Half Full Told (hfjONE sodapack au)

5) (un)creative spice

Incoherent words were heard, and nothing could stop it.

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This was the 4th time already. Liam was being startled many times throughout this point. As he quickly jumped out of the bed, the door squeaked right along.

He looked around for Bryce, but he wasn't on the top bunk like he would.

He hurriedly went downstairs, scrambling to find him. The soda bottle suddenly came out of the bathroom, catching Liam before he clashed into him.

"Hey, hey, you ok?"

"Yeah, I'm ok, just looking for you." Liam caught his breath.

"What did you need me for?"

Liam paused. Was this the right time to tell him..?

Sudden clamoring was heard in the living room. The two rushed over to see what was going on.

The cousins were fighting. The older kids were debating over a game, others threw paper figures at each other. Meanwhile, the adults in the room were arguing over preparing the food.

Valerie ran over to the two, a list crumpled in her hand and a card in the other.

"Everyone's fighting, and I need to deal with them. Can y'all do an errand for me?"

"What's going on?"

"We need this stuff on the list for tomorrow. The address for the store is on there as well. And just use this card to pay."

Bryce took the items from her hand to his.

"Ok, good luck- HEY, OLIVER, PUT YOUR COUSIN DOWN NOW-"

The soda bottle and the backpack scurried out the door before they could witness any more chaos.

"So, uhhh, we get these groceries. Simple as that.."

"Yeah. I guess let's go."

The two got in the car, driving out of the neighborhood into the town square.

They followed the address, right until they found the exact spot Valerie wanted. Someplace called "2763 Whole Foods". Yeah, really creative of them. What was the punchline for it?

The two went inside, grabbing each item and checking it off the list.

Bryce watched as Liam tried grabbing a loaf of bread off a tall shelf. He was on his tippy toes, trying to grab a bag with baked yeast in it.

"Heheh, he's adorable- wait, wait, what am I thinking..?"

Bryce shook the though away, and just simply decided to help the backpack.

"Hey, let me get that."

Bryce got up behind him and reached up for the loaf of bread. The two realize how close they were to each other and quickly got off of each other. The two were left in blushing messes.

They were quick to check out their stuff and go home. As they opened the door, they were glad to know that there was no chaos going around anymore.

Liam went through to give the items Valerie needed to her. Bryce followed along, but he suddenly heard someone spoke,

"Heh, you've gone a bit soft n' sappy, huh?"

Bryce paused in his steps. He looked over to see it was Casper.

"What did you say?"

"What? I was talking to myself?"

"Oh, alright."

Casper couldn't help but smirk as Bryce walked away.

"Oh, I wonder how this'll go,"

"I hope this romance blossoms, not gonna lie." Darci responded.

Valerie took the groceries to the kitchen.

"Hey Liam, wanna help out with the food for tomorrow?"

"O-oh, Yeah, totally!"

Bryce would've helped out too, but she stopped him.

"Oh, Bryce, uh.. there's a someone waiting for you upstairs. I think you'd better talk to him."

He wondered who it could be. He shrugged it off and went upstairs.

"On the left, second door!"

Bryce stood there at the door. He prepared himself for whoever it could be. He opened the door, just to see..

his parents.

Shouting could be heard upstairs. Liam and everyone else stood there, listening in.

"Welp, thats good ol' Bryce for ya," Casper finally spoke.

"Haha, just as expected!" Darci replied.

The soda bottle was seen storming down the stairs. Melanie and Delaney chased after him, while his parents stood up there, shocked by how much he's changed since those years.

The twins try to calm him down, but Bryce jerks back his arm and slams the front door on the way out. Liam goes after him, but the two stop him before he goes out the door.

"He's just getting a breather. Just give him time to calm down."

Liam couldn't hide his expression of concern. He really needed to talk to Bryce. The two tried smiling it off, but it showed no effect.

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It was later that evening that Bryce came back. It was just as the adults finished preparing food and the cousins finished decorating the rooms.

Everyone was dismissed to get sleep for the big day tomorrow. Liam rushed back to his room to check up on Bryce.

"Hey, are you ok?"

"Yes, Liam, I'm fine."

He really wasn't. He just said he was with such an frustrated tone. It was clear he was still infuriated about his parents visiting early.

"I- I'm sure your parents being over isn't so bad."

"What do you know?! Or did they already tell you? About how they never cared about me and just my sister? About how my mom was always a drunken liar and my dad was never there?! About-"

Bryce realized how he was just being an emotional outburst.

"I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get angry at you. God I'm so stupid."

"It's ok. But you need to give your parents time. I think if you talk to them, then.. maybe things could get better? I don't know, I'm horrible at advice."

"This is all complicated. But I'll think about it."

They both got their nightly routine finished. Before the both of them could get to sleep however,

"Liam."

"Yeah?"

"Thank you for the.. advice. And thank you for talking to me. I really needed it."

Bryce pulled his blanket over him, finishing his words that he had to say.

"You're the best friend I've had in a while."

Liam felt his face get a bit pink at that statement.

"U-uh- goodnight Bryce."

He pulled his own blanket over his face to hide his gay panic.

"Goodnight Liam."

Now Liam's face was all red.

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960 words. whoops