The Alliance

Chapter 19

"Last night went very well," my mom tells me when I go out to the kitchen Sunday morning.

Today must be a day off for her, which can be rare. Being a full time nurse had along hours, and sometimes it felt like she didn't live here. Like she lives at the hospital. She has a magazine on the table in front of her.

"Did it?" I ask confused, putting two pieces of toast in the toaster.

She nods, "Although, I never got to ask Sophia about her limp. I mean, I wasn't expecting her to have a limp. She's my age, could you imagine me with a walker and a cane?" She sighs, "Must be a horrible way to live. Does she need the support because of her weight or something else? Either way, must be awful."

I grimace. I'm not sure how to tell my own mother how ignorant she is about a lot of stuff. Yes, Sophia must not be even 50, but she has MS, and she's had it for almost 20 years, as Alisha told me. I don't think she needs some woman to ask her questions about it. Or making comments about her body.

And there's no way they're the same age.

"Maybe wait until she tells you, mom," I offer, putting on the coffee maker.

"I'm just curious," She defends. "I wonder if she exercises. I'm sure that would make her feel better. Serotonin and all that. Maybe I could show her around the gym here too," She thinks out loud.

"Where's dad?" I ask, getting a mug out, trying to ignore her.

"In bed," She waves towards her room, "He has a headache,"

I snort, "Yeah, he was drunk last night,"

"What?" She says, stunned, "No he wasn't. He just had a drink or two,"

"Mom, he was drunk," I pour my coffee into my mug, "He had a drink in his hand the entire night," I add.

"But he's not a lightweight," She defends, and I roll my eyes. I take out my toast and grab the peanut butter.

The front door opens and I hear Olivia laughing, and I grimace, quickly slathering peanut butter on my toast. I grab a banana and a cutting board and start chipping up the banana.

"There's my sister!" Olvia exclaims, and she gives me a hug.

"Uh, hi?" I untangle myself from her, still not really big for hugging, and put some banana on my toast.

"Okay, now that you're not high, you can meet my boyfriend," She nudges me. She must see the look on my face because she adds, "If you can't even meet my boyfriend, how do you expect to get one of your own?"

I don't have enough time to reply because her boyfriend strolls through. He greets my mom, who smiles at him, looking very pleased that he's here. I grab my plate of toast so I don't have to shake his hand.

"Ava," Olvia sings, "This is my boyfriend, Liam,"

'"Hi," He smiles at me, looking down at the plate in my hands. I tighten my grip because my hands are starting to sweat. I don't look at him, but at the food in my plate.

"H-Hey," I take a step back, about to go towards my room when Olvia stops me.

"Wait!" She grabs my arms, and I glower at her but she ignores me, "Come with us, we're going to the movies,"

I cringe, "Why would I want to go to that?"

"Please?" she begs, and I shake my head.

"You can invite your friends," She says as my dad walks out of his room, nodding at Liam as he pours some coffee into a mug.

"No," I repeat.

"Invite that guy, Hayden. Theo said you guys were flirting the whole time," She suggests.