Chapter 3 - Talia

                                    

                                          
"So which room is mine?" I ask my brother while making my way through our new home. We got here before Darren and the movers, so Alex and I have been taking our own little personal tour of the place. 
"Take whatever room you want, Talia. We don't mind." 
"Really?" My mood brightens at the thought. The size of the two bedrooms were practically the same, but one of them had this gorgeous window that provided so much more natural light compared to the other room. I want it. 
I waltz over into said room, motioning for Alex to follow me. I extend my arms and spin in a circle while Alex observes from the doorway. The smile that takes over his face makes me mirror one of my own. 
"You like it, I presume?" He asks me, laughter lacing his tone. 
I shrug playfully. "It's alright." 
"You have to admit it's bigger than your old room at our place." 
I roll my eyes. "Yeah, because you turned your makeshift office into a room for me. You didn't exactly anticipate another inhabitant in your apartment." 
"But we made it work," he laughs. "So, you're really okay with all of this?" Alex asks me then, sincerity and concern written all over his face.
"I will be," putting my hands into my pockets, nodding. "I shouldn't even be complaining. Darren has had it much worse than me. I'm not going to take away his chance to fix a little part of his family situation." 
"Talia," Alex whispers, walking over to place his hand on my shoulder. "You've gone through so much this past year with Ma. Your struggles are not little, and I still look at them with the same amount of care. His past doesn't diminish yours." 
I wipe a tear off my face. "I know that, and I'll be grand. It's just," I pause. "I want them to like me." 
"They will," Alex reassures me. "Every single member of the Lynch and Kavanagh family have treated me with so much kindness. They understand why Darren didn't want them knowing about you at that time." 
"I just can't help but feel that you both wanted me hidden for a reason. Is there something about me they won't like?" 
"What?" Alex draws back, shocked. "Absolutely not. This is all a very complex, complicated situation, and Darren and I should have handled it better. I'm sorry. You shouldn't feel that way at all." 
I nod, not really knowing what else to say. 
Swallowing my silence, Alex pulls me in for a hug. I quietly sob into his arms as Alex tries to calm down my shaking body. We stand there, just like that for a few minutes before I pull back and solemnly smile at my brother. 
"Thank you," I whisper. 
Alex nods and finally lets go of me. "How did breaking up with Holden go?" 
I laugh, appreciating the change of subject. "Exactly how I expected. I texted him the situation, and he sent back 'OK.' "
Alex snorts. "I still don't know why you dated that boy. Not that I would even call that dating." 
I point a finger at him. "That's because you're a lovesick eejit, and I wasn't looking for any of that." 
"And why is that?" 
"I have too many other priorities." 
"So," Alex shrugs. "Priorities can change." 
I laugh. "Not during my leaving cert they don't." I put my hands on his shoulders and shake him. "Get these ideas out of your head!" 
Alex raises his hands up in surrender. "I tried. I'm sorry. I just heard they have formal dances at Tommen." 
I push him away from me. "Oh, shut it."  
Alex just shakes his head at me with a glimmer of mischief in his eyes. "Did every other goodbye go okay?" 
"As well as they can be," I tell my brother. "I mean, I'm going to miss my friends, but luckily someone told me they would be getting me a new phone to make sure I can communicate with them however much I want." I smile at him. "When am I getting that by the way?" 
Alex laughs at me. "Soon," he says. "Give us time to unpack first, will ya." 
I look down at my wrist, pretending a watch was there. "Yeah. I guess I'll give you that time." 
Alex ruffles my hair, messing up the strands as we both hear the front door open. 
"Talia? Alex?" I hear Darren call from downstairs. 
"We're up here." Alex yells back. 
A few seconds later, Darren finds us in the bedroom and smiles, taking in the sight of the three of us in our new home. 
"Pretty nice, right?" He asks, going to kiss my brother on the cheek. 
"I love it," my brother beams back at him. 
"I'm glad," Darren replies, catching a brief look of joy on his face before I watch as his mind shift back to logistical mode. "Alright, so the movers are going to get all of the boxes in and furniture in roughly the right places before we catch dinner with my family. Afterwards, we can continue unpacking everything." 
I gape at Darren. "We're having dinner with your family? Tonight?" 
He raises an eyebrow at me. "Is that a problem?" 
"No," I assure him, rubbing my hands across my jeans. "I just thought I would have more time to prepare. I wanted to memorize more of their interests, hobbies, and likes, you know?" 
"Talia," Darren quietly coaxes. "It's not a test." 
"It feels like one," I snap at Darren. "Sorry," I retreat, ashamed at my small outburst. "I just like to be prepared." 
I really did. Every aspect of my life I planned out to a detail. Everything had a purpose. My academics. Dancing. Hell, even my sex life had a planned, uncomplicated routine. I didn't like the unknown. I learned that well enough not knowing every detail of how my Ma's journey with cancer would go. I hated all of this change. 
"It's going to be okay," Darren tells me. "Besides, if this goes well, you will be seeing them quite frequently. It'll become more natural overtime. I want us all to be family." 
I breath, giving myself time to process this whole situation. Darren and my brother gave me the silence and the time to adjust. A few moments later, I spoke again. "How far away is this place from the Kavanagh's anyway?" 
"About fifteen minutes," Darren says. 
"I'm surprised they didn't offer you a place on their estate," I chuckle. 
Darren rolls his eyes. "I would have said no even if they tried. I couldn't force myself upon their life again that much," He says, eyes returning somber. 
No I'm the one who feels like shit. I walk over to Darren and put my arm around him. "I have faith this will work," I say, trying to comfort them. 
"You think so?" He asks me, fear and hesitancy tracing his eyes. 
"Yes," I whisper, looking straight into his eyes. 
Giving me a grateful smile, Darren pulls me in for a hug. A few seconds later, Alex joins in, the three of us sharing our first group hug in our vacant home. We didn't put any furniture up yet, but it felt full already. Full of love.