Sister protection program

9 • surfing

I stand in shock for a moment staring at the four boys in front of me.
"I Uh- had to do laundry" I fumble, telling them truth.
"Lillian.." Luke drags out.
Ashton walks up to me and wipes a tear.
Micheal holds up the letter and Ashton picks up and holds up the now empty liquor bottle.

"Why the hell would you guys leave me that note?!" I ask dramatically setting down my basket.
"Sam left it for you, we were just doing what we were told-"
"WELL MAYBE I DIDNT WANT TO READ IT!"
I yell cutting Micheal off.
"MAYBE I DIDNT WANT TO BE REMINDED OF HIM AT EVERY TURN! MAYBE I DIDNT WANT MORE UNANSWERED QUESTIONS! MAYBE I WANTED TO BELIEVE FOR A MOMENT THAT YOU GUYS WERE LYING AND SAM DIDNT WANT YOU GUYS TO LOOK AFTER ME!"

The boys stand silently and I fall to the floor crying. They all rush to me. We stay there for a while while they rub my back and give me tissue.
After what feels like an hour I finally calm down.

"Ok. We're actually going to kidnap you this time" Luke jokes after a while and throws me over his shoulder.
The boys take me to an SUV outside and we all get in. Micheal drives, Luke sits passenger and I sit in the back with Calum and Ashton.
"Where are we going?" I ask after a moment of my riding.
"Sydney." Ashton responds.

About halfway there Calum and Luke whines until Micheal stops at a breakfast place on the outskirts of Sydney.

We all sit in a circle table in the back.
"Lillian, you're a mess. Getting drugged at clubs, passing out drunk in laundry mats, it's not what Sam wanted." Luke calmly says.

I look down.
For once, they were right.
I was a mess.
"Let us help you through it" Calum says briefly touching my knee under the table.
I sit quietly.
"Come stay with us this weekend." Micheal insists. Setting down his menu.
I bite my lip and nod.
"Okay. Fine. But no more kidnapping, it's got to stop" I say and sigh.
All the boys smile.
"Deal."

"You're wearing my shirt" Micheal suddenly says, I can't tell if he's upset or not. I suddenly look down and realize that I'm still wearing the shirt from last night.
"Oh yeah. Sorry" I mumble.
"Keep it" he smiles.

____

"Are you sure you're going to be okay sleeping down here?" Luke asks as the boys get up off the couch. Micheal turns off the tv since the movie ended.
I nod.
"Well somebody enjoyed the movie" Ashton laughs pointing to the other end of the couch where Calum is fast asleep lightly snoring. Micheal steps toward him to wake him up "wait no, just leave him, he's fine." I say grabbing Micheal's wrist.
His eyes softened. "Are you sure?"
I nod. Ashton throws a blanket on top of me and he tucks one over Calum.
"If he tires to sleep walk just slap him, it always works" Luke jokes, not sure if he's serious or not but I laugh.

I wake from feeling shifting at my feet. I look down, Calum is laying down hugging my legs, his mouth wide open lightly drooling lightly snoring. Micheal comes around the corner "morning Lillian." He looks down at Calum and snickers.
"He's a sleeping beauty that's for sure"
"And a cuddlier" Ashton states coming around too.
"Sorry about that. He usually only does that when it rains." Ashton states.
"It's fine" I shrug.
"Ok get up buddy" Micheal comes over and starts to push on Calum. Ashton comes over too and they both push him off the couch and I hear a loud bang on the floor. "OW! What the hell!" Calum yells from the floor.

Micheal Ashton and I laugh as Calum stands up sitting back on the couch crossing his arms.

"You guys ready?" Luke asks coming down the stairs in swimming trunks shirtless.
"Yeah let me change" Ashton says coming out of the kitchen with a banana.
"What are you guys doing?" I look at Luke really confused. "Surfing" he shrugs as if it was the simplest answer to the stupidest question.
I stare blankly.
Surfing?
"What's wrong? Never surfed before?" Luke asks.
I shake my head.
"You've been an Aussie your whole life and you've never surfed?" Calum speaks up.

I shrug.
"Common you'll love it!" Micheal insists as Ashton goes up the stairs. "What! No,
no way." I cross my arms. "You're doing it Lillian" Micheal states.
I stop and think.
"I don't even have a bathing suit!" I say proud of my excuse. 
"My sister left a few of hers here, one has to fit" Calum simply says.
"That's the only girl Calum has ever had over" Luke teases coming behind Calum playfully holding his shoulders.
"Is it attack Calum day?!?" Calum asks throwing my hands up.
"No I'm not surfing. No fucking way."