Seeing Double

Chapter 2

A/N: includes slight domestic arguing?

Their pizza arrived and it was delicious, Liam had eaten two slices before feeling full. His appetite slightly reduced considering his mood wasn't its best, "how much do I owe you?" Liam asked, considering Theo had paid for their food.

"You don't," Theo replied.

Liam laughed, "very funny, how much?" he pulled out his wallet, pulling out a twenty-dollar bill, "is this enough?"

"Liam," Theo said, "It was my idea to eat, I'm not making you pay."

Liam frowned, "but I ate some of it, I should pay for it."

Theo pushed Liam's wallet back towards him, "I paid for us because I wanted to, put your wallet away."

Liam was dumbfounded, "are you messing with me? I mean the whole music and phone thing, now this? Why are you doing this?"

"You're confusing me," Theo replied.

"Cause you're confusing me," Liam said, his voice slightly higher.

"What does Asher usually do?" Theo wondered, although he regretted asking once Liam had spoke.

"Well, I usually pay for our food, my parents give me an allowance so I usually use it for our dates since Asher doesn't get money," Liam shrugged.

Theo's hatred for his brother grew, "did he tell you he doesn't ger money?"

"Yeah," Liam replied, his body shifting uncomfortably at Theo's tone.

Theo scoffed, a small nod following his words. "How do you think I paid for our food Liam?"

Liam began to fidget with his fingers, "Asher said you have a job," he said, his voice soft and shaky as he spoke.

"I don't," Theo replied. "He's lying to you; he gets money Liam. We both do, he's using you-"

That was enough for Liam to stand up, "okay I'm leaving," he said. Tossing the twenty-dollar bill onto the table and turning around, Theo did the same. Reaching for Liam's arm the younger boy whipped around. "Don't," he said, his eyes watering as he stepped back. "I shouldn't have come... just leave me alone."

Theo sighed running a hand through his hair and clenching his fists. Way to go Theo, great work. He didn't even have Liam's number to make sure he got home safe, he assumed Liam would call a taxi or an uber to get home.

-

The next day Liam avoided him, although in his house he stayed far away from Theo. He hated himself for ever upsetting the boy, he never wanted to hurt Liam. The last thing he ever wanted to do, was to be the cause of Liam's pain.

"I'm going out," Theo said, shutting the fridge door and grabbing his keys. Asher nodded him off and Liam took his chance to pull apart from Asher, now sitting on the lounge with his legs crossed.

"Can I ask you something?" Liam asked, his hands shaking with nerves.

"Yeah what?" Asher asked, his legs open as he laid back against the lounge.

"Do you get money?" Liam asked, it wasn't that he didn't like to pay. But if Asher was lying to him, that was what was hurting him. Asher sat upright, his brows forming a frown.

"The fuck gave you that idea?" he snapped.

"I just mean," Liam sighed, "Theo paid for my pizza yesterday so if he has money wouldn't you?"

"You get way more money than me Liam,"

"So, you do get money?" Liam stood up, "why would you lie to me?"

Asher scoffed, standing up and getting in Liam's face. "You get way more then me, I have to use mine for petrol so I can finish school. You don't fucking understand."

"Asher wait," Liam said as Asher pushed past him, he grabbed the older boy's wrist. "Please," Liam begged, his eyes watering as he tugged on the older boy's wrist. "I didn't mean anything by it, I just don't understand why you would lie to me?"

Asher finally turned around, his face cold as he snatched his hand back. "Because not everyone gets an allowance from their daddy Liam," his finger pointed in Liam's face, "go fucking home."

"No," Liam replied, "I didn't mean to make you mad, I'm sorry."

"Go home!" Asher yelled, not caring at the way Liam flinched. "Do something right for once and fuck off." That was when the door opened, as Theo re-entered the home having forgot his wallet.

"Theo," Asher said, Theo winced but that was until Asher spoke again. "Take Liam home, I'm fucking over it," before Theo could even question him, Asher walked straight past them both and jogged up the stairs.

Theo then met Liam's teary eyes and pale face, "Liam," he said cautiously but Liam shook his head and grabbed his shoes. "Are you okay?" he asked, knowing clearly something was wrong.

Liam headed for the door, Theo right behind him. "You were right," Liam said, wiping away the tear that had fallen down his cheek, "I asked him if he gets money and you were right, he does. But I shouldn't have asked, now he hates me."

Theo was taken back by Liam's words, "Liam, he doesn't hate you." He doesn't even love you, "I'm sorry for coming between you both." His hand cupped Liam's cheek as he wiped away another stray tear, "I am really sorry, I never wanted to hurt you."

Liam sniffled, "can you please take me home?" he asked. Although Theo wanted to object and keep talking to him, living in this moment he knew it wasn't a good moment for Liam. So he nodded, leading Liam to his car.

He wasn't aware that Asher had been looking out his bedroom window, watching the way Theo had touched his boyfriend. "He was so mad at me," Liam said, wrapping his own arms around himself as Theo turned the heater on for him.

"You don't have to stay with him-"

"I love him," Liam snapped back, "sorry, I just don't like when he gets mad at me... my father- my real father used to and I just hate it." His bottom lip formed a pout as he turned to the window, "I don't do well with conflict."

Theo knew David was his stepfather, it was obvious. But he didn't know anything about Liam's real father, he wondered if Asher did. "You said finals were stressing him out right?" he hated himself the second he said it, not wanting to help Liam fix things with Asher, but hating the sight of Liam hurting way more.

"Yeah, it's just finals," Liam said, telling himself that more than anything. "I don't want him to be mad at me," Liam added, looking down at his phone and the numerous texts he had sent Asher that were being left on read.

"I'll talk to him when I'm home, he's my brother after all," Theo said, gripping the steering wheel tighter as they arrived at Liam's house.

"Thanks Theo," Liam said, giving a faint smile that if not for the car light would have gone unnoticed. "You're a good friend," he said before shutting the door.

Published: 12th April 2024
Word count: 1178