Irish Year Of Love

Lylah's P.O.V- Bad Surprise

A few weeks later, Amar left. The guys left. And I was left, here, alone. It's not even so much that I hated being alone, I just wanted something to keep me pre-occupied. Mum went to work every day, leaving me alone, and Amara didn't call. She phoned me once the day after she left saying her phone fell in water & for whichever reason under the sun she didn't like video chats so she'd have nothing to communicate with me on until next week. So that sucked. And on top of that the net was down. I lay in bed in a starfish position and sighed. My mind subconsciously flew back to the day at the store with the Chris girl last week. I didn't see how she and Lee could be friends. There was nothing in common. She was cool and laid back from my point of view, and Lee acted like a giddy headed sixteen year old. I fell asleep.

I woke up to honking. I jumped out of bed and ran down the stairs, bucking my toe, to let mum in. I pulled the door. Three gingers stood in front of me.

"Surprise!!". My sister. Lee flung herself on me, almost knocking me over. I was too stunned to speak. I found my voice.

"L-Lee! What are you doing here?!"

She grinned like a godass and I went to squeeze Jack's cheeks.

"Jackie??" he grinned his one toothed grin. I didn't believe it.

"Lylah be a doll and go get your sister's stuff out of the car."

"Mum why didn't you tell me she was coming??" I shouted as I ran to the car and hauled out two extremely heavy suitcases. Lee came out to help me, still grinning.

"Then it wouldn't have been that much of a surprise would it?" she took one of the suitcases and ran ahead of me back to the house. Some things never change.

At dinner I couldn't stop bombarding Lee with questions. Why didn't she tell me? When did she leave? Where was her husband? Each time I asked though, she shot mum a suspicious look and mum shot her warning eyes then told me to 'let my sister rest and ask questions later'.

"So Ly! You most definitely grew up. Is your hair longer?"

"Really Lee, the last time you saw me I was fourteen. Of course it's longer."

She shrugged, stuffing spaghetti in her mouth.

"So mum, when you leave is-

Lee abruptly stopped speaking and an awkward silence followed. Mum's eyes pierced Lee. Lee folded her lips and looked down. I looked form Lee to mum.

"You guys are so weird"

Mum exhaled and twirled her sphagetti.

"You guys are acting strange you know that right?"

Lee rose from the table, picked up her plate, and went up the stairs, never once looking back at mum and I.

"Oookay? That's not weird at all? Mum? What just happened?"

Mum toyed around her plate before saying.

"I know I should have told you before."

"Told me what before?" My pulse started to quicken.

"Leoni is only here because I won't be here for a while."

"Okay, where are you going?"

She was silent for a couple second before she said

"NC."

My fork dropped out of my hand and I immediately had to try calming myself down.

"You promised you wouldn't! "

"I know Lylah and I-

"You're "sorry" I know. I'VE HEARD IT BEFORE. Don't." I rose. "Just don't mum. He BEAT you. Over and over again. And he was terrible to us in his last months here. And now you wanna get up, and go to NC? Do you think that's how life works? You shouldn't provide your abusers with a new and improved punching bag every year mum!"