How To Stay Afloat (BxB)

Chapter 70: Can love be selfish?

My mom comes in with the test in hand. "All negative." She says relieved.

I sigh relieved. But my relief is short lived as dad is ready to bomb me with questions.

"What did you eat yesterday?" Dad asks me, ignoring the test result.

"I- uh." I have to think for a bit. Better be honest here. "I had a big breakfast at McDonald's." I say.

"And after that?" He asks me.

I press my lips together into a straight line.

He rubs his face with his thumb and index finger, looking upset. "No wonder you faint when you don't eat anything for a whole day." He says.

"Uhm. Sorry. I was just stressed because of everything. I forgot." I explain honestly.

"How can you forget to eat? You need it to survive! Do you sometimes forget to breathe, too?" He yells furiously.

"I- I know. Sorry." I stutter.

"What's going on down here?" Caleb asks confused as he walks into the living room, rubbing his eyes.

"Sam passed out when we did a drug test." Dad explains, his voice a little softer.

He looks at me concerned. "Again? Are you okay?" He asks me.

"Again?" Mom and dad ask at the same time.

"I might have passed out after breaking my nose, too." I admit.

"You have to tell us things like that." Dad says, sounding disappointed.

"But you get mad instantly." I point out.

He sighs and then pats my thigh and stands up. I hiss in pain as he of course hits the burned part of my skin.

He looks confused. "Can you show me the burns from the coffee?" He asks.

"Do I really need to pull my pants down now?" I ask him annoyed.

He nods his head and I groan.

I stand up and pull down my pants to my knees and show everyone my wonderful burns.

I guess the blisters leaked fluid underneath the silicone film. It looks kind of disgusting.

My mom gasps in shock.

"Samuel. They look really bad." Dad says. "All that from a cup of coffee?" He asks as he inspects my thighs.

"Yeah, but they're gonna heal in no time." I say with a shrug.

"When you said you got burned from coffee I didn't expect that kind of injury." He says with furrowed eyebrows.

I pull my pants back up. Feeling embarrassed enough for so early in the morning.

"It's not a big deal." I say and roll my eyes.

Dad and mom exchange a look and then both sigh.

"All good?" I ask as I find dad looking at me with a calculating expression.

"Can you roll up your sleeves please?" Dad asks me.

"What?" I ask him nervously. Fuck. Did he realize I hid the drug test there?

"Roll them up please." He repeats himself.

"Oh, uhm. Why?" I ask him.

"Just do it please." He says, and reaches forward to try and grab my arm.

"Jeez. Okay." I say as I move back. I sigh and push up my sleeve on my right arm first and then on the left arm. The test is hidden underneath the hard part of the splint by my wrist. Upon closer inspection it is visible.