Sister protection program

14 • jealously

I leave through the living room sliding doors and I just jog, don't know where I'm going, but I go until I'm on the beach. I quickly look around and walk to the pier.

I just don't know what I did wrong.
I thought Calum and I were on great terms.
I mean we almost kissed, I was wishing that we did but now I'm glad I didn't.
I can't believe I thought he was really different.

I dangle my feet off the ledge of the pier.
"Lillian!" I hear in the distance, I don't bother looking up. 
I feel the vibrations on the dock when they come closer.

"Lillian! We are so sorry" Micheal says. I notice Calum isn't with them.
"We have changed, I promise we have Lillian please believe me" Luke cries out hugging me.
"Luke are you crying?" I look down surprised.
He sits up "saying that we haven't changed is...my worst fear. The thought itself hurts"
"More hurtful than being told you need to get over your brother?" I snap

Ashton looks down softly. "Calum said that?" I nod. "Wow." Luke mumbles.
"He hasn't been himself, I don't know what's gotten into him Lillian-" Micheal starts.
"We just chewed him out in the kitchen, don't worry about him." Luke adds wrapping an arm around my back.
I shake my head. "I'm fine I just- I just needed to get out."

We sit in silence for a moment.
"Let's get yo back" Ashton mumbles helping me up.
"I just want to stay out here alone for a while." I mumble. Which wasn't entirely true, I just didn't want to go back inside to Calum right now.
The boys look to each other, then sit beside me. "Okay." Ashton says.

"I- I said I wanted to be alone" I whisper.
"Yeah, we know what you said." Calum states like it's the obvious.
"But you're a flight risk and we can't let you run off. So if you're staying on this pier, we're staying too." Luke explains casually getting comfortable.

"So what if I'm a flight risk? Im not a prisoner" I say swinging my feet.
"Maybe not exactly, but we're not letting you just run away, baby" Ashton laughs but I find no amusement.
"Leave me alone." I whisper.

"Why do you hate us, actually. This can't  be all because we pulled your ponytail years ago." Luke whispers.
"Cut. Cut my pony tail." I correct, bringing my knees to my chest.
"Sam only stayed in Sydney for you guys." I finally say. Looking at the water.
"What do you mean? I thought your parents just each got one kid in the divorce?"
I shook my head. "We were old enough to choose. I Sam chose you guys."
"I'm sorry." Ashton speaks slowly.
"Let's go back." I abruptly say standing up. Ashton catches my wrist. "We're not done.  We are sorry. We didn't know.  But we also didn't ask him to. It didn't mean he didn't love you. Gosh, he loved you more than anything. We're sorry."
I nod. Tears coming down my face.

We get back to the house and finish the ratatouille late.
We sit around the couch and eat our creation.
"You know... I think we did something wrong" Ashton states after a while looking at his food.
Luke laughs "it's awful"
"It's because you cut the squash like cardboard instead of paper" Micheal mumbles.

"Where's Calum?" I ask after a while, addressing the elephant in the room.
"Don't worry. He usually walks to the bar down the street when he has an inconvenience." Luke responds standing up.
"He's just being dramatic"

"Where are you going?" I ask.
"To find something edible!" He says from the kitchen, I see him throw his plate in the trash.

We find some left overs in the fridge and we heat them up instead.
We flip through the channels on the tv in the living room afterwards. "Wait! Leave it there!" I call out.
"The Bachelor?!" Ashton asks.
"Hell yeah!" Luke says and reaches over Micheal to give me a high five.

"Forget this" Micheal mumbles and he and Ashton go upstairs to watch something in their room. 

Luke and I get caught up in The Bachelor and the door opens.
It's Calum.
A stumbling, drunk, really rough Calum.
"Calum you-" Luke starts.
"No need Luke, I know I know. I-" Calum stops and hiccups.
Luke leans forward blocking Calums view of me.

Luke tenses but I see Calums eyes. They aren't in anger, they're sadness. I touch Luke's arm.
"It's okay" I whisper.
He looks at me concerned. I nod saying I'm sure.

Luke puts a hand on my thigh. "I'll be upstairs. Don't put up with any shit. Yell if you need me" he whispers and and waits for a confirmation. I nod and he slowly goes upstairs after giving Calum a glare.

"Calum you're dr-"
"Lillian I'm so sorry" he slurs and stumbles to the couch.

___

The light stirs me out of sleep. Feet coming down the stairs fully awakens me.
"I take it you two are good now?" Luke asks coming down the stairs pointing to me, fully waking me up.
I'm laid out on the couch and Calum is laying curled up on top of me.
I shrug. "Yeah. You could say that."
I say remembering the knight before.

"Calum you're dr-"
"Lillian I'm so sorry" he slurs and stumbles to the couch.
"I am so sorry that I said all of those things I didn't mean it" he slumped on the couch leaning on my shoulder.
I smell the alcohol.
"Then why did you say them?"
"I was jealous." He admits truthfully.
"Of what?" I ask super confused.
"You went on a date with your boyfriend" he says very slowly trying not to slur.
"He's not my boyfriend" I say reaching out to fix his messed up hair.
"He's not?" He asks picking up his head from my shoulder, looking at me with puppy dog eyes.
I nod my head "no he's not. Just a friend"
Without warning he leans in and kissed me.

Calum opens his eyes. He sees Luke then closes them again. "Get up bud we have to work today" Luke laughs going into the kitchen.
"I have a headache will Liz be mad if I don't come in?" Calum calls out to Luke still with his eyes closed.

Luke comes back in from the kitchen with a banana. "Calum you don't have a headache you have a hangover and considering that hangover was completely pointless, you're coming in" he simply says sitting down across from us.
Calum slowly sits up.
"Okay, I deserve that" he mumbles.