Toxic Truth

22

ZELLA

On thursday I get free from work early and decide to go to Liam's house.

Ringing the doorbell, I stand outside, waiting for someone to open the door.

Maria opens the door and gives me a polite smile. "Good evening miss and welcome."

"Thank you, and please call me Zella." I step inside and plead for the umpteenth time.

I always tell Maria to call me Zella as she is older than me, and also because she is like family to Liam. She has known all of the Gregor siblings since they were kids so she has no problem calling Liam by his name, but always insists on calling me miss.

"Of course, Zella." She smiles and I just know she'll call me miss again.

"Liam isn't here yet, right?" I ask. I had talked to Liam in the afternoon and he had let me know that he'll be back a little after seven and I could wait for him in his room.

She nods. "You can go up to his room and wait for him, I'll get you juice and something to eat. Amo is in the living room."

"All right, I'll meet Amo first," I tell her and go to the living room where Amo is sitting.

He looks deep in his thoughts and doesn't notice me until I stand in front of him.

"Hello there, what's on your mind," I grin and hold out a hand to him.

He gives me a distracted smile, and shakes my hand lightly. "Hey."

I frown. He looks tired, in a way which is making him look sad.

"Are you okay? You look tired."

"Yeah I'm fine," He mumbles in a way too low voice.

That flares up my worry, but I let it slide, since he's telling me that he's fine. He could be tired because of his football practice or school.

Sitting on the couch across from him, I accept the juice from Maria and take a sip of the cold juice. Ah, just what I needed.

My eyes land on Amo once again, and this time I'm sure of what I'm seeing. He isn't just tired, there is something going on in his mind that has him upset.

"Okay Amo, you don't look fine to me. Are you okay? For real this time?"

He looks at me once, looks away and then sighs loudly in frustration. "Do you really want to know what's up with me?"

"Of course I do."

"Fine," He mutters. "But can you please sit next to me? I don't want to make eye contact with you while I tell you this."

I furrow my brows. He has me getting really worried now. What does he have to tell me?

I get up and sit next to him.

"All right little Gregor. What's up."

I'm about to pat him on the shoulder, but his reply comes before that and my arm stays hanging in the air.