violet | tbn modern au

14 // The Domino Effect (DRAFT)

[ CONTEXT: The chapter before this, Lane got laid off from her job (I do love her I PROMISE), and Alex (Albert's brother) showed up, unprompted, to her house. Also, unlike chapter 9, this one is one of my favourites. ]

"What are you doing here?" Lane asked as Albert's younger brother took in his surroundings—his surroundings being her house.

"I'm wondering the same thing." Alex gazed around in confusion. "Is this the right place? The house looks abandoned, Bree."

"It's not abandoned."

"Whatever you say, Bree."

Lane followed after him as the young boy let himself inside. "Sure, Alex, feel free to make yourself at home. You still haven't answered my question. I haven't seen you in years. What's going on?"

Alex shrugged. "I ran away."

"You what?"

If Lane hadn't been panicking before, she certainly was now. Maybe the situation would've been different if Alex lived with Albert and his mother, but he didn't. He lived with his father. Albert and Alex's father was a cruel man who had abused the boys ever since they were young. According to Albert, his mother had gotten custody of Albert, but not of Alex, which was why the young boy remained with their father. And if the man realized that Alex had left...

"Albert told me that he's been back in contact with you, and that you were close again," mentioned Alex. "Figured the rekindled friendship extended to me, as well. I needed a place to stay for a bit, and I remembered where you lived, so..."

"Does Al not know you're here?" asked Lane, growing more and more anxious.

"No, so don't tell him," ordered Alex. "He'd freak if he knew. I get that he just wants to protect me, but..." Alex crossed his arms, as though he were trying to make himself smaller. Up to then, Lane couldn't stop thinking about how much older he looked, but the gesture reminded her that he was still three years younger than both she and Albert. "I just needed to get away for a bit. I knew you'd get it."

"Because my father?" she asked bitterly.

"Unless your old man's had a change of heart," confirmed Alex. "Although I think it's more likely that my dad would change his ways sooner than yours."

"Knowing your father, I doubt that," Lane said, then sighed. "You're putting me in a tough position, kid. I hope you know that."

Alex only shrugged. He passed by the living room, where the TV had once stood. "You got rid of the TV? The Wii?"

"Dad didn't want it anymore," Lane fibbed, hoping the lie sounded better than the truth. "Plus, I grew up. Didn't use the Wii at all anymore. You may still be a kid, but I'm not."

Alex grimaced, pushing his copper hair back from his eyes. They were the same brown as Albert's. "No need to discard our childhood like that." Before she could say anything, Alex trotted over to her fridge and opened it. He whistled low, seeing her limited selection. "You live like this?"

"What are you, an inspector?" Lane closed the fridge door before he could examine it further. She was beginning to panic at what he was finding, or the lack thereof. She had almost forgotten how attentive Alex had always been. "Seriously, Alex. You can't just..." She was suddenly hit by a thought. Alex had said he'd run away, but not when he had run away. He could've been going without a proper meal in hours. Days, even. "Are you hungry?"

At that, Alex averted his eyes, shrugging. Lane knew exactly what that meant.

Lane bit her lip, thinking it over. "I can order something in. Pizza sound good?"