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Chapter 22

Sometimes places have their own smell. My parents' house had one so I felt thrown back in time when I walked in and I tensed up. I hated the look my mom gave me as she greeted me and kissed me on the cheek. „See? It's not that bad here, is it?" I had to pull myself together to not roll my eyes. My father was sitting in the adjoining living room with Maddie. Maddie ran when she heard my voice and jumped into my arms.

My heart was pounding when I entered the living room, but I couldn't see David anywhere. The fear slowly dissolved in me as we sat down together. There was a movie running on the TV that my mom really wanted to see, but my dad and I kept talking the whole time. He asked me how things were going at work and whether I even have time for myself. Just like my father was. I even told him about the dance competition and I could almost feel my mother shaking her head next to me. She found the whole 'dancing' unnecessary and I knew there was no point in discussing with her, so I stopped talking about dancing and we watched the movie.

It was while we were discussing the next movie when my phone vibrated and I glanced at it. When I saw who it was from, I slid back a little inconspicuously. Maddie and my parents continued to argue about the movie.

What are you doing?

private

A few seconds, then he started tipping again.

What are you wearing?

oh cmon

u find the worst moments to ask that

Is there a problem?

no

nothing special, jeans and a hoodie

Hot

haha

Are you free right now?

no

Send me a pic of your legs

god

wait

I looked between my mother and Maddie, one on the left and the other on the right, still talking and trying to convince my father about something I didn't understand since I haven't listened to them. I leaned back as far as possible so no one could see my screen and took a quick photo. I sent it off quickly, typed one last message before I would put my phone away for good. gotta go off n...

„Hi Os."

I flinched and locked my phone almost automatically. „Fucking shit..." He leaned against the arm of the sofa right behind me and grinned.

„David, you're home already?" my mother asked.

„My prof let me go earlier." He walked around the couch. „And I didn't want to miss Oscar, so I hurried up. Maddie, can you slide over? I wanna sit next to him."

I felt my phone vibrate in my hand, but I was too shocked to really realize it. „I'll stay next to Maddie." Maddie looked up at me and I felt weird.

„Oh come one! Maddie–"

I held Maddie's arm when she wanted to move away from me. Without realizing I squeezed her arm too tight, even though I only wanted to show her she should stay.

My mother sighed. „The warring brothers reunited. Please don't start anything big. We wanted to watch a movie."

„God," David sighed and sat next to my dad. „A drama queen as always."

I stared intently at the screen and let out a quiet breath. I didn't care what they thought of me in that moment. As long as I didn't have to sit next to him. But I still couldn't relax. I suddenly felt Maddie sliding her hand into mine and smiled at her. It didn't even begin to calm me down. I didn't get what was happening in the movie. I just had to try to breathe normally and not attract any attention.

I let go of Maddie's hand because my hand was getting sweaty, but she barely even noticed it. I went to the bathroom to take a break from that tension. I needed to breath freely. I locked the door and opened the window and I took a deep breath. I glanced at my phone to distract myself. Sexy, he had written. Mistake. I shouldn't have looked at it now. I put my phone away again.

I walked around. I stopped and looked at myself in the mirror. I don't have to say yes to everything. There's no reason to be scared. I walked back into the living room, my legs feeling a little shaky. Something inside of me screamed when I saw David had sat down on my place, next to Maddie. When I looked at him he shrugged his shoulders and said, „your fault. You left."

My mother sighed again. „Just sit down, Oscar! You're distracting."

I don't have to say yes to everything. There's no reason to be scared. I controlled my breathing. There's no reason to be scared. „That's my place." I looked him straight in the eyes. I felt like throwing up when he looked back at me.

„Oscar," warned my mother.

„I hardly ever spend time with Maddie," I said. „I came here for her."

Maddie started, „It's okay. We could–"

„No it's not," I said softly, still keeping my eyes at David which wasn't very easy for me.

„Oscar," my mother said louder. „Don't start an argument now. Just sit the hell down."

My jaw tensed. I didn't want to. I wanted to show Maddie that she doesn't have to say yes to everything. „I'll sit next to Maddie or I'll go home."

„Come on, Oscar..." my father said. Even him. „It's just a seat." No, it's not. It's much more. If you just knew what this was about. My father slid over on the couch. „Come on, sit next to me, buddy."

But I kept staring at David. He looked so carefree as he sat and chewed his chips with relish. I looked at Dad, who was tapping next to him. I was burning with anger. I turned around and went into the hallway, crouching down to put on my shoes. I knew exactly what my mother would think, but I hadn't cared about that since a long time. I would only have liked to explain it to my father, if I had the words and the courage to do so.

When I got up, David was in the hallway and I held my breath in shock. „What's your problem?" he asked. „Now stay and sit down, you can sit next to her."

„No thank you." I didn't even look at him while I put on my jacket, but good lord, my whole body was trembling knowing he stood right next to me and watched every movement of me.

„Are you going already?" Maddie asked, entering the hallway.

I stopped and sighed. „Yes. I'm sorry, Maddie. We can meet again soon, I promise." I felt David's eyes on me.

„Can't you stay a little longer? Please!"

I crouched in front of Maddie. „Call me, okay? You can also text me. At any time."

„Please, Oscar. Just a few more minutes. We could drink hot chocolate together?"

I ruffled her hair and smiled. „Take care, Maddie. Sleep well." I didn't look at David again and left.