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Grian hurriedly put on his shoes, not even waiting to get his soles in (as much as it’s uncomfortable) before reaching his hand out towards the door. He felt someone's gaze burn into the back of his head, and he quickly spun around to be met by his sister, who was staring at him with eyes filled with concern.
“I’m going to Scar’s,” he explained quickly.
Pearl sighed, somehow sad and… disappointed? “Please don’t,” she pleaded meekly, taking a step closer to him.
Grian sighed too, filled with frustration. “I just can’t deal with… all of that.” He nodded simply behind Pearl, where his family was staying. It was just too much. Too much. He couldn’t handle all of the ignorant comments and questions from his grandparents and cousins, and not to mention the dispute with his mum, he needed to get out.
Pearl doesn’t say anything for a few seconds, just staring at him with watery, blue eyes. She didn't need to say anything, Grian could read everything through her eyes. Grian bit his lip and turned around again to unlock the front door before Pearl mumbled, “Can’t you at least spend Christmas with me?”
Grian stopped, not moving for a beat before turning around to steadily look Pearl in the eyes. “You spend all your time with Scar anyway,” Pearl said, her voice getting louder and louder with each word.
“Yeah, cause he treats me like something other than mentally ill!” Grian snapped back, gritting his teeth and shaking his head in anger. Shouldn’t Pearl, his sister, the only one in his family who at least half understood this, get it?
Hurt flashes through Pearl’s face as she slightly recoils, and Grian instantly felt guilt start to stir up in this stomach. “I do too,” she exhales shakily, her voice barely above a whisper.
Grian lips start to move, to say something to comfort her, to apologize to her, but it all just comes out in silent stutters. He could practically feel himself start to crack under the pressure of Pearl’s heartbroken, betrayed gaze. Wordlessly, he whipped his head back around, opened the door, and left, leaving his sister staring after him through the doorway.