If Walls Could Talk

Twenty-Two

"Wait. Bryce! Bryce, come here!" Ashers yells loudly as the FaceTime call connects.

"Wow, not even a hello before you need the sibling you live with, Ash?" Skye smirks, amusement written across her face.

"Well, when there is obvious news he is privy to..." Asher rolls his eyes as her second brother appears on her screen.

"Fucking finally!" Bryce grins after studying the screen a moment.

"What are you guys talking about? I literally haven't said anything."

"But you have a hickey, sis. It's about damn time someone took notice of the best person in the whole world and treated her right." Asher grins.

"Shit, I didn't realize you guys would be able to see that." She laughs, slapping a hand over the bruise on her neck.

"As happy as I am for you, Skye, um, I'm also worried. It's not really a great time to be getting involved with you boss." Asher frowns.

"Wait. How do you know it's my boss?"

"Oh I'm sorry are you breaking quarantine to go bang with Derek finally?" Bryce smirks.

"Ewe no. He's my best friend only." She pulls a face, shaking her head at them.

"Okay, so it's your boss. But Skye, you know we can't afford to ruin this right? Like we need your money so mom doesn't lose everything. We're doing what we can, but there aren't a lot of jobs in town right now, and I haven't had a booking in weeks." Asher sighs.

"I'm being careful, guys. It wasn't just a whim. I've been fighting it for two months, and then... then I had a nightmare." Her voice goes quiet suddenly.

"About Jordan? Still? I thought you were doing better with those." Bryce frowns back at her.

"I was. I am." She sighs, "It was the first one I'd had since moving in here. He woke me up, got me out of the dream and let me cry about it. I was vulnerable and my guard was down, and all the shit I've kept behind that wall, all my thoughts about him... the tumbled out, and well... I already knew he liked me, and he definitely leaned in first."

"Still, sis, be careful. Please."

"I am. I promise. Hey, how is mom?"

"Stressed. So incredibly stressed."

"Fuck." Skye sighs, "You know I'm doing everything I can, right? Like I am sending every penny I can to you guys."

"We know, Skye. Don't you start stressing about this too, we'll be okay. We will figure it out. It is not your sole responsibility to fix moms problems. And it is definitely not your responsibility to feel the need to fill the financial hole dad left us in." Asher assured her.

"I just want mom and you boys to have a great life. I want to make sure you guys can live comfortably. Maybe not fancy but I don't want you worrying about rent and electricity and bills..."

"We'll be fine, Skye. We do need your money, but we also know that we don't have any rights to it. You could leave us to our own devices and we'd figure it out somehow. So don't stress."

"Fuck that. I'm not leaving you to figure it out. I'm always going to worry. That's what happens when you're the older sister to two amazing boys." She sighs, wiping the edge of her eye with her sleeve.

"Don't cry, Skye. We love and appreciate everything you're doing for us. That wasn't the point of this call." Bryce smiles sadly at her.

***

Calum sets up the living room as the clock ticks down. Slipping the vinyl from its case and setting it on the player, wandering to the kitchen for a couple drinks to have during the live. It's weird, not being with the band tonight, all of them celebrating the release of the new album separately. But, it's how it is, and they'll make the best of it.