Between Us

chapter ten

10

"Wake up loser, your boyfriend's here."

I groan as I feel a pillow slapping my back. "That's fucking hilarious, because I don't have a boyfriend."

I can't almost imagine Reed rolling his eyes. "Sure you don't."

I roll onto my back and stretch out before sitting up. I yawn with annoyance, then glare at my twin. "I don't. Anyways, what are you doing all dressed?" I ask, swinging my legs out of bed and standing on the plush carpet. I adjust my shirt and grab a pair of shorts, which happen to be pretty short, but I slip into them anyways.

"Football team's having a stupid breakfast/lunch thing," Reed says, rolling his eyes. "Why don't you wear pants or shorts to bed?"

I raise an eyebrow. "Why don't you wear a shirt to bed?"

My brother grins. "Touché."

I wink and brush past him into the hallway. I jog down down the stairs, noticing Reed's heavy steps behind me. I tug the hair band out of my hair, letting it fall in its messy, slightly gross quality because it hasn't been brushed yet.

I head straight for the coffee, as per usual, ignoring everyone until I've downed at least half of the scalding and bitter coffee. "Morning," I mutter, taking another drink.

"Morning Sleeping Beauty," Liam says, his eyebrows raised. "Don't you just look like a bright ray of sunshine?"

I give him a blank look as my family chuckles. "I'm not sure if that's an insult or a compliment," I say. "I'm going to take it as a compliment, so thanks."

Beth walks into the kitchen, squealing. "Oh my god, I totally ship you two! Let's see...Liryn?"

I raise an eyebrow. "There will be no shipping," I inform her, gulping down more coffee. I listen to Reed start sniggering and watch Liam look out the window with red ears.

"What is 'shipping'?" Mom asks, frowning. Dad's face looks about the same. "And what a 'Liryn'?"

I groan loudly as Beth launches into am explanation. "Its when there are two people that would make a totally cute couple, so you ship them. Liryn is their ship name, it's both of their names combined."

"I agree with Taryn. There will be no shipping," Dad says, scowling. "Especially not with an older boy."

I huff and throw my hands in Liam's general direction. "He is literally right there," I say, rolling my eyes. "And besides, there's this thing called having friends. You all should try it sometime."

I set my mug on the counter and head upstairs. "She is being very savage today," I hear Dad say. I almost throw myself down the stairs I just started climbing.

"Oh my god Dad, don't say that ever again," Reed says. I can picture him face-palming.

"But savage is such a bomb word," Mom says.

"Don't say that either, or I'll be forced to exit this house."

* * *

"I don't think I have this much crap," I wheeze out as I carry a moderately heavy box up a flight of metal stairs. Liam's apartment is on the third floor, so I have another set of stairs to climb with this heavy-ass box. Plus, my stomach growling like a fucking grizzly bear and I'm hoping Liam can't hear it. The struggle is real.