toxicity

Problem

(Laura's POV)

I open and then squint my eyes because of the light coming through.

God i feel like a mess.

"Goodmorning sleepy head." Duke sits next on my bed.

I rub my eyes. "Hey. What time is it?" I yawn. He takes his phone from his pocket. "11:52 am. Not bad for a night out."

"I feel stupid, have you heard anything of Lin?" I look desperately him in the eyes. I can't lose my best friend. I have lost many people in my life but the closest? No, i would and will fight for them.

"Yes, she is apparently really mad at you, i tried to talk her out of it but i don't think she will be the first to apologise." Duke says while fiddling with his hands.

"I don't see why i have to apologise first, maybe i'll give her some time." I tell. I keep having these headaches for fucksakes.

Duke gets up and pull the covers off me. "Get up, your mom called mine and she want you to go home." He says.

I grunt and get up. "Did she say anything? I want to grab some coffee." I ask.

He looks uncomfortable and scratches the back of his neck. "Well she said it was urgently so you should better hurry."

"Fine." I roll my eyes.

I head out saying goodbye to Duke. I wonder what is so important that i needed to go home for. I mean more importantly than iced coffee?

After 15 minutes of walking, i'm home.

"Hey mom, how are yo-" I walk in and see tons of papers on the table and an exhausting face. Huge eye bags and dark circles under her eyes and it looks like she hasn't slept for days.

She looks up to me and fakes a smile.

"Hey honey... sit down because we need a talk." She tells me to do. I sit down trying not to stare to hard to all the papers on the table.

"Mom, what is all this?" I ask worringly. I'm trying not to have a major panic attack. Because if the whole paper production lays on your table with a dead-looking woman next to it, it is no good.

"These are bills of the house, electricity, gas, water and other bills. But the reason they all lay down here is because i didn't pay them." She explains. Tears fill her eyes. I lay my hand on hers to comfort her.

"I can't pay them anymore." She goes on. "How? I mean you have a well paid job-" I say but then i remember she told me things weren't good at her work.

"I lost my job. They fired me because they didn't want to have drama and they have already replaced me." She wipes her watery eyes. "I tried to find work for the past days but there's no vacatures open. I worked there for over 17 years and now they just fired me. I'm not paid anymore so that means i can't live here anymore. I don't want to use my other bank account because i don't want to lose money on there but only to gain and as long as i don't have a job that means we won't stay here."

I close my mouth and i didn't even noticed i dropped my jaw.

"I have now a temporary job at a restaurant. So that i can live with that income but it's not enough to pay the bills." She says ashamed.

I have so many thoughts.

"Where are we staying then?" I ask. I don't want to live on the streets and definitely not with my sperm donor. I haven't seen him for so long.

"Honey, i hope you understand. But just know that we don't have any other choice but to stay with Mia." She says.

"With Chase?" I open my eyes widely not believing my ears.

She nods. "It's our only solution. I promise you when i have a job we'll come back here. I arranged that the house will not be up for sale and because i'm a single mom, and also because life has gotten expensive, i have six months to find another job to pay the bills."

I look everywhere but into her eyes. My life couldn't get any worse?

First i've gotten this trauma. Secondly, i have had the worst homecoming ever. Next i lost my bestfriend and now my mom had lost her job and we have to live with my enemy? Great.

"When are we moving there?" Hoping it will take another week to mentally prepare myself.

"Tonight." She says. "That fast?" I say harshly.

"She has to work all week and the faster we move there the more i can find another job and look around." She sighs.

Fuck. But like just fuck. The word describes how i'm feeling. Simple, lonely and used a lot.

"I suggest you packing your stuff after lunch." She says.

"Okay mom."

-

(Chase's POV)

Homecoming was something else... Laura really needs my- uhm help. She needs help to take care of that stuff.

I stretch myself out being really tired from yesterday.

I'm kind of pissed because i think i saw her doing an unholy dance with someone. I think it was that basketball player Fredrick. Or should i call him Freddy? Nah.

Whatever not my problem.

I go downstairs and hear my mom on the phone.

"He-" She sushes me to be quiet.

I go to the kitchen and make myself some food.

She hangs up and looks neutral. "I have some news." My mom tells me.

I raise an eyebrow hinting her to continue.

"Charlotte lost her job." She sits down. "That sucks." I say. "That means she doesn't have an income and she can't pay her bills so that's pretty much impossible. I suggested she could stay here for a couple of months until she finds a job. Well she has a job now but that's temporary. She works at the hospital and that's not an easy job to find." She explains.

I feel bad. Laura's mom is a hard worker as far as i know.

Oh...

"That means Laura is going to stay here." I blurt. "Yes, and i expect you take care for her and definitely not fight with her. You know she has some problems with school." She tells.

I think and i hope she's not going to be hard on me. "Yeah mom, i know."

"This isn't what i expected but i'm Charlotte's friend so make sure they both feel welcome." She says. "So i hope you act like it."

I nod. I know it's going to be hard in the beginning but it's just for a little while.

"So when are they coming?" I ask. It's probably not so long.

"This evening. The guest room needs to be cleaned so maybe you could help if you don't have homework." She suggest.

"Okay but i'm going to Dave's-" "No, you're staying here. Because we didn't have dinner the other day we're doing it tonight." She cuts me off.

"But me hanging out was planned before-"

She holds her finger cutting me off. "Chase i don't want to hear this."

I eat my breakfast further.

It can't be that bad.

Right?