Impractical (1)

18

She dialed Joe's number, locking the door to James' bedroom after he and Curly moved to sit in the living room, "Why the hell didn't you tell me that Brian kissed Curly?" She asked before he could greet her from the opposite end of the call, asking, "I swear, Joey, why would you keep that from me?"

"Hey, don't shoot the messenger!" He replied, hesitancy in his tired voice.

"There was no messenger!" She exclaimed, struggling to keep her voice low as she paced through the center of Murray's room, "I found the camera in the couch cushions."

"Why are you at Murray's?" He asked immediately, "Are you still there?"

"Yes, and Curly showed up." She growled, saying in a panic, "I don't know what to do!"

"Well, it's probably best if you remain calm," Joe hummed, saying, "We don't want you having another panic attack."

"I'm already halfway there," She said, her head beginning to spin as she forced herself to take a seat at the foot of the bed, "Joey, I can't do this. I can't talk to her like I'm clueless, why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't know how!" He told her more seriously, saying, "The entire situation is already bad, I didn't want to make it worse by telling you."

"So, you thought it was best to pretend like it didn't happen?" She asked angrily, realizing how loud she was speaking as a knock on the door pulled her mind away from the phone call.

"Liv, are you alright?" Curly called from the other side, making her blood boil in anger.

"We'll finish this later." Olivia growled to the phone before ending the call. She tossed her cell phone onto the bed beside her purse and moved toward the door. Forcing a smile on her lips, she opened the door to see Curly, "I'm just dealing with my brothers, that's all." Olivia lied as she leaned against the frame, asking hesitantly, "Would you mind giving James and I a few minutes alone in the living room?"

"Go right ahead, I'll stay in here until you're ready." Curly hummed, stepping out of the way to let Olivia move around her and toward the living room. Walking into the main bedroom to give them privacy, Curly shut the door behind her as a phone began to ring.

She stepped toward the bed to see Brian's number flashing across the screen of a phone resting on the comforter beside Olivia's purse. Taking a seat, she watched as the screen flashed back to a picture of Olivia and her two brothers.

Her eyes gravitated back to the screen to see a voice mail notification and she lifted the phone into her palm, pausing for a moment before placing it to her ear and listening to the message, "Bae, it's Brian," He hummed, his voice breathy as he spoke, saying, "I guess you weren't around the phone when I called, but, uh, we need to talk." There was a slight pause before he continued, his words slurring, "I haven't been completely truthful, so please call as soon as you get this." Curly bit down on her lip and listened as he continued, saying with a sigh, "I know it's getting late, but I'll be at my place if you want to join me."

Deleting the message and the latest call history, Curly placed the phone down on the bed as it had been before. When Olivia returned, she was leaning against the pillows on Murr's bed as if nothing had happened. Hopping to her feet, she innocently walked from the room with Olivia following behind her.

With a slight feeling of guilt turning her stomach, she reentered the living room and stepped toward the couch, "Curly, we'll have to reschedule," Murr said as she leaned on the arm rest to the couch, "Something came up, and Olivia can't stay."

"Aw, that's no fun!" Curly hummed, stepping toward the center of the room to join the pair. She looked to Olivia, asking, "Is this about your brothers?"