Hello! I had to change the update date from every Sunday to weekly. It gives me a little more leeway for editing and whatnot.
This chapter was just to get things out of the stupid grog they've been stuck in. Levi's borderline depressed, amirite? Don't worry, I'll have that fixed up soon.
Thank you for reading!
Cecilia!
SIDE NOTE: There's going to be a Fangirl related surprise in the next few months! It's really fun, so if you're following my account then you're in for a treat! BUT if you're not following my account, that's okay you'll be able to find it in the Fangirl category. (Probably rated T)
Welcome to the Real World, She Said to Me
(John Mayer: No Such Thing)
"I can't believe you yelled at mom." Mary kicked her brother from her chair, and looked over to her sisters, "He's so stupid sometimes."
"Shut up Mary," Abigail snapped, "Mama beat him."
"She didn't beat him, she slapped him." Shiloh shook her head, "I think he was right to yell at her, she knows he's a good boy."
"Quit talking about me like I'm not even here. Christ, you guys are like a sewing circle." Levi frowned, sitting next to his older sister in the window seat.
"Well, what happened, 'Vi?" Shiloh always called him "'Vi," as if his name wasn't already so short.
"I'll call you later." He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, "So, how long have you girls been here for?"
Cath stood next to the sink, pretending to rearrange the absurdly oversized bouquet of yellow roses they had brought. She didn't know what to do with herself. The four siblings took up all the seats, but even if there was more space, she was too uneasy to sit. Their grandma looked dead as a doornail lying under the hospital blankets and she couldn't stand to look at her for very long.
"I'm going to go walk around for awhile." Cath said.
Levi shot out of his seat and rushed over to her, "Hey, I'm sorry. I totally lost my manners, do you want sit?"
"No, that's fine. I'll stay in the area. Maybe I'll go get a popsicle or something."
"Please stay." His eyebrows were pulled together and he held her hand between his.
"Alrigh-" She began to agree out of guilt.
"Now, Levi, she is stuck in a room with a sickly old woman and a bunch of strangers. Don't make her feel obligated to stay here just because you're sad." Shiloh scolded.
He looked down at their hands, "Do you want some money?"
"I'm fine," Cath gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, "I'll be back a little later."
"Okay."
She walked out of the room and took a deep breath. The hospital was too quiet and everywhere she went smelled unpleasantly sterile. It made her think back to earlier in the year when her sister got alcohol poisoning. Last summer she and Wren were arguing over separate rooming. Everything changed since Levi came around. If you give Levi an inch...
Cath did a few laps around the hospital before going in to find the food court. She was more winded than she had expected to be and reconsidered sitting around in her dorm so much. In high school, she wasn't the best swimmer on the team, but she could do several laps without feeling like dough and swimming is much more energy consuming than jogging. Maybe I can join the college swim team… okay, probably not. I could just start swimming again in general, that'd be okay. But I got kind of chubby this year, I don't want to look horrible in a suit. She looked down into the little freezer at the popsicles and felt guilty for a moment.
Fuck it. Cath shrugged as she picked a Spongebob Squarepants popsicle with gumball eyes.
Reagan scowled as soon as she opened the door. To anyone who didn't know her, they'd have ran for the hills.
"Hey." Cath smiled and followed her to the living room.
"You've been in Arnold for two weeks and you guys haven't even invited me out. Don't 'hey' me." She hissed, but there was the beginning of a smile on her face.
"Sorry. It's been pretty crazy," Levi pushed his hair back.
"Your mom?"
"Yes."
"I totally called it, she's batshit crazy." Reagan smirked, "Details?"
"Well-" An excited squeal cut him off.
"Levi!" A little girl whipped around the the half wall that separated the kitchen from the living room.
The Joker and victims of the 'Chelsea grin' had nothing on how wide Levi's smile was. He had the up-in-Cath's-stereotypical-teen-girl face on.
"Hello Katie-cat! How are you, little princess?"
"Mad at you." She frowned and put her hands on her little hips.
Levi kneeled in front of her and set her on his knee, "You're mad at me? Why are you mad at me, princess?"
"You haven't visited me since last summer. You said you'd see me at Christmas. You're a lie-face."
"Oh, Katie-cat, I was having a really hard Christmas break, I totally forgot." He thumped his head playfully, "But I hope I can make it up to you by playing some tea party?"
"YES!"
Levi was as good as gone. The two of them were in the kitchen floor setting up toys and a little tea set. Cath and Reagan just sat back and watched the two start playing like he wasn't just in the beginning of a conversation. Little kids make the greatest cop-outs.
Reagan snorted, "Levi loves people. He adores little kids. He's always wanted to be a dad."
"Ground rules." Cath said, quickly.
"Whatever. It's true, just look at them."
"He'll be a good dad one day." She nodded.
"Duh," Reagan smiled a little, "He doesn't talk about it all the time?"
"No, but I did accidentally shoot him down when he brought it up one time."
"No shit?" She looked genuinely surprised, "Did Marlisse walk in on you guys, is that why he moved out?"
"Not exactly, what happened is- erh, ground rules?"
"None applicable in this situation." Reagan shrugged.
Cath took a few minutes to explain the day out with his mom, hanging out with John, Levi getting jealous, the treehouse, the books, the day out, the mom fight. Everything happened faster than Cath had realized within the past week and a half.
"Shit," Reagan raised an eyebrow, "You're the feather."
"The feather?"
"The one that finally set everything off balance."
"Oh..."
"It's not your fault at all. Trust me they'll be fine."
"Thanks, Reagan."
"No problem. I kind of missed your sorry ass." She grinned and gave her a little kick.
Cath giggled, "Me too... Now who is that little girl?"
"My niece. I'm a-babysittin' this weekend."
The two of them kept talking for awhile, that is until they noticed that Levi was leaning against the doorframe grinning. Neither of them knew how long he had been standing there for, but he looked happy.
"Look at you girls, getting along and smiling for once." He giggled and made his way to the restroom down the hall.
