Wren sat down at the table and forced himself to finish every last bite of his eggs as his brother looked on, smiling. He loved Ty. He would not let him down.

Olivia. Even her name… He just couldn’t.

Monday morning came around, but Wren couldn’t make himself get up. His mom called for him before sending Ty down who Wren promptly sent away. Next, he heard the lumbering tread of his stepdad. Billy came into his room.

‘You all right, buddy?’ he asked, his brows raised, questioning. ‘Your mom sent me to get you.’

Wren rolled over and sat up, barely meeting Billy’s eyes.

‘I’m fine.’

‘You know, if you want to talk about anything, I’m always here for you. No matter what it is. I won’t judge.’

Yes, you would. If only you knew.

‘Thanks, Billy. Tell Mom I’m getting up now.’ He used the bathroom that they all shared. His mom would be heading off to work soon, as would Billy, and Ty would be going to school. As he dressed, he thought about his plan. He would stay home today; he didn’t want to go to school. Didn’t want to see them. How could he?

‘Honey!’ called his mom. ‘Justin’s here for you!’

What the actual fuck?

Wren walked down the hallway and into the lounge room where Justin was chatting casually with his mom about her weekend and she was gently chastising him for Wren’s injuries. ‘What did you boys get up to Saturday night?’

Justin gave her a smile that he used on the girls at school. ‘What we always do, Mrs Wright. What we always do.’

They both turned when they heard Wren clear his throat.

‘Hey, Wren. Ready to go?’

‘What are you doing here, Justin?’ The slight hostility in his voice gave his mom pause.

‘Came to pick you up, as always. Right?’

Wren looked at his mom, who seemed confused by the tension in the air.

‘Right,’ she said. ‘Well Ty and I have to go. Billy said to say goodbye. Ty, honey, time to go.’

Ty came running into the room, his too-big backpack slapping his back.

‘See ya,’ he said to Wren with a hug and a kiss, Justin watching on.

‘Later, Ty,’ Justin said, giving him a high five.

They left and their absence left a void. ‘Why are you here?’

‘I’m here to pick you up. Let’s go, don’t wanna be late.’ He walked out the door, throwing a look behind him, making sure that Wren was following him. He was.

Wren pulled the locked door behind him, wondering what the hell he was going to do.

Wade was sitting in the back seat, as usual, behind the driver’s side.