Pillow Talk

4~ This Isn't Going To End Well (River)

I woke up with a really bad crook in my neck.

Scarlet was asleep against my chest, looking ten times more comfortable then I felt. One of her hands were draped over her stomach, the other was laced through mine.

"River? You in there?" I heard Collin ask from the other side of the door. The door creaked slightly as I tried to shift from underneath Scarlet.

"Hey, what's going on?" Collin asked his eyes falling on his younger sister, "Is she okay?"

"Yeah, she's just got a bug or something." I lied, feeling Scarlet move a little.

"A bug? Really? Does she have a fever?" I didn't have a chance to expand on my lie before Collin knelt down and touched Scarlet's forehead. I opened my mouth to come with with some shitty lie or excuse, but Collin had me by the collar of my shirt before I could get a word out.

"Is she fucking pregnant?" He growled. I started to shake my head, but stopped midway. Did I really want lie to him? Wouldn't that only result in me getting my shit kicked in by him if I did?

"Kid, you better answer me. I-"

"Yes." I snapped, "Yeah, man." He stood up, cussing under his breath.

"I promised our dad that I wouldn't let her get pregnant before she got out of school. Bro, you're fucking up my word here." I heard Scarlet groan, her hand twitching in my own.

"Look, Collin. I need you to not tell her right now. The doctor said she needs rest and to worry about her foot and everything for a couple weeks. I'll tell her-"

"No, dude. You can't keep that from her. It's her fucking body, not yours. She needs to know that there isn't something seriously wrong with her. If you don't tell her by the end of this weekend, I will." I watched in dead silence as Collin stalked out of the bathroom and slammed the door shut behind him.

**

"I don't know! Dammit, Steven! I am so tired of you trying to control everything." Mia shouted, earning a startled look out of me. She was stalking toward the front door, probably going to join Nina and Scarlet at the mall. Steven was only a few steps behind her, Maya in his arms.

"I try to control everything because I actually give a shit about us!" He yelled back. I stood up, stepping in between the two.

"Guys, I know it's not my place to say this, but you really shouldn't be fighting in front of the kid. You're scaring her." Steven stiffened where he stood, looking down at his daughter as if he were just realizing she was in his arms.

"We'll talk about this later." Mia mumbled before stalking out of the house and slamming the door shut behind her. I waited until I heard the car start up outside to turn to Steven.

"What was that about?" I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.

"She's pissed because I want to take Mia to meet my mom." I had to process what he said for a second.

"Mother as in Sally or-"

"Sally." He cut me off, shifting Maya on his hip. She started to tug on his ear, giggling. I quickly peeled my eyes away, afraid that my staring would get creepy or suspicious.

"You okay, dude? You look a little out of it." Steven asked. I didn't turn to him as I responded, instead I leaned down and bowed my head.

"I'm great." I lied, shaking my head slowly, "I'm just fucking great."

**

"Let me do it." Scarlet finally groaned, ripping my tie out of my hands. She slipped it around my neck before tying it like she had done it a million times before.