Donte Halstead

Putting Liam in Hospital

Donte: Age 15
Liam: Age 17

Liam POV
I'm pissed. I'm beyond pissed. Donte's been on one all day, bouncing off the walls, talking a mile a minute and can't sit still for two seconds. Dad was out with Kelly, Matt, Connor and Will and I was stuck with Donte who's been doing my head in.

The echo of Donte's yell bounced off the walls of the living room as he stormed down the stairs. I didn't even look up, my eyes locked on the game flashing on the screen. I wasn't gonna let him ruin my afternoon too. I already had to cancel my plans with my girlfriend because this dumbass can't be left home alone. My jaw clenched as I heard his heavy footsteps coming closer.
Donte: Liam! Liam, come on man! Let's go outside and shoot some hoops
Liam: No
I heard him huff but I kept focused on my game. All week he had been like this, pushing and annoying everyone. Dad says it's because he's struggling. That's dad's excuse for everything he does. We all have to ignore it because 'his ADHD is acting up'. I'm sick of it
Donte: I'm not kidding, man. You've been sitting there all day!
Liam: Yeah, and?
Donte: im bored
Liam: fuck off and find something to do.
Donte: but
Liam: I had to cancel my plans to babysit you cause you're dumbass can't be left alone. Let me play my game
He stormed over snatching the controller out of my hand. That's it. I've had enough
I stand up so fast that the chair topples backward. My fists clenched at my sides. Liam: What the hell is wrong with you?!
His eyes widened for a second like he didn't expect me to snap. He expected me to be like dad and walk around on eggshells. Donte steps forward and gets in my face. He was wiry with loads of pent-up energy. It's always like this with him. One second he's calm and the next he's like a bomb waiting to go off

Donte: Come on Liam I'm just trying to get you to hang out! You're always acting like you're too good for me or something!" He was getting really frustrated but so was I.
Liam: Maybe because I don't want to be around you when you're like this!
Donte's hands balled into fists and for a moment I saw something dark flash in his eyes. I've seen it before when he's wound up so much he can't think straight and that's when I know I should step back. I know I should walk away but I don't. I can't. I'm tired of always being the one who has to step down.
Donte: You're such a dick Liam. You think you're better than me. Just because you're older
Liam: Maybe I am! You're always causing trouble! You can't sit still for two seconds without messing something up! I'm sick of it! You're always going off. Something doesn't go your way and you blow up like a spoilt little brat
Donte's face turned red and before I can react he shoves me hard
I stumbled back with shock racing through me
Liam: What the hell?
Donte: Say it again! Say it to my face, you—

Before I knew what I was doing I shoved him back. He crashed into the coffee table knocking over the lamp. The sound of breaking glass snapped through the air but neither of us stopped. Donte was back on his feet in an instant charging at me with a wild look in his eyes. I barely have time to block the punch when his fist grazed my cheek. I grabbed him pushing him against the wall my anger boiling over. He twisted out of my grip swinging again and this time he landed a hit right to my side.
Liam: Enough!
I grabbing him by the shoulders and slammed him into the wall but he didn't back down. He was breathing hard, his eyes glazed like he was in a whole different world. And suddenly it wasn't about the stupid controller or the game. It was something deeper, something that had been building between us for months.
Donte: You don't get it! You don't understand anything! I can't—
His voice cracked and for a split second I saw something vulnerable underneath all the anger but then he began throwing another punch, and this one hit me square in the jaw.
Pain exploded in my head and I stumbled backward tripping over the fallen chair. My vision blured and the next thing I knew my back hit the floor hard. The room spun and I hear Donte breathing heavily and he was standing over me fists still clenched but he didn't move. He just stood there. I could barely see straight but I could hear him mutter under his breath
Donte: I didn't mean...

Then everything goes dark.

Donte's POV
I didn't mean to hit him that hard. Liam was lying on the floor not moving and my heart was racing so fast I can't breathe. My hands were shaking and there was this tight feeling in my chest like the air had been sucked out of the room. I stared at him waiting for him to get up, to yell at me, to punch me back. Something. Anything. But he didn't move.
Donte: Liam? Liam!

I dropped to my knees beside him shaking his shoulder but he was still out cold. What did I do? I was just mad. I didn't mean for this to happen. He's my brother. My big brother.
Donte: Liam, come on, man, wake up
I never meant for it to go this far.
I scrambled for my phone, my hands fumbling as I dialled Dad's number. My heart was pounding so loud I can barely hear the ringing.
Donte: Dad... Dad you gotta come home. It's Liam. He's hurt. I... I messed up
Dad asked me something but I couldn't even process the words. All I could do is stare at Liam still lying there his face pale and his jaw swollen where I hit him

Jay POV
When I got the call I know it's bad. Donte's voice was too shaky, too scared, and he's never scared. Not like this.
I rushed home, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios. The second I opened the front door I saw Donte kneeling on the floor next to Liam, his face pale and eyes wide with fear. Liam's wasn't moving and my heart stopped
Donte: Dad I didn't mean to. I swear I didn't mean to!"
I dropped to my knees beside them and checked Liam's pulse feeling the swelling on his jaw.
Jay: Donte, what happened?
My voice was calm but my mind was screaming.
Donte: I don't know. We were just fighting and I hit him. I didn't mean to knock him out Dad I swear.
Liam groaned and relief flooded through me. He was conscious but barely.
Donte: Okay, okay. We need to get him to med.
Donte was shaking like a leaf guilt written all over his face. I couldn't deal with that right now. Not yet.
Jay: Donte, go grab my keys
He nodded and bolted to the kitchen his movements jerky and frantic. I lifted Liam as carefully as I could, my stomach twisting. He's my oldest and my strong one. I didn't think I'd ever see him like this. By the time Donte came back with the keys, I had got Liam in the car and we were racing to med. The tension in the air was thick enough to choke on. I glanced at Donte in the rearview mirror. His face was pale, eyes filled with guilt, fear and confusion. I didn't know what to say to him right now. Hell I didn't know what to think. All I knew was that I've got two boys who need me. And one of them's in the hospital because the other couldn't control himself.

Again.