High Maintenance (Liam Payne AU)

Part 28

Gen tiptoed downstairs the next morning, wanting to see the mess without walking anyone up. Stopping on the stairs, she looked over to the living room. Rachel and Louis had the pull out couch, Harry and Niall were both sleeping on the floor by the bathroom, and Dale and Sara were sleeping on a air mattress by the Christmas tree. That meant that Sophia, Jessica, Emma, Jake and Hailey were in the barn. Liam had put out a space heater and they had all brought air mattresses and sleeping bags. She was glad Sophia was in the barn. Screw her and her nastiness.

Gen looked over to the kitchen. It was a huge mess. She sighed and walked over to try and clean it up while making pancakes for thirteen people and a dog. She had emptied and loaded the dishwasher, picked up trash and was heating the grill when Carl was ready to go out. She opened the door, letting him out and shut it, knowing he'd howl to be let in. She poured out the first batch of pancakes and listened for Carl. Instead, she heard screaming. She ran to the door, pulled it open and saw Carl standing on the porch, growling at Sophia, not letting her come to the door. Gen laughed. She couldn't help it, even though she knew it was wrong.

"This is NOT funny, Genny! Get your DAMN DOG out of my way." Sophia screamed.

"Sure. I'll get MY DOG. Come here, baby." she called. Carl turned, wagging his tail, and walked back into the house. Gen laughed some more, leading the dog into the kitchen. She finished making her pancakes while Sophia did whatever it was she needed to do in the bathroom. Other people started waking up and wandering into the kitchen, grabbing food and juice.

Liam was the last to appear. As he walked down the steps, Harry clapped and Niall let out a wolf whistle. Liam blushed. "What did I cry about this time?" he asked.

"Better ask Gen." Rachel advised, causing everyone to laugh.

Liam covered his face and sat on the steps, embarrassed. Sophia dropped her plate in the sink and stormed out, calling Jessica to follow her.

Harry sighed. "Okay, I hate her and I don't want her invited anymore, so quick, who's house is next? I vote Lou and Rachel because they will have a baby to care for. All in favor?" Everyone said "I" except Gen. She didn't know the protocol. "Anyone apposed?" Harry asked. Nobody said anything. "Okay, and we all have to agree right now that nobody tells Sophia. Hailey, I trust you to figure out what to do about Jessica. Either she's in without Sophia, or she's out. I'm sorry, but I never liked her."

"Wish you'd have told me." Liam said. Everyone laughed.

Hailey and Jake left, taking Sophia with them. Everyone else stayed, helping to clean up. Rachel and Sara both helped in the making of lunch. Gen felt so much better without Sophia around, that she nearly forgot her own problem. She listened as Rachel described everything that was happening in her body. She even showed off her bump, extremely visible without her shirt. "I haven't given into pregnancy shirts, yet, but the pants are so comfortable, I'm never going to stop wearing them." she laughed. Gen soaked up all the information she could, hoping to find something that might help her. She and Rachel exchanged numbers so they could still talk and by late afternoon, everyone was gone, except Niall.

Gen put dinner in the oven, frozen mac and cheese because she was exhausted, and went up the stairs to nap. Liam and Niall sat on the couch, talking. Gen could hear every word. She needed to remember that, just in case the rolls were ever reversed and Liam was the one upstairs, eavesdropping.

"So," Niall started. "Tomorrow she packs and on the 3rd we go? Are you okay with this?"

"With what?" Liam asked.

"Her leaving? You seem attached. Five months is a long time. It will be nearly six when she gets back. Are you sure you can do the long distance thing? I'm just saying, in my experience, it doesn't work."