SUPPORTING 8

୨୧ ‣ CHAPTER NINE

I'VE SEEN THIS FILM BEFORE.
TADGH LYNCH

➛ I COULD BARELY SLEEP LAST NIGHT. Something was seriously wrong with the Wells family, everyone in my house knew it as we got ready for their arrival. I had my phone in the tight grip of my hand, waiting for Wren to call me. And after 2 hours of waiting, at 10:15, my phone vibrates with the name 'BIRDIE' flashing across.

In less than a second i answer the phone, pressing it to my ear.
"Hey Wren." i inhale, desperate to hear her voice.
"Hey stud." she replies, her voice shaky.
"Everything okay?" i ask, concern overtaking me.
"All good, Tadgh." She whispers, and i wait for the relief to wash over me, but it never came.

"What time are you coming?" i change the topic.
"What time do you want us to come?"
To that i let out a small laugh. "Come whenever you're ready, birdie. Also, Ollie misses you."
"Tell him i'll see him soon." she giggles, "I have to get the babies ready, i'll see you later."
"i'll be seeing ya, birdie." i smile, and the line ends

I find i have more softness talking to Wren then i do with anyone else. And aside from my family, the wells family seems to be the only other family i think about daily.
"Tadgh love!" Edel calls, "Come set the table!"

⋆˙⟡♡✧˖°

WE ALL SIT IN SILENCE. Well except from Ollie who can't seem to keep his mouth shut, rambling about how pretty Wren is. He isn't wrong, but pretty is an understatement.

Wren Wells happens to be the most gorgeous person i have laid eyes on, and that's from the inside out. Ollie is interrupted mid sentence with a knock on the door, and in less than a second, Edel is opening it. "Hello! I'm Edel."
"I'm Taylor and this is Riley." The tallest Wellsy girl says.

"Come on in! Where's your older sister?" She asks.
"The babies walk really slow, she told us to go ahead." Riley Wells shrugs, entering the house and somehow slipping on air. As she falls to the ground, the oldest Wells sibling enters the house, letting out a loud laugh.

All of us begin to silently laugh at the siblings as Riley gets back up. "Guys fess up who done that?"
"Hi." Wren smiles at all of us, and as all of us reply with either a 'hey' or a wave, i take the time to stare at her.
"Wren, pet." Edel begins, "Do you want me to take the twins from you? So you can relax for a moment."

Nobody seems to miss how fast Riley and Taylor snap their heads towards their older sister, waiting for her response. She seems equally as unsure as she meets her eyes with mine, speaking so many unspoken words. I nod.
"Okay." Wren nods, letting go of her siblings hands as Edel crouches to eye level with them.

Riley and Taylor sit at the furthest couch from the door, whilst Wren stays firmly by her baby siblings' side, watching their moves.
"Hi there." Edel smiles at the twins, who have now shied away behind their older sister, "I'm Edel, what's your names?"

"Tell her," Wren whispers in an encouraging tone.
"Mylo.." The baby boy says, his eyes unsure.
"Layla" The girl says, clutching onto Wrens leg like it's a lifeline.
"Do you want to come help me get dinner ready?"
The twins look up at their oldest sister looking for an answer, something i've noticed all of the Wellsy siblings do. She nods, and they walk over to Edels side.

"Come on then!" Edel says in a cheery tone as they walk off.
Wren exhales, taking a seat right beside me on the couch closest to the door. I study her, the way she sits painfully straight, and how her face is showing a smile which i think any of the Lynch children can know as fake.

Then i notice it. A concealed bruise across the cheekbone of a girl i assumed i knew well. "How'd you get the bruise?"
She freezes. "Mylo has a heavy hand, and during his tantrum last night, he flung his fists."
Me and Joey shared a look. lies. lies. lies.

"So he also hit Taylor?" Joe says, motioning to her younger sister with a bruise on her neck.
"I was getting it on with Riley and we fought."
"What did i say about fighting?" Wren scolds.
"Sorry.." Riley murmers, "But i won!"
"Nuh-uh! I had a disadvantage." Taylor huffs.

"The fact you skipped breakfast that morning is not a disadvantage." Wren giggles, and my family listens intently to their conversation
"You skipped too! You had lunch though."
"You had lunch too, stupid," Riley shouts, "And you took Wrens bread. Fatty."

Heads snap in Wrens direction, what does she mean?
"It was one slice of bread!" Taylor groans.
"Give it rest you two," Wren says, turning to my family, "they're a bit much sometimes."
Nobody laughs, causing her siblings to begin.

"You are so unfunny." Taylor cackles.
"I'm getting emotional." Wren wipes her fake tears.
"It's not even a joke anymore, El." Riley gasps, "You have no funniness about you anymore."
"What stole your funninness?" Ollie asks, and heads turn in her direction.

"Them, they took it all." She replies, and i just about caught the glimpse of sadness shine in her eyes.
"DINNER!" Edel calls from the kitchen, everyone rising except from the Wellsy girls. All three stared at eachother, waiting for the first move.

"It's okay, birdie." I coax, "You can get up."
"I know." She sounds unsure, nodding as if to convince herself that she knew. Her sisters follow her movements.
"Are you the leader?" I whisper into her ear.
"We're a very nervous family, it's genetics i assume."

We take a seat at the table, Wren next to me on one side, Johnny on the other and Joey opposite me. Everyone immediately digs in, whilst the family of curlyheads give eachother looks which seem to send messages to one another. Wren gives the two girls a nod and they begin to devour their food, catching all of us offguard.

Wren begins to eat slowly and in small bites.
"So Wren, what's it like to be the oldest in your house?" Edel questions and Wren visibly freezes. Then, from an enocouraging shove from her sister, she clears her throat.
"It's a bit stressful at times because of the built in responsibility, but i like being able to boss them around."

"Hey! That was my favourite thing about being the oldest too!" Joey laughs, Wren joining in.
"Oh how rude of me!" Edel cuts in, "Would you girls want something other than water? How about orange juice?"
"No thanks," Riley replies, "Plus we aren't allowed it in the house, Wren is allergic."

I thought their mam was allergic?
"Isn't your mam allargic too?" Ollie asks.
"No? Just our Wrenny." Taylor pats her older sister on the back, and i feel my eyes widen in realisation.

Layla Wells said her mam was allergic to orange juice because she thinks Wren is her mam. oh God i feel sick.
This is Joey 2.0. I think i've seen this mother fucking movie before.