The Brothers Down The Street

Chapter 5

"How do you feel?" Lola asked.

"Like I need some air." I replied, dropping the stick and marching out of the house. That room was suffocating.

"Madeline you should tell Liam." Lola said.

"I will tell no one, you will tell no one." I ordered. "It'll clear itself up now if you'll excuse me I need some serious space."

I sped walked through the whole village twice and still didn't feel any better. "Maddy!" Will called, running over to my side.

"Hey." I said in a low voice.

"Are you okay? I feel like you've been dodging me." He said.

"I'm fine, just busy."

"About that, Ross said he saw you with a pregnancy test earlier, I-"

"Ross?" I questioned.

"Yeah, he didn't mean any harm, just-"

As if by fate, Ross strolled out of the cafe and I marched over to him. "Ross!" I roared.

"Ahh, princess." Ross grinned. "Missed me already?"

I grabbed the collar of his bomber jacket, pulling it closer to me before shaking it. "You had no right!"

"Whoa, no right to what?" He asked, grabbing my wrists and pulling them away from him.

"I told you it was for a friend." I spat.

"Then why are you reacting like this?" He asked.

He was right, how had he seen straight through my lie? Now everyone was watching me and Will was sure to know the truth.

"Get off me." I ordered, fighting against his grip which only made his hold tighten.

"Ross let her go." Will demanded.

"Oi!" My Dad yelled, storming over. "What's going on?"

I looked at the two boys, pleadingly.

"Ross just took a joke to far." Will said, giving Ross a look.

"Always do, bad habit." He said, letting go of my wrists.

"Well get rid of it if you're going to work for me." He said.

"You mean I got the job?" Ross questioned.

"If you keep your hands off my daughter." He said.

Ross smirked.

"Ross." Will scolded.

"I have to go." I said, walking down the street in a hurry.

I turned into the pub to see my aunt, Rachel, working behind the bar. "What time do you finish?" I asked.

"Not for a while but we're quiet, everything okay?" She asked.

"Did it hurt, giving birth to Josh and Mason?" I asked, sitting on the stool.

"Well they give you plenty of meds, you're basically numb and it's all worth it after." She said. "Where's all this coming from?"

"Just wondering." I said. "What's the worst part?"

"The anticipation." She said. "Not knowing how it's going to feel or when it's going to happen."

"That's such a bullshit answer." My mum said, stepping out from the back with clean glasses in her hands. "You gave me awful morning sickness."

"But the actual birth?" I found myself dying to understand the pain scale, I was terrified of birthing a child. I never planned on doing it never mind at such a young age.

"What was that all about outside?" My Dad asked, walking into the pub. "And don't lie to me again."

"Jesus Dad, it was nothing."

"Where that boy is concerned it's not nothing." He replied.

"Or any boy, right?"

"I had a dodgey copper look into him, he's got a police record, accused five times and prosecuted on three."

"Are we talking about Will or Ross here?"

"Ross, of course. You think I care about farm boy?"

"What did he get prosecuted for?"

"Theft and in one case breaking and entering." He said.

"Can you look into Will please?" I asked.

"Will? Oh he seems nice." Josh said, stepping out from the back and helping himself to a bag of cheese and onion crisps.

"God, it's a wonder we make any money with you lot!" My mom said.

"I pay." My Dad said, defensively.

"Only because I don't like you." She spat.

"That's not what you said eighteen years ago."

"You two are truly disgusting." I scoffed. Although they hated each other's guts they got along some how, even though they had finished a long time ago they still cared for each other. "As much as I love reminiscing about your old love, I need to go."

I got up from the bar, pushing my glass away and walking towards the door. Pulling it open and stepping out, I slammed into Ross.

"You should really watch where you're going, especially if you're-"

"I'm not." I scolded, passing him.