As soon as the door slammed behind Arvid, Thomas got up and went into the bathroom, locking the door behind himself. Silent sobs shook through Liv's body and she had to make a conscious effort to still herself, to control her breathing. Normally, she would have run to Thomas, cried into his chest, but it wasn't fair when he was probably just as, if not more upset than she was. Despite having remained calm in the moment, Liv knew he must be out of his mind. All those things Arvid had told him was what she knew he was always telling himself. That he was a predator, a traitor, that something was wrong with him. Just the same as how what Arvid had told her was what she fretted, that Thomas was using her as a means to self-harm. Was that it? Was that it? Was it over now?Would it not be interesting for him anymore? And then there was the memory of Arvid's face and how he had barely been able to look at her, listen to her. We're not family anymore. Black dots were dancing before her eyes and somehow the heat had gotten even worse and the air she was inhaling didn't seem to contain enough oxygen because she had to breathe faster and faster. Then arms were grasping her shoulders and a calm, soothing voice she recognized as Thomas's was telling her to take deep breaths and to look at him and that she was having a panic attack but that it was fine, that he was there with her. Hearing her own rapid intake of breath as from far away, she hated how she had coerced him to worry for her, care for her over himself, even now.
"I'm sorry", she gasped out in between the breaths, "I'm so sorry."
"Just breathe, Livvy. Just breathe."
Somehow, she must have eventually fallen asleep because she remembered waking up and he was still there and she was relieved. Suddenly, she realized something.
"We need to talk to my mom."
"Yeah?", he murmured back, staring up at the ceiling and she wondered whether he had slept at all.
"He's probably told her already but if he hasn't we better beat him to it."
Thomas checked his phone.
"It's five in the morning."
"Perfect, let's go."
Despite looking a little hesitant, Thomas got up and started getting dressed along with her. When he entered the bathroom while she was brushing her teeth she saw the bruise and brown dried blood on his mouth in the mirror.
"Shit, your lip", she blurted out, a little ashamed that she had forgotten about up until now.
"I'll live", he assured her and bent over the sink to wash up.
"I can't believe he did that", she muttered through the toothpaste froth but Thomas didn't respond.
"You're good to drive?", she asked later as they entered his car.
"Sure", he nodded.
Oddly enough, he seemed more calm and blasé than ever, maneuvering the car swiftly. To her, everything felt so upside down now, so surreal - maybe he was just processing as well. Or... Was this exactly what he had expected? A chill ran down her spine at the notion that the Arvid's reaction from, which to her seemed so disproportionate, so ugly and unfair, to Thomas might have appeared reasonable.
Maybe not.
His response to Arvid's statement of him being no better than Lars had her suppressing a flinch as she remembered. They'd talk it through later, she thought, one thing at a time. First they had to come clean to her mother.
The door was open, as it usually was, because it was that kind of neighborhood.
"Morning mom", she called out tentatively as they entered.
Soft classical music was playing.
"Livvy? Morning."
Maria met them in the entrance, still in her very regal looking dusty pink robe and with sleep in her eyes.
"You're here early, I thought you were staying at Wilma's all weekend. Oh, Thomas, hi! What a lovely surprise."
You've no idea, Liv thought nervously.
"You've talked to Arvid since he got back?", she asked, trying to sound casual.
"Is he back? I had no idea. I swear him and communication... Why, where is he then?"
That was something. However, he was surely due to turn up any minute.
"Listen mom, I... Well we, need to tell you something."
"Hm? That sounds serious. Goodness, Tommy, what ever have you done to your lip?", Maria exclaimed as her eyes landed on Thomas's bruised chin and split lip.
"That's on the same topic, actually", he smiled a little tiredly, "I'm really sorry for what I'm about to tell you Maria, and the harm it has caused and will cause you and your family. I'm in love with Liv and I've been seeing her behind your back."
Holding back a gasp, Liv felt as if things were spinning slightly again. Time was moving slower than it ever had before. One second, two, three... Ten?
"I'll say", Maria murmured at last, looking almost dazed.
"It's in all innocence, I promise, or well... it's not how Arvid thinks anyway", Liv wrestled out.
"Arvid knows about this?"
It looked as if Maria was starting to piece things together.
"He found out last night and well...", she nodded in the direction of Thomas's lip.
"I see."
Things were excruciatingly quiet.
"Can we sit down maybe? In the kitchen? And talk about it?", Liv suggested in a shaky voice.
Would her mom react the same as Arvid had? Would she disown her? Kick her out?
"Great idea", Maria answered and Liv breathed out momentarily, but that's when the handle of the door behind them moved and Arvid walked inside, coming to a dead stop as he saw them.
"Huh. Well, ballsy, daring to enter our home", he proclaimed coolly to Thomas, "Good to see you mom", he continued, "You'd better sit down. There's something you need to know."
Maria watched her son tenderly.
"I'm afraid they beat you to it, darling."
"They... they told you? They can't have, because then you wouldn't look so calm."
"They were just about to elaborate, I believe."
"Elaborate? Elaborate on what? How my best friend's been perving on my little sister behind our backs?"
"Arvid, I swear", Liv began, annoyed, but Maria spoke up, turning to Liv.
"He said he loves you. Do you feel the same way?"
"Of course", she said, not missing a beat.
"Oh fuck off. She's deluded, high on attention or whatever. You know what else, mom? She's been messing around with Rasmus as well."
Feeling her stomach drop and seeing Thomas stiffen ever so slightly in the corner of her eye, Liv attempted to speak again but was promptly ignored.
"Yeah, he told me all about it when I came to crash on his couch. You've really been passing her around like some beach ball, huh?"
At that, Thomas took a step closer to Arvid with fierce eyes.
"You can call me disgusting and pervy all you want but don't speak about Liv like that. It's nauseating."
"And I suppose you don't consider your own behavior the least nauseating, then?", Arvid retorted.
"Liv said she feels the same way and I somehow doubt Thomas would come onto her against her will", Maria cut in and Liv shook her head eagerly, "Now come on. Let's sit down and talk. It's not ideal, the whole thing, I'm aware of that, love, but we had better try and handle it gracefully, with respect."
"Yeah I'll tell you what, Arvid's handled it real fucking gracefully", Liv snorted.
"Well, go ahead, believe his filthy lies, you'll see how things pan out. Maybe Rasmus will be there to console you. I know I won't. You can call me once you've gotten it into your head how sick this is, mom."
With that, Arvid walked the few feet back outside, ignoring Maria's objections.
"Now... Got a bit of his father's temper I'm afraid", she smiled sadly once the door had closed, "I'm sure he'll be more receptive after some time."
Absentmindedly, Liv nodded despite not really believing her mom. Arvid could get mad, really mad, but not like this, not at her, not at Thomas and not at his own mother. In fact, she was still surprised at how well her mother seemed to be taking it.
"Now about that elaboration, and maybe some breakfast", Maria said.