SONG:
Unsteady - X Ambassadors
Episode Twenty-Seven:
WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW, CAN'T HURT YOU
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L A W R E N C E ' S P O V :
"Get up!"
"Huh?" I struggle to see past the bedpost in front of me as my eyes adjust to my bedroom, and all of its belongings. I squeeze my hands into fists and attempt to sit up afterwords.
I come face to face with my father.
"Sir, I know that – "
"Shut up!" My eyes dart to the petite woman standing at the doorway, not my mother, but Margo. Eyes wide, and glancing back and forth between me and my old man, she closes her mouth obediently.
"Hey, she didn't do anything,"
"Funny, she's been hiding you since the day you were kicked out Lawrence. You've been staying in our house without our permission, and she knew. Tell me she didn't do anything again, try me." He scolds, and I pull myself out of bed, my frame feet in front of my father's.
"I'm your kid. This shouldn't be something she has to decide to hide. She was forced into this predicament, you can't hold her accountable anymore than you can yourself. Which you can't – blame yourself, Dad. You don't know how to accept your failures." I snarl.
"I don't fail."
"Than what the hell am I? Something you're proud of? Cause last I recall the reason you kicked me out was because I was the biggest mistake you and Mom have made in the span of your 52 year life. And hell! That's a long ass time! You wouldn't consider you're breeding abilities a failure?" I laugh cynically, ignoring the disgusted look on my father's face.
"Get out of my house." He seethes. "And take the maid with you, she's a waste of money anyways,"
I stare at the man who gave life to me and can feel nothing, nothing but complete and utter disgust at my relation to him. Who he is as a person, is just, something that keeps me up at night.
"There's a thousand bucks lying on the kitchen island, you know where your car is." His dark eyes turn to look at me one last time, before he watches me walk down the hall with a teary eyed Margo.
When we reach the main floor of the house I drag Margo along with me to the kitchen. She trips over herself, nose running as she begins to cry, asking questions as to why she deserved this. She doesn't.
When we finally arrive at the cold and spacious kitchen I walk to the edge of the counter. Sitting on top of the polished quartz is a wad of cash, a thousand dollars worth. Just like my father said. He must have figured out that I was still staying here last night, and prepared a starting fund for me.
I turn to look at the dark haired woman sniffling beside me. Dressed in a maid's uniform with little in the way of accessories of jewelry like the Briggs women have always been clad in.
The only thing she wore, was her engagement ring.
Her and James have yet to marry, both seeking a traditional marriage that they just can't afford. It's hard to imagine how they will ever afford it now that they're second source of income has been eliminated.
"You can have it."
"What?" She asks, wiping away the moisture from beneath her eyes.
"The money, it's yours," Margo looks up to me, her tanned skin was washed out due to the artificial white lights that my mother thought would go well with the modern feel of the space, but nonetheless, her eyes sparkled with something that looked like hope.
"Lawre- Sir, I don't – I can't take this, you need that to find a home, and food, and – "
"Don't worry about me, I'll figure something out," I hand her the paperclipped money, and she slowly wraps her fingers around it, so delicately you'd think it was her first born child. But, Rose has already been born I'm afraid. A beautiful and energetic girl at that. When Margo was interviewed for the job, she had to bring the bundle of sunshine with her, and I luckily got to keep her company while the adults talked.
"Thank you." She cries, before wrapping her arms around my neck.
"It's the least I could do for costing you your job." I shrug, and she laughs.
"I hated it anyways" I begin to laugh, and after a few seconds the energy dies down, and we make our way to the back door to exit.
Only Briggs' use that heavy old front door anyways.
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"What do you mean there isn't any room?" I yell, and Sean bites his lower lip nervously.
"My parents don't let my friends over, especially not for that long,"
"Just enough to get a job! I don't have anywhere to get a nights sleep, but my fucking car!"
"Just do what you did last time, and sneak back in." He offers, and I sigh.
"They installed a new security system and they'll find out within hours that I'm in the house. Sean, we've been friends since we were in diapers, please, help me out!" I plead, pacing back and forth on his porch patio. When he doesn't say anything I pound my fist against the white column bearing the load of the house's front balcony.
"You're house has how many spare rooms?" I ask through clenched teeth.
"Lawrence – "
"Answer the damn question!" I yell, and he hesitates before answering.
"Seven,"
"Good heavens, why can't I just hide in one of them! Good grief, Sean!"
"Sorry man," that's the last thing he says to me before slamming the door in my face.
"Fuck you too," I murmur before walking back to my car.
When I open the door and turn the car back on, I look to see that there's only gonna be a few more hours of daylight. A few hours for me to find someplace to stay the night at least.
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"Lawrence? What are you doing here?"
"I was wondering if there was any way I could chill with you for a while?" I smirk, and sure enough she opens the door a little wider so I can see the inside of her simple suburban home.
"Is anyone home?" I ask, and she shakes her head before gesturing me inside.
"You know, I was not expecting company so sorry if it looks a mess," the brunette blushes as I examine the haphazard state of her rustic living room. Oak planks lined the walls, while the couch and arm chairs were both upholstered with a dark brown leather. The fireplace was off in the back, and above was a decently sized flat screen television that could be seen from all angles of the room.
"You didn't seem to mind how messy you were the last time I was here, Mallory,"
She blushes before grabbing my hand and walking me upstairs.
"Want to watch some TV?" She asks suggestively, bringing my hand closed to her left hip as we walk up the stairs. I nod my head, ignoring the guilt I feel for doing something like this behind Fawn's back.
I decide that what she doesn't know can't hurt her, I mean, I've already done this once before to get her phone number before everything went downhill.
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QUESTIONS:
So, what do you think of Lawrence's father?
On Margo?
Any theories on why Lawrence was kicked out?
Thoughts on Lawrence staying with Mallory, who is one of Fawn's closed friends in case you've forgotten after all this time, lol?
Thoughts on this chapter as a whole?
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
I'm back! It feels like forever since I last wrote you guys, and I'm so happy I can be back again! This chapter really goes into the extent of Lawrence's personal life, and yes, I know you are all probably wondering why Lawrence was kicked out, but it'll all be explained eventually. Lucky me doesn't have to wait though, mwah ha ha ha! Hope everyone had an amazing December while I haven't been around to post, and is excited for the next chapter which is Elliott's POV again! Yay!
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Lots of love
- tat <3