Trainwreck |✔️

CHAPTER 14

Dec's POV

It felt like it took forever to get the discharge papers sorted for Ant to leave the hospital. He very reluctantly allowed himself to be rolled out of the building in a wheel chair after he almost fell from exhaustion and dizziness when getting out of the bed.

Sat in the car side by side I had to fight the urge to lean into the taller boy, after everything that had happened I found myself needing to stay close to him even more, to know that he was okay.

I didn't though, not with my Dad in the drivers seat. I was surprised he'd offered Ant a place to stay and I didn't want to push my luck. I say I was surprised by my Dads offer but he'd never refused to help someone in need before, he was a good person and I'm glad he could tell Ant was worth saving.

"Hope you boys are hungry, Anne's cooking up quite the feast I hear."

"I don't want to be any more of a burden then I already am Mr Donnelly... you don't have to feed me or nowt."

"Nonsense, you are being taken into our care and that means you will eat with us. You will also go to school everyday with Declan. Lights out is at 10 on a school night. Understood?" I faced palmed in embarrassment at my Dad 'laying out the law'.

"Yes sir." Ant replied obediently.

"You don't have any allergies do you son?" Ant looked between me and my father questioningly, I reciprocated that look until his confusion clicked in my mind.

"He means you Anth." The surprise on Ants face could have been comical, he blushed and slouched back in his seat to look out the window before replying deeply. "No."

Dad led the way as I helped Ant into the house. The taller boy had started to gain some more strength and it seemed like the dizziness had passed but he still leaned on my smaller frame heavily.

As soon as we stepped through the doorway I braced myself for my mothers greeting, only she wasn't the one who walked through threshold from the kitchen. It was Martin. God, Ant was tense enough around my shoulders as it was.

He didn't even acknowledge me as his gaze fell onto Ant. Martin looked at him for a moment with a disgusted look on his face before turning to my Dad.

"What's he doing here?" That was not the friendly welcome I'd been praying for.

"Anthony will be staying with us for a while." Martin let out a humourless laugh and turned back to Ant with malice. I gave Martin a warning stare but he ignored it.

"You've got to be kidding me right? I thought you were supposed to lock up people like him." Ants face went dark as he glared at Martin. I think mine was scarier.

"Shut up Martin you don't know what you're talking about." I sassed back, readjusting my grip on Anth.

"Martin! Get your lazy butt in the kitchen right now young man." I felt an ounce of relief wash over me as my Mother glided into the room, slapping my older brother lightly on the arm, but it did nothing to settle angry inside of me. "Sorry about that Anthony, what he lacks in manners he makes up for in stupidity."

I let out a laugh and even beside me I felt Ant shake with a chuckle, my mam was always the witty one. There was a faint "I heard that" from behind her but she ignored it.

"It's okay Ma'am."

"It's certainly not okay" she took one look at Ant and quickly had him engulfed in a big hug. "Oh you poor thing, you can stay as long as you like okay?"

"Thankyou" Ant wheezed out and I laughed.

"Uhh Mam? Broken ribs remember?"

"Oh gosh I do apologise. You're far too skinny young man! When was the last time you ate?!"