Easter Break 2.

A couple of hours later, the place was looking considerably better. All the windows were open and the chilly but fresh April air seeped in and replaced the heavy mist of smoke. Most of the glass was vacuumed up too.

Liv stood at the stove, making carrot pancakes, feeling rather responsible and grown-up. Ever so often she walked over to the bathroom door, listening for some sound indicating that the person inside was awake and moving. Just when the last pancake was flipped, Thomas entered the kitchen with an embarrassed semi smile and eyes down on the floor.

"Hi. I'm so so sorry for all this and... thank you. You didn't have to..."

"My pleasure!", Liv interrupted and gave him a broad smile, "I made pancakes."

"Looks great. I'm not too hungry though."

In disbelief she stared at him.

"I mean maybe you could... I can have some later when you've left."

Liv sighed and walked a bit closer to him.

"I'm not leaving Thomas", she said slowly. The fact that she had not used his nickname caused him to do a double take.

"I- Don't get me wrong, I'm very grateful. It's just... You have to leave."

"I'm not leaving", she repeated.

"Liv!", he exclaimed frustratedly, "Sorry - But I really, really can't have you here right now, not just because the smoke and stuff will mess you up. You should go as soon as possible. See I'm dealing with something..."

"I know what you're dealing with and I'm not leaving."

Standing real close now they both glared at one another.

"Jesus, you think I'm blind or something? The bottles, the smoking, the fact that you look as if your BMI is about half of what it should be."

Thomas's eyes widened and colour rose up on his cheeks.

"Oh yeah I know you don't eat. At this rate you won't survive for much longer, honestly. You know you... shit you're really scaring me Thomas."

Liv's voice turned brittle, which made his expression soften a bit. There it was again, the full name, used against him like a weapon. He wondered if she was aware of the effect it had on him, on his heart.

"That's why I don't want you around seeing this shit. I need to figure this out myself", he said.

"Yeah and how's that working out for you, huh? I don't care if you think it gets too graphic for me or whatever. What you're doing here is literally slow, passive suicide and nothing else."

Neither of them said anything for a while. Suddenly Thomas noticed that Liv was still wet from the bath, dripping all over the floor.

"God, you must be freezing. You can go upstairs and change."

"Will you have a pancake while I do?"

"I would. It's just... the cigarettes fuck with my appetite."

"Clever. Not clever enough though. You can manage one, Tommy."

He sighed but smiled a little.

"I could try."

Dressed in one of his hoodies and a pair of jeans, that were much too long for her, she returned, twirling proudly. The dark blonde hair fell in half dried loose curls and her feet were bare on the green checked kitchen floor.

"It suits you", he stated, then added in an attempt to be casual about it, "We'll put your wet clothes in a plastic bag and then I can walk you home."

"I've already texted mom that I'm staying with Wilma and Melvin over the holiday. You're not getting rid of me", she replied just as casually.

"Don't be stupid. You know I can just tell your mom you're lying to her."

All the lightness was gone from his voice and he got a more or less grim expression on his face.

Liv tilted her head and raised an eyebrow at him.

"If you do that then you'll be the stupid one. You know she'll take one look at you and then force feed you herself. Plus I'll call Arvid and tell him what you're doing. It's either that or I stay here with you until you get better. You choose."

There was no good counter argument to this, he found, and decided to try another method. Everything was still a bit slow, he was not quiet sober yet, but he carved out the bitter words without much effort.

"Listen. You're 15 or something. You don't even know me or anything about the relationship I had with my father. There's nothing you can do for me and I really, really, don't want you here. Just please get out."

The words echoed hard and false between the walls, cut through the pancake fumes. Liv did look immensely hurt for a second but then she just shook her head and looked him dead in the eyes. She imitated his demarcated way of speaking.

"I know what you're doing. It's not going to work this time. I'm staying."

Thomas's eyes narrowed and he grimaced bitterly.

"And I know you did not eat that pancake, you just threw it in the trash."

He swore, got up and staggered out of the kitchen, ignoring her.

"And you know damn well I've turned sixteen idiot!"