Split (discontinued :( sorry)

His Phonecall (Ch 2)

(Roman Pov)

The cellphone rings from its place next to me on the couch. I'd usually give it to my padre, who's currently in the next room over, but the caller ID makes my heart stop. It's from papa. Padre says he wants nothing to do with me, but I want to know why. What did I do that made him hate me? How did I tear his marriage apart? I've been told I was mainly to blame for the past 4 months, but I want to know why. So I hit accept.

"Hello Patton, how are the kids?"

I can't seem to speak. This is the man who didn't love me. The one who supposedly tore our family apart. Yet he's asking how Logan and I are? I don't know what to say.

"Patton? Hello?... God, not another silent treatment. Patton if you're there, I'm hanging up, you better call me back soon-"

"No!" The words left my mouth before I could stop them. Padre stops moving in the kitchen, he obviously heard my outburst. "Are you alright Rose?" He yells through the hallway. "Yeah padre! I'm fine, don't worry!"

I bolt upstairs with the phone in my hand. On the other end, there is nothing but silence. I shut the door, and reach to lock it, I forgot padre removed the locks a week ago. I sit onto my bed, my frantic breathing slowing slightly.

"Umm.. papa? A-Are you still there?"

"Rose? Rose! How are you? Is your new house ok? Patton hasn't hit you, has he? My god, he hasn't let me talk to you and Lo since the divorce, I missed you so much."

I frown to myself. Why is he asking so many questions? He gave me up, he doesn't want me. So why does he say he misses me?

"I-I'm ok. I think Logan is alright too. He's been reading the books you gave him before we left. I've been pretty lonely, since it's summer vacation we moved away from all of my friends and... well, my siblings. The house is ok though. Umm padre.. uh hitting... how is Remus? And Virgil, how is he?"

"I'm glad Logan likes the books, they were some of my favorites when I was his age. I'm sorry you've been feeling lonely, I wish that your father would let you and Lo visit."

That doesn't make sense. Padre says that papa doesn't want to see us, not the other way around.

"Remus is fine, ze misses you a lot though. Virgil is also ok, but they use they/them pronouns now, by the way. Oh! While we're on the topic, Remus uses he/they/ze."

But padre never uses they/them... he must not know yet. He'd never intentionally misgender someone.

"Now, I don't want to assume anything, but my last question didn't get a definitive answer. Sweetheart, is he hitting you?"

I feel my stomach drop further. He doesn't usually hit us... and he always has a reason. So it's not really hitting, it's just discipline. I'm so wrapped up in thought that I don't hear my door open. I'm not aware of the man in my room until the phone is snatched from my hand. Padre ends the call before sitting next to me.

"Rose."

"I'm so sorry. I just wanted to talk to him. I'm sorry please don't be mad." I whisper, my voice shaking. He just laughs.

"Hey, I wish I could say that I wasn't angry, but you know I am. You stole my phone and you called a horrible man who doesn't care for anyone but himself and his stupid sons."