Chapter Text
[Transcript of an Interview between Renee Walker and Entertainment Tonight]
Yumi Maddison: Thank you so much for joining me for this interview, Ms. Walker.
Renee Walker: [Gentle smile] Thank you for having me, Ms. Maddison, I’m very excited to discuss our shows last season. And please, just call me Renee.
YM: [Small laugh] Alright thank you, Renee. You can just call me Yumi too.
RW: [Nods]
YM: Why don't we jump in then?
RW: That works for me!
YM: [Nods] So, It’s been officially announced that this upcoming season of "The O'Reilly's" is going to be the final season. How do you feel about this?
RW: It’s definitely a bittersweet feeling. This show means so much to me and its sad to see that its ending after so long.
YM: I can only imagine, this was your first big production and arguably launched your career.
RW: [Nods with a gentle smile] I made life long friends on this show. Finely and Jolene were like an extra set of parents for all us. They helped Stephanie navigate even the most obscure loopholes and what to expect for every little thing. They also helped me, Kinsley, and Andrew stay away from all the temptations that Hollywood notoriously has for child actors. It has been such an amazing environment to work in and its one I'll miss greatly.
YM: [Nods in sympathy] I can only imagine how hard this must be for all of you on set. I do know that on a lot of long running shows like this, the cast tend to grow immensely close.
RW: [Nods with a gentle smile] Oh yes. I have worked a few other sets besides this one and while I do appreciate the professionalism and being treated just as a fellow actor, I must admit I'll dearly miss the cast and crew for The O'Reilly's.
YM: Of course, your first major role like this will always hold a special spot in your heart.
RW: I know that even as I continue with my career, the friends I made on set will always stay with me. Finely and Jolene have already started spamming me with encouraging texts any time Im on set for my new project.
YM: Its always wonderful to have supportive friends such as them- and speaking of friends may I ask how your best friend, Andrew Minyard, is doing with-
RW: [Politely smiles] I’m sorry but it would be inappropriate to discuss Andrew's healing journey right now. I respect my friends wish for privacy.
YM: [Nervous laugh] Yes of course it’s just that-
RW: Andrew is going through a difficult time and we should respect his wish and right to privacy.
YM: [Clears her throat nervously] Yes of course but as his best friend dont you have-
RW: Oh yes, I am his best friend which is why I will not be talking about my best friends struggles. It really isn't mine to share.
YM: People are worried.
RW: Oh yes I know, and I am so very happy that so many people care about Andrew. But at the same time, if you truly do care about Andrew you wouldn't demand to know everything that's happening to him right now. Its best to leave it up to his family and friends who he wishes to know about his condition.
YM: Well, yes, but-
RW: Why don't we talk about The O'Reilly's? I have a lovely story about Kinsley that I’m sure you'd love to hear!
[Continue Reading]
Jemna Opal @jemgems4
I think its bullshit that people are harassing Renee to talk aboht Andrew like leave them alone?? They're kids for God's sake
Yummy tummy @cakecupcook
Replying to @jemgems4 also this is RENEES interview about HER not some guy
Jemna Opal @jemgems4
Replying to @cakecupcook not 3har I was getting at at all actually
Train ✋️ @stopffaakl
Replying to @jemgems4 @cakecupcook the sexism of asking women about the men in their lives is a whole other convo then digging for dirt on a kid who just tried to kill tjemslevs dude
Falon the Falcon @fa1c0n
Its disgusting that all these fuck ass 'adults' are targeting a queer kid like this
Ulkirotum @ululul2348
Replying to @fa1c0n hes a public figure dipshit
Falon the Falcon @fa1c0n
Replying to @ululul2348 hes a fucking kid dipshit im the same age as him as if this happened to me id be dead rn
Ulkirotum @ululul2348
Replying to @fa1c0n all u fucking kids are so fucking dramatic 🙄 🙄🙄🙄
Falon the Falcon @fa1c0n
Replying to @ululul2348 'aLl u fUcKiNG kIdS aRE sO fUCkInG dRaMAtIc' stfu old man and leave us alone🖕
-
"I need you to break me out of here," Andrew demanded, slamming his hands onto the table. He needed out of this place. If he was crazy before then he was crazier now. And Renee could break him out. If she wasn't such a goody fucking toe shoes.
Renee smiled at him- fucking traitor. "You know I can't do that Andrew."
Andrew threw himself back onto the bench and dramatically scoffed. "Then what use are you to me? Some friend you are."
"I’m glad to see you're still so lively." Renee said.
"I know an insult when I hear one, Walker." Andrew reminded her, pointing threateningly at her. She wasn't impressed. If she wasn't such a curious creature they would not be friends. Her beating him up helped too because then she could teach him how to do that and she had been. Before he got locked up.
Renee quickly changed the subject. "How have things been?"
Andrew tapped his fingers against the table, staring Renee down until one of them broke. Unfortunately for Andrew's ego, it was him. Damn Renee and her smile. He let out a heavy, dramatic sigh so she knew how inconvenienced he was by her question. "I’m locked up in the loony bin, how do you think things have been?"
"That’s not a very nice description of this place," Renee said with a faint bite to her words. She placed her hands on the table, clasping them together. Her necklace hung around her neck like it always did. "And you haven't answered my question."
Andrew thought back to his little stay here at the loony bin- it was strange no doubt about that. He didn't like the psychiatrist he had been giving, the man's stare was unnerving and his smile was unnaturally painted on. He tried too hard to coax out the horrors Andrew had faced, too excited to hear the details. Andrew would tattle on him to Nicky, make him go away and leave him and all the other kids alone. But he didn't tell Renee that, she would understand but this was Andrew's problem.
"I got myself a pet rabbit." Andrew decided to tell her instead. Because it was true. He had a giant red rabbit named Neil following him around. He hated him and his cute face. And those big blue eyes, he hated those too.
Renee beamed at him, far too happy for such a little thing. "You made a friend!"
"That is not what I said." Andrew corrected her.
Renee ignored him. "I think that's amazing, Andrew! What's his name?"
Andrew crossed his arms over his chest, deep annoyance plaguing him. "Why do you assume the rabbit is a guy?" He asked, raising an eyebrow at her. "Are you accusing me of something? Or is this one of those instances that reveals your bias?"
"It’s because you're a pathetic gay boy who’s weak against a pretty face and I doubt there would be any girls here who would tolerate you enough to put up with your prickly personality."
Andrew glared at Renee for her harsh review of him while he was in the loony bin. It was incredibly rude of her to do that and she had to know. "I can't believe you."
Renee chuckled at him. "Yes, yes, I'm so mean." She was placating him. She was lucky Andrew couldn't do anything against that.
"I can just leave." Andrew reminded her.
Renee had that twinkle of mischief in her eyes- a reminder as to why they were friends. She wasn't just a good Christian girl, she was far more like Andrew than anyone knew. It made her interesting, and it was also why they were friends. "Can you though? You need a key to get in and out."
Andrew leveled her with a blank look. She put her hands up in surrender and dropped it. Andrew tapped his fingers against his arm as the mostly comfortable silence stretched on. Renee waited for him to decide what to say next- another reason he tolerated her annoyances. Andrew glanced at her then stared down at the table as he tried to get the words out. "How's Aaron?"
Renee's eyes burned a hole into Andrew’s head but he said nothing and she respected that that was all she was going to get. "He’s worried. And stressed." She answered, the light hearted teasing over with. "He wanted to come with me today but I figured you wouldn't want him to see you like this."
Andrew didn't even glare at her, even though it pissed him off that she was right. He didn't want his brother to see him, not when he wouldn't do anything to save his life if something were to happen. He couldn't let Aaron see him like this, he didn't want Aaron to see him like this. But, of course, that only made Aaron want to see him more. Andrew didn't let him in his hospital room nor before he got sent to this place so he was probably itching to see Andrew. But Andrew couldn't let his brother see him like this. "He shouldn't have this in his memory." He told Renee.
"Neither should you." Renee responded with and that was all Andrew could handle.
Andrew got up and pounded on the door for Timid the Nurse to open up. Renee didn't say anything to this, she just let him escape without another word. And that was probably why, when Nurse Timid opened the door, Andrew glanced back at her and gave her a little something extra. "Neil." He whispered, like the name was a secret he didn't want to give up. "That’s his name."
Renee's eyes were wide with shock but she quickly recovered with a soft and happy smile. "He sounds like a respectable rabbit." She said, following along with Andrew’s ridiculousness. "I’ll let Aaron know that you're doing well!”
-
Neil floated around reality and nightmares, unsure if the shadows he saw out of the corner of his eyes or the smell of blood were real or just in his head; unsure if the stomping of heavy feet above him existed or if was all just in his memories- not until the door to his room opened up and Andrew waltz in, so sure of his reality unlike Neil.
Neil's body jumped with surprise but the tension built up in his body eased as Andrew came closer. Soothing balm had never worked on Neil, he was always too high strung and on alert for it to do anything and it always seemed like a fake claim to make people buy it. But, he thought that maybe this was what it was like. Suddenly being calmed by a singular presence, all the tension and desire to run gone just because Andrew was next to him. Maybe all those people had a point about soothing balms. Maybe. They certainly were crazy about a scent being calming but he couldn't deny that Andrew was calming.
"Have fun by yourself, rabbit?" Andrew asked as he sat down next to Neil on the floor, pulling down Neil's blanket to wrap around himself.
Neil blinked at him. He didn't understand the question, at least, he didn't think he understood. He wasn't really sure what 'fun' was. His whole life was one act after another- from the moment he could talk he was spinning lie after lie for his own safety. He couldn't let anyone in, no one could know what laid in the basement of that house. Then he and his mom ran and everyone was a potential leak, the outdoors were a dangerous thing that they couldn't afford. 'Fun' meant dying, it meant his father finding them and chopping them up into tiny pieces. He did things of course, he watched sports when he could, he liked to do math work, and if he could he would spend some of his days reading but did that mean he was having fun? He didn't know. He wasn't sure what qualified as fun.
Andrew let out a loud sigh, slumping against the wall, Neil's blanket wrapped tightly around him. "Stop thinking so loudly." He said.
"You can’t hear me think?" Neil asked, confused.
"Yes I can."
"Okay?"
Andrew leveled Neil with an unimpressed look but Neil found he didn't mind it. He liked seeing Andrew’s different expressions and he liked being the reason for it.
Neil wrapped his arms around his legs that were pulled up to his chest, resting his chin on top of his knees. He looked at Andrew, memorized by the way his hair stuck up in a dozen different directions. "Who visited you?" He asked without any expectations of getting an answer. Andrew wasn't very forthcoming with personal information, but neither was Neil.
Andrew shrugged. "A friend."
"You have friends?"
Andrew glared at Neil and Neil stared back. Andrew’s eyes were a warm hazel color, the exact opposite of the icy blues that plagued Neil's nightmares. Neil liked the color. He liked looking at them and knowing that they belonged to Andrew and no one else. Andrew eventually let out another sigh, this time sounding tired. "Yes Neil, I have a friend."
"What’s it like?" Neil asked. He never had a friend before. At no point in his life had he ever had the chance to get close to anyone. Just trying to led to his mom beating him black and blue so after a few times he stopped trying. Survival had always been more important.
Andrew’s expression was unreadable and he didn't talk for a while, but Neil didn't mind. He liked the silence they created. "I trust her." He finally said. "We can just talk. It’s...it’s nice."
Neil nodded. He didn’t really understand but he thought that maybe was beginning to. "Is she your only friend?" He asked.
Andrew tilted his head towards Neil, his eyes had drifted away from Neil but that was fine. "I have a brother." He said. "But I wouldn’t count him as a friend."
"Why not?"
Andrew took a deep breath, his grip on his blanket tight. His legs were spread out in front of him, his feet loosely knocking into each other. "Because he’s my brother."
Neil frowned. "That’s different?"
Andrew nodded. His eyes focused on a spot on the wall opposite of them. "Yeah, it’s different, rabbit." He said. "She’s my friend. Aaron is my brother."
Neil didn't press any more than he had, even though the explanation didn't help at all. He just doubted that he'd ever understand, the family he came from was shattered and broken beyond repair to ever allow him to know what normal relationships were like. Whatever Andrew and his brother had was far too foreign for Neil to understand and that's how it would probably stay. Neil didn't mind, because then Andrew could spend however long he'd stick by Neil's side trying to explain it. "Okay. Is it just you and your brother?"
"No. Nicky's there too. He's my cousin and he adopted me and my brother."
"So is he like your dad now?" Neil asked, surprised at himself for his genuine curiosity. The more Andrew talked the more Neil found he wanted to hear whatever the boy decided to share with him, he wouldn't even mind if Andrew spoke utter nonsense if it meant Neil could hear him talk.
"I guess." Andrew shrugged, his eyebrows pinching. Neil wanted to smooth it out with his fingers but he didn't dare touch Andrew. "Erik's there too, but he's more like a glorified cheerleader for Nicky. He stays out of my decisions and I let him stick around."
"Do you not like him?" Neil picked at the fabric of his pants leg, adjusting himself so his cheek was pressed against his knee so he could fully stare at Andrew. He didn't want to miss a second.
Andrew glanced over at him, scowling, but he looked away quickly and didn't tell Neil to stop. Not that it would've done anything. "It’s complicated." He muttered. "I’ve grown to trust Nicky- as illogical as that is- but that doesn't mean I trust his taste in men. I don't know why Erik's so willing to put up with everything so until I figure it out he's on thin fucking ice."
Neil nodded like he understood. He didn't. Or maybe he did? He was suspicious of every person around him because that's what he had to do growing up but he never once was suspicious of a person in the way Andrew was. Neil knew his mom would never get too close to anyone, especially someone who could hurt them. He never worried about her like that.
Andrew looked at Neil with a doubtful expression and rolled his eyes when all Neil did was stare at him. He flapped his arm towards Neil so that the blanket covered Neil's face. "Stop that." He ordered.
"Stop what?" Neil asked, tapping against Andrew’s blanket-covered arm.
"Stop looking at me like that."
"Like what?"
Andrew didn't answer him, just lowered his arm and glared at Neil for a few seconds more before he resumed looking at the wall. "What about you?" He asked.
Neil blinked in confusion, unsure what Andrew was talking about. "What about me what?" He asked.
"Your family." Andrew gritted out, his arms now crossed over his chest.
"What about them?" Neil pulled his knees closer to his chest, his fingers dug into his legs. His heart beat rapidly in his chest at the topic, his mothers harsh words rung around in his head telling him to lie. Never let anyone in, never let anyone know because knowing meant death. It meant them being found and dragged into that basement. But things were different now- Nathan was dead, the FBI only cared about what the public knew and Andrew wasn't the public. He was Andrew. He stayed with Neil when he was panicking and his thoughts were thrown into disorder. He had his own fucked up life that he clearly didn't want to share so maybe Neil could trust him with this. He trusted him with everything else that mattered so far.
"My parents are dead." Neil finally said, the words tasted like iron on his tongue. The vivid memory of a burning car and his father's body dropping to the floor after a piercing gun shot filled his mind. He was free from the monster but he was all alone.
"How?" Andrew asked like he was asking about the weather. Neil's heart slowed down, the panic easing.
"Murdered." Neil whispered so quietly he barely heard it himself. It left a lot out, it left out the years of violence and running and burning cars and bloody basements and how it all ended with a single bullet- but it was the most truthful he had ever willingly been.
Andrew just hummed like this information wasn't heavy, like it was as commonplace as saying the sky was blue and the earth was round. "Explains why you're such a rabbit, rabbit."
"Are you ever going to stop calling me that?" Neil asked, his body slumping with relief. Andrew took this truth with more ease than even Neil could. He was still standing when everyone else wouldn't know how to respond. It was like Andrew could hold the world up if he could be bothered, although Neil didn't want him to do it alone. It wouldn't be fair to the only person to show him kindness like this. If Andrew would let him he'd help him.
"Don’t get your hopes up, rabbit." Andrew mused.
Neil buried his face into his knees to hide his smile. He found that he liked it when Andrew called him that, even if it sounded ridiculous. It sounded like something good when Andrew said it.