly crushed her in that moment.

Still, there had been very good reasons why Callie hadn't told her sooner. The absolute last thing she wanted to do was hurt Bobby. She was trying to find a way to prevent her sister from being hurt. But who would have guessed that Rabastan would still be with Bobby after all this time? He was supposed to have broken up with her by now so that Callie could tell Bobby the truth, and then the triplet could have planned their revenge against Rabastan. But it hadn't happened that way, and instead of Rabastan breaking Bobby's heart, Callie had done it herself. She hated herself even more, and the realization, along with Bobby's hurt response, was like a punch in the stomach.

"Wait, please, listen to me!" she choked out, her voice thick with tears. "I'm sorry! Really... I never asked for it, and I didn't encourage it, I swear! He cornered me to talk about you, and he said something about wanting to help us make up... I knew he wanted something from me, but I said I'd hear him out... and then he kissed me. I was so shocked, I couldn't even stop him. But I don't like him, and I would never do that to you on purpose. Please... You have to believe me. He's trying to drive a wedge between us..."

She was well aware of just how crazy this all sounded. But it was the only thing she could think of. He was trying to drive the triplets apart for some reason. She didn't even want to know why, because right now, he was succeeding. They had always sworn that nothing would come between the triplets... and now they were letting Rabastan Lestrange get between them.

[Roberta "Bobby" Sanders]

Bobby took a deep breath, pausing to hear Callie out- though she had no idea why. She was hurt, and her plan was to just go somewhere she could be alone and absorb it, but somehow, Callie talking about it made it... worse. Worse for Callie, anyway, and it made Rabastan just a little more successful.

"Wow," Bobby said after a moment, looking at her sister. "I see what you're doing." Hurt was replaced by a seething anger in her gut. "It's awfully convenient, isn't it? That he should kiss you to drive a wedge between us... and telling me would what, drive me away from him and push me towards you? Why are you lying? Why can't you just let me have this one thing?"

Her words were coming out faster and louder until she could feel the pinprick of tears in her eyes. "I thought we were making progress, but I can't believe you, Calisto."

[Callisto "Callie" Sanders]

At her sister's cold tone, Callie's sobbing stopped. It wasn't that she wasn't still upset... her heart was broken in that moment. But another emotion began to slowly spread through her as well. Instead of guilt and sorrow, Callie felt the rage and indignation rising up in her, and soon that eclipsed everything else she was thinking and feeling.

Yes, she had betrayed Bobby, but she hadn't meant to or wanted to. Rabastan Lestrange had manipulated her, used her, and tossed her aside like she was just an empty quill pot. And after torturing herself over the incident for months, she had finally managed to admit the truth to Bobby. She wasn't sure what she had really expected when she blurted out the truth, but it wasn't this. Never, for one second, had she ever thought that Bobby wouldn't believe her. Yes, she had known Bobby would be hurt and angry, but she never even imagined that she wouldn't believe her at all. That she would blame her for all of it and take Rabastan's side.

In a way, it validated all that Callie had been reading about. Often in such cases, even other women took the man's side and accused the woman. But Callie never thought her own sister would turn against her like this. For Rabastan Lestrange, of all people.

"Fine!" Callie shouted, her voice still hoarse from crying. "I only told you because I was trying to protect you from him, but if that's the way you want to be about it, then just forget I ever said anything! I don't want him, I hate him! I don't know how many times I have to tell you that. If he so much as looks my way ever again I am going to hex him into oblivion, I swear to Godric! He practically assaulted me, but if you want to take his side, then fine... go! Be with him! I hope you'll both be very happy together! But when he breaks your heart, maybe I won't be around to help you pick up the pieces!"

She hastily stood up and rubbed at her face, tying to wipe away the still-flowing tears from her face, then she turned and ran down the stairs, tripping slightly and just barely catching herself before tumbling headlong down the stairs.