Cal was taken aback when he felt Ethan's arms wrap around his neck. For a moment he didn't react but, then he suddenly relaxed into the embrace and wrapped his own arms around him. Today had been a tough day. Pulling away from their embrace, Ethan looked at Cal.
"Let's go home." He said.
Cal smiled at him and the two of them left. Upon entering the flat the two collapsed onto the sofa.
"Is everything okay with you, Cal?" Ethan asked sensing the day had affected his brother greatly.
"Yeah, everything's fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. Why wouldn't it be?"
Ethan sighed. He had overheard Charlie talking him when he passed by the staffroom earlier on today. He could tell that Charlie was losing his patience with Cal, but Ethan had no idea why.
"You haven't been yourself recently. And I overheard Charlie telling you to go home. Something's up. Why don't you just tell me what it is?"
"And even if I did what could you do? Eh, Ethan?" Cal said not really in the mood.
"I don't know. But, what I do know is whatever it is, I'll be there for you."
"There's nothing to tell you. Can we just leave it?"
"Is this to do with Matilda?"
Cal's anger suddenly got the better of him.
"WHY DOES IT ALWAYS HAVE TO BE ABOUT MATILDA? I SAID LEAVE IT!"
"Cal…"
But, Cal ignored him. Instead he stood up from the sofa, grabbed his jacket and walked towards the front door.
"Wait, where are you going?" Ethan asked quickly getting up from the sofa and following his brother.
"Out." came a reply.
"Out where?"
"I don't know. Maybe to a pub to get drunk."
"Cal." Ethan said warningly. "Do you think that's a good idea? I mean that's how you crashed this morning."
"Well, it's better than listening to you going on about Matilda." Cal replied shutting the door behind him.
Ethan sighed frustratedly. Why did his brother always have to do this? Why did Cal always think drink would fix everything? Ethan knew Cal wouldn't be home till late that evening, but he knew drinking wasn't a good idea. Even if it was normal for Cal. After the day he had Ethan hoped he wouldn't do anything reckless like be involved in a car crash again.
Sitting at a bar, Cal downed his drink in one. Drinking probably wasn't the best but, it was the only way he knew how to cope with his problems. His mind was a complete mess and him keeping the news to himself was not helping. Cal didn't care at the moment. He ordered another drink and downed that in one too. He needed to sort his head out. There was only person he could talk to. Arriving at the front door, Cal knocked. Waiting for it to open, Cal just hoped this would do him the trick.
"Cal?" Charlie said, shocked to see him there.
"Can I come in?"
"Sure." Charlie replied stepping aside to let him through.
"What can I do for you?" Charlie asked as the two of them entered the living room.
"I just need someone to talk to. And I can't talk to Ethan. Not about this anyway."
Charlie sat down.
"So I guess you still haven't told him."
Cal shook his head.
"Come on, Cal. You know you're going to have to." Charlie told him starting to lose his patience again with him.
Charlie doesn't receive an answer from him.
"He needs to know. For your sake and for his. I've seen this so many times, and you're going to need each other for support."
"How am I supposed to tell him?"
"There is no easy way of telling him. But, just make sure you tell him everything. I know it's not been easy with losing Matilda and then finding out about the adoption. Still Ethan's your brother. He has the right to know."
Cal nodded. Saying his thanks and goodbye, he left Charlie and headed back home. Entering the flat he was met with a sleeping Ethan laid out on the sofa, his glasses slight wonky. He smiled to himself. Quietly walking over to him, Cal sat down. The sofa dipped and Ethan stirred awake.
"Cal?"
"Sorry to wake you, Nibbles."
"No, it's okay. I was awake anyway."
"Oh, really?" Cal said raising his eyebrow.
Ethan fixed his glasses and then sat up.
"So what's up?" Ethan asked his brother.
"Um, you do know I love you, right?"
Ethan nodded.
"And you do know whatever I've done it was only to protect you?"
Ethan edged closer to him.
"You're starting to worry me. what is it?"
"Ethan, just listen to me. Whatever happens in the future I want you to promise me we'll always have each other."
"Of course."
It was now or never.
"We're adopted."
