Under Our Care

Chapter 11

I woke up to some noise, as my senses awakened I realized it was Ezekiel fiddling inside the bathroom, he came back soon after finishing his business. He gave me a smile as he saw me awake.

"You can sleep for a little longer if you want, it's Sunday." He suggested but I denied, if I slept again I wouldn't wake up till noon and I don't think that would be approved by any of my brothers, except maybe Maverick but considering we aren't on good terms, he would be the first one to disapprove.

When I reached downstairs after a while I heard a lot of shouting and disagreement. Isaiah saw me first, he just shook his head and silently told me to not interrupt. I stepped back a little so that I wasn't in their vision though I could not muster up the courage to go back upstairs.

"Stop whining Chris, it's not like I was kidnapped, it was just for a few hours."

"You call that few hours? You were gone for the entire night and you call that few hours. Do I look fucking dumb to you?" Chris's voice was loud and sharp.

"You are overreacting, I was safe."

"Safe? Safe in a bar, drinking away your life." Chris snickered sarcastically.

"It's my fucking choice, I can do whatever I want. I am a grown adult, I can take my own decisions." Maverick said with gritted teeth. I could feel the anger radiating off him.

"Until you are under my care I won't accept this behaviour. You wanted to be responsible, is this how you are going to handle tough situations? Drinking, smoking and God forbid drugs. What if you were too hammered to even think straight and you drove and got into an accident? Is this how you take decisions? Not only costing your own life but also someone else."

Maverick held his head in his hands, his eyes closed in frustration.

"I don't know, all I know is that I didn't do anything rash. You can't control every action of mine. I did something and I agree it wasn't something to be proud of but we can't be all like you. I can't be perfect." He said, guilt peeping out of the crevices of the stern voice he continued managing.

"It's not about being perfect. It's about trying to make wise decisions instead of thinking recklessly. How can I let you move out if you continue behaving like this?" Chris sighed, his voice tired and hoarse. I could see the exhaustion in his eyes, both mental and physical.

I stepped forward and was no longer hidden from his vision. He looked up at me and cursed under his breath, he ran his hand through his hair before beckoning me to give a hug.

"I am sorry you had to hear all that." He whispered against my head.

I shook my head telling him it wasn't his or anybody's fault.

"You scared us so much yesterday, Liyah. How are you feeling now?" He asked me softly, caressing my face.

I could feel all my brothers staring at me, "I feel much better today."

Chris gave me a tired smile, "I am so glad, we were really worried about you."

His words seemed calculated, like he was hiding his vulnerability, I wanted to tell him it was okay to show a bit more emotions but I knew he would as well brush it off and would ask me to stop looking between the lines, he showed what he felt which was most definitely a lie.

I knew somehow this argument was my fault. They were all stressed because of me, they just showed it differently. Now that I can think clearly Maverick wasn't smoking to vex me, it was his way of coping up. I might not be talking to Maverick but I knew he cared and he was stressed hence he took to drinking and smoking. I hope it was just once and he wouldn't make it a habit.