After some breakfast and a staggering presentation of what was Liv and Thomas's relationship up until date, Maria just looked at them with warmth in her eyes, her coffee cup raised to her lips.
"Does that..?", Liv hesitated, "Add up? Make sense?"
"It doesn't have to, honey, it's love. That much is clear."
Blushing a little, Liv watched as her mother got up from her chair and went over to embrace her.
"I'm just sorry that you felt like you had to keep it from me for so long. I mean I suspected something was up with all those weekends spent at Wilma's, but my bets were on that Melvin-boy."
Suddenly Liv was happy that her mom's platinum blonde hair was falling over her face, because she didn't want to see Thomas's expression. Melvin was still not exactly his favorite person.
"I'm sorry", she murmured to her mom and hugged her back tightly, "No more secrecy from now, I promise."
After Maria had pulled away, she walked right over to Thomas and gave him a hug too. Surprised, he patted her back lightly.
"I'd tell you to be good to my Livvy, but I don't have to. Oh, and on that note, Arvid will..."
"Sure", Thomas interrupted her without the least conviction in his voice.
In fact, he was not looking too good. As elated as Liv felt, he looked pale and distraught. Not much later, he excused himself, gave Liv a quick peck on the lips and left, saying he needed to get ahead for next week's work but that he'd text her.
Frowning, Liv removed his plate of untouched breakfast food from the table, ignoring the nervous tickle in her stomach. When night rolled around, and there was still no text, Liv texted him herself, saying goodnight and that she loved him and that she was hoping he was feeling okay. Despite wanting to call, she thought he was entitled to some space, some time for himself to mull things over. What if he does and decides he doesn't want anything to do with you? Angry at her brain, she turned over in her bed and closed her eyes tightly.
Two days later, when there was still no response, she called and he didn't pick up. Another three days and she was furious but still she went another day before she tried his place.
On that very same day, Arvid was, coincidentally, walking up to Thomas's door. The night he had stumbled upon Thomas and Liv in bed, he had in his furious rush to get out left a backpack with passport and such behind. Of course, he had contemplated sending Sebastian, in whose dorm he was currently staying, to get it, but in the end he had decided to face it. Besides, he was still harboring some nasty thoughts which he wouldn't mind sharing with Thomas, about his betrayal.
One knock, two, three. One minute pause. Another knock, accompanied by some light swearing and threatening. Finally, the door creaked open, just a little, just a small crack, and he could make out a grey countenance.
"I left my backpack", he gritted out but it didn't seem to register and then his heart dropped and some of the burning anger dwindled.
There must really be some sort of record of how shitty one could look. Not your business. Not anymore. Never again, he reminded himself.
"Right", Thomas said slowly, "I'll get it."
"Don't worry about it. I don't want your hands on my stuff", he muttered and pushed inside.
Things were... clean. Perhaps too clean. There was no cigarette smoke lingering and no booze laying around. Still, something was very off. On his way out he turned to face Thomas, a string of venomous words on his tongue but when he laid eyes on Thomas again he lost track of them completely.
"Bye bye", Thomas said helpfully and nodded towards the door.
Somberly he nodded, took a step forward but stopped again.
"Would you just give me a push up?"
As soon as he had said it he regretted it, why did he still care? It was an old intern-joke thing that he would say whenever Thomas's father had hurt him badly and he wanted to check the state of him.
"Sorry?", Thomas answered and looked completely unknowing.
"Just do a push up and I'm out."
"I... I don't think I'll be able to at the moment. I got sick and..."
"Sick yeah? Real sick alright. Where's Liv by the way? Why isn't she here nursing you since you both seem to get such a kick out of that?"
No answer, just a shrug.
"I'm sure it's just a stomach bug."
"Oh shut up. You're not eating. One look at you and I could tell you're not. How long has it been, huh? Three days? Five?"
Not answering, Thomas started to walk back into the living room.
"Close the door on your way out."
"Hey...", Arvid exclaimed angrily and nudged Thomas's back.
It had just been a light tap but it caused Thomas to waver and eventually he lost his balance, knees coming onto the floor.
Arvid cursed, looking down on his former best friend with a mix of rage, frustration and concern in his eyes.
"I'm calling Liv", he then said and watched Thomas freeze in his attempt to get back up on his feet, "Yeah I'm calling her and telling her exactly what you're up to."
"You're not", Thomas bit out and glared warningly at Arvid.
"No? What are you gonna do? Fight me?", Arvid snorted and got his phone up.
"Please, I'm begging you..."
"Then eat something. Now."
"Is that an ultimatum?"
"If you want to think of it as that."
"Well. You really needn't bother, seeing as I've been messing around with Liv behind your back for ages and everything."
For a second, fire ignited in Arvid's irises but it quickly died out.
"Eat or I'm calling."
"I don't need to eat. I'm sick, I'm nauseous. I wouldn't be able to keep it down anyways."
"Bullshit."
"What's wrong with you?", Thomas growled, "You shouldn't care. You should want me dead, want to kill me."
"Now why would I do that when you're doing such a good job with it all on your own", he answered, rolling his eyes.
Without another word he went into the kitchen. Naturally, there wasn't much to choose from, but he was able to slap together a decent-looking sandwich. For a couple of minutes Thomas simply stared at the bread in his hands.
"Just finish it and I'm out."
Slowly at first Thomas took a bite, before gradually speeding up.
"Easy or you won't keep it down", Arvid warned, knowing that if he hadn't eaten in a long time he needed to start back up carefully.
But Thomas didn't, and within the minute he had thrown up.
"I told you I don't get to keep stuff", he gasped after the dry-heaving had subsided.
"Christ", Arvid muttered, "And you wonder why I don't want my sister around you. Look at yourself."
"Then promise me you won't let her near me again", Thomas said with so much conviction Arvid thought he might have heard him wrong at first.
At that moment, a hard knock was heard from the front door.
"Afraid I can't promise you that", he answered hesitantly as he made out Liv's silhouette through the frosted glass window.
"Don't let her in, please", Thomas started to plead and Arvid nodded, went to open the door as Thomas scrambled upstairs.