Against All Odds

CHAPTER - 39

ELLE

Returning home was supposed to be a comforting escape, but the tension between Liam and me had followed us like a dark cloud. It hung over the house, that neither of us could ignore. Liam had retreated back into his silent mode, barely acknowledging my presence. I wanted to reach out, to bridge the gap between us, but I didn't know where to start.

Mom noticed the tension, of course. She suggested a shopping trip, hoping it might lift my spirits. I agreed, not wanting to worry her further, but my heart wasn't in it. As we walked through the familiar aisles, picking up groceries and a few treats, I tried to muster some enthusiasm. Mom kept glancing at me, her concern evident. "Honey, are you okay? You seem a bit off." She asked gently, placing a hand on my shoulder.

I forced a smile. "Just tired, Mom. The exams were brutal."

She nodded, but I could tell she wasn't convinced. "I know you're exhausted, but try to relax, okay? This is supposed to be a break for you."

"I know." I said, my voice sounding hollow even to my own ears. The rest of the day passed in a blur of mundane activities. Liam stayed holed up in his room, avoiding everyone. I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. Whatever was going on between us was affecting our parents, and that wasn't fair.

Tonight, our parents are taking us out to our favorite childhood restaurant. It was a place filled with happy memories, of birthdays and celebrations, of laughter and togetherness. As we walked in, I couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia mixed with the current bitterness that lingered between Liam and me. The familiar smells of our favorite dishes filled the air, and for a moment, I almost felt normal.

We sat down at our usual table, and Mom started reminiscing. "Do you remember how you two used to bring your friends here? Every birthday, this place was packed with kids." She said, her eyes twinkling with the memory.

"Yeah, those were the days." Liam said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Back when everyone actually got along."

I shot him a sharp look.

Liam's eyes narrowed. "Or when you didn't hide things from me?"

"Enough." Dad interjected, his tone firm. "We're here to have a nice family dinner."

"Nice family dinner?" Liam scoffed. "How about we talk about the elephant in the room instead?"

Mom looked between us, clearly worried. "Liam, Elle, what's going on with you two? You've been acting strange since you got back."

I clenched my fists under the table. "Nothing, Mom. Liam's just being dramatic as usual."

"Dramatic? You think this is me being dramatic?" Liam retorted, his voice rising.

"Okay, enough!" Dad said, more forcefully this time. "We're not doing this here."

But Liam wasn't done. He stood up, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. "You know what? I'm not hungry anymore. I can't sit here and pretend everything's fine when it's not."

"Liam, sit down." Dad ordered, his face stern.

"No, I'm done. I'm going home." Liam snapped. He turned to leave, but not before throwing one last dagger. "Enjoy your dinner, Elle. Maybe you can explain to Mom and Dad why you've been such a great sister lately."

I felt a surge of anger and hurt as he walked away. "Go ahead, Liam. Run away like you always do."

"Enough, both of you!" Mom yelled, her voice almost breaking. "Please, just stop."

Liam ignored her and stormed out. The silence he left behind was deafening. Mom looked close to tears, and Dad's face was a mix of anger and disappointment.

"Can we get the food to go?" Dad asked the waiter quietly, trying to maintain some semblance of normalcy.

The ride home was tense and silent. No one spoke, and I could feel the weight of my parents' confusion and worry. When we finally got home, I went straight to my room, slamming the door behind me. I threw myself on my bed, staring up at the ceiling. My mind was a whirlwind of emotions – anger, guilt, sadness. I wanted to scream, to cry, to do anything to release the turmoil inside me. But all I could do was lie there, feeling more alone than ever.