Lovers

Ch. 17: my strange addiction

my strange addiction- Billie Eilish

"Take what I want when I wanna, and I want ya. Bad, bad news. One of us is gonna lose."

Mini A/N: yes I use a lot of Billie... sos but they fit so don't cap me.

Alice P.O.V.

I watch as Jake's car disappears down the street, away from this unhomely place. Terry's already moping, but I cannot have him rain on my parade. Jake's no longer a problem, and I can't help but let my shoulders rest from holding this little family that I have together. Jake wasn't a problem per se, but his moods were growing increasingly unbearable, and soon I distanced myself, I couldn't let his negative energy ruin me and Casper's renewed relationship. It's gone amazing thus far, and we've yet to get into any severe spats, but of course, we still knit pick after each other, but those are healthy relationships.

"You're not going to mope all throughout dinner, are you?" I whine, plopping myself on the couch next to my cousin. He keeps staring at his boots as if they are the only friends he has. Which could be half right. I never see him around with anyone.

"I'm not hungry."

"Well, of course, you're not, it's still morning. Dinner starts at 4:30, mom has the night shift. We got a few hours to kill."

"Alice, please." He closes his eyes, resting his head back against his worn-out sofa, "can I just be alone?"

"No."

He furrows his brows, glaring at me, "so this is what Jake means when you don't leave him alone. That you're a micromanager asshole."

"Hurtful, Terrance."

He scoffs at his full name and turns away from me, "Alice, I'm fine, really. I just want to be alone."

"Well, that sucks for you because I'm not leaving. You're always to yourself all the time, I think you need a new routine. Stop with the brooding, with the fuckboying, the I don't care about anything attitude. It's time to try a new way of living because you're 22 years old. It's time to break away from the bad boy phase. It's tasteless, and might I add tacky."

He rolls his eyes once more. If I didn't know him, I would think he was a demon. "We get it, hun. Your life is amazing right now. You and mom aren't fighting as much. Andrew is starting school in real life thanks to your continued pressing, Jake's out of your hair, and you and Casper are living the best lives. Your whole life is going so well for 18, while I'm failing miserably. No need to shove it in my face."

"Stop feeling bad for yourself."

"Stop having the need to control everything," he snaps.

"Well, I wouldn't have the need if you and Jake act like men instead of little boys." I pause, "I'm the only family you got."

He doesn't say anything, letting his legs raise from the floor to his dingy coffee table, "you're a good cousin, Alice."

"I know." I sigh, copying his stature, "and you and Jake need to come up to par."

—-

No P.O.V.

Alice and Terry decide to binge a few episodes of The Office, keeping busy so the time could past faster. Alice receives a few text messages from Casper; most are just I love you text messages, which causes Alice to smile a few minutes, longer than necessary.

Once it's about 3:30, they decide to depart. They take Alice's car, even though Terry wanted to drive his own. How was he going to get back to the apartments? There are no arguments with Alice though, she must have company in rides. She hates being alone as much as she hates not having an audience when she sings poorly. Terry may say he hates it, but in reality, he can't help but find it funny.