Can I dip? | Larry Stylinson

F i f t e e n

The Tomlinson Household, Saturday

"Louis! Could you get the newspaper from the door, please honey." Jay shouts from the kitchen. "Okay, mum."

Louis can smell his favorite roasted lamb chops being prepared by his mum. It excites him because they never usually cook this kind of dish without any special occasions. Nothing's really happening today so it makes Louis wonder—a lot.

He walks towards the door, tip-toeing a little bit to reach the door knob(he won't admit it though. He's big, he claimed.)

He steps out and reaches for the newspaper left in front of the door, on top of their 'welcome' mat. He casually reads through it out of boredom as he slowly comes back in the kitchen.

"Lgbt? Australia is finally free? " Louis whispers to himself but his mum heard him so she replies,

"Oh dear, little boys should not know. Come on, eat up."

Louis just silences and sits on the dining chair beside his mum. Jay prepares all the forks and spoons on the table. Huh, guess there will be company.

"Your dad will be visiting us."

"D-dad?" Louis stutters. He's never really seen his dad. Ever since he was born, he's never there. He wonders about the feeling of having a dad sometimes. It's not like he pretends to play footie with his dad whenever he practices by himself. Pft—totally not.

"He'll be here in five minutes." Jay reminds, wiping the cutlery at the same time. "Will you please call your brother for me?"

Louis nods and slowly hops down the chair, wobbling all the way to the halls to call for his brother. He looks for the door with a bunch of rock band stickers.

He turns the knob slowly and peeks into the creak of the door. He sees his brother banging his head to the ridiculously loud music that's blasting from the huge speakers.

"Uh-Lee? Mum's calling." Lee still doesn't budge. Louis comes near him and unplugs the music source, making it stop.

"Hey—oh hey, bud. What's up?" Lee stands up from his bed and puts his arms on Louis' shoulder.

"Mum's calling. She's calling you." Louis repeats and rolls his eyes.

"Okay, okay. What's it this time?" He tugs on his shirt, slipping on to his slippers as he goes out of his room.

"Mom! You called?" Louis hears him yell from  outside.

"Yes, honey. I did. Can I talk to you in the kitchen please." A bit of silence is heard until Lee suddenly yells.

"Mom! Are you mental? I can't believe you're still trying to-to talk to that fucking cheater."

"Stop that. He's your father. He deserves to get to know his boys. Especially, Louis." Jay insists, looking down the floor while trying to lower down her voice.

"Wow, mom. I think you've forgotten the time where our so called-dad left us when Louis was born. You think he really wants to get to know HIS boys? If he did, he shouldn't have left." Lee growls.

"He-he's just-just overwhelmed that's all." Jay tries to excuse him but it's obviously not convincing.

"Mom! For fuck's sake, will you please stop trying to make excuses for that fucking cheater. I can't stand you hurting like this." He slams his fist on to the wall this time, his knuckles starting to redden.

"Lee-please just stop. I know he didn't mean it. I know." Her eyes start to fill up with tears. She tries to wipe them off but it just keeps on pouring out at the same time. There's no stopping now.

"Yeah, mom. He didn't mean leaving you—us for a tramp. I get it." He scowls, his eyes gleams worry right after he said that as his mom shows a hurt expression.

"Don't ever talk to me like that, Lee. You have no right, you're just my son. Go to your fucking room. I'll call when I need you." She sobs harder, walking towards the backyard to catch some fresh air.

Lee hesitantly tries to run after his mom but then he decides to just obey her and go to his room instead, where Louis is.

Louis bites his nails as he sees his brother arrive in his room with a frustrated expression. "What's happening?" Louis whispers to himself.

A deafening door bell rings in Louis' ear. The doorbell that Lee has been hating to hear for years specifically because of the person behind it. Their dad.