Chapter 8- Liam

9 am

"I'm gonna miss you so much, buttercup," Lauren said, kissing her sister on the cheeks. Andrene grunted and rolled her eyes.

"Oh c'mon, Lauren, we're both grown now," she complained.

Shaun and Liam covered their mouths, trying to muffle their laughter. It was always funny and awkward when Lauren tried to baby her younger adult siblings.

"You better be here for Shaun's graduation party," Lauren stated.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," Andrene assured her, walking over to Liam and Shaun. She gave them their goodbye hugs and kisses and kissed a tearful Lauren once more before disappearing into the airport.

7:45 pm

"Lovely dinner tonight, dear," Carlos stated.

Lauren beamed as he kissed her hand. Shaun, on the other hand, was having a hard time keeping down her mashed potato salad. Tonight's dinner was strictly vegan, which was surprising to even Shaun herself. She had always liked vegetables. Now, it felt as if her body was solely satisfying the baby's appetite or craving, and it surely did not want vegetables and it was making her furious.

"You look horrible," Liam said, smirking.

Shaun grunted and glared at him. "At least I'm intentionally looking horrible. You don't have a choice, stupid."

Everyone at the table stopped eating and stared at Shaun.

"Shaun Russell!" Lauren shouted, throwing down her fork on the table. "What has gotten into you tonight? Apologise to your brother this instant!"

"I don't have a brother!" Shaun retorted, "Unless you or dad have a secret son or something."

"Funny you should say that." Liam said softly, "If I wasn't a brother to you, mom and dad would have known what I saw in the trash can the other day."

Everyone spun their attention to him when he said that. Shaun almost choked on her food. Lauren and Carlos looked at each other, then looked back at Liam.

"What did you see?" Carlos asked.

Shaun had never felt so nervous and scared before. If she ever wanted to die, now would have been a perfect time.

"What did you see, Liam?" Lauren repeated. Shaun's heart raced, and she felt like she was about to pass out soon.

"Pills." Liam finally told them, "Sleeping pills."

Shaun felt relieved, but she still tried to act horrified and guilty.

"Shaun, we've had this talk. First, it was pills to make you stay up late so you can study, now sleeping pills?" Lauren sighed, "Get it together Shaun, I don't want you dependent on any pills."

"I'm sorry, mom." Shaun apologised.

Everyone resumed eating their dinner in silence.

9:12 pm

Liam came into Shaun's room and locked the door.

"I've already apologized. I wasn't in a good mood." Shaun glared.

"You know why am here."

"I honestly don't care."

"Really? Would you if mom were the one that found your pregnancy tests?" Liam asked her, "Not one, but two! Two positive ones!"

"Why are you even in my business?" Shaun shouted.

"It's my fucking bathroom too!" he shouted back.

"Thanks?" she shouted. "Is that what you want? Someone, to pat your back and say, well done? Mom now thinks that using drugs, thanks to you. So yeah, thanks, Liam."

Liam sighed and shook his head. He was about to leave when Shaun stopped him.

"Don't go," she whispered. She was on the verge of tears.

He retraced his steps and went to hug his sister. Shaun buried her head in his neck.

"I'm so scared," she whispered, her voice cracking.

"I got you," he whispered, kissing her forehead.