You, every time.

Word count: 2000

Friday the 10th of February

Martin had left the room to answer the door, leaving Johnny, Adam and their mother with Maeve.
"Your father is being quite forceful tonight!" Jackie complained, before her expression changed to something Maeve found familiar, "it's making me go all tingly."
Johnny scraped a vegetable that had been half way to his mouth back on to the plate.
"I know what you mean, Jackie!" Maeve commented with a giggle, "not your Martin of course - I'm not trying to steal your man," Jackie laughed at the mere idea of that.
"Course not love!"
"But it is nice when they take a bit of control," Maeve put on a suggestive tone.
"Alright will you stop!" Johnny groaned.
"Yes we are trying to eat here," Adam complained.
"Oh don't be silly boys!" Jackie said, "Martin!" she called out of the room, "hurry up!"
"Coming!" The man hollered from the hallway.
"Are you enjoying your dinner, Maeve?" Jackie asked.
"Oh yes! It's delicious, thank you so much. You know these boys don't deserve you," she commented with a cheeky smile.
"Yes I agree, I'm always saying that I wished for-"
"Girls, we know mum," the boys interrupted in unison. Jackie laughed gleefully and put down her napkin.
"I'm going to see where your father's got to," Jackie said.
"Me too," agreed Adam. They left the dining room and walked into the hall, leaving the pair alone. A moment of comfortable silence sat between, but it didn't last long.
"So," Johnny began, "you like people to take control yeah?"
Maeve felt a crimson blush take over her cheeks, she suddenly became fascinated in her potatoes.
"I don't think that's any of your business," she replied hoarsely.
Johnny leant in closer to her, so his breath was just fanning over her ear and cheek.
"Of course it is," he smirked. Maeve met his gaze and she almost faltered when she was met with honest brown eyes. His lips were sporting a signature grin that made him far more attractive than she expected. "If you're living with me, then I'll be evaluating your future suitors!" Maeve let out a shaky breath, allowing herself to smile and ignoring the sinking feeling in her chest, "checking if they're good enough for our Maeve, scaring off the bad ones."
"You're a good friend, Johnny Goodman," she nudged his shoulder.
"I'm not good, I'm bloody amazing." Johnny grinned. She laughed - a real laugh, all the frustration and confusion evaporating. A good friend.
"Come on," he tapped the girl's arm, "Let's see what's going on with my lunatic of a family."
He pulled her up and out of the dining room.

"Have you been lending Jim money?" Jackie asked her husband by the door as Johnny and Maeve took their places beside Adam.
"Oh god," Maeve whispered, "He paid Jim off." Johnny nudged her in attempt to keep the revelation quiet.
"Pffft What?" Martin feigned cluelessness.
"Have you been lending Jim money?" Jackie repeated.
"A bit," Martin conceded. The trio further down the hallway shared a surprised glance as Martin continued to dig himself an inescapable pit.
"What! What for?" The Goodman's mother asked. Martin tried to find the answer in Johnny, Adam and Maeve's eyes, but with no luck. They all gave him vacant looks.
"Uh, mirrors." Martin's eyes landed on the hallway mirror. Maeve threw her face into her hands at the hopelessness of that excuse.
"Okay did you just say the first thing you could see?" Said Jackie.
"Possibly,"
"Martin!" She groaned, "why are you lending Jim money?"
"Alright! He's on drugs."
Oh Martin, thought Maeve. She truly had missed this man, but his madness had always caused Jackie no end of trouble. Maeve banged her head slowly against Johnny's shoulder, that was around her eye-height.
"Jim's on drugs?" Jackie's eyes widened in disbelief. The boys looked between each other and then at their father in shear panic. Jackie turned:
"Boys?" She questioned them. Maeve kept her face a blank slate, unsure of the direction they were going to take Martin's incredible lie.
"Yeah," Johnny admitted.
"Jims a junkie!" His brother finished.

~~~

Jackie had insisted, much to Martin's dismay, on counselling Jim for his 'drug habits'. Saved by the bell per usual, his wife had gone to answer the door. This left her husband sitting alone on the sofa, head in hands, and Johnny, Maeve and Adam cooped shoulder-shoulder on adjacent one.
"Good work dad!" Adam spoke first.
"Yes, really excellent," Johnny continued his brother's sarcastic attitude.
"Really Martin?" Maeve groaned, "'Jim's on drugs.'?"
"Ugh! Shit balls!" The man cried. Although the cursing wasn't directed at Maeve, Johnny gave his father a protective frown.
"Hey! It's not her-" Johnny stopped himself and corrected his words, "I mean it's not our fault."
Martin suddenly looked up, determination written on his slightly wrinkled face.
"Come on, in the dining room,"
"What?" All three young adults chorused but Martin was already on his feet, sneaking his way from the living room to the Goodman's dining area. The trio groaned, Adam stood and followed his father whilst Johnny pulled his friend from the sofa. Once Maeve was stood, Johnny didn't drop her hand, holding it gently with his own. The girl rubbed her eyes. Dizziness was clouding her vision.
"You tired?" Asked Johnny.
"A little," she admitted. Johnny, almost unaware of his actions, wrapped a comforting arm around the shorter girls and gave her a squeeze.
"Not much longer now, and you can have the bed tonight," He looked down at the girl in his arms for approval. Eventually she nodded glumly. Johnny grinned, letting her fall from his arms but still holding her hand. She was pulled into the dining room.