In the Absence of Light

42

we've past 15k!!!! 🥺❤️🥺❤️ 

and there's only 10 chapters left!!! i srsly don't want this to end 😩

i love you guys so much ❤️❤️❤️

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Isaac

I nod my head up and down, bobbing along to the beat playing through the radio and tapping my fingers on the steering wheel. I know this song like the back of my hand. I learnt it on guitar years ago, but I could never relate to the lyrics. At least not how I see them now.

I belt them out loud, turning the volume up. The sound fills up the car and flows out of my open windows. It feels light and airy like I'm actually drifting away and floating somewhere heavenly. And in a way, I am.

I should be playing my own music right now, listening to the melodies on repeat so help me practice for our next show. But that music is angry, and I'm far from it right now.

I pull into the driveway, parking behind my sister's car. Her place is only small, but it's better than anything I could afford, especially if I had two kids to look after.

The music cuts off when the engine does. These are the worst silences—the ones you have to sit through. There's no point playing music if I can't even be here to enjoy it.

I get out of the car, slamming the door shut behind me. The kids must've just been outside. Billy's left one of his toy cars on the driveway and there's a baby bottle on the lawn. I pick them up and head towards the door. I don't bother knocking, though. My sister already knows I'm coming.

"Angie, it's me," I call, walking through the door. Billy usually comes running over when he hears me, but not this time. They're probably at school. I head further into the house, finding Angie in the kitchen. She's not cooking this time, though. She's sitting at the breakfast bar with a magazine.

"Hey, Zac," she looks up at me. "Are you doing okay?"

"Yeah, I'm good," I nod. "Where are the boys?"

"Billy's at school and Benji's at day care."

"You need a break, huh?" She usually keeps Benji at home unless she's working.

"Yeah, just a moment for myself."

"I can leave if you want."

"Nah, I invited you here. I just mean... an adult moment," she laughs. "Tell me about your date with that Ferrari girl."

"Her name is Ivy."

"Alright, how was your date with Ivy?"

"I don't know, the first one was fine, but the second one was way better."

"Oh!" she wriggles her brows teasingly. "Two dates in one week?"

"Yeah, I guess. We've just been hanging out."

"Where did you end up taking her?"

"We went to Aaron and Jace's place first, but yesterday we went to this Italian restaurant on campus."

"Did she pay?"

"What?" I scowl. "Does it matter?"

"Yes," she insists. "She's rich, and you're, well... not."

"Fucking hell," I grumble. "She paid, yes, if you really want to know."

"Good," she smiles.

"But hey, I got a job too."