two doors down

calm before the storm

tw

lizzie's pov.
"whatcha working on" i said walking over to y/n who had been sitting silently on the couch. i noticed her looking up at us earlier but didn't say anything.

she put her pen down and passed me the drawing. i loved it. every detail was there each curl in mattie's hair and everything. i just wish she was in the picture aswell.

"i-if you don't like it i'll draw another, it's silly. just a lame sketch" she resorted taking it back and closing her book.

"no sweetheart it's amazing, i love it, i just wish it was the three of us" i smiled at her "can i frame it?" i asked and she nodded after a second.  taking it over to a picture frame that still had the store bough set in it i quickly put it in before placing it on the shelf next to the kitchen.

looked right in place. i looked back at her and she had teary eyes. i was about to ask if she was alright but before i could she said she would be back and hurried down the hall.

"dinners almost ready" i said walking down the hall a couple minutes later. the bathroom door opened and the teen gave me a short smile.

y/n pov
my parents have never appreciated or shown off my art before. like ever. i had to go to the bathroom to cry cause i didn't know what to do.

a couple minutes later i pulled myself together when there was a knock at the door. my eyes were reddened but it wasnt that noticable. i walked back with lizzie to the kitchen and everything for tacos was laid out.

"y/n! come on i helped you gotta try it" mattie said all exited. i had a soft taco never really liking the crunchy ones. no one said anything when the others had 3 and i had the 1 which i was grateful for. i had already had lunch today anyway.

after i cleaned the kitchen, again lizzie said i didnt have too but it felt too weird not having to do a mountain of jobs every day. mattie had gone for a shower so it was just me and her.

my thoughts were going crazy as i mindlessly walked to the lounge once we were done. i pushed my head into my knees trying to relax. it's just a taco.
"you feeling okay honey?" lizzie questioned from the other side of the couch.

i hummed as an answer but just as i was about to give in and get up mattie came running back in sitting between us and asking what's tonight movie.

we watched the live action movie of peter pan which mattie thoroughly enjoyed. it was nice to just have a calm family night. no arguments no obnoxious talking. after that movie i went to take mattie to bed before lizzie and i watched this movie called room.

"do we have to go back tomorrow, i like our life now" mattie said innocently for like the 10th time.

"im sorry mattie but atleast we dont have to stay the night till next week" i told him as he got into bed. he smiled at me and said goodnnight.

3rd person pov
y/n returned to the loungeroom where liz had set up the movie. "are you sure about this one?" she asked and the teen nodded but shrinked back into the couch.
"we dont have too if you don't want to"

"no it's fine sweetheart" the term replayed in y/ns mind for a while. the movie progressed and y/n grew more tired. she slowly laid down on the couch until she was fully laid out on the couch. lizzie was laying as-well because of the long seat on couches.

by the end of the movie y/n was in a deep sleep on the couch, something that rarely happens for the teen. "it's late you should get some rest" liz said looking over to the teen. after receiving no response she realises she was asleep. lizzie debated on waking her up but decided against it knowing she doesn't sleep all to well.

she turned the tv off before slinging her arms under y/n. she expected the girl to be heavier but lizzie had easily lifted her into her arms it was almost concerning. walking down the hall she pushed open the half closed door and saw mattie awake staring at the ceiling.

"you alright buddy, can't sleep?" she questioned as she was putting the teen down in her bed.

"i'm scared"
"what are you scared of" she asked in a whisper. as to not wake y/n. mattie copied her tone and simply said y/ns father.

"how scary is he on a scale of 1-10" lizzie asked as she lead the boy to the kitchen for some warm milk.

"5 normal, 7 when he uses that white powder and 9.5 when he's drunk" mattie explained all the aspects of that man. "i really wish we could stay here, i like you" mattie said sipping the drink.

"i wish you guys could stay here too, i dont think it's safe for you too go back" the woman explained earning a nod from the boy. but just as they reached the door lizzie squatted down to mattie's level.

"mattie i need you too promise me something" she asked holding his hands. she waited for the boy to nod before continuing. "if anything, and i mean anything bad at all happens to you or y/n i need you to come straight here, do you promise"

"i promise lizzie" he nodded and wrapped his arms around her neck. she hugged him back before standing up and letting the boy go back to sleep. "goodnight lizzie"

"good night mattie"