Chapter Text
TJ's POV:
I woke up at 10am and rolled over to check my phone. I had a text from Cyrus.
Cy: "hey, you coming over today?"
Me: "Can't grounded for staying out late :( Mom said you can come over when she's home though"
Cy: "cool what time is she getting home?"
Me: "At around 1230. P.s. I told her."
Cy: "You did!? How'd she take it?"
Me: "Well she wasn't thrilled that both her kids were gay but she was relieved to say the least"
Cy: "Y relieved?"
Me: "Long story..."
Cy: "I've got time luv"
Me: "My dad is trying for custody, he thinks shes unfit to parent because he has evidence of me and ambs being in same sex relationships apparently"
Cy: "wth at least he doesn't rly have grounds to declare that then <3"
Me: "Ya ik. Ill see u later Cy, Im going to go downstairs for breakfast"
Cy: "Ok see u"
I walked down the stairs and saw Amber sprawled across the couch asleep. I walked over and nudged her
"Amber wake up"
"Why go away TJ"
"Did you stay in here all night?"
"what do you mean?" she questioned sitting up, looking around confused
"You're in the living room"
"Oh. I guess I did"
"You okay? You haven't fallen asleep in here in awhile Last time it was because-"
"Don't even say it. I know. I'm fine I must've fallen asleep video chatting Andi."
"Amber your phone is in the kitchen"
"Wha- how do you know that?"
"I can see it charging from here"
"Oh well maybe mom moved it for me when she left"
"Yeah I guess, what do you want for breakfast"
"Coffee"
"Food Amber" I stared at her concerned and she sighed.
"Whatever you feel like making"
"Well I'm going to make waffles and bacon. Do you want eggs?"
"Uh- no thanks just waffles" She smiled softly and I nodded walking into the kitchen pulling out the waffle maker.
I finished cooking at 10:50 and called Amber after I finished serving both of our plates. She didn't respond so I walked into the living room to look for her. I looked on the couch where she was when I left the room but she had gotten up and left. Assuming she went to her room I walked up stairs
"Amber breakfast is done!" I shouted halfway up the stairs, but still she didn't respond. I walked into her room but she wasn't in sight. Confused I looked around her room and knocked on her bathroom door. I walked down the hall towards our parents room and heard stifled crying coming from the hall closet. I opened it up and saw that the attic ladder had been pulled out. I climbed up and saw Amber sitting in the old rocking chair that our dad used to sit in to read to us. She was holding a small bear. I hadn't seen the bear in ages, our dad had won it in a fair for her when we were like 6, when he left 3 years later for a new family Amber threw it up here with all the other things that reminded mom of him. Every once in awhile she came up here to be around stuff that reminded her of him but she stopped doing that when we turned 13. I pulled a chest towards her and sat on it across from her.
"Come here" I said softly, to which she instantly moved to sit on me, hugging me tightly, crying harder.
"Why does he have to be like this TJ? All of a sudden he wants again? And for what, not because he misses us but because he wants to beat the gay out of us."
"Hey hey we don't know that Amber"
"Yes we do TJ. He has a new family and he only is trying to get custody because we are gay."
I sighed, "I know Amber" I rested my chin on her shoulder, "Come on lets get out of the attic you need to eat come on"
"C-can I take the bear?"
"That's up to you. Do you want to take the bear?"
she paused for a second, "yes"
"Then bring it down too, Ill put it in the wash"
"Okay"
We went downstairs making sure to close the attic door properly, and went to the kitchen. Amber sat down to eat and I poured her a glass of water before I went to the laundry room to put the bear to wash. I went back into the kitchen and sat with her.
"I'm going to text Cyrus and tell him not to come so we can have a day to make sure we are taking care of ourselves, like we used to"
"No! Don't do that, what if I invite Andi and we all have a selfcare day together?"
"I like that idea, I'll tell him right now" I smiled grabbing my phone as Amber grabbed hers smiling. I was glad to see her happy, I know the thought of our dad has always been a sore subject for her but she's working through it, with a support system much bigger than when we were little.